2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina

Can Gray become an every-down linebacker in the NFL?

The off-ball linebacker class in the 2024 NFL Draft isn’t considered to be particularly strong. It isn’t weak, but there might not be any linebackers chosen in the first round. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any good linebackers selected.

North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray was active, productive, and disruptive for the Tar Heels’ defense, and will likely be a later Day 2 pick. What really matters is what he does once he gets to an NFL team. Will Gray be a rotational piece or could he be a Day 2 gem like Nick Bolton, Fred Warner, or Bobby Wagner?

The New York Giants might not be in dire need a linebacker thanks to the presence of Bobby Okereke, Micah McFadden, and Isaiah Simmons. But could he be an option if the value is right?

Prospect: Cedric Gray (33)
Games Watched: vs. South Carolina (2023), vs. Minnesota (2023)vs. Miami (2023), vs. Duke (2023)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football

Strengths

• Football IQ
• Instincts
• Competitive toughness
• Versatility

Gray is a versatile, instinctive, and productive off-ball linebacker.

Gray has good size for the position at 6-foot 1 ½ inches, 239 pounds, while also having solid athleticism. That allows him to play both inside and outside depending on the down, distance, and subpackage. He was a three-down linebacker for North Carolina and is able to drop into coverage, defend the run, and pressure the quarterback as a blitzer.

Gray is a smart linebacker who generally takes an accurate first step toward the play. He generally plays well with his eyes in the backfield and reacts quickly to what he sees. Gray processes quickly and has the athleticism to act on his reads. The result is a linebacker who is not only extremely productive, but is also disruptive.

He’s also a tough linebacker who’s willing to take on blocks and get after ball carriers in space and playing downhill. Gray is a very secure tackler who’s racked up over 360 tackles over the last three years. And while he isn’t a natural pass rusher, Gray has enough athleticism and sense for timing his rushes that he’s able to disrupt and picked up 5 sacks this past season.

Weaknesses

• Range
• Angles
• Block shedding

Gray is a good athlete for the linebacker position, however he isn’t quite an elite one. He doesn’t quite have “sideline to sideline” range and his ability in pursuit can be heavily influenced by the angle he chooses.

There are instances where Gray seems to either overestimate his own speed, or underestimate his opponent, leading to the ball carrier getting away from him. Likewise, he doesn’t quite have “cat-like” quickness, and can be a bit slow to make plays on the ball carrier in close quarters. Gray has good-but-not-great agility and he can be juked by athletic runners in the backfield.

Gray is also very aggressive in how he takes on blockers and is very willing to take on offensive linemen. However, he isn’t great at disengaging to make plays. He often tries to simply overwhelm them with physicality, but lacks the size and strength to win through power.

Game Tape

(Gray is UNC LB number 33)

Projection

Gray projects as an important rotational off-ball linebacker with starting upside in the right situation.

Gray should be able to play as inside or outside linebacker in most schemes commonly called in the NFL. He has enough play strength to come downhill on interior runs, particularly if protected by the defensive line, as well as enough athleticism to match up on running backs and tight ends in coverage. Gray also has upside as a blitzer and can pressure quarterbacks off the edge or through the A-gaps.

Whether or not Gray is an every-down player will likely depend on the situation he’s drafted into. He likely isn’t a liability in most situations in and of himself. However, teams that particularly like sub-packages could move him off the field in nickel or dime packages if they have another linebacker with similar athleticism and greater experience. That said, Gray is the kind of linebacker who doesn’t need to be taken off the field and can have a role on most downs.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, though the necessary pick and value may not line up.

Final Word: A later Day 2 pick