2022 NFL Draft: DT Rankings

1

Strengths

Wyatt is a good all around player, who largely is able to win with athleticism and technique. His get off is great and lateral agility is quite good.  He is able to navigate his way around the line of scrimmage in order to make his way into the backfield. Wyatt has lined up in various positions along the line, at times showing off his athleticism against OT’s. He easily has the quickness to slip into gaps against interior linemen. Wyatt’s variety of pass rush moves adds to his threat level. He has a good arm over and can counter when his bull rush is stifled. He has also flashed an effective spin move. Against the run, his quickness further shows off. He is able to redirect his frame towards the ball carrier and will lay out to make the tackle.

Weaknesses

Strength by no means is bad, but if I had to pick out a weakness of his game, this would be it. Wyatt can be a little inconsistent with his bullrush, and the stronger interior linemen are able to anchor down. Further, his ability to penetrate through double teams is hit or miss. It is something I’d like to see more improvement on. Double team blocks also limit his effectiveness against the run, and there were some plays where he was ploughed right out of the way.Arm length is also on the shorter side, which limits both his tackle radius and ability to disengage from blocks.

2

Strengths

Leal is an athletic player with good quickness and tremendous bend. He spent a lot of time on the outside in college, but his skills translate perfectly to 3T. Leal has the agility and burst to slip through interior gaps. However, he doesn’t win exclusively with athleticism. Leal has a diverse rush plan. He wins frequently with an arm over, as well as a swim move, among others. These abilities translate over to the run game, where he is able to get off the block and wrap up the ball carrier. His length helps him finish off these plays. Leal’s consistent usage on the edge speaks to his athleticism relative to interior linemen. He is very athletic for an inside rusher. His frame has room to fill out, and getting stronger can further elevate his game. Ceiling is sky high.

Weaknesses

While the usage on the edge is nice to see, as it showed his versatility, it also was a disservice to Leal’s development. His best fit is on the inside, and he didn’t get as much experience there as he could have. Further, his frame is too lean as a result of his positioning. At his current weight, interior offensive linemen will be able to stifle any kind of power move. He will need to get stronger and bulk up. 

3

Strengths

Davis is an old school NT. Big, beefy interior lineman who is outstanding at neutralising inside rushing attacks. He possesses great strength and is a handful to block one on one. Davis will often require double teams, which opens things up for the rest of the front seven. He packs a powerful punch and has strong hands. Davis does well to fall off blocks and bring down the ball carrier as he is entering his vicinity. His strength is good enough to push the pocket and make the QB reset his feet on passing plays. He is able to buy some time for the other rushers. 

Weaknesses

As is usually the case with NT’s, Davis isn’t the most mobile person you’ll see. He is someone who lives constantly in the trenches, and won’t usually be able to successfully venture outside when runs head toward the sideline. Pad level can end up quite high, which hurts his ability to create some push. Beyond just pushing the pocket, Davis won’t give you a ton as a pass rusher. He lacks the agility to quickly penetrate gaps, and the speed to get home if he does manage to get through.

4

Strengths

Mathis is a solid all around interior lineman who is capable of both rushing the passer and stopping the run. His technique is nicely developed, and he has some rush moves in his tool box. His go to seems to be the swim move, which was effective. Mathis has underrated burst and straight line speed. He is able to get into the backfield and go after the QB. At the same time, he has the frame to eat up blocks and make plays in the run game. The hand technique also elevates his game when stopping the run. 

Weaknesses

Mathis is more of a linear athlete. He has the speed to get into the backfield when something opens up, but he lacks the agility to consistently finish the play off as the QB attempts to get away. Would-be sacks often turn into pressures. His frame is well built, but I was disappointed with the inconsistency of his ability to win with strength. He did at times, but at others, was moved off his spot. This, in particular, happened multiple times when the play was a run, and it opened up a lane for the RB. 

5

Strengths

Winfrey is a solid interior player with enough traits to develop into a starter. While his frame is lean, he shows power quite often. His punch especially can be quite punishing and knock his opponent back. Burst and speed are good. His get off is good and he has the burst to get into gaps as they open up. Winfrey shows flashes to good technique and some rush moves. They are good indicators of another level that he is capable of reaching. He had a knack for getting into the backfield on run plays, racking up his fair share of tackles for a loss.

Weaknesses

Winfrey, at this point, looks like a solid, but unspectacular prospect. While his speed and burst are good, he looks stiff when turning the corner, and it slows him down at the crucial point in the play when he is looking to sack the QB. Winfrey has a lean frame. It didn’t hurt him in college, but stronger players in the NFL may give him a tougher time. Rush moves came in flashes, and they were good, but he needs to use them more consistently.

6

Strengths

Jones has good length, in addition to a well built frame to handle the battles in the middle of the trenches. Strength is good. Jones eats up blocks and can shove away his opponent and make a play on the ball carrier. He played mainly as a NT, but I see a bit more agility than what is standard for the position. He might offer a bit more versatility at the next level. As a pass rusher, Jones does well to push the pocket and is sometimes able to make it through into the backfield.

Weaknesses

Good run defender, and shows flashes as a pass rusher, but his game is still raw at this time. Jones lacks any kind of pass rush plan, relying on his physical traits. His rush could be a lot more effective with hand moves and counters mixed in. Athleticism is about average. It doesn’t really stand out, and he likely won’t be a super dynamic player. Field vision can be hit or miss. 

7

Strengths

Uwazurike has good trait-based upside. Athleticism is pretty solid, and he shows good bend and speed to make his way into the backfield. His strength is also solid, and he has flashed the ability to win with power. Uwazurike has a high motor and is constantly moving, looking to create disruption. He has a long reach that will set him up for successful rush moves, and allow him to reel in tackles.

