2018 NFL Draft: Nick Nelson Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Wisconsin’s Nick Nelson is a solid 2018 NFL Draft cornerback prospect.
Nick Nelson features a strong build and average size for the position. He has shown flashes of being able to hold up well in man coverage. However, his zero career interceptions will hurt his ability to come off the board early in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Defensive coordinators want defensive backs capable of generating turnovers. Nelson just doesn’t get his hands on enough balls to be a major threat. One reason for his lack of interceptions is due to the fact Wisconsin mainly asks him to play man coverage.
Nelson often works with his back to the quarterback in a trail technique. This limits his opportunities to jump the pass and pull down interceptions.
However, he shows strong coverage skills and the balance needed to keep in-phase with his target. Nelson shows a feel for the position and is able to identify developing routes. However, he needs to work on keeping his hands off the receiver.
Nelson has a tendency to get grabby as the play develops. This has resulted in a plenty of interference and holding calls.
He also needs to become a more consistent presence in run support. Nelson can be a reliable tackler, but needs to be more aggressive. Improvement in this area would help his odds of earning some playing time.
Another area where he can also gain some playing time is on special teams. Nelson has experience as a punt returner.
Overall, this is a solid prospect who flashes some starter ability. The problem is that he needs to clean up some parts of his game. Nelson won’t get away with using his hands as much at the next level.