Kiper says Beasley has "mixed opinions" on his draft value

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Fri Mar 27 10:43:40 GMT-04:00 2015

ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had a media teleconference on Thursday and discussed the status of several NFL prospects including Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley.

"He had an incredible workout. You look at his speed, his strength, his athletic ability, everything about him, his weight was up," Kiper said. "Can he maintain that weight? We’ll see at the pro level."

Beasley's NFL Combine stats included a 40-yard dash time of 4.53, broad jump of 10-10, 20-yard shuttle of 4.15 seconds, three-cone drill time of 6.91 and 35 bench press reps of 225 pounds. He measured in at 6-3 246 pounds with 32 1/2" arms and 9 3/8" hands at the NFL combine.

Kiper views Beasley in the linebacker Bruce Irvin pass-rushing mold.

"Obviously he’s not a guy that’s going to be able to handle run responsibilities. You can run at him but you can do that with all these guys," he said. "You look at Irvin in Seattle — he’s not a factor against the run, he’s strictly a one-dimensional pass-rusher, but he went in the middle of the first round. Will Vic BeasleyVic Beasley
Defensive End (2010 - 2014)
#3 6-2, 236
Adairsville, GA
View Full Profile be a little more than that? That's the debate because if you’re one-dimensional, I don’t think you’re worthy of being in the top 15. That’s what he’s going to have to prove."

The ESPN draft guru thinks that Beasley needs to be more productive in the NFL than just get sacks.

"One sack a game can still make you overrated. You can beat a guy one time and get a sack, but that doesn't mean you had a great game. You can have a terrible game and still get a sack. You get one sack a game, you got a lot of sacks, you got double-digit sacks. To me, Beasley’s going to get mixed opinions on because of that.

There was a lot of mixed opinion last year as well when you talk about guys coming out. They were not automatic when you look at some of these guys and where they go in terms of the pass rushers. Sometimes there is that mixed opinion and that happens with Beasley."

Even after all of his dissection of Beasley's game, Kiper still has him going in the Top 13 overall in the upcoming NFL Draft.

"So right now I would say he could go as high as eight to Atlanta or maybe drop down to, say, that New Orleans spot at 13 ," Kiper said. "If you are going to try to sell him, you sell him on production and a great workout combined together."

The 2015 NFL Draft will begin on April 30.

Beasley accumulated 33 sacks, an amazing 52.5 tackles for loss at Clemson and was a two-time first-team All-American. He was also selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.

Vic Beasley