Donovan Edwards Draft Profile | Michigan, RB Scouting Report

One half of the Michigan Wolverines‘ RB duo, Donovan Edwards might be the more intriguing of the two as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect. As his scouting report details, Edwards is younger, more versatile, and his brand of athleticism is a sure-fire match for the modern game.

Donovan Edwards Draft Profile and Measurements

• Height: 6’1″
• Weight: 210 pounds
• Position: Running Back
• School: Michigan
• Current Year: Junior

Talent and production — two things you can’t count against Edwards. The West Bloomfield, Mich., product was a five-star recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, and he immediately found a role with the Wolverines upon arrival as a true freshman. He caught 20 passes for 265 yards and a score in his first year, and in 2022, he emerged as a venerable rushing threat as well.

While Blake Corum took on the higher volume in Michigan’s offense, Edwards was a more efficient weapon, amassing 991 yards and seven touchdowns on 140 carries while also racking up 18 catches for 200 yards and two scores. Now, Edwards is eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft, and he’s one of the top RB prospects on the circuit.

Donovan Edwards Scouting Report

Strengths

• Has a well-sized frame with good density, which amounts to stellar contact balance.
• Has the high-end explosiveness to surge through narrow gaps and get efficient yardage.
• Can use instant burst to go from negative to positive territory with no delay.
• Possesses the free-flowing twitch to adjust vertical attack angles while keeping speed.
• Able to identify backside lanes on inside-zone runs and carve his way upfield.
• Has good patience on pin-and-pull runs and can wait for blocks to play out.
• Flashes solid adaptability when navigating around blocks on his way to the second level.
• Able to use quick stutter steps to adjust his pacing and redirect on outside-zone runs.
• Can roll his hips back and distribute his weight to squirm through early tackles.
• Incredibly versatile receiver who can use burst and bend to soar into space after chips.
• Nuanced route runner who can freeze DBs with quick feet at stems and break suddenly.
• Instinctively corrals passes away from his frame and quickly resets his feet for RAC.
• Able to make adjustments in-stride for low passes and cushion passes with his frame.
• Has exceptional long-strider speed in space and easily warps tackling angles.
• Willing pass blocker who can launch into defenders with physicality.

Weaknesses

• Visibly lacks the mass necessary to scrape through early contact threats.
• Doesn’t have elite contact balance and can be brought down by solo form tackles.
• Contact balance translates better in the receiving phase and not in congestion.
• Willing to finish forward but is stalled out fairly quickly after lowering his shoulder.
• Sometimes gets tunnel vision on power runs and doesn’t adapt when primary gaps fail.
• Full-field vision is questionable at times as he fails to sense open outlets.
• Doesn’t always show high-end creative instincts in high-resistance situations.
• Peeking defenders can induce hesitation and throttle inconsistency behind the line.
• At times, can be more disciplined in pass protection with his footwork and leverage.
• Sometimes seeks only to obstruct and tucks his hands ahead of contact.

Current Draft Projection and Summary

On my early 2024 NFL Draft board, Edwards grades out as a potential top-five RB prospect, and a top-75 overall prospect in the class. He’s worthy of early-round consideration, and though he might not have the all-encompassing running utility to compete for the RB1 mantle, he’s one of the most dynamic and diverse athletes at his position.

Edwards is a perfect fit for the modern NFL with his brand of versatility. As a runner, he assuredly has enough creative instincts and reaction quickness to recognize lanes and capitalize, and he has the instant explosiveness to get upfield with efficiency. He can also offset defenders and adjust attack angles at the second level with his lateral twitch and ability to constrict while keeping speed.

MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

Having said all this, the majority of Edwards’ excitement comes from his ability as a receiving threat. He’s a nuanced route runner and pass-catcher who can be used in a variety of ways. His dense 6’1″, 210-pound frame, combined with his explosiveness and twitch, translates extremely well in the RAC phase.

Edwards can continue to cut down on lapses in exterior vision and hesitation, and he has room to improve his hand technique as a pass blocker. But overall, he profiles as a dynamic and versatile weapon who’ll have a considerable workload in an NFL offense.