CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
KHALID KAREEM
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-4
268 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
Khalid Kareem is a former four-star recruit that initially committed to Alabama before heading to Notre Dame. He put forth three solid, if not overwhelming, seasons for the Fighting Irish, ending his career with 13 sacks and four forced fumbles. Was a team captain as a junior and his defense’s highest-rated player. Might be able to move inside on certain downs. Didn’t work out at the combine to rehab an injury. Shapes up as a mid-round edge prospect.
COMBINE NOTABLES
DNP
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3 out of 5. Could be able to provide edge depth, which the Vikings sorely need.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Power-based edge defender who uses technique and force to make up for a lack of explosiveness. He does an adequate job of bracing up and defending his turf when the run comes his way, but he lacks the athletic gifts to make many plays outside of his area. He’s able to muscle up and create some pocket pressure against college tackles, but that approach is unlikely to yield results against most NFL starters. Kareem has size and toughness but may not have enough athletic ability to ever be more than a backup 4-3 base end.”
Joe Marino, Draft Network: “Notre Dame EDGE Khalid Kareem profiles to a base end role in a 4-3 defense at the next level. He’s a sound run defender with ideal length, processing skills, power and the ability to play with extension. As a pass rusher, Kareem features a strong long arm bull rush but his overall skill set is either underdeveloped technically or lacks the burst and flexibility to truly be disruptive with any sort of consistency. Kareem’s ability to play inside and outside improves his value but he lacks the traits needed to project him to be an overly dynamic playmaker at the next level. Kareem should be a solid rotational defender.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
Overall grade increased each season
7 batted passes last two years
21.4% pass-rush win rate last year (above average)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
