Two of the draft's top four edge rushers will have their pro days Thursday, with Clemson's Vic Beasley and Nebraska's Randy Gregory set to again show off their wares.
Beasley will be looking to build on a great showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, and Gregory will be looking for some improvement in his 40 time.
But regardless of what Gregory runs Thursday, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah is a big fan, saying on Wednesday's "Path to the Draft" that he believes Gregory will be "immediately successful" in the NFL.
"He can win in a multitude of ways as a pass rusher," said Jeremiah, who rates Gregory as his No. 6 prospect in the draft. "He can beat you with that pure speed off the edge. He can convert speed to power, which you wouldn't expect from someone who is so lean. He also has a nice inside counter move."
Jeremiah noted that Huskers coaches moved Gregory around to get him the best matchups, including occasionally letting him rush against guards.
Gregory measured 6-foot-4 7/8 and a surprisingly light 235 pounds at the combine; he was clocked in 4.64 seconds in the 40, a disappointing time, considering he said he expected to run in the low 4.5's. Gregory did have nice numbers in the vertical jump (36.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 5 inches), though.
Jeremiah said Gregory's pro day is an opportunity "to prove to scouts he's the best edge rusher in this draft."
There is some concern about Gregory's ability to hold up against the run in the NFL, but Jeremiah said he gives Gregory the edge there over Beasley.
As for Beasley (6-3, 246 pounds), he had a stellar combine that "likely cemented his status as a top-15 pick," according to NFL Media analyst Charles Davis. Beasley ran a 4.53 40, had a vertical jump of 41 inches and had a broad jump of 10-10. Jeremiah has Beasley as his No. 17 prospect.
Florida's Dante Fowler Jr. and Missouri's Shane Ray complete the top group of edge rushers. Jeremiah has Fowler as his No. 4 player and Ray at No. 8.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
