Lately, NFL franchises attempting to improve their defenses through the NFL Draft have started with the trenches or secondary in terms of their rebuild. Yet, this doesn’t mean the linebacker position has been ignored.
A hard prospect to ignore at this position is Cedric Gray. Here’s a closer look at the LB ahead of the 2024 draft, including examining his height, weight, past production and lastly, projecting his potential in the league.
How Tall Is Cedric Gray?
NFL linebackers have an average height of 6’3″.
Gray does indeed come with an intriguing frame. But, he was measured at 6’2 1/2″ before the draft. Still, he’s close to the necessary average height that teams covet at LB. Additionally, he recorded an impressive 35 1/2″ in his vertical-jump attempt at the NFL Combine.
How Much Does Gray Weigh?
Defenses will always rely on their LBs to run, cover and hit, but not carry so much size so as to impede their ability to chase down ballcarriers and pass catchers.
Gray tips the scale at 235 pounds. That makes him at least 10 pounds smaller than the NFL average, but Gray runs fluidly at his weight.
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He delivered a 4.64 time in the 40-yard dash. He even put on some bulk during his college days, as he weighed 205 pounds before producing his first college tackle.
How Old Is Gray?
Gray won’t enter the league as a particularly older prospect. But he’s not the youngest either.
He’ll be 21 when he hears his name called in the upcoming draft. Gray will even celebrate his birthday during his rookie year, as his birthday is on Oct. 30.
What School Did Gray Go To?
Gray became a mainstay, and eventually the defensive leader, at North Carolina.
He became a prized local find for the Tar Heels in their 2020 class, as Gray starred for Ardrey Kell High in nearby Charlotte. With former NFL cornerback and UNC assistant Dre Bly as one of the point men for his recruitment, the Heels lured in the state of North Carolina’s 10th best prospect according to 247Sports.
It didn’t take long for Gray to make an impact in Chapel Hill.
Revisiting Gray’s College Career
Gray saw immediate action the moment he got on campus.
During the truncated 2020 season, the true freshman played in three games and collected three tackles. But he increased his snaps in 2021 — responding with 99 tackles, including 52 solo stops and six tackles for a loss, and snatched two interceptions.
Then, he earned first-team All-ACC honors in his last two CFB seasons in 2022 and 2023. Gray snatched 145 tackles, including a career-best 82 solo stops, and made 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in ’22. He followed that performance by nabbing 121 stops (64 solo), including a career-high five sacks and 11 total tackles for loss.
MORE: Top LBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Gray has 16 career tallies of 10 or more tackles on his resume. He proved to be most effective against Virginia (18 tackles) and in-state rival North Carolina State (17) this past season. He even took down high-profile 2024 quarterback prospect Spencer Rattler for a sack when UNC defeated South Carolina on Sept. 2.
While Gray is prideful in his ability to wrap up opponents, he shared with reporters during the NFL Combine that’s he embraces his leadership even more.
“I think I learned a lot. Being a leader in high school, I think I’ve evolved as a leader,” Gray said. “One of the biggest things I felt like I learned was learning my teammates and learning how they respond to different styles of leadership. Some guys you have to light a fire under and some you have to put your arm around their shoulder and calm them, talking to them one-on-one. I think an effective leader understands his teammates.”
Gray’s Potential in the NFL
It’s not anticipated that a linebacker will crack the first round. However, does Gray have the strongest chance of potentially crashing Day 1?
PFN’s draft analyst Ian Cummings weighed in and believes Gray has early-round potential. Does that make Gray the top LB of this class?
“Though not quite in the mix for LB1, he’s a top-75 prospect for me and could feasibly command top-50 interest from NFL teams in April,” Cummings said.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Cedric Gray
Cummings took a liking to Gray’s frame and athletic makeup. He then described the ‘backer as “explosive and rangy” and equipped with good agility that helps levy his explosiveness. Cummings added how Gray plays with a “red-hot motor.”
Gray sounds like an ideal LB for teams searching for one. He checks in as PFN’s No. 3 ranked LB for this upcoming rookie class.
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