2018 NFL Draft: Chad Thomas Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Miami’s Chad Thomas is an active and aggressive 2018 NFL Draft defensive end prospect.
Chad Thomas is a solidly built 2018 NFL Draft edge prospect with upside. He’s a good athlete who plays with a non-stop motor. His effort and aggressive style helps make him a disruptive force along the defensive line.
Thomas features a quick burst with the 1st step needed to attack the edge. He plays with good balance and low pad level which helps him flatten out. Thomas has also shown the ability to get home and bring the quarterback to the ground.
He finished his college career with 9.5 sacks, but his impact was more consistent with constant pressure.
Thomas’ best pass rush moves incorporate his quickness and lateral agility. He does a good job using his hands to swat away the blocker and rip underneath the offensive linemen. Thomas has enough juice to gain the edge, but also the change of direction to counter inside.
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He shows some raw power but hasn’t properly developed a bull rush. Thomas needs to do a better job gaining inside hands and looking to push the pocket. Adding this to his pass rush arsenal would take his game to the next level.
As a run defender, Thomas is very active and always pursuing the ball carrier. He has the burst to close the back door and make plays away from his frame.
His limited commitment to gaining inside hands also causes some issues in this part of Thomas’ game. Too often, the looks to shoot the gap or work around the blocker. This opens up running room and lanes for the ball carrier.
Thomas has the size and natural power needed to be a strong run defender. He just needs to work on holding at the point of attack and knowing when to hold his ground. However, Thomas will also be asked to continue his penetrating ways and disrupt the offense’s timing.
Overall, this is a very talented prospect who has big upside as a pass rusher. His effort and non-stop motor will be something that helps him see the field early in his career. It’s likely that he’ll have a more productive NFL career than he did at Miami.