2016 NFL Draft Profile: Michigan Football Defensive Tackle Willie Henry

The Basics

Willie Henry is an example of a prospect without a whole lot of buzz on the recruiting trail, but was able to improve each season at Michigan and blossom into a player with NFL dreams ahead of him. He was a key cog along the defensive line last season for the Wolverines and tied for the team lead in sacks with 6.5 to go along with 10 tackles for loss. After the 2015 season, he decided he would test the waters and enter the draft with a season of eligibility remaining.

Strengths

Henry is explosive off the snap and fires out low. Obviously a bigger player, but is an extremely athletic pass rusher that moved around the defensive line in his time at Michigan. Shows good burst at both end and tackle and finishes plays in impressive fashion. Has the look of a player who's best football is still ahead of him and has a ton of upside.

Weaknesses

While a very good pass rusher, Henry is a bit less polished against the run, but still good with room to grow. Needs to improve his discipline with pre-snap penalties. Drops his head off the snap at times which leads him to lose sight of the football. The tools are there, but technique isn't quite yet. We will see how that changes with NFL coaching.

Overview

Mel Kiper Jr. said back in January that he could see Henry moving into the first round, which may be his upside, but the film would suggest he is a mid-round pick. Henry has all of the tools to be a contributor on an NFL defensive line, and maybe even a starter at some point, but he is still raw and in need of some refinements to his technique. He could come off the board sometime late in the second round depending on how some team's boards shake out, but the top half of round three looks like the spot for Henry.

Projection: 2nd-to-3rd Round