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JUSTIN ZIMMER 6'3" 292 lbs Ferris State NFL.com GRADE 5.0 2016 draft prospect
(25 yrs old now)
STRENGTHS
Incredible upper body strength. Crushed out 44 reps at his pro day. Can expose blockers with core strength issues quickly. Uses pad level and hip snap at point of attack to generate leverage and pop when 2-gapping. Carries his weight well across his muscled frame. Can power through a blocker's edge as pass rusher. Three year starter with booming production spike as a senior. Highly intelligent.
WEAKNESSES
Tests out more athletically than he plays. Plays with some stiffness in his lower body which limits his bend and suddenness. Inconsistent anchor. Average pursuit range and quickness when forced to move laterally. Was able to dominate his level of competition with pure power over skill. Will need develop a go-to move and counter as a pass rusher.
BOTTOM LINE
Muscular strongman in the middle with the physical measurables to catch the attention of teams. With a little better bend and leverage, Zimmerman could become a more consistent anchor in the middle, but he might not have the athleticism in his playing style to translate all of that senior season production into anything more than a back-end roster spot.
SIGNED BY BUFFALO AFTER THE 2016 DRAFT AS AN UDFA
From the Bills website:
Raw talent
In terms of raw athletic talent, Zimmer arguably stands above every other defensive lineman in this year's rookie class. Look at his results from the regional Combine, where he had a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, 44 bench press reps, and a 7.09-second three-cone drill, among other workouts. That puts him right on par with a five-star prospect like Robert Nkemdiche, the difference being their collegiate experience. Zimmer is a shade over 6'2" and 300 pounds, with slightly short arms for a defensive tackle.
That said, athletic measurements don't always show up on tape. While I wasn't able to view any full-game cutups of Ferris State, a senior year reel of Zimmer offer some glimpses to his skillset on the field.
Run defense and block shedding
This is a bit of a question mark. Zimmer was rarely working against double teams in the highlight reels he posted to Hudl, and it's hard to ascertain how effectively he'd deal with a run scheme when adjusting from Division II to the NFL. He definitely has the strength to establish a solid anchor, but I believe more of his power is currently concentrated in his torso and arms than in his core; something that could cause issues against a double team. With his shorter arms and smaller weight, he's not built to two-gap on the defensive line.
Zimmer has the speed and power to shed blocks effectively, but his hand technique is very underdeveloped right now, and he was often able to win snaps just by projecting power and shoving his opponents aside. That won't work in the NFL.
Pass rush refinement and creativity
Very, very raw. The only technique of Zimmer's that looks close to being NFL-ready is his rip, but he could learn from watching Shaq Lawson execute the move. Many of his victories were a result of using his prodigious torso power to dominate physically outmatched opponents. He likely didn't face any 6'4", 325-pound offensive linemen in Division II.
Zimmer was used as both an interior pass rusher and as a rush end in college, and was productive from both spots. He can work inside and outside to make a play, and his versatility will be a bonus if he develops his pass-rushing technique further. Right now, it's likely that he'll hit a rookie wall until he becomes more consistent with his technique.
Fluidity in space
As advertised. Zimmer is phenomenal in this department, turning the corner on cutback runs, leaping over cut blocks to swat at a pass, and dropping into coverage like a player who weighs 270 pounds. If he has a free lane, you can feel pretty good about his ability to reach the ballcarrier.
Final word
Glenn Gronkowski and Eric Striker were the big names in this year's UDFA group, but I think Zimmer has a much better chance to become a contributing member to the roster (special teams not included). He's a rare athletic talent, and potentially the ideal backup for Kyle Williams. He has a lot to learn about playing his position in the NFL, but there's a small chance that he becomes a playmaker in this league.
COLLEGE CAREER
Zimmer finished his collegiate career as a three-time All-GLIAC First Team selection for the Bulldogs. He was both a nominee for the Gene Upshaw NCAA Division II Lineman of the Year Award and the Cliff Harris National Small College Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2015 after being a national finalist for both honors the previous campaign.
Statistically, Zimmer led Ferris State in tackles (81), quarterback sacks (13), tackles for loss (26) and forced fumbles (four). He was also chosen to the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team squad, making him a three-time Academic All-American and two-time first-team recipient.
During his collegiate career, FSU posted the GLIAC’s best league record (34-6) and the squad owned the top overall four-year record of all 21 collegiate programs in Michigan (37-9).
PRO FOOTBALL CAREER
Zimmer had previously joined the Saints after being named to their practice squad in December of 2016, which followed a training camp stint the previous summer with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
Zimmer, who spent training camp last summer with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, most recently played last fall with the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Montreal Alouettes where he finished with three tackles and a sack in his lone contest. He was signed by the Falcons as a free agent.
