Jerel

Worthy

Worthy was playing around 20 snaps per game, but he got destroyed in run defense against the Bears and got flagged twice for penalties.

This is a solid number for the 6'2/308 pound penetrating defensive linemen with 33" arms, who chose not to bench at the Combine. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock has been quoted as saying he doesn’t believe Worthy will last past picks “20-25". Worthy’s tape is great when able to time the snap count and shoot a gap but too often he is unable to hold an anchor or beat single blocks. We feel a first-round selection would be a sizable reach.

The Eagles will receive picks Nos. 59 and 129 in return. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock had a first-round grade on Worthy, but there’s a widespread concern that he plays “lazy.” While Worthy fills a need in Green Bay with nice size (6'3/310) and first-step explosion, he too often lost one-on-one battles at the line of scrimmage and adds little as a pass rusher. He’s likely ticketed for right end opposite Ryan Pickett in Dom Capers defense.

With an explosive first step and up-field pass rushing skills, Worthy tallied 27.5 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks as a 38-game starter at Michigan State. He’s expected to compete for the starting right defensive end job that was a trouble spot all last season following Cullen Jenkins’ departure.

The forty times are fine for Worthy, and he certainly has upside as an interior pass rusher. What would concern us is his inconsistent motor on tape and noticeably soft body. He appeared to be in worse physical condition than any defensive lineman who ran the forty during Monday’s Combine showing.

“There’s nobody in the NFL game today or college or all the way down to pee-wee who plays every play full speed, full-go without getting tired,” he said. “It’s impossible. All I can say is I’m going to come in and try to continue to work to be a lot more consistent.” The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel believes Worthy will get “every chance” to establish himself as the Packers’ starting right end.

Worthy’s forty times (4.97, 5.03) were respectable for his size, but he is noticeably soft in the body, and according to Lande looked “out of sorts” during position drills. He reportedly also showed “poor balance” and “no true explosiveness” in his workout. Worthy is shaping up as a boom-or-bust prospect.

A first-team All-American in 2011, Worthy posted 30 tackles, 10.5 for loss, with 3.5 sacks against persistent double teams as the centerpiece of the Spartans’ fifth-ranked defense. Currently 20th on Mel Kiper Jr.'s prospect rankings, Worthy is expected to be a first-round pick.

Names connected to the Titans in early mock drafts include Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy, USC DE Nick Perry, Nebraska CB Alfonzo Dennard, and South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram. Munchak also envisions targeting the offensive line as high as the second or third round.

Worthy is also limited in that he’s basically only a 4-3 gap shooter and may not appeal to 3-4 teams. “He’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde player who looks great in one game and very average in others,” Weidl says of Worthy. “Worthy likely won’t crack the first round and will come off the board in the early- to mid-second round.”