2023 NFL Draft: DE Rankings:
1
Will Anderson
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 253 lbs
Strengths:
Anderson is a high end prospect with the potential to become an elite player in the NFL. His burst off the line is visible from the first second you start watching his tape. He explodes off the line, presenting an immediate threat to the OT. His bend is also pretty good. It is enough for him to make it around the corner, but you also see it when he is twisting to the inside. At times, he will show off a nice spin move that can make OT’s look silly. Anderson has a lean frame, but is a lot stronger than he looks. He can win with power as a pass rusher, but you really see it when he is defending the run. Anderson can push his way forward, and then get off the block to finish off the play after creating chaos in the pocket. He sets the edge well and can keep contain when he needs to. His college production was off the charts, and he should be able to keep it going.
Weaknesses:
Anderson makes a lot of plays that pop off the screen, but there were also stretches where he disappeared for a while. He was especially disappointing against a high end OT in Darnell Wright. His motor is not always running as high as it should be, which contributes to these lapses. Anderson wins with power and athleticism, and has shown flashes of more technical wins. However, he doesn’t have a diverse enough rush attack. He will need to develop more pass rush moves and inside counters in order to be less predictable against high end NFL talent.
Summary:
Anderson was a great college player and has elite NFL upside. I loved his athleticism on tape, and was very pleasantly surprised with how much strength he displayed. He can make plays as a pass rusher, but also does not neglect his duties against the run. Anderson has some things to fix, but they are correctable. He will need to play more consistently with a high motor, and diversify his pass rush plan in order to maximize his ability on the field. The upside here is elite, and the floor is pretty close to that level as well.
| Grade: 89.7 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Myles Murphy
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 268 lbs
Strengths:
Murphy has a nice blend of size, strength, and speed, that makes him relatively well rounded as an edge defender. His size stands out on tape, and he has shown the ability to create forward push and win with a bull rush. He is a powerful player that finesse OT’s will have trouble with. For a bigger guy, I like the bend that he showed. He has enough there to combine with his speed and beat an OT around the corner. His hands are active throughout his pass rush rep, and he is continuously swatting at his opponent’s arms to limit the damage done to his attack. Murphy’s strength allows him to make plays in the run game. His length further helps him, as he is able to keep distance between himself and his opponent, so that he can fall off the block when the time is right. Murphy’s high running motor helps him be a consistent pest in the backfield.
Weaknesses:
Murphy is a good pass rusher, but will need to diversify his pass rush plan to keep his consistency up at the next level. He can be a little too insistent on staying the course when OT’s get an advantage early in the rep. Developing some inside counters would go a long way. Murphy has good bend for his size, but it is not at an elite level and can limit him in certain situations. It might be a slight limitation as he tries to get into the backfield, but it might actually hurt him more once he is already there. He missed a lot of chances to finish plays off in the backfield, as didn’t quite have the agility to do so with the QB scrambling around.
Summary:
Murphy is a high upside edge prospect with the size, strength, and athleticism to be a presence in the backfield regularly. Though he may not be perfectly fluid in the tighter spaces where plays get finished off, his ability to create chaos in the backfield can still go a long way. I would like to see him diversify his rush attack as he makes his transition. This can not only help him maintain his consistency that he displayed in college, but could also allow him to reach new heights.
| Grade: 87.4 | Round Grade: 1st |
3
Tyree Wilson
School: Texas Tech
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 271 lbs
Strengths:
Wilson has a massive frame, and some natural tools that you don’t see all the time. His strength is outstanding, and he consistently shows the ability to bully offensive linemen. He bull rushes with effectiveness, showing the ability to latch on and drive forward with his legs. Wilson also has powerful hands. His strike is extremely forceful, and can knock his opponent right off kilter. As he is off balance, Wilson then has the leverage advantage and is able to make his way into the backfield. On tape, the odd flash of a technical pass rush move comes around. He has shown glimpses of an effective swim move, and his long reach gives him the ability to have even more success if he can continue to develop his technique. Wilson sets the edge nicely against the run, preventing the ball carrier from taking it upside. The push that he creates also disrupts running plays before they can really get going, and his long reach gives him a nice tackle radius. He can get hold of the ball carrier, even when chasing from behind, and won’t miss too many of his tackle opportunities.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism is a question mark for Wilson. He has decent speed, but his get off is not good, which will put his burst into question. His bend also isn’t great, and winning with speed around the edge is something he will have a tough time doing. Wilson flashes effective hand moves as a pass rusher, but doesn’t take those tricks out of the bag enough. With his length, he should be using them a lot more. More consistency will be needed with his hand technique, and adding some new ones would be good too.
