Joshua Kaindoh NFL Draft Overview:
Position: Edge Defender
Height: 6’-7”
Weight: 265 pounds
School: Florida State
Joshua Kaindoh 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Kaindoh never quite lived up to the hype with the Florida State Seminoles. The former five-star recruit flashed a lot of potential in college but his “WOW,” plays simply didn’t come frequently enough to warrant a high pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. That said, Kaindoh’s prototypical size and those rare splash plays will get pro scout’s attention. It only takes one team to fall in love with the obvious athletic talent and believe they can put Kaindoh in the right situation to succeed.
At IMG Academy, Kaindoh was a hot commodity as one of the top defensive players in the country coming out of High School. He was named a USA Today First-Team All-American as a Senior and Kaindoh received offers from numerous Power-5 schools before committing to Florida State.
The talent was obvious in his first two years in Tallahassee. Kaindoh earned 17 total tackles and four sacks as a true freshman in 2017. However, the talent only came through in flashes again as a sophomore, when Kaindoh made 19 total tackles but failed to improve on his sack total, earning just three in 2018. A lower leg injury as a junior meant Kaindoh was given a redshirt year after appearing in only three games. However, Kaindoh declared for the 2021 NFL Draft as a redshirt junior. In 2020, he racked up 14 total tackles, three sacks, and one interception returned for a touchdown in seven games during the shortened season.
Strengths
- It’s difficult to find a bigger defensive end – 6’-7” & 265 pounds stands out in the film room, in the cafeteria, and on the football field;
- Has impressive bend and dip for his size – Able to get under linemen to the outside on a speed rush;
- Sets a strong edge and is able to separate from blocks using his length;
- Decent pass-rush toolbox – Has a swim move and the power to bull rush;
- Good burst off the snap – Initial quickness beats linemen in a flash when he’s right.
Weaknesses
- Injury history – made just 10 career starts;
- The production just wasn’t there – Eight career sacks for a player of his talent is an opportunity missed;
- The technique is inconsistent – Misses with his hands a lot;
- Doesn’t seem to have a plan – Switches between his moves, doesn’t seem to know when to use them effectively;
- Inconsistent in the run game – Doesn’t control linemen as he should at his size.
NFL Comparison: Rashan Gary
Gary was a first-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2019 NFL Draft. Obviously, Kaindoh doesn’t have that pedigree going into this year’s draft. However, both Gary and Kaindoh offer examples of prototypical edge defenders in terms of size, weight, and speed whose production doesn’t match what you’d expect to see from supreme athletes. Both players have all the tools and can set a physical edge but remain inconsistent in their pass rush reps. Gary did improve from Year one (two sacks) to year two (five sacks) and Green Bay expects another step in his development in 2021.
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings
Projection: Fifth Round
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Bottom Line on Joshua Kaindoh
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the measurements of Kaindoh on paper. He looks like an NFL edge defender, it’s that simple. The lack of production, injuries, and inconsistent tape make Kaindoh one of the more frustrating prospects in the draft to evaluate. Scouts will love the size, the quickness, the playing strength, and the flash plays at Florida State. An NFL coaching staff convinced they can coach up his technique will take a long look at Kaindoh when the draft moves into the middle rounds.
However, the facts remain that Kaindoh’s prime development years in college were taken away from him by injury in 2019 and a shortened season in 2020. Scouts never saw the progression to convince them the edge rusher is worth an early-round selection. His long frame and physical tools should have led to easy stats with the Seminoles. Too often he didn’t win his matchup.
Kaindoh never quite put it all together in college. However, the physical tools alone make him worth taking a chance on in the draft. Guys with his size and flexibility are a rare find on the edge. There’s a chance another year out from his season-ending injury in 2019 Kaindoh could become a better pro than he was a college player.
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