2017 NFL Draft: Vanderbilt Zach Cunningham Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham is an under the radar prospect who could come off the board early in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Zach Cunningham is a long and athletic inside linebacker prospect. He has the overall speed and quickness needed to make plays from sideline to sideline. Cunningham routinely jumps off the screen where he’s making big-time plays.
It’s his explosiveness and closing speed that makes him a high-end prospect. He does a great job reading the play and attacking the ball carrier. Cunningham features the upper-body strength to shock and shed at the point of attack.
It helps that Cunningham has long arms that allow him to gain inside hands.
His ability to take on blocks and work towards the football is something most young linebackers lack. This allows him to be more physical at the line of scrimmage and means he doesn’t need a strong defensive line to be effective.
Cunningham is a balanced tackler who breaks down as he approaches the ball carrier. He has also proven to be a big-hitter who routinely delivers a pop.
This is a 4-down linebacker who holds up in coverage and contributes on special teams. He has a natural feel in coverage where he can identify pass-catchers in his zone. Cunningham’s athleticism allows him to not only close on the pass but also run with quicker offensive players.
Overall, this is one of the more underrated players in this draft class. He’s someone who is always around the football and features the athleticism needed to develop into a dominant player.
It’s also important to note that he’s still developing as a player. He has taken steps forward in his overall play during each offseason which should only continue when NFL coaches get a hold of him. The sky is the limit for Cunningham.
Current Draft Stock: 1st Round