NFL Draft Scouting Is More Than Athletic Ability

While physical ability is the first ingredient NFL executives, coaches, and scouts look for, the search for players runs far deeper than a forty time. Other things include a fit with the team, and most importantly, character.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - While there are many aspects NFL teams evaluate about potential draft picks, outside of athletic ability, character is perhaps the most important thing executives and scouts evaluate about players before deciding to spend a pick to draft them. 

As news broke Wednesday morning of the impending arrest of former University of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter on charges of reckless driving and drag racing, we reached out to two NFL scouts for comments about how important character is to their teams in the process of grading potential picks.  

Both scouts wished to remain anonymous but shared the importance of character for their respective franchises. 

"Outside their ability on the field, it's the first thing as a scout that I have to look for. We don't want guys who are going to cause us problems off the field," he said. 

"Of course, we will consider what the issues were and how likely those things are to happen again in the future," he continued. "Was it something young and stupid, that taught him a lesson, and it's over, or is there a pattern of things that might continue once the kid is in the league and making NFL money?"    

As for the second scout, his thoughts mirrored those of his colleague. 

"It's the first question my GM asks of us, what's this guy like off field," he said. "He (the GM) doesn't want those 1 a.m. phone calls from the police that so-and-so is locked up," he said. "I spend more time talking to teachers and coaches back to high school than I do most anything else after we watch the film and decide to dive into a player."

While it remains to be seen how Wednesday's events will impact Carter, it is clear that with this development, teams at the top of this year's draft will be taking a longer, harder look into his past to determine if this was a one-time, regrettably sad event, or are there other red flags to find. 

The Titans are one team who have had its share of issues with player conduct, both before the draft and after. 

Star defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons came into the draft with major questions about an incident that happened prior to his selection. The answers Simmons gave and the information scouts recovered about him were enough to make then Titans GM Jon Robinson, and owner Amy Adams-Strunk feel comfortable enough to select him in the first round. 

Since his selection, Simmons has been a model citizen and a major force for the Titans' defense.

Carter and any other players in Indianapolis who have issues in the past will have their chance to answer to NFL teams during the private interview portions of this week's combine. 

Their answers and what scouts find will have big impacts on their future in this draft class.         

Carthon Comments at Combine: Tennessee Titans' new general manager Ran Carthon spoke at the 2023 NFL Combine about a number of topics, including Ryan Tannehill’s status, his relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel and his meeting with Jeffery Simmons. CLICK HERE

Top Draft Prospect To Be Arrested: Former University of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter faces arrest warrants in Athens for reckless driving and drag racing. CLICK HERE

Our Top Ten All-Time Titans Draft Class No.5: We continue our countdown with the class of 1998, at No.5 in our countdown. CLICK HERE