Summary:
Wilson is a quality player who possesses prototypical size and strength for the position. He wins with power as a pass rusher, and his strength also allows him to set the edge and make plays in the run game. His limited amount of bend will limit his overall upside, but Wilson can still take his game to another level by developing more pass rush moves, and using the hand moves that he’s already got on a more consistent basis. He may not be a stat sheet shredder at the next level, but Wilson should be able to make a big impact in both phases on defence.
| Grade: 86.3 | Round Grade: 1st |
4
Keion White
School: Georgia Tech
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 285 lbs
Strengths:
White brings a very intriguing blend of size and athleticism. At times, he has shown to be a disruptive force off of the edge. He shoots off the line, forcing OT’s to be on top of their game, all of the time. White has a long, lean frame and bends real well. Even when OT’s force him into a wide angle and think they have him contained, he can still manage to dip his shoulder and turn the corner quick enough to at least cause commotion in the backfield. His quick penetrating ability results in some very splashy plays. His burst is incredible. White has solid strength and has shown he can win with power. He generally sets the edge well enough, and his large tackle radius allows him to bring down the ball carrier in the backfield, or hunt him down from behind.
Weaknesses:
White is a very raw prospect, who will need to show further development in order to hit his ceiling. At this point his rush plan is very basic – win with speed and/or win with power. It is a predictable setup, and intelligent NFL linemen will be better prepared to stop it. He needs to start developing and using a lot more hand moves and inside counters, which could be deadly against oversetting OT’s, when paired up with his athleticism. White is also an overaged prospect. Overaged and raw is not a good combo. He has a tall frame, but it is lean, and wider OL can engulf him, and make disengaging very difficult.
Summary:
White has elite upside, thanks to his tall frame, elite athleticism, and good strength. He can win as a situational player with those traits, but in order to become a starter that is feared by offenses, he will need to develop his hand technique and diversify his pass rush plan. Given his lack of experience and older age for a prospect, he is a bit risky. But you can’t fault someone for falling in love with the traits. He’ll be a great one if he can put it all together.
| Grade: 84.0 | Round Grade: 2nd |
5
Derick Hall
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 254 lbs
Strengths:
Hall has a lot of strength jam packed into a smaller frame. Looking at him pre-snap, you might not expect the kind of power that he plays with. He is feisty in his rush, and his power and tenacity often prevents his opponent from really getting set, and it keeps the battle for leverage in his favour. Hall has good speed, which he then converts into power, giving him the ability to bush back even some of the strongest OT’s. His speed also gives him the ability to win straight around the corner, and he has shown decent bend at times, as well. His athleticism was on display often when Auburn had him drop into coverage, where he was able to do pretty well. The pop that he plays with allows him to create a commotion in the backfield, which can disrupt run plays.
Weaknesses:
Hall has some tremendous flashes against the run, but his overall awareness and effort in this area might not be as good as it could be. There is room for improvement as a run defender, and more consistency would be nice. Hall will need to diversify his rush plan. He wins with power, speed, or speed to power at this point, with little implementation of hand moves. Especially when going up against high-end NFL talent, where winning with pure strength might be harder for him, having a tool box full of rush moves will help him find and maintain consistency as a pass rusher. While he has decent bend, I don’t think it is high-end. Certainly below what I would expect from a smaller, leaner edge rusher.
Summary:
Hall brings surprising strength and power, given his size, and combines it with good speed to make for a tremendous pass rushing threat coming off the edge. The tools provide a decent floor, but to reach his ceiling, he will need to diversify his attack plan as a pass rusher. The flashes against the run are great, but more effort and consistency will be needed in this phase. Hall is not a finished product, but the potential is there to be a high end player off of the edge, with some underlying ability to play off the ball, as well.
| Grade: 82.2 | Round Grade: 2nd |
6
Lukas Van Ness
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 272 lbs
Strengths:
Van Ness is a big defender along the edge. As a pass rusher, he displays a good amount of strength to create push and work his way into the backfield. He is a blue collar worker who is able to chip away and find success later in plays, when he doesn’t get the initial win. For his size, I don’t mind his burst. Van Ness does well to engage in hand battles. His hand strike is extremely powerful, having the capability of knocking back even the biggest OT’s. The worker bee style that he plays with allows him to chase plays down from behind, and he’s got a good tackle radius to prevent the tackle from slipping away. Though he is primarily an edge rusher, Van Ness can kick inside and rush as a 3T. The size that Van Ness possesses gives him upside to be a stout run defender, and in time, he can be a well rounded player.
