From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Auburn EDGE Keyron Crawford.
No. 24 KEYRON CRAWFORD/EDGE AUBURN – 6-4, 253 POUNDS (SENIOR)
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Keyron Crawford 6-4-253 9″ 32″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
DNP DNP DNP DNP
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
DNP DNP DNP
THE GOOD
– An impressive amount of total tackles came behind the line of scrimmage
– Solid production considering he had just one year of football experience before entering college
– Outstanding overall athleticism
– Only 22 years old with five years of football experience, has plenty of time to develop
– Comfortable dropping into coverage, can play man-to-man, and even saw rare snaps at nickel
– Solid instincts in zone coverage
– Able to win with his hands on first contact somewhat consistently
– Impressive closing speed
– Periodically shows technique to shed blocks against the run
– Good burst off the line of scrimmage
– Very quick laterally
– Good bend, overall flexibility
– Understands how to chip tight ends off the line as they begin routes
THE BAD
– Less experience means less time for refinement, and technique and instincts aren’t perfect
– Lack of instincts/experience makes him susceptible to fakes
– Struggles to get off blocks consistently if he doesn’t win at the point of attack
– Even though he has good closing speed, he sometimes lunges at the ball carrier from a distance instead of waiting
– Doesn’t set the edge consistently against the run
– Needs more counter moves when rushing the passer
– Could stand to vary his speed more to make his rush moves less predictable
– Overall tackling technique needs to be refined
STATS
– Career: 116 tackles, 24.0 TFL, 11.5 sacks, one interception, two passes defended, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries
– 2022: 14 tackles, 3.0 TFL, one sack, one pass defended
– 2023: 44 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 10.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, one pass defended, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles
– 2024: 22 tackles, 1.0 TFL
– 2025: 36 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble
– 47 games through four years, 24 at Auburn, 23 at Arkansas State
– Awards: 2025 First-Team All SEC (PFSN), 2025 Third-Team All SEC (Coaches)
INJURY HISTORY
– 2025: Missed two plays in Week 5 against Texas A&M with an injury, but returned to the game. Missed some practices before the game against Missouri shortly after, but never missed a game
BACKGROUND
– DOB: October 17, 2003 (22-years old)
– Hometown: Memphis, TN
– Graduated from Briarcrest Christian High School in Eads, TN, just northeast of Memphis
– Primarily played basketball in high school, didn’t start playing football until senior year
– Named Regional Defensive MVP in his first ever year playing football
– Started collegiate career at Arkansas State for two years, then transferred to Auburn before the 2024 season
– Studied Liberal Arts at Auburn
– His high school head coach, Brian Stewart, had to convince him to try football
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Although 2025 was Keyron Crawford’s fourth collegiate season, it was just the fifth year he has ever played football. There are some growing pains with that, despite how much fun his film is.
Crawford does everything right at the start of this play. He’s in a good position, whether this ball is handed off or if the quarterback keeps it. But he doesn’t have the instincts yet. He falls for the fake, allowing the quarterback to scramble around the edge. This kind of thing will come to him with more experience, but it’s not there yet.
Crawford is a terrific athlete who’s still learning how to play football. But he’s starting to refine his game, including his hand placement. When he gets his hands in the right spot at first contact, he usually succeeds.
Here, Crawford gets his hands on the tackle’s chest and quickly rips around him. He collapses the pocket, forces the quarterback to scramble, and shows impressive speed, nearly making the tackle. He is quite athletic coming off the edge here.
This is another example of Crawford using his hands well at the point of attack.
He’s in between the left guard and left tackle here, and faces the tackle right off the snap. Crawford doesn’t have the strength to consistently disengage from these blocks, but he’s quicker than most linemen he faces. He’s much faster than the tackle here, ripping around the outside and working his way to the ball carrier.
Quickness is Crawford’s best trait when rushing the passer. He’s speedy off the ball, and just as fast moving side to side.
Crawford rushes off the left edge here and stunts inside. Look at how rapidly he moves from the tackle’s outside shoulder to the B-gap. Here, he’s far too quick for the left guard and notches a sack.
Crawford can make defenses pay with his speed on those inside stunts. Here he’s rushing from the right side of the frame.
Even though he has to wait a second for things to clear in front of him, he flies through the gap. He’s way too fast for the guard to be involved, and his pressure helps force an incompletion.
That said, he improved at shedding blocks during the 2025 season.
Crawford doesn’t win at the point of attack, and the right tackle locks onto him. But Crawford shakes him off anyway and helps make the tackle. As Crawford continues to develop and refine his skill set, this shows promise.
That athleticism and his comfort level make him a weapon in pass coverage.
Crawford is athletic enough for man coverage, but his instincts are solid in zone as well. Here, he’s lined up on the edge of the line and drops to cover the flat. He picks up the running back out of the backfield, showing good instincts instead of trying to rush the passer. His coverage helps force a throwaway. It’s somewhat routine coverage, but he’s athletic enough to do it, and it’s solid knowledge for someone so new to the game.
CONCLUSION
Keyron Crawford is a really exciting player. He’s very quick in every aspect, off the ball, closing on ball carriers, and scurrying around the edge. He moves side to side rapidly as well, which makes it hard for tackles to set up against him. His athleticism gives him a very high ceiling if the rest of his game continues to develop.
That said, Crawford needs to add strength to compete at the NFL level. But most of his other concerns have a lot to do with his limited experience playing the sport. With more snaps, he should refine his skill set, and the instincts will come. He certainly will need good coaching to do so, but there’s a lot of room for him to grow. With that in mind, considering how good he looked on film in 2025, there is a ton of potential with Crawford.
Although Crawford is smaller, he reminds me of another player with the same last name, Tyrone Crawford. Tyrone was drafted in the third round way back in 2012. He also had very little football experience, but played with athleticism and intensity, while needing to refine his technique. Crawford had a solid eight-year career in the league. I expect similar, and probably even better, things for Keyron, whom I’m higher on than most. I think he’ll be a quality long-time starter, but he needs help to get there.
NFL Projection: Mid-Late Round 2
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 8.1 (Long-Time Starter)
Grade Range: 7.3-8.4
Games Watched: at Arkansas (2025), at Baylor (2025), vs Kentucky (2025)
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