Is USC's Nick Perry A Legit Top 12 Pick?
 

Dammit. This is generally seen as true? He's just one of those guys who's quietly cemented it? How good are we talking here?

Depends on whether or not he shows hip flexibility in drills and workouts. He's stiff on tape. Is it a coaching issue or a physical limitation? That's the question.

Ive gotten to watch him a ton the last couple years at SC and the guy is a physical freak. He is so god damn fast off the ball its stupid, he does play stiff at times but he strikes me as a guy who will be able to change that.

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Buffalo picked him. Watching tape of Perry matchup with Martin, I came away more impressed with Perry's speed, athleticism and variety of rush moves.

Unless he just falls flat at the combine he will go top 15 being the highest upside pass rusher in this draft

The combine will really determine where Perry goes, similarly to Aldon Smith last year. Perry doesn't have the height/length of Smith, but smaller pass rushers that are athletic are still making huge impacts(James Harrison, Von Miller).

Perry could be the surprised top 10 pick this year if a team falls in love with his raw talent, maybe Miami or a team trades up...

I agree that Perry's stock is very much going to be dictated by his combine performance but I don't understand how that's similar to Aldon Smith - none of his times were overly impressive and he looked very stiff in agility drills and he still went 7th overall.

Moving to the 4-3, not sure if Miami would want Perry with his hand down at DE.

Yup. This was why I had him in my "hated prospects" list thread we had a few weeks back. He's someone I can't wait to watch at the combine.

I think he goes at #10 to the Bills. So much upside.

I've put it like this: if he can flex his hips and bend the edge, his ceiling is a Tamba Hali type of player. If he can't, he's Ray Edwards.

That's a huge difference. One can be the foundation of your front seven and is schematically versatile. The other is a nice player if he's the fourth best guy on your D-line, and can only play 4-3 LE.

I dont think he can play 4-3 DE. Hes strictly a 3-4 OLB IMO.

I'm going to go with the crowd a bit here. Perry is probably the consensus highest rated guy that I just haven't gotten a real good feel for yet. I've heard so many mixed things about the kid and when I watch him I come away with mixed impressions as well. Really tough player for me to find a fit for. I think his pass rush skills obviously translate pretty well to standing up in a 3-4...but I'm not sure the rest of it is there. Doesn't look like he changes directions very well or like he's all that fluid. I could honestly go either way on him.

Still a question mark to me, and I don't think I would take a chance on him that early in the draft but I can see why teams would. As some have mentioned, his hip flexibility is a concern and the combine will sort that out as to how far along he is with it. Someone said it best, whether it's physical limitation or coaching remains to be seen.

I still like Upshaw and Mercilus more right now but there's no doubting Perry's upside here. One of the biggest question marks heading into the combine and could change the landscape of the first round if he grades out well. I'll be keeping my eye out for him.

I never really saw him as an elite caliber talent... but he's the kind of guy that just gets the job done. Over and over, he made plays for USC. Lunch pail player with admirable work ethic. Don't really make the connection to high "upside" like everyone is saying. I think he maxes out everything he's got. High floor, sure.

As a USC fan I second this.

I love Perry and his non stop motor, but to me he is a borderline 1st rounder at best. He doesn't really have the hip flexibility to be an elite top 15 prospect. Straight line speed and work ethic are his best attributes.

That said, he will be a good NFL player and hopefully I'm wrong on my assessment.

I don't know how you pick Nick Perry over Courtney Upshaw, if you're a team looking for a pass rusher. Upshaw looks like the real deal. He's got more size and experience as a 3-4 OLB. Plus, Upshaw has much more position flexibility, as I think he can play both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. The Skins aren't going to take an OLB and Buffalo is the only other 3-4 team in the top 10. I don't see anyway that Perry goes top 10 unless a team trades up (Green Bay?, San Diego?). I probably wouldn't touch Perry if I'm a 4-3 team.

he fits real well in Seattle to replace Chris Clemons

but he will have to run elite to be worth that pick.

I don't really understand the hype for him or Melvin Ingram personally. Both are getting pushed way up due to the lack of top level pass rushing talent and if things keep moving the way draftniks are saying, both will be WAY overdrafted in the top 20. Both have late first/early second round grades from me. Perry's game reminds me of Brooks Reed from last year.

I personally don't understand the top 10 love, but I think he's one of those outside guys, along with Irvin, Branch, and Mercilus, who everyone will value lower then they actually go. I do, however, think he's a first round guy.

I'm not seeing him in Seattle even with the Pete Carroll connection, which is becoming less and less with SC players. I'm in the 3-4 OLB camp. My opinion of him when he played the Huskies was that he's so damn fast chasing the QB. He really put pressure on Locker whenever he ran that side of the field.

NO....SHHHHHH, he's a top 18 pick and THATS IT ;)

I'm thinking top 16. I give him mucho props for his makeup, which seems very strong from the interview videos all over the place. There's more interviews with him on the internet than there is playing video.

the only 100% sure 3-4 OLB is Upshaw. Ingram is maybe 75% sure because of all the film of him standing up and his Senior Bowl.

these others, Perry, Mercilus, Curry etc. that's all projection. Could Perry be a 3-4 OLB? He _could_ but there's not alot of evidence to prove it. Like Aldon Smith it's a hope.

If a 6'1" guy with questionable length, hips, and speed is the only sure 3-4 OLB in this draft, then should 3-4 teams even bother with any of these guys?

Said it many times bit, but pretty much every 3-4 OLB playing 3-4 OLB today was a DE convert or a "projection." Hell, you're projecting Upshaw to play 3-4 OLB as a pro because he's a college 3-4 OLB.

Aldon Smith worked out, just like a bunch of other converts. There have been busts because that the nature of going from college to the pros...not everyone makes it. Upshaw is not immune to it because of his college position + good weight for a 3-4 OLB.