Weaknesses:
Van Ness isn’t a perfect prospect at this point. As a pass rusher, he lacks an abundance of rush moves, and his plan of attack is very predictable. While he is a decent athlete, he isn’t super bendy, meaning that he, most often, will try to win with power. His rush plan will need to be more diverse to win with consistency at the next level. Van Ness isn’t a dynamic athlete, and smooth, quick OT’s shouldn’t have too much trouble mirroring his attack. He has some size, but doesn’t look as strong as he could be. There are times where he still gets a bit out-muscled when playing the run, and he can be inconsistent setting the edge.
Summary:
Van Ness is a big body that wins with power as a pass rusher. Possessing decent speed and burst for his size, he can serve as a bigger threat if he develops some rush moves and diversifies his plan of attack. Though he has good size, Van Ness will still need to get stronger in order to find more consistency against the run. Early on in his career, he can find some success as a power rusher. Over time, as he continues to develop, he has the upside of a well rounded starter.
| Grade: 82.0 | Round Grade: 2nd |
7
Nolan Smith
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 238 lbs
Strengths:
Smith is an uber athletic edge rusher who also has the ability to drop into coverage. His burst off the line is phenomenal, and he has the ability to blow right by his opponent around the edge. The skillset is complete with great bend, which will help him round the corner without losing momentum. He is a tenacious, scrappy player. The consistent fight that he plays with helps him to be a constant presence in the backfield, and even when he doesn’t quite make it to the doorstep, you know he is buzzing around somewhere nearby. Given his smaller frame, Smith has surprisingly good strength. This helps him as a pass rusher, but even more as a run stuffer. Smith’s run stuffing ability is surprisingly good. He has the strength to bench press his opponent away from him, and fall off the block at the right time to meet the ball carrier.
Weaknesses:
Smith is a very good run stuffer. But will his size impact this in the NFL? His strength would suggest that it will translate, but there might still be some risk. The bigger issues, however, will come with his pass rushing. Smith, at this point, very heavily relies on athleticism to win around the edge. He has little starting experience and his technique is underdeveloped. He rarely will try to win with hand moves and counters, and this predictability will hurt him at the NFL level. As well, while he has the strength to make up for some of it, bigger OT’s with length will still give him a very tough time.
Summary:
Smith is a high upside player thanks to his elite athleticism and high end strength. His size works against him, but I think it is something he will mostly be able to overcome. That said, he’ll have a hard time finding work as a starter if he is unable to diversify his rush attack. Early on, depending on his playing time, he should be able to put some splash plays on tape. As he develops (if he does), the splashes should be able to turn into more consistency. This combined with his ability to stop the run, could make him an elite player before his rookie contract is up.
| Grade: 79.6 | Round Grade: 3rd |
8
Will McDonald
School: Iowa State
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 239 lbs
Strengths:
McDonald is an athletic player who profiles best as a pass rusher. His burst off the line is good, and he has the speed to beat OT’s and chase down the QB before he can escape. McDonald has shown some different rush moves. Outside of winning with pure speed, he shows a good swim move and a very good spin move. His hands are generally pretty active, and he continues to battle, even when he doesn’t get the initial win. As a run defender, you see some flashes where he effectively falls off of his block and extends out to make the tackle. He is a high motor player, so he isn’t just limited to makinging plays early in a rep. He can clean up the trash at the end, too.
Weaknesses:
Strength isn’t a huge part of his game. McDonald can sometimes get engulfed by bigger opponents, and his attempts to win with power are inconsistent. Setting the edge also can be a challenge at times. Athletically, there is a lot to like, but his bend wasn’t as good on tape as I was expecting. That’s not to say that he is a stiff, linear player, but there are traces of it. His awareness in run defence isn’t good at this point, and his desire to get after the QB can sometimes hurt his ability to stay in position on run plays.
Summary:
McDonald has great burst and good speed to win around the edge, even despite not having perfect bend. He has some good rush moves, and further diversifying could really make him a dangerous pass rusher. However, he lacks elements of power, and he might be limited to a situational pass rusher if he is unable to limit mental lapses against the run. He has some good upside, but there is still work to be done.
| Grade: 78.8 | Round Grade: 3rd |
9
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
School: Kansas State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 255 lbs
Strengths:
Anudike-Uzomah is a highly skilled, and highly developed pass rusher. When writing these reports, “needs to develop more rush moves” is something that comes up for a lot of prospects. But not in this case. Anudike-Uzomah has an abundance of them that he uses to work his way into the backfield. I love his dip and rip move, but he also effectively swipes the hands of his opponent, uses a swim move, and uses a spin move, among others, to beat his opponent. While his traits won’t blow you away, he has solid speed, quickness, and bend, as well as solid strength. On their own, they’d make for an average football player. However, they are sufficient when combined with his well developed technique. Against the run, he plays with a lot of effort, and has enough strength to effectively set the edge.