Weaknesses

Uwazurike is largely a developmental prospect at this point. Many of his wins were strictly because of his physical traits. Either strength or speed/bend. He showed some flashes of rush moves, but I don’t see them often in my exposures. He’ll need to diversify his rush plan in the NFL. As well, he often gets his pad level up too high, which causes him to lose leverage.

8

Strengths

Garrett is a very savvy player who has a wide variety of pass rush moves in the toolbox. His swim move is effective on a consistent basis. As well, he has shown the ability to swipe at the hands of his opponent and then shove him out of the way. His quickness is an underrated aspect of his game. He combines that with his high motor to work his way into the backfield, slipping through open gaps. Against the run, Garrett has shown to be a good tackler. He wraps up and makes sure to follow through each tackle. No shortcuts are taken.

Weaknesses

Garrett is lacking in the strength department. There are a number of reps where he is moved off his spot too easily in one on one situations. Needless to say, taking on double teams isn’t really his thing either. While his quickness is good,I wouldn’t say he has top end speed to help him in his pursuit. As well, limited length can limit his ability to get off blocks, and increases the risk of missed tackles.

9

Strengths

Butler is a good athlete. He saw some time both on the outside and inside, showing the ability to win with good bend. His feet are quick and he has some twitchiness to him. He can move laterally across the line of scrimmage in his pursuit of the QB. This movement ability helps him against the run, as well. Butler’s feet don’t stop moving, making it tough as his opponents try to sustain blocks. He has a high motor and, even if he doesn’t get through right away, can make QB’s pay for holding the ball too long.

Weaknesses

Butler is a good athlete. He saw some time both on the outside and inside, showing the ability to win with good bend. His feet are quick and he has some twitchiness to him. He can move laterally across the line of scrimmage in his pursuit of the QB. This movement ability helps him against the run, as well. Butler’s feet don’t stop moving, making it tough as his opponents try to sustain blocks. He has a high motor and, even if he doesn’t get through right away, can make QB’s pay for holding the ball too long.

10

Strengths

Farrell is a big, heavy NT with good run stopping abilities, and a bit more juice as a pass rusher than you sometimes see from a NT. His pure strength is good, and he effectively uses power to make his way into the backfield. He is savvy when getting off blocks. Farrell does well to do so at the last second and fall on the RB or close up the gap just as he attempts to get through. He has decent hand technique, and a few moves that allow him to win a little bit as a pass rusher. It is certainly not his bread and butter, but it is good to have at least some ability in this area. 

Weaknesses

Farrell isn’t the best athlete you’ll see. He has a decent get off, but his attack can look lethargic at times, and even a bit nonchalant. The hand technique helps him win at times when his initial bullrush is neutralised, but he needs to use his moves more often. Farrell doesn’t have the longest arms, which limits his tackle radius and ability to disengage from blocks. For someone who is primarily a run defender, this isn’t great.

11

Strengths

Booker split time between the edge and interior in college. However, he doesn’t have the size to remain outside, meaning he will play DT in the NFL. He was athletic enough for the edge, meaning he has plus athleticism for the interior. Booker is quick to hit gaps, and has good lateral agility to adjust his body to make tackles. He does well to fall off blocks and make tackles. His athleticism gives him upside as a pass rusher if he can develop further.

Weaknesses

Booker was a tweener in college, but will have to add bulk to his frame if he is going to commit to DT. On a lot of his inside reps, he was manhandled by stronger guards, and paved out of the way on running plays. At this point, there aren’t many rush moves in the toolbox. He’ll need to develop his hand technique in order to win on a more consistent basis. 

12

Strengths

Peevy has some solid traits that are worth developing. Great length and good size to eat up blocks and come up with some nice stuffs in run defence. Length helps in disengaging from his opponent and he is able to fall off the block to make a tackle. He has a high motor and his constant pursuit, at worst, creates confusion in the pocket for the offence. You see some flashes as a pass rusher, and there were a few glimpses of some nicely timed get-offs that resulted in pressure. Peevy has the strength to push the pocket.

Weaknesses

Still underdeveloped and I would like to see the flashes turn into consistency. Peevy needs to make a point of using his hand moves more regularly. Oftentimes, I thought he looked sluggish in his pursuit of the QB. Perhaps dropping a bit of weight to add some speed and quickness would benefit his game.

13

Strengths

Ogbonnia has a well built frame and good length. Strength is good and he shows flashes against the run. He is able to push his opponent forward, and his length helps him disengage from the block when it comes time to bring down the ball carrier. His strength allows him to push the pocket as a pass rusher, and there may be potential for him to expand on that.

Weaknesses

Ogbonnia is pretty one dimensional at this point. He lacks the athleticism and lateral agility to make a consistent impact as a pass rusher. While he has the strength to bull rush, he lacks the rush moves to counter when his initial rush is stifled. His burst is average, and there are some plays where he is slow off the ball. 

14

Strengths

Ridgeway is a big NT prospect. He is a space eater in the middle. Ridgeways has a high motor and keeps moving through the snap. He is constantly trying to just plough right through, and is someone who can wear down opponents, who have to work hard to neutralise his power. Strength is the name of his game. As a pass rusher, he shows glimpses of nice bullrushes. He pays at a good pad level and can use leverage to his advantage. RIdgeway has a strong punch and can knock his opponent off balance. His long frame is an asset, as he can disengage from blocks and fall onto the ball carrier.

Weaknesses

Ridgeway is a one dimensional NT, whose role is very unlikely to be expanded in the NFL. At this point, power is his one and only move, and stronger interior linemen shouldn’t have a problem handling him when they can match his strength. In my exposures, I didn’t see any kind of pass rush or hand moves, making his attack predictable. Ridgeway isn’t a great athlete. He’s a big, linear mover. Not much quickness and not much explosion.