Daniel Thomas NFL Draft Scouting Report

Daniel Thomas
6'0, 230 pounds | Running back | Kansas State

Acceleration/burst/quickness:  Thomas doesn't possess the necessary quickness to consistently hurt the defense.  He struggles to press the hole quickly which results in tighter running lanes.  Thomas is not a two stepper and takes a while to get up to his full speed.  He doesn't have the quickness to out run defensive angles and lacks the 2nd gear to take it to the house.

Elusiveness:  There is not a lot of lateral wiggle to Thomas' game which limits his ability to make people miss.  This is mostly visible when he is faced with pressure in the backfield.  Running backs are often faced with immediate pressure and need to make a man miss in order to avoid loss of yardage.  However, he has good body control that allows him to make himself skinny and avoid tacklers.

Pass Catching: Thomas was a major part of Kansas State's game plan and was often asked to make plays in the passing game.  He has reliable hands and typically catches the ball out in front of his body.  Thomas doesn't possess dynamic speed which limits his ability in space.  However, his reliability means he could stay on the field in passing downs.

Pass Blocking:  The willingness to pass protect is something that is present in Thomas' game.  He isn't afraid to take on rushing linebackers or defensive linemen.  However, he is prone to throwing his body into the rusher rather than anchoring and using his hands.  Thomas also lacks ideal awareness and at times misses the immediate threat. While Thomas is not a great pass protector his willingness means there is potential.  There are not many college running backs that are ready to step into the NFL and be an effective pass protector.

Power:  Thomas is a tough runner that is always fighting for extra yardage.  However, he runs with a high pad level which impacts his ability to push the pile.  His up and down running style limits his balance and makes it easier for the defender to make the tackle.  To often, Thomas is brought down by the first tackler hindering his yards after contact.  Thomas didn't show enough to classify him as a powerful runner.  He will struggle to break tackles in the NFL.

Size:  At 6-0 230lbs Thomas possess good size and bulk for an NFL running back. He has average weight distribution with decent lower half thickness.  

Speed:  Thomas is not going to be able to out pace many defenders.  He has an limited initial burst and lacks the second gear to be a home run threat.  Thomas is going to struggle to out run angles and get to the edge of the defense.

Vision:  That fact that Thomas was able to be highly productive at Kansas State is a testament to his vision.  As stated earlier, Thomas doesn't have elite speed or balance but he can spot the open holes.  He does a nice job of sniffing out openings and cutback lanes.  His limited initial burst means the he is often forced to find smaller running lanes to be effective.

Final Word:  At one point, Thomas looked like a 2nd round running back but has since dropped in my rankings.  He doesn't have more than below average potential in the NFL.  Thomas' lack of quickness and high pad level means he doesn't have a true running identity.  He might be able to find a role as a backup but it is unlikely that he develops into an effective starter in the NFL.