PLAYER PROFILE: Germaine Pratt, LB, North Carolina State

Photo Credit: Rob Kinnan (USA Today Sports)

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After two years at safety and a shoulder surgery that knocked Pratt out for a season, the North Carolina native made a change. He added weight and switched to linebacker, where he found a comfort zone for his final two years at N.C. State.

Pratt exploded for 104 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles in his final season, ranking in the top 10 in run-stopping and pass-rushing per Pro Football Focus. Formerly a 200-pound receiver/safety, Pratt is now an imposing figure at the linebacker position, but he still may need some seasoning, having only played the position for two years.

Size

6-2, 240 pounds

Combine notables

40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds
Bench: 24 reps
Vertical: 32.5 inches
Broad jump: 116 inches (T4th worst at position)

What the analysts say

“Free safety-turned-linebacker with good cover skills who has filled out his frame and checks the size and speed boxes, but Pratt is still in the process of learning to man his position. He plays upright in space and is unorthodox and inconsistent in taking on blocks and finding his run fits. However, he plays with good lateral athleticism and burst and found his way to the football enough to fill out the stat sheet in his lone year as a starter. He will continue to improve with time and could become an eventual starter at either SAM or WILL.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com

“Germaine Pratt is a difficult projection to the NFL level, given his restrictions in mobility, lateral quickness, flexibility and lack of length. Pratt, a former safety, is tight in the hips and labors in space when drawing assignments in pass coverage. Therefore, an early down role is preferable. Pratt shows some modest burst in linear situations and would be best in an early down role as an ILB in an odd front, where he can play forward vs. the run without being tested laterally.” — Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network

What PFF says

-8th in run-stop percentage
-5th in pass-rush productivity
-42nd in cover snaps/target

Chart via Pro Football Focus Draft Guide

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ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE

TOP 40 PLAYERS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS NEEDS & TARGETS
POSITIONAL TOP 5 RANKINGS & VIDEO BREAKDOWNS
MINNESOTA VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
INMAN: NFC NORTH WORST CASE DRAFT SCENARIOS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL (PODCASTS, VIDEOS, ARTICLES)
INMAN’S MOCK DRAFT COLLECTION

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