Weaknesses:
As mentioned above, his physical traits are about average. Bendiness is especially something that won’t be his calling card. While he is certainly able to win with his tools, they just don’t quite stack up to some of the other big names in this class. Anudike-Uzomah has good rush moves, but situational awareness of when to pull the tricks out of the bag could be a little bit better. Awareness against the run is also something that can improve. There are instances where he will sell out to rush the QB, and end up out of position when the ball is handed off.
Summary:
Anudike-Uzomah does not have elite physical traits, but they are sufficient enough when he combines them with his full toolbox of rush moves. He wins with technique a lot more than most college pass rushers that you’ll see, and this should be able to translate to the NFL. His play recognition will need to improve a bit, especially when it comes to playing the run, in order to limit mistakes at the next level. Overall, Anudike-Uzomah should be able to work his way into a starting spot relatively early in his career, thanks, in large part, to his well developed technique.
| Grade: 77.2 | Round Grade: 3rd |
10
BJ Ojulari
School: LSU
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 248 lbs
Strengths:
Ojulari is an athletic pass rusher who is able to win with speed around the edge. His bend is decent enough, but Ojulari’s burst and speed are really what he wins with. His quick first step gives him an early advantage in the play, and often puts OT’s into recovery mode, as they get desperate to keep the QB clean. LSU’s confidence to drop him into coverage tells you what you need to know about his athletic ability. Ojulari sometimes implements rush moves into his attack. I’ve seen a pretty good swim move, and he pulls out the spin move from time to time, as well. His speed allows him to chase down ball carriers from behind, when defending the run.
Weaknesses:
Ojulari has a small frame, and often gets engulfed when going up against wider OT’s. He has a tough time disengaging from these kinds of players. As a pass rusher, he has shown a couple of good moves. Adding to it would further help his pass rush. While he is a good athlete, his movements look a slight bit segmented at times. He isn’t perfectly fluid. Ojulari’s biggest improvements will need to come as a run defender. More than anything, it is his motor that needs repairing. He takes too many plays off when the ball is handed to the runner, and though he has the speed to chase some of them down, he just doesn’t put himself in the position to do so on a regular basis.
Summary:
Ojulari is a good athlete with the speed and enough finesse to threaten around the edge. As he continues to refine his technique, he should be able to find a bit more consistency, and pose a bigger threat to o-lines. His size will limit him, however, as bigger OT’s can often anchor against him. He will need to show a lot of improvement against the run to become a 3 down player. It is not as much to do with ability, as it is to do with effort. He needs to keep the motor running high all the time, or he will be limited to being a situational pass rusher. That is the role that Ojulari will likely have early on. If he can keep developing and find consistency, he may develop into a regular starter.
| Grade: 74.5 | Round Grade: 4th |
11
Isaiah Foskey
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 264 lbs
Strengths:
Foskey is a dynamic, athletic edge rusher with the ability to create some impressive splash plays. You often see his good burst off the snap, as he explodes towards the backfield. He has the speed to win around the edge and the bend to turn the corner without losing too much momentum. Foskey has displayed the ability to use the dip and rip move, and he has a few others in his toolbox. His burst and speed allow him to chase down ball carriers in the backfield from behind. He has decent length and is able to secure most tackles. Foske saw snaps on special teams, in addition to on defence, and he was able to block some punts.
Weaknesses:
Foskey plays smaller than his size, and is lacking the strength to consistently handle powerful OT’s. He rushes with speed and solid technique, but doesn’t bring much of a power element. This deficiency hurts him even more in the run game, where he often fails to disengage from his block, and is a non-factor on many run plays. He had plenty of flashes throughout his career, but sometimes disappeared in games where he faced a step up in competition. His game against Ohio State is a prime example. He went up against Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones (both players I have a 1st round grade on), but was invisible for the most part. This suggests he still has a good bit of work to do before becoming more than a rotational player.
Summary:
Foskey has dynamic qualities that give him a decently high ceiling. I love his speed and ability to bend around the edge. He is a hard worker that fights until the play is over. His flashes paint a picture of the dynamic pass rusher he can become, and his work on special teams should not go unappreciated. That said, he is lacking the strength to match up against bigger OT. Disengaging from blocks can be a challenge, and inconsistencies against the run litter his tape. Foskey can see some snaps as a situational rusher early on, but will need to improve in a few different areas to see more regular playing time.
| Grade: 74.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
12
Andre Carter
School: Army
Ht/Wt: 6’7”, 256 lbs
Strengths:
Carter is ultra talented from a physical standpoint, and has the upside to one day be an elite player in the NFL. Standing at 6’7”, he has speed, agility, and bend that you don’t often see from guys of that size. His get off is outstanding, and he has the speed to race forward towards the backfield, and the bend to actually make it around the other side of the arc. His long arms present him with big opportunities to gain a lot of leverage on every snap. He makes it difficult for opponents to get their hands onto his chest, and with his speed, this can be a huge problem for OT’s. Carter displays a good dip and rip move from time to time. A spin move also makes an appearance from time to time. When looking at his frame, you can see he has a lot of room to add. It is scary to imagine how dominant he can be if he were a lot stronger.
