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The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Nehemiah Pritchett.
Nehemiah Pritchett's 2024 NFL Combine Results
- Height: 6-foot
- Weight: 190
- 40-yard dash: 4.36
- 10-yard split: 1.49
- Vertical jump: 3.4"
- Broad jump: DNP
Nehemiah Pritchett 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Strengths
- Good versatility playing outside, in the slot and in sub-package situations (most comfortable outside).
- Aggressive from press alignment, using his hands to disrupt WRs release off the ball – solid technique.
- Good turn-and-run ability to stay in phase with WRs on vertical routes from press-man coverage (stays on top).
- Most comfortable in press-man coverage – good turn-and-run defender who uses his hands well.
- Plays through WR well at the catch point, getting his hands to the ball to disrupt the receiver (solid ball skills).
- Smooth transition down the field when covering vertical routes – good burst and acceleration ability (speed).
Weaknesses
- Handsy player who uses hands a lot in coverage, which could become a liability at the next level after five-yards.
- Questionable aggression in taking on blocks and playing the run – poor technique in leaving his feet as tackler.
- Struggled to transition laterally in off coverage – tight hips and upright stance effecting his COD out of breaks.
- Problems stopping and starting when running vertically downfield, allowing separation on comeback routes.
- Questionable vision and feel for route concepts when playing zone coverage (blind spots at times).
NFL Transition
Pritchett has experience playing both sides of the field. He was primarily the boundary corner in 2023 and had some reps in the slot and sub-package schemes. He’ll provide good position versatility in NFL schemes.
He’s most comfortable and effective in man coverage, especially from pressed alignment because it allows him to use his hands to disrupt the receiver's release of the ball. Pritchett does a good job of staying on top of receivers and running vertically downfield with good speed.
Pritchett is upright in his technique from off alignment and when attempting to chop his feet, break down and redirect in coverage, which affects his ability to change direction and stay with quicker WRs. LSU’s Malik Nabers ran away from him on a couple of plays in their 2023 game.
Overall, Pritchett is best suited to play on the outside in man coverage schemes where he can use his hands to disrupt the WR’s release and speed to turn and run. Although he has experience playing from the slot, his upright technique and choppy footwork could cause problems when playing in space vs. quicker athletes.
Pritchett projects as a mid-round pick who will initially provide depth and contribute on special teams. He can develop into an outside corner or be used in sub-packages on a team that plays a lot of man coverage.
Other Notes
In 2022, Pritchett had 366 coverage snaps. He was targeted on 47 pass attempts, allowing 21 completions for 269 yards and one touchdown while having 11 PBUs (tied for 21st in the nation). Pritchett played from press alignment on 94 of his 366 coverage snaps (more than 25 percent of his snaps). He played slightly more zone coverage concepts than man coverage (56 percent zone and 44 percent man.
In 2023, Pritchett had 240 coverage snaps. He was targeted on 28 pass attempts, allowing 13 completions for 170 yards and two touchdowns while having one INT and three PBUs. Pritchett played from press alignment on 43 of his 240 coverage snaps (nearly 18 percent of his snaps, down more than seven percent from 2022). He played slightly more zone coverage than man coverage (57 percent zone and 43 percent man).
More must-reads:
- 10 notable steals from the 2024 NFL Draft
- Titans’ second-rounder motivated to squash post-draft criticism
- The 'Most career passing touchdowns' quiz
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