Harold Perkins Jr. Draft Grade | Round 6, Pick 34 | FanVerdicts

A+

Top 3%Pick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Steal

Position

LB · Value Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #132 · Day 3 Sleeper

Harold Perkins Jr. was once considered a potential top-15 pick after his explosive sophomore season, but inconsistent development and injury concerns have tempered expectations heading into the 2026 draft. The former 5-star recruit burst onto the scene with his freakish athleticism and pass-rushing prowess from the linebacker spot, but struggles with coverage consistency and run-stopping fundamentals have limited his ceiling. Perkins is an electric edge-rusher in sub-packages who can create havoc with his speed-to-power conversion, but his inability to master the nuances of traditional linebacker play has NFL teams viewing him as a situational player with developmental upside.

Strengths

+Elite first-step quickness and burst off the edge allows him to consistently beat tackles around the corner on pass-rushing downs, showing rare acceleration for his size.

+Outstanding bend and flexibility to dip his shoulder and turn the corner without losing speed, making him a constant threat on third-down packages.

+Natural pass-rush instincts with an impressive arsenal of moves including a devastating speed rush, effective spin move, and developing bull rush.

+Exceptional closing speed in pursuit allows him to track down ball carriers from the backside and make plays outside his gap responsibility.

+High motor player who never stops hustling to the football, consistently showing up in gang tackle situations and creating deflections.

+Versatile rusher who can line up at multiple spots along the front seven, from traditional OLB to stand-up edge to occasional interior stunts.

+Strong hands at the point of attack when engaging blockers, showing ability to shed and disengage with violent hand usage and leverage.

+Instinctive blitzer who finds creases and shows excellent timing when sent on delayed rushes or coverage disguises.

+Flashes impressive range in zone coverage when asked to cover short areas, showing ability to drive on underneath routes.

+Physical tackler who brings pop and rarely allows extra yards after contact when he arrives at the ball carrier cleanly.

+Excellent special teams contributor with the speed and physicality to excel as a core coverage player on multiple units.

Weaknesses

NFL Comparison: Harold Landry

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