Weaknesses:
Carter is a very raw prospect, who will take time to put all of the materials together to build something that can be highly productive on a regular basis. At this point, his rush atack largely consists of winning around the edge. He rarely uses inside counters, meaning that when his initial rush is stifled, that’s pretty much it for him on that play. He has a very lean frame, and will definitely need to bulk up in order to not be overpowered by beefy offensive linemen. Carter is a work in progress in the run game. With his tools, you do see the odd flash. However, he often gets lost in the shuffle, and on other occasions, gets neutralized by his opponent. His instincts are also developing, and he will need better play recognition both pre and post-snap to not end up out of position as much.
Summary:
Carter has tremendous upside. He possesses a combination of size and athleticism that just doesn’t come around every day. Early on, he might have enough to be a situational pass rusher, but he is a long way from being a full time starter. He will need significant improvement to the mental part of his game, more pass rush counters need to be developed, and a lot of work in the weight room is still needed. It might take 2-3 years before we really see what kind of player he is capable of being, but the upside is well worth the wait. In the meantime, he has enough speed and bend to see 3rd down snaps as a pass rusher.
| Grade: 73.5 | Round Grade: 4th |
13
Isaiah McGurie
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 268 lbs
Strengths:
McGuire is a strong, powerful DE who is able to match up against the beefier OT’s that stand in his way. Out of his stance, he is quick to strike with his hands, and it is a powerful punch. He then likes to get under the chest of his opponent, and just drive straight back. He creates a lot of push, and he is smooth enough to then slip off of the block and continue his pursuit of the QB. McGuire helps out against the run in a couple of different ways. The way he can just push his opponent into the backfield creates a lot of commotion. The RB often has to redirect, and if he is not running into McGuire, there is a good chance he is forced back into someone else waiting to make the tackle. As well, McGuire has good block shedding ability to free himself up to go hunt down the tackle on his own. He has a high running motor, and this helps in both phases, especially considering his style doesn’t always create quick penetration. The process can be a bit longer, so the persistence and determination to keep at it as the play drags on is nice to see.
Weaknesses:
McGuguire has pretty good straight line speed, but his burst could be better, and he is not super twitchy. Winning around the edge with bend is not something he’ll do often, and opponents don’t have to get super wide in their pass sets. As a pass rusher, he relies way too heavily on power and his bull rush. McGuire has a shallow toolbox of moves, and his plan is pretty predictable. Especially given his modest overall athleticism, he will need technique, in addition to power, to win more consistently at the next level.
Summary:
McGuire is a DE prospect who plays with tremendous power, showing the ability to push his opponent into the backfield, and create havoc that can disrupt the other team’s run game. While he is pretty smooth for his style, he won’t win often with agility or burst. To reach his ceiling, he will need to diversify his attack as a pass rusher, rather than just relying on power. Overall, while he is only an average athlete, his power and ability to make plays as a pass rusher and run stopper should be able to translate. At the very worst, he should be a quality rotational piece. If he can develop his technique, I see starter upside.
| Grade: 73.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
14
Byron Young
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 250 lbs
Strengths:
Young is a high end athlete with the ability to disrupt things in the backfield. The speed to win around the edge is there, as is the bend that is so important when looking to turn the corner. Stunts and twists are also areas where he has success. He has a high running motor, and his urgency has sometimes been his main path to victory. The reps that really show off his motor is when the QB rolls out in the opposite direction, and he remains in pursuit, giving the same effort he was at the start of the play. Young has shown some flashes against the run. When the ball carrier is within his grasp, he is able to wrap up and not let him slip out.
Weaknesses:
Young is still a raw prospect, which is not good, considering he is an overager. He rushes the passer using mostly his athleticism by itself, and he lacks any kind of diversity. Rush moves will need to be developed. As well, his ability to get off of blocks has been inconsistent. Young has a lean frame, and has a tough time matching up against opponents with an abundance of power in their game. The matchups will only get tougher as he moves up in the ranks, and inconsistent play against the run will limit him to the role of a pass rush specialist.
