Chris Paul Jr. LB Ole Miss | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Chris Paul Jr. LB Ole Miss
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/23/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.62 seconds (75%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLAY STYLE: BOX LB | |
| Last Updated: 02/23/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.62 seconds (75%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
| Overall Rating: | 84.2 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
90% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
85% |
| Run Defense: |
|
88% |
| Coverage: |
|
77% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#86
Position rank:
#6
|
||
| College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1483 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
|
||
|
247 RATING: 86/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nick Bolton - Missouri |
|
82% |
| Edgerrin Cooper - Texas A&M |
|
80% |
| Daiyan Henley - Washington State |
|
79% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Born in Cordele, Georgia, Paul Jr. cut his teeth as a two-way playmaker at Crisp County High School, where he racked up an eye-popping 157 tackles as a junior while moonlighting as a running back. That versatility and natural athleticism caught the attention of several SEC programs, though he entered college as a relatively unheralded three-star recruit. After choosing Arkansas over Tennessee and Nebraska, Paul showed flashes of brilliance for the Razorbacks, earning Freshman All-SEC honors in 2022 with 62 tackles and 8 TFLs in his redshirt freshman campaign.The transfer portal brought him to Ole Miss in 2024, where Paul Jr. truly exploded onto the national scene. Anchoring one of the most dominant defensive units in Rebels history, he led the team with 88 tackles (50 solo) while showcasing his versatility with 11.0 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and consistent impact in coverage. His breakout season earned him First-Team All-America honors from USA Today and finalist consideration for the prestigious Butkus Award.
What stands out beyond the stats is how Paul Jr. elevated his game in the biggest moments. Against #2 Georgia, he registered 9 tackles and was a constant disruption in the run game.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Plus instincts and play recognition skills, quickly identifies blocking schemes and run fits with natural anticipation
- Natural instincts in zone coverage with fluid hip transitions and exceptional awareness of route combinations developing behind him - shows advanced pattern matching ability
- Nasty closing burst to the football carrier shows up consistently, bringing controlled violence through his tackles despite giving up size to bigger backs
- Elite processing speed pre-snap, consistently getting the defense aligned and making coverage adjustments - true quarterback of the defense mentality
- Exceptional change of direction skills allow him to navigate traffic smoothly, showing the ability to scrape and flow while maintaining proper leverage
- Brings juice as a blitzer with the burst to shoot gaps and create havoc - collected 11 QB pressures in 2024 while rushing selectively
- Special teams demon with over 300 career snaps in the third phase - shows up eager to mix it up in coverage units
- Advanced route recognition skills in man coverage against backs and tight ends - mirrors with patience and stays in phase through stems
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized frame at 224 pounds shows up when taking on blocks directly - can get overwhelmed by offensive linemen climbing to the second level
- Over-pursues at times trying to make splash plays, leaving cutback lanes exposed - particularly evident against misdirection and counter action
- Limited length (30â…›" arms) restricts his tackle radius and ability to disengage once bigger blockers latch onto his frame in the run game
- Will occasionally lose gap discipline when reading zone runs, getting caught guessing rather than staying patient and flowing with the play
- Tackle technique can get sloppy when fatigued, rising up and giving up yards after contact instead of driving through ball carriers
Scouting Report: Summary
Paul Jr. profiles as a modern NFL WILL linebacker who can make an immediate impact on special teams while developing into a defensive contributor. His tenacity in pursuit and natural feel in coverage suggest he can earn defensive snaps early, particularly in sub-packages where his athleticism and instincts shine brightest.While his frame limitations will require creative scheming at the next level, Paul Jr. has shown enough on tape to project as a valuable depth piece with starter upside. His track record against SEC competition demonstrates he can hold up against elite athletes, and his dramatic improvement after transferring to Ole Miss hints at untapped potential. Defensive coordinators will need to protect him from direct offensive line climbs, but his range and football IQ make him an intriguing Day 2/3 target.
The ideal landing spot would be a defense that emphasizes speed and pursuit from their linebackers, allowing Paul Jr. to play fast and leverage his natural instincts. His special teams experience and coverage ability give him multiple paths to seeing the field early while he develops into a more complete linebacker.
Chris Paul Jr. percentiles vs other Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Chris Paul Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
89.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
11.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.