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2016 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Joey Bosa Scouting Report

By Jon Dove

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) leaves the game after being ejected for a targeting penalty during the first half of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) leaves the game after being ejected for a targeting penalty during the first half of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ohio State’s Joey Bosa Scouting Report

Joey Bosa is one of the more disruptive players in the 2016 NFL draft class. He makes his presence known thanks to his combination of quickness, hand usage and strength. His skill set makes him a versatile defender who can lineup up at multiple positions in different defensive schemes.

Bosa’s hand usage is arguably his best attribute as is able to keep clean on his way into the backfield. This hand usage includes inside placement, quick/violent movement and a powerful jolt. He has so many different ways to work past blockers that it’s tough to keep him out of the backfield.

Despite his versatility, his best fit is as a defensive end in a 4-3 system. Here he’ll be able to set the edge against the run and generate a pass rush. Bosa’s powerful upper body and hand usage makes him a strong run defender.

He also features the short-area burst to work down the line of scrimmage and make plays away from his frame.

As a pass rusher, Bosa isn’t a prototypical speed rusher thanks to his average overall quickness. He uses good snap awareness and his suddenness to get after the quarterback. It’s that lateral wiggle that makes it tough for blockers to mirror his movement.

Bosa strikes me as someone who’ll routinely sit around the 10 sacks a season mark, but provide more of an impact than his numbers suggest. This is because he’ll make it tough for offenses to run the ball to his side of the field and gain the edge.

By forcing plays back inside, Bosa won’t register a tackle but allow others on the defense to make the play. This impact won’t show up on the stat sheet but will be noticed by his coaching staff.

Draft Range: Top-5

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