Draft Analysis:
"There are some questions on his medical. He tore his ACL late in the season, but he is a gifted edge rusher, and like Rich (Eisen) said, all he does is add that edge-rush ability for San Francisco." -- Mike Mayock
- 6'4" Height
- 34 3/4" Arm Length
- 276LBS. Weight
- 10 1/4" Hands
Overview
It would surprise no one that Florida State was the last school to have three defensive ends selected in the top 100 picks of the NFL draft; in 1998, Andre Wadsworth (picked third overall by Arizona), Greg Spires (83rd, New England), and Julian Pittman (99th, New Orleans) came off the board by the early fourth round. Carradine has big-time talent, even though he finished the year on the sideline after seeing starter's action for a majority of the season.
The Cincinnati product signed with Illinois out of high school, but academic issues forced him to enroll at Butler Community College. His 26 sacks in two years for the Grizzlies, including a nation-leading 16 in a 2010 season where the team lost the national junior college championship game, made Carradine the top JUCO prospect in the country. Several major college programs recruited Carradine to finish out his career on their campus, but Florida State won that battle. He played in all 13 games for the Seminoles in 2011, and despite not starting a single game, he had more tackles than Werner (38 versus 37), and his eight tackles for loss included 5.5 sacks. He finished the year strong, compiling four tackles and a sack against Notre Dame in the teams 18-14 Champs Sports Bowl win. As a senior, Carradine was thrust into first string duties opposite Bjoern Werner after Brandon Jenkins was sidelined with a foot injury. He then went on to start 12 games, registering 80 total tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, 11 of which were sacks. Against Florida, however, Carradine tore his ACL and will miss a large portion of the pre-draft process because of it, including the Senior Bowl.
Analysis
Weaknesses
Though Carradine shows most all of the physical attributes teams covet in a defensive end, his lack of experience is a negative. And if he isnt on the field for any extended period of time in 2012, it might be tough for scouts to give him a starters grade because they dont know what his level of stamina against better competition.NFL Comparison
Justin TuckBottom Line
On most other defenses, Carradine would have started as a first-year junior college transfer, but Bjoern Werner and Brandon Jenkins limited his snaps in 2011. Still, he flashed real athleticism and strength and was able to take the starting right defensive end spot by the horns when Jenkins was sidelined for the season. Carradine appeared to be headed for a first-round selection, but a torn ACL limited his work prior to the draft. The talent is certainly there, however.
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| Grade | Title | Draft (Round) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96-100 | Future Hall of Famer | Top Pick | A once-in-a-generation type prospect who could change how his position is played |
| 85-95 | Immediate Starter | 1st | An impact player with the ability/intangibles to become a Pro Bowl player. Expect to start immediately except in a unique situation (i.e. behind a veteran starter). |
| 70-84 | Eventual Starter | 2nd-3rd | A quality player who will contribute to the team early on and is expected to develop into a starter. A reliable player who brings value to the position. |
| 50-69 | Draftable Player | 4th-7th | A prospect with the ability to make team as a backup/role player. Needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category might have long-term potential. |
| 20-49 | Free Agent | UDFA | A player with solid measurables, intangibles, college achievements, or a developing skill that warrants an opportunity in an NFL camp. In the right situation, he could earn a place on a 53-man roster, but most likely will be a practice squad player or a camp body. |