Summary:
Young is a good athlete who has put plenty of flashes on tape. These flashes show a glimpse of his upside, but he will need to develop his technique in order to make it as a starter in the NFL. As an overager, it may be tough, and teams may be more likely to proceed with caution when looking his way. But if he can get stronger and develop his technique, Young has the natural athleticism to be a high end starter at the edge position.
| Grade: 72.3 | Round Grade 4th |
15
Zach Harrison
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 274 lbs
Strengths:
Harrison is a big DE who has shown the ability to win with power. While I wouldn’t say he is overwhelmingly strong, he has shown the ability to drive his man forward quite early in the rep. His length and natural leverage helps him out a lot, especially when going up against “finesse” opponents. Harrison’s straight line speed is decent, and he is capable of tracking down the QB once he enters the backfield. His strength and length come in handy when defending the run. They allow him to shed blocks so he can go and pursue the ball carrier. When he does track the ball carrier down, he has the wingspan to wrap up, and not let go. Harrison has shown that he has a few rush moves in his toolbox, which comes in handy in some cases, allowing him to not just rely on power to get to the QB.
Weaknesses:
While his straight line speed is decent, Harrison is pretty stiff laterally. He won’t win as a pass rusher with athleticism, as OT’s can mirror him around the arc, and he doesn’t have the bend to get around the corner without losing significant momentum. Harrison’s get off is slow, which gives his opponent an extra split second to get set. His instincts are average, and he can end up out of position sometimes. Harrison showed some nice flashes, but a lot of inconsistency showed up on tape.
Summary:
Harrison projects as a rotational lineman at the next level. He doesn’t have enough athleticism or bend to consistently win around the edge. WHile he does have good strength and length, his sluggish movements can still hinder him when he wins early in the rep with power. I don’t see him being a very flashy player at the next level, or one that will fill the statsheet. However, the tools he does possess should allow him to have an impact in a rotational role, where having fresh legs will additionally benefit him.
| Grade: 70.1 | Round Grade: 4th |
16
KJ Henry
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 251 lbs
Strengths:
Henry is a solid pass rusher who has shown a few flashes of pass rush moves that can get him a win at the line and an opportunity to get a sack. His speed and acceleration also look pretty good on tape, and he has enough quickness to incorporate some jukes into his rush, when he is coming in from a stand up position. From time to time, he was used in coverage, which speaks to the kind of athlete he is. His ability to penetrate the line can also disrupt running plays before they really get a chance to get going. Henry is a smart player. He sees the field well, with one example being that he knows when to end his pursuit of the QB, and instead gets his arms up to block the pass. He was able to do that on occasion in college.
Weaknesses:
Henry isn’t the biggest or strongest guy on the football field. He can lose out at the point of attack, and be kept in control by his opponent. For this reason, he has a tough time setting the edge, and overall, is a better pass rusher than run stopper. While he is a solid athlete, I wouldn’t say he has great bend, and this somewhat limits him as a pass rusher.
Summary:
Henry is a good, but not great athlete, who is also lacking a key component (bend) to consistently win around the edge with speed. That said, he does show some solid rush moves, and is smart enough to overcome certain deficiencies. He generally sees things well, with his batted passes being one example. Henry will need to get stronger in order to improve against the run. Otherwise, he may never rise higher than being a rotational player.
| Grade: 68.0 | Round Grade: 5th |
17
Robert Beal
School: Georgia
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 247 lbs
Strengths:
Beal is a long player who also possesses enough strength, speed, and burst to put some flashy plays on tape. Starting with his length, his large wingspan allows him to gain leverage over his opponent. Beal is able to extend his arms and create a gap between himself and his opponent. He then uses the push/pull technique to get him off balance and ultimately win the rep. His straight line speed is good and he can shoot off of the line, giving the OT less time to get set. His strength and natural leverage helps him when defending the run, and he is able to set a decent edge.
Weaknesses:
Beal spent a lot of time sitting behind top tier talent at Georgia. As a result, he is underdeveloped, despite his long tenure in college. His repertoire as a pass rusher is thin. He essentially relies on his speed to power move, while failing to implement inside counters on a regular basis. Beal has good speed, but is more of a linear athlete. Moving laterally, some stiffness shows, and he doesn’t have great bend to turn the corner when rushing the passer.
