CJ Donaldson

RB · Ohio State Buckeyes · 2026 NFL Draft Prospect

Model Rank
253
Model Grade
67.49
Round Range
UDFA
PFF Grade
73.2
Trait Score
71.02
RAS Score
-
Top Driver: TRAIT (-2.38)

Report Summary

CJ Donaldson (RB, Ohio State Buckeyes) carries a 67.49 model grade with a current UDFA projection. Current board slot: 253. Primary NFL pathway: Primary committee back with passing-down utility in wide zone. developmental contributor profile; creates hidden yards and stays on schedule. Seed rank 288 indicates current market confidence with developmental upside still available. How to read this card: 'How He Wins' describes repeatable film traits; 'Primary Concerns' lists failure points that can delay NFL translation.

How He Wins

- Usage fit: Primary committee back with passing-down utility within wide zone. - Film translation comes from vision plus contact balance: press tracks, force linebacker displacement, then accelerate through daylight. - Model + film note: developmental contributor profile; creates hidden yards and stays on schedule. Seed rank 288 indicates current market confidence with developmental upside still available.

Primary Concerns

- RB projection risk is driven by burst creation, tackle-breaking translation, and passing-down value. - Lack of explosive-run creation (9.7% explosive rate) narrows home-run ceiling. - Role stress test: value is strongest in primary committee back with passing-down utility; projection gets thinner if usage expands too far outside that lane early. - PFF grade 73.2 suggests current performance volatility that needs film-confirmed cleanup.

2025 Production Snapshot

PFF grade 73.2 Stat context: rush attempts 96; rush yards 361; rush TD 10; 15 rec, 96 rec yds, 1 rec TD; CFB quality mixed (0.82)

Role / Scheme Projection

Best early team fit: DAL. Scheme path: wide zone. Expected early deployment: Primary committee back with passing-down utility. For film-heavy evaluation: this role asks for box-count recognition, run-track efficiency, and enough receiving utility to stay on the field in sub packages.
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