Chris Paul Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Linebacker
College: Ole Miss
Class: Redshirt Junior
Hometown: Cordele, Georgia
Height: 6’ 1”
Weight: 222 pounds
Arm Length: 29 7/8 inches
Hand Size: 9 3/8 inches
Combine Results
40-Yard Dash: 4.63 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.62 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36 inches
Broad Jump: 9’ 9”
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2025 NFL Draft: Chris Paul Scouting Report
Chris Paul Jr. is a prospect with the upside and production to be a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3 defense. Paul is adept at his assignments, and his play recognition steadily improved while playing across from two schools (Arkansas and Ole Miss) across the Southeastern Conference. He is adept at taking the proper angles to the ball carrier and is a sure tackler when he closes in on his target. He is a better blitzing linebacker than a cover linebacker, and he could be better playing downhill and adding the old phrase: “see the ball, hit the ball.”
Paul was a three-star recruit coming out of Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia, in Arkansas’ 2021 recruiting class. After making 28 appearances and 11 starts for Arkansas, Paul transferred to Ole Miss for the 2024 season and recorded 88 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups. He was named Associated Press Third Team All-American, Second Team All-SEC, and was a Butkus Award-winning finalist in 11 starts.
Strengths
Patient to diagnose run counters and move to his run fit.
Shoots hand into blockers with decent timings.
He knows when to pursue laterally and plays with good caution and discipline.
Rarely get caught in the wash on running plays with no way to find the football.
Good gap discipline and always correctly finds the ball carriers running lanes.
Good at blitzing and having closing speed to get to the target.
He is not averse to doing the dirty work on a defensive scheme.
Weaknesses
He does not possess the prototypical size and strength for the position.
He can get engulfed by climbing blockers.
Lacks the proper knee bend and body control when making contact with ball carriers.
Not aggressive enough making plays downhill.
Average speed for playing in man coverage
NFL Comparison: Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts
Potential Team Fits:Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Draft Projection: Day Three (Fourth-Sixth Round)
Bottom Line on Chris Paul Jr.
Chris Paul Jr. is a 2025 NFL Draft prospect who will be able to contribute to a special teams unit right away as he carves a regular role on a team’s defense. He has the tools to be a blitzing linebacker who can contribute on passing downs, but he will have to be protected by the interior defensive lineman because until he grows into his frame and obtains the mass he needs to take on guards on the second level, or perfects his technique for shedding and ripping those blocks, or he will have trouble on running downs. In conclusion, Paul has the potential to play a major role on defense if he can work on his mass and overall technique.
Main Photo: Petre Thomas – Imagn Images