Rutgers defensive back Robert Longerbeam capped off a solid college career with a strong performance in the Shrine Bowl, but what does his scouting report say about his odds of succeeding at the next level?
Overview, Film Analysis, And 2025 Scouting Report Of Rutgers DB Robert Longerbeam
Measurables:
- 5’11”
- 178 lbs
Player Background:
Originally a three-star athlete from TC Williams HS, Robert Longerbeam committed to Rutgers in the 2020 class. He joined the team as a corner and special teams contributor, seeing time in five freshman-year games. His role expanded to a CB-heavy one by the start of the 2021 season, playing in all 13 games. In those games, he made 31 tackles, broke up nine passes, and forced two fumbles.
Longerbeam again played in double-digit games in 2022, starting six of his 10 contests. He picked up his first two collegiate INTs and first collegiate sack, breaking up another five passes and making 36 tackles. He blossomed into a full-time starter in 2023, with eight PBUs, an INT, a sack, two FFs, and 42 tackles in 13 starts. His final year saw him start 11 of 12 games, with 11 PBUs, two INTs, and 43 tackles.
Accolades:
- Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2023)
- Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2024)
Strengths/Pros:
Longerbeam’s alignment of his feet and hips is beautiful to watch when he’s on the boundary. He transitions cleanly between sitting in his base and being fluid in coverage, allowing him to rotate, stick, and follow assignments he moves with. His feet are quick and decisive when identifying and rotating through coverages on the outside. He stays disciplined and physical in said coverages and fluidly keeps his hips in line and engaged with receivers.
He shows excellent patience in closer coverage alignments, letting wideouts make the first move before smoothly matching. Longerbeam uses physicality well when re-engaging in man coverage, keeping himself within the vicinity to impact the catch point. His awareness in traffic is solid. He uses his vision to navigate the secondary and communicates well to keep his teammates on plan. He closes out routes with good speed and sharp angles, uses his hands well at the catch point, and finishes some tackles well when initially losing leverage.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Much of what Longerbeam needs to improve is his lighter frame and lack of high-end physical strength. Bigger receivers beat him easily at all points of play and outmuscle him far too easily. His arms are chaotic but not particularly violent, sometimes doing him more harm than good when playing physically. Those issues also hurt him after the catch, as he overextends too often and fully whiffs.
Longerbeam’s overall tackling is also inconsistent. He needs to finish much more of the ones he gets his hands on. Not regarding contact, another source of issue for him is staying too high in his backpedal. This causes him to adjust late to comeback routes and throw around his weight more when following laterally. He tends to drift too far away in off-man coverage and isn’t as quick to stick onto WRs as they cut as he could be.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Longerbeam is one of those prospects who plays one alignment but likely fits a different one better. It’ll be interesting to watch how he adapts to NFL competition, with the skills of a boundary corner but the size and makeup of a slot defender. A starting position could be in his future, but the path toward one isn’t definite. He could likely be a decent Nickel from Day 1, and improving some technical issues could get him outside reps as well.
Prospect Grade:
- Early 4th Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Maryland
- 2024 vs. Virginia Tech
- 2024 vs. Kansas State
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images
The post 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.