FanPost

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Andrew Billings, DT/NT

School: Baylor University
College Experience: Junior
Age: 21
6-1/311 lbs
5.00 40 Yard Dash 1.77 10 YD Split
27.5 Vertical
9'5" Broad
31 Bench
8.05 3 Cone
4.82 Shuttle

104 Tkls, 30 TFL, 7.5 Scks, 1 FF

Overview

Andrew Billings is a freak of a player, no two ways about it. Since high school, he's been a freak. When Billings was 18 and still in high school, he broke current WWE Superstar and "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry's Texas powerlifting record by benching 500 lbs, squatting 805 lbs, and deadlifting 705 lbs. He registered approximately 266 pancake blocks during his junior and senior years of high school. He beat Shawn Oakman in arm wrestling with 2 fingers(maybe not). Unlike the Stephen Paea's of the world, his strength translates to the field. Billings was the best player on Baylor's defense by a country mile because not only does he keep the linebackers clean, he makes plays, leading the Bears in sacks last year with 5.5 from the DT position. It's clear to see how strong Billings is, but what surprises most people is his agility. Big men aren't supposed to move like he does, but he does it anyway. From a potential perspective, Billings should be a top 5 pick. From a production perspective, he's still a 1st round pick. Just like at Baylor, NFL teams can expect him to step onto the field and make an impact day 1.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrew Billings. He's a man, he's 20! Vulgar display of power here. <a href="https://t.co/TP61hpnyUM">https://t.co/TP61hpnyUM</a></p>— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) <a href="

">March 31, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is like the scene from JAWS, right? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baylor?src=hash">#Baylor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BillingsAndrew">@BillingsAndrew</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash">#NFLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/W0Y7OCW2p4">pic.twitter.com/W0Y7OCW2p4</a></p>— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) <a href="

">April 2, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">310lbs Andrew Billings chasing down a running back. Represent <a href="https://twitter.com/BUFootball">@BUFootball</a> at the NFL Combine, Bill. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SicEM?src=hash">#SicEM</a> <a href="https://t.co/hL8nZUghpq">pic.twitter.com/hL8nZUghpq</a></p>— BaylorVision (@BaylorVisionHD) <a href="

">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrew Billings can move laterally contrary to popular belief <a href="https://t.co/0AbcQoPKzN">https://t.co/0AbcQoPKzN</a></p>— Andrew Kipp (@andrew_kipp) <a href="

">April 11, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andrew Billings <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016NFLDraft?src=hash">#2016NFLDraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLDraft?src=hash">#NFLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/mOUBaNltyw">https://t.co/mOUBaNltyw</a></p>— Andrew Kipp (@andrew_kipp) <a href="

">April 11, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is Andrew Billings (<a href="https://twitter.com/BillingsAndrew">@BillingsAndrew</a>) on <a href="https://twitter.com/buffalobills">@buffalobills</a> radar? If not, HE SHOULD BE!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BillsFanatics?src=hash">#BillsFanatics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BillsMafia?src=hash">#BillsMafia</a> <a href="https://t.co/OcUAEpA1EY">pic.twitter.com/OcUAEpA1EY</a></p>— #BillsFanatics (@BillsFanaticsBF) <a href="

">March 30, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BillingsAndrew">@BillingsAndrew</a> showing his blazing speed as he shaves off time from his combine with a 4.92 at Baylor's Pro Day! <a href="https://t.co/lTWbqknT0J">pic.twitter.com/lTWbqknT0J</a></p>— BPS (@BOMMARITOS) <a href="

">March 17, 2016</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What's not to like about Andrew Billings? Having a hard time writing negatives here.</p>— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) <a href="

">April 13, 2016</a></blockquote>

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Strengths

  • Elite power
  • Very agile for position
  • Moves well laterally
  • Uses leverage very well
  • Sheds blockers well
  • Motor is always on
  • Explodes off the snap
  • Young, turned 21 in March
  • Plays with low pad level
  • Often seen splitting double teams and shooting through gaps
  • Excellent as a run defender and pass rusher
  • Fluid movement skills
  • Uses hands violently
  • High character and work ethic
  • Extends arms into blockers
  • Ridiculous sideline to sideline speed for a DT
  • Dominates single blocks
  • Sound tackler
  • Effective bull rush
  • Knows when and how to disengage
  • Scheme versatile
  • Student of the game

Weaknesses

  • Top heavy
  • Short
  • Still developing his arsenal of pass rush moves
  • Occasionally runs himself out of a play
  • Could improve snap anticipation
  • Sometimes too much time between initial burst and first contact with lineman
  • Leg and hip explosion aren't always there on film
  • Relies on upper body
  • Still a little raw as a defensive lineman; played on the O-line in high school

NFL Player Comparison: Aaron Donald, LA

How He Fits

Billings unique blend of power and quickness compares favorably to the style of Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald. He isn't the same caliber of athlete that Donald is, but very few are. If Billings can sharpen his technique and develop his other pass rush moves, he'll be an All-Pro player sooner rather than later. Both 4-3 and 3-4 teams alike have a place for Billings, who can be a 1 tech or 3 tech and play extremely well in both. "For me, it's Billings," an unnamed NFL personnel executive said in November after being asked which prospect was the "safest" in this year's class, per Jeremiah. "Worst case is he's a solid, disruptive starter. Best case he's an Aaron Donald-type game-plan wrecker." Billings figures to go in the late teens to early 20s in the draft, and falling any further than that would be a travesty of epic proportions. I don't even know why he's projected to last that long. If Billings is there past pick 20, I expect there to be multiple teams on the phones looking to trade.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.