Summary:
Beal has enough to be a solid rotational edge rusher. His strength, power and length all make for useful tools, while his quick get off also helps. That said, Beal is lacking an abundance of rush moves to really be a big threat. Also, he is more stiff moving laterally than north/south, which limits him as a speed rusher. Ultimately, he can make some splashes in a rotational role as a speed to power rusher, while also being solid but unspectacular against the run.
| Grade: 67.6 | Round Grade: 5th |
18
Tavius Robinson
School: Ole Miss
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 257 lbs
Strengths:
Robinson is a player with some solid traits and good technique in some areas, that will make his transition to the next level a little easier. I like the way Robinson is able to dip his shoulder as he is turning the corner. It isn’t always easy for a bigger guy. He plays with active hands, and is always looking to use one of the many rush moves he has in his repertoire. Robinson does well to use his opponent’s momentum against him, and then counter with an inside move at just the right time. For him, it is not just a matter of having the moves, it is impressive that he can pick out just the right time to use them. As successful as his rush moves have been, having good length can help a lot. Robinson has that, and is able to swing the leverage game in his favour. His length also helps him as a tackler, minimizing the risk of players slipping out of his grasp. Robinson plays with heavy hands. His strike is powerful, and placed right in the centre of the chest. Though he isn’t the strongest player, he generates a good amount of power through this technique, and is able to push his man backwards as a result.
Weaknesses:
Robinson has a tall, but lean frame. Though he plays with power as a pass rusher, he often gets out-muscled when defending the run. He can be weak at the point of attack, and essentially be removed from the play. Robinson is more of a straight line athlete, who shows some stiffness when more agile movements and direction changes are required of him. He may not bend around the edge as easily against NFL opponents. Urgency is something that I think he could play with more of. There are times where watching him kind of just feels like you’re watching the play in slow motion. Even when looking at his hand moves. Speeding things up a bit would serve him well.
Summary:
Robinson has good height, length, and a toolbox full of rush moves that should help him at the next level. However, he isn’t ready, at this point, for anything more than a rotational role. His frame is lean and he will need to bulk up in order to better handle stronger opponents, especially when defending the run. Playing with a bit more urgency in some instances will also help him. Robinson has developmental upside. If he puts it all together, maybe he becomes a solid starter. If not, he should be at least a solid rotational guy.
| Grade: 66.7 | Round Grade: 5th |
19
Mike Morris
School: Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 275 lbs
Strengths:
Morris plays with good strength, which is not a surprise, given his big frame. He isn’t super fast, but he generates some power as a runner, and is able to translate this power into a successful rush attack. His great length can further cause problems for the OT. Morris does well to keep a bit of a gap between himself and his opponent, on some plays. He uses that space later in the rep to gain some extra leverage and then disengage when the time is right. Morris seems to have a good arm over move. He times it up nicely, countering to the inside while his opponent’s momentum continues to carry him around the arc. The power and savviness translates into the run game as well. And with his length, it is hard for runners to escape his grasp.
Weaknesses:
Morris appears to have decent straight line speed on tape, but when it comes to more agile movements, he can be a bit troubled. That twitchiness and bend that you look for in edge rushers isn’t there, and it largely prevents him from winning around the arc. He is forced to use power or inside moves to get to the QB. Morris sometimes has a tendency to let his pad level rise, which can give his opponent a chance to negate the advantage that comes with his natural length.
Summary:
The size, power, and improving rush moves that Morris plays with suggest that he can be a solid rotational player in the NFL. His length and strength combination can be a problem for opponents, especially as he continues to refine his technique. However, he is a pretty limited athlete, especially when it comes to agility and bend. As he transitions to the next level, Morris will need an extra focus on keeping his pad level down, and maintaining a consistent motor, which hopefully can lead to more consistency, and less peaks and valleys.
| Grade: 66.3 | Round Grade: 5th |
20
Dylan Horton
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 257 lbs
Strengths:
Horton is a thick built DE who plays a tough brand of football. His hands are consistently active, and he looks to deliver powerful strikes as he tries to get into the backfield. He has a good bust and enough speed to close in quickly on the QB. His natural power allows him to displace some opponents. Horton takes advantage of the push/pull move, constantly working to win over as much leverage as possible. He is a big body on the DL, can make his share of run stuffs.
Weaknesses:
Horton’s thicker build seems to restrict his ability to move laterally. It is below average, and he isn’t really someone who is going to bend around the edge to get home. Horton’s pass rush plan largely consists of feistiness and winning with some combination of power and athleticism. He will need to add a few more rush moves to his repertoire.
