Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is one of the more interesting prospects to study in this year’s draft. Coming from a school that is not well known for high-end pass-rushing talent, he certainly pops off as an intriguing target. Potentially being the first Oregon State defender to be picked within the first three rounds since Steven Nelson in 2015, there must be something to like about Rashed. Let’s see what the hype is about.
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Hamilcar Rashed Jr.
Jersey: #9
Position: Edge
School: Oregon State
Class: RS Senior
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 245 lbs
Run Defense (5.75/10)
Rashed is certainly not a scrub in the run game. He is able to seal an edge as well as play the zone run at a high level. Rashed was able to develop some block shedding skills in 2020, but they are still very raw. The Oregon State product, however, has a few flaws. First, he for some reason has a kryptonite-like relationship with tight ends. They always seem to eliminate him from being effective (even Colby Parkinson!). The other downside with Rashed is that he looked timid and ineffective on the goal line, especially when dealing with lead blockers. There were multiple times where he took on a lead blocker with his shoulder and had zero effect on the play three yards from him.
Pass Rush (5.75/10)
Rashed is very raw as a pass rusher, but he shows flashes of great talent. He has a very lethal inside swim move, but the problem is that there is little else that is effective in his move arsenal. It is noteworthy that there were flashes of other moves, but they were ineffective. Rashed’s length usage is definitely an asset here (which will be discussed more soon). The Oregon State product’s athleticism, length, and toolset show projection for a potential starter in the NFL. Only time will tell whether coaching can truly develop Rashed into the pass rusher that he hints he can be.
Length (7.5/10)
This may be the reason Rashed is drafted as high as he will be. The Oregon State product uses his length (keyword: uses) as well as some of the first-round talents in this class. It is apparent in every snap that he takes. It is such a great asset in his projection to the NFL. Again, this makes Rashed potentially a day two prospect.
Technique (4.75/10)
Rashed’s technique is something that needs improvement. He is not terrible at all, but he plays with a high pad level and lacks any versatility with his pass-rushing moves (that actually work). His edge bend is also not the greatest, but with coaching and length usage this can easily be turned into an asset.
Tackling (1.75/10)
Ouch. Rashed may potentially drop out of day two for many teams due to his tackling. PFF has him graded at 37.4 for tackling (he has been over 55 only once in four years). Rashed was seen slipping off of multiple tackles (27 missed tackles in three years starting) and missing wide-open sacks at an alarming rate. Hopefully, NFL coaching can help him turn this around, or he may not make it onto a roster past the preseason.
IQ (3.75/10)
Rashed has flashes of good and terrible IQ. To start off positive, he plays outside zone run very well. In an NFL that has been evolving into a zone run-heavy league, this is a good trait to have; however, there are a lot of negatives on tape. Rashed did look lost on quite a few plays. One play was extremely alarming: against Stanford in 2019, he bit hard on an inside zone that was a screen to the other side. Luckily for Rashed, Davis Mills did not keep the ball and take it to the house (he clocked in a 4.58 and a 4.66 second 40-yard dash). In an NFL that has mobile quarterbacks that do read options, this will prove lethal if not fixed immediately.
Athleticism (6.75/10)
Rashed has quite solid athleticism. He has a solid first step, which is crucial in being able to deal with slower tackles. Rashed is also quite fast and has a good burst that allows him to move fluidly. NFL teams will find that aspect of his game very enticing. Rashed has developed more strength, but it is obvious that he is not a dominant threat power-wise. That can easily change with an NFL diet and exercise routine.
Power or skill at the Point of Attack (5.5/10)
Rashed has improved on this category noticeably since 2019, but there are still issues. The Oregon State product uses his length and finesse for a reason: power is not his strong suit. He has developed power and length into his run defense in 2020, but it was not consistent across all of his snaps. This can easily improve with coaching. Again, tight ends should not be able to deal with Rashed, but they can. Ultimately, Rashed has shown flashes of power, but he appears to not yet be able to master its use. This is perfectly fine so long as he is not a top two-round pick. Rashed will need time to develop and grow into the player that he should become.
Positional Versatility (1.25/10)
Ouch, again. Rashed has a very poor PFF coverage grade (38.8 in 2020), so mark off being an off-the-ball linebacker. Next, he has only played in a two-point stance, so he fits a 3-4 outside linebacker role. Unfortunately, his coverage skills will limit him to blitzing subpackages. Rashed’s weight also hinders his ability to play anything but a subpackage edge rusher. The bottom line is that there is only one real role he fits, and that has little value in the NFL.
Competitive Toughness (4.5/5)
Rashed fights every down regardless of whether the play is to his side or not. His score was docked half of a point due to the aforementioned goal-line shoulder blocking. That may be petty, but it should still be factored in. Rashed seems to be a good energy on the field.
Injury (1.5/5)
Another ouch. Rashed is noted as having many injury-plagued seasons in college, not to mention being a redshirt who did not play his true freshman year (he also had only eight snaps in his RS Freshman year). Injuries seem to be a chronic problem for the Oregon State star.
Player Summary
Rashed is a rollercoaster. He has all of the raw talents that a team could ask for in terms of pass-rushing and run defending. Tackling is certainly a huge concern play-wise (as is IQ). The real issue besides tackling is injuries. These may shove him down draft boards around the league, and it is a shame given how great Rashed can be. It is said that “the best ability is availability,” and many teams will follow that rule. With the right coaching, the right scheme, and the right health, Rashed can certainly bloom into an absolute weapon on the defensive side in the NFL. Only time will tell whether his demons follow him to his professional career.
Final Grade (48.25/100): Late Third Round
Player Comp: Tyus Bowser
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