Xavier Grimble: Scouting the NFL Draft

Sep 28, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; USC Trojans tight end

(86) scores a touchdown during the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Today we turn the draft spotlight on Xavier Grimble, TE from USC. Tight end is definitely a position that the Jets are looking to add depth to and to upgrade. We have heard all of the names that have been associated as the months have gone by: Ebron, Amaro, Seferian-Jenkins, and others. Well in a four round mock draft, the Jets used a fourth round pick on Xavier Grimble.

Is that a good choice? Let’s take a look at this guy:

Receiving & Rushing

At USC Pro Day, Grimble ran the 40 yard dash in 5.02 seconds. I was only able to find limited video on Grimble, so feel free to add some in the comments section. For now, here is the video I was able to locate.

PROS: The greatest thing I saw about Grimble is his ability to use his body to establish position on the defender. When he sets up in a soft spot to catch the football, that real estate belongs to Xavier Grimble and that’s it. He also doesn’t drop the football. Grimble has a sizable frame that with reps, could learn to block well at the NFL level.

CONS: First, as always, his weaknesses from his league profile:

Needs to get stronger and could use more glass in his diet. Average balance. Narrow-based, underpowered, in-line blocker — gets manhandled and tossed aside. Releases tall and mechanically — too easily jammed and rerouted. Linear mover who builds to speed. Has been dinged up and durability could be an issue. Recorded a 26 1/2-inch vertical jump, lowest of any tight end at the combine. Recorded a 4.85-second 20-yard shuttle time at his pro day, demonstrating poor agility.

His route-running was not great on the tape. Grimble seems to plod around out there, without their being a real crispness to it. To run in the West Coast offense, accurate pass routes are essential, and not being able to run them well will not make Marty Mornhinweg happy.

Bucky Brooks has Xavier Grimble chosen in the fourth round. His profile sees him more as a seventh round pick, or as a UDFA. I tend to fall on the side of the later pick, as his skill set is not as pro ready as you might expect for a guy coming out of USC.

He could be an interesting play late on Saturday afternoon of the draft.