Falcons draft scouting report: DL John Cominsky, Charleston

The Atlanta Falcons banked on potential with their second of two 4th round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at one of the newest members of the Falcons brotherhood.

The Dan Quinn era has made a habit of centering their draft strategy on prospects that are not quite NFL ready. While it has proven to be a wise direction to travel (Deion Jones, De’Vondre Campbell), there has also been a few whiffs in the process (Jalen Collins, Duke Riley).

This time around, the Falcons are deciding to take a chance on a raw piece of clay from the Division II level. The potential is there and is quite obvious. What does defensive lineman John Cominsky bring the Falcons defensive scheme? Let’s take a look.

John Cominsky Scouting Report

Height: 6’5

Weight: 286 lbs

Career stats: 206 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, 10 pass deflections

Games watched: 2017 vs. West Virginia State, 2019 Senior Bowl

Strengths: For starters, Cominsky has an NFL-ready frame. That stands out on it’s own after you consider that Cominsky arrived at the University of Charleston as a 210 pound dual-threat quarterback. That size is apparent on film as well as his athleticism, which is somewhat a result of being an agile quarterback once upon a time. At the NFL Combine this year, Cominsky posted an excellent 3-cone drill of 7.03 seconds and a 40-yard dash time of 4.69 seconds.

For a lineman that is still learning the position, Cominsky has established a habit of attacking the chest of opposing linemen and maintaining solid leg drive, which takes away leverage. As a run defender, Cominsky is able to stack-and-shed offensive linemen and attack the ball. When that occurs, Cominsky demonstrates intense hustle to chase plays from the backside and down the field. Speaking of effort, Cominsky developed a work ethic while at the University of Charleston that impressed many within the NFL circles. The Golden Eagles coaching staff inserted the growing defender in many spots along the defensive line as they alternated between a 3-3-5 scheme and a 4-3 alignment in recent seasons.

Weaknesses: Raw. No other way around it. Cominsky is not a finished product as a defensive lineman and is in need of coaching polish. His level of competition did not possess prime NFL talent to say the least. That will present a hurdle as he enters the professional ranks. As a pass rusher, Cominsky is in an ‘entry-level’ phase in that department as he is still learning the ropes to construct an arsenal of moves to utilize. Cominsky comes out of his stance way too high and needs to learn to lower his base and play behind his pads at times.

Conclusion: Cominsky is a raw piece of clay that was selected in the fourth round for the Falcons, which is where his was forecasted to be. Despite his unseasoned skill set, Cominsky may actually be my favorite draft pick by the Falcons. There is plenty to like about Cominsky, from his work ethic to his size/frame and his current ability, and I find myself thinking that the Falcons may have something if given the proper time and coaching. In year one, Cominsky will be gradually brought along as a strong-side defensive end and at times slid inside to apply his strength and athleticism. Given a year or two, Cominsky could not only grasp the Derrick Shelby role that the veteran had while a Falcon, but possibly have a much greater impact. If Cominsky is able to develop the fundamentals of the game to go along with his natural athleticism, he could be a diamond in the rough and a key asset in Atlanta.