Draft Analysis:
Bucky Brooks' take: Crawford gives the Raiders a long, rangy defensive end to incorporate into their defensive line rotation. He will battle for playing time as a situational player.
6'5" Height
33 1/2" Arm Length
274 LBS. Weight
10 1/4" Hands
Overview
Crawford started for three years at Penn State and has just five years of experience at his position. He was a late bloomer who moved to the United States from England to play basketball in high school before picking up football and, eventually, a scholarship from Penn State. He is a developmental prospect who can still fill out his incredible frame. He is a late-round prospect who could be taken earlier if a team can live with developing him. He is an inconsistent player at this point in his career. He barely showed up against Houston in the Ticket City Bowl and logged only one pass defensed -- a microcosm of his career at Penn State, where he generally just stood up and hoped to knock down balls with his frame.
Analysis
Strengths
Crawford has an amazing frame for defensive end. Taller than 6-foot-5, he is going to get his hands up and disrupt passes at the next level. Even if he has to develop early on, he can contribute right away in this aspect. He is athletic for his position and it shows when he is running down cross-field plays. He is adept at shedding blocks and getting to the ball. For a raw player, he has a surprising feel when working against the run game. He struggles against the pass and is still developing his technique to be more effective there, but his frame gives him plenty of potential.
Weaknesses
Crawford is still developing as a football player. It is obvious at times that he hasn't been playing the game very long; he has difficulty reading offensive lines and reacting to plays against the run. Once there, he is disruptive and effective, but he could be a deer in headlights early on at the next level. He is not very quick off the ball and will need to continue to develop his speed and burst. He looks nice but can't really burst in short areas to get to the quarterback and finish the play.