2016 NFL Draft Profile: Joshua Perry, LB Ohio State

Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry is an intriguing prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft, but will the Minnesota Vikings be keeping an eye on the young player?

A tackling machine who also is a great locker room presence, Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry might be an interesting prospect to NFL teams looking to add depth and competition to their defense. His long list of awards speaks for itself and that kind of recognition is deserved from his play on the field.

Perry has a non-stop motor, He works hard and fights toward the football on every play. He’s not afraid to be physical or take a big hit, as he can absorb a lot of punishment while still taking down a ball carrier. Wrapping up his targets, very few players get away from Perry, as his technique is solid and reliable.

However, he does have a knack for overcommitment. At times, he’ll be too involved in a block or route that he’ll take himself out of a play. He’s an old-school type thumping linebacker, who should be relied on for tackling, but not so much in covering the pass game. He may just be a two down linebacker in the NFL.

Here are Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry’s numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Nov 7, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner (7) is knocked to the ground by Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry (37) at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 254 pounds

Arm Length: 33 7/8″

Hand Size: 10 1/4″

40 Yard Dash: 4.68 seconds

Bench Press: 20 reps

Vertical Jump: 33.5″

Broad Jump: 124″

3 Cone Drill: N/A

20 Yard Shuttle: N/A

Joshua Perry compares to:

CBS Sports: N/A
NFL.com: Taiwan Jones, Jets

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

Minnesota could be looking for a thumping inside linebacker to move Eric Kendricks to the outside. Kendricks is a much more athletic player and could be set free more often if a reliable tackler like Joshua Perry was holding things down in the middle. Plus, linebacker depth is always good for a team like the Vikings.

Next: 5 WR options for the Vikings in the 2016 NFL Draft

My Take:

Due to his limitations, he doesn’t have a first round value to me. However, if he falls to the Minnesota Vikings in the second round, the team should take a look at adding him to the team. Locker room leadership, solid tackling, and reliability are three things that head coach Mike Zimmer loves. However, the fact he may need to be taken off the field on third downs may not be appealing to the Vikings, who love players who can fill in at multiple spots.

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