NFL Draft Profile: Habakkuk Baldonado, EDGE, Pittsburgh Panthers
#87
Pos: EDGE
Ht: 6036
Wt: 251
Hand: 1048
Arm: 3300
Wing: 7938
40: 4.78
DOB: 9/6/1999
Hometown: Rome, ITA
High School: Clearwater Academy
Eligibility: 2023
Habakkuk Baldonado
Pittsburgh Panthers
One-Liners
The tools are there for Baldonado to develop into a power rusher, he is just really raw right now.
Evaluation:
The first thing that stands out on Baldonado’s film is his length and size. He has long arms and really good height for a defensive end. Because Baldonado is on the stiffer side and struggles to win the outside track, he relies on his length to bull rush offensive tackles and penetrate the pocket. Baldonado flashes explosive linear athleticism that allows him to convert speed to power. There are a number of plays where Baldoando was able to create pressure on stunts, using his speed and power to get after the quarterback from the inside. Some players just have a knack for getting into the backfield and Baldonado is one of them. It doesn’t always look pretty but he was constantly around the quarterback on film. Some of his pressures came against tight ends, which won’t happen in the NFL but he took advantage of the mismatches presented to him. Baldonado’s motor is always running hot and he was able to be effective when the quarterback got outside of the pocket and he also made tackles upfield. Baldonado’s game translating to the next level is predicated on him improving his play strength. He has the frame to continue to add strength and good weight, which he will need to have success. There are a lot of flashes on film but they weren’t consistent enough because of his play strength. His stiffness will prevent him from dipping his shoulder and winning the outside track. Improving his overall strength will also help him in the run game. There are times where Baldonado will get washed out of plays because he isn’t strong enough to stack and shed offensive lineman. The tools are intriguing, Baldonado is going to need some time to develop though. Teams looking for a traditional power rusher will want to take Baldonado on day three.
Grade:
5th Round
Background:
Habakkuk Baldonado is from Rome, Italy who only played one season of high school football in the US. When he came to the US, he attended Clearwater Academy International High School in Florida where he recorded an impressive thirty and a half sacks at Clearwater. He also played some receiver where he averaged around twenty four yards a reception. Baldonado will look to show off more of his versatility for Pittsburgh in 2022.