Summary:
Horton is a big dude, with the ability to disrupt things in the backfield using power, speed and burst. His pass rush repertoire isn’t very big right now, which limits him, and he lacks bend, which will hurt his ability to win around the edge. Horton played last year as a 3-4 DE. Given his denser frame, and athletic makeup, part of me wonders how he would fare as a 3T DT. He would have to bulk up quite a bit, but perhaps that is his best fit at the next level. That said, teams are more likely to see his speed and give him a try on the edge, the traditionally more valuable position. Regardless of where he ends up, he has the burst and power to disrupt things in the backfield. While he may not have huge upside as a pass rusher, he should be a good contributor in a rotation.
| Grade: 65.8 | Round Grade: 5th |
21
Nick Hampton
School: Appalachian State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 236 lbs
Strengths:
Hampton is a rangy, athletic player, who brings good pass rushing upside to the table, as well as a couple of other smaller utilities. His bread and butter comes as a pass rusher, where he uses his outstanding speed and quickness to burst around the edge and get to the QB. His speed makes it tough for OT’s to defend, and the natural length that he possesses allows him to tilt leverage in his favour, in some instances. You see a high motor all the time with Hampton. When he gets into the backfield, he will look to hunt down the QB, if he doesn’t get the sack right away. His speed in pursuit makes it a challenge for QB’s to get away. Hampton was dropped into shallower coverage a fair bit, and handled it well. He seems to have the lateral movement ability that will translate to the next level. That’s not to say that I want him in coverage all the time, but it is an added usage that you have, should the right situation pop up. As well, he has the makings of a quality special teamer.
Weaknesses:
Hampton is undersized, not only when it comes to height, but also mass. He is lacking the size and strength to become a full time starter, which will drop him down on many draft boards. Hampton doesn’t bring any power as a pass rusher, and this deficiency prevents him from getting off blocks and making plays in the run game. As a pass rusher, he shows flashes of hand moves, but needs to use them more consistently. As well, he has great speed to win around the edge, but there are times where he does not dip his shoulder enough, and the OT is able to recover enough to push his angle a bit wider. This can help buy enough time for the QB to escape or get rid of the ball.
Summary:
Hampton will most likely be a situational pass rusher at the next level, as his lack of strength/size and deficiencies vs the run will make teams hesitant to give him a three down role. Hampton brings speed and burst around the edge, and also has enough bend to make it through the other side. His play in coverage also makes him a good option on passing downs for defensive coordinators who like to disguise their looks quite often. Hampton has some technical stuff to work out, but he has the chance to be a solid player if put in the right role. Even still, the limitations are likely to drop him down.
| Grade: 62.5 | Round Grade: 6th |
22
Nick Herbig
School: Wisconsin
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 240 lbs
Strengths:
Herbig is a technical, high motor pass rusher, who possesses enough all around athleticism to make it at the next level. His technique is well developed. Herbig has an array of pass rush moves that he uses to exploit offensive linemen. He can dip his shoulder as he rounds the corner, and has enough bend to make it out the other side. His get off his good, and his acceleration stands out on tape. Herbig’s hot motor allows him to buzz around the backfield, and bring down a scrambling QB, when he isn’t the initial one to get into the backfield.
Weaknesses:
Herbig is extremely undersized as an edge rusher. He often gets dominated at the point of attack. More often than not, he is a non factor against the run, as he lacks the ability to consistently disengage. Even as a pass rusher, he doesn’t have that power element, and bigger OT’s, like Dawand Jones, can take him out of the play early, especially when they engage in the block first.
Summary:
Herbig projects as a situational pass rusher at the next level. He has the athleticism, technique, and motor to get after the QB, but his limited size and strength should lead to tempered expectations for him, even when taking just his pass rushing into account. His lack of size will cause issues against the run, which is why he won’t be a three down player. As well, I don’t see enough athleticism to really be used as an off the ball LB on a consistent basis. Therefore, his role should be pretty limited.
| Grade: 62.3 | Round Grade: 6th |
23
BJ Thompson
School: Stephen F. Austin
Ht/Wt: 6’6”, 238 lbs
Strengths:
Thompson is a long, athletic edge prospect with upside to become a quality player in the NFL. He has the speed to blow by OT’s on the edge, and the bend to make it fully around the arc. He has shown to have a good spin move, as well as the ability to use a dip and rip move with some success. His length can make it tougher for some opponents to sustain blocks, and it allows Thompson to create more room for himself to work. Thompson is someone who can penetrate inside gaps quickly, when he gets off the snap on time. His burst, and long frame can be too much to handle, sometimes. Thompson went to the East-West Shrine Game, and performed very well, which should bode well for his stock.
Weaknesses:
Thompson’s frame is the biggest thing that people will take issue with. It is very lean, and he is well short of the amount of weight he will need to play in the NFL. A lot of work in the weight room will be needed. At this point, stronger opponents can give him trouble, and you see a lot of inconsistencies when defending the run. As a pass rusher, he gives you some flashes of rush moves, which paint a picture of the upside. But he doesn’t use them enough, and often opted to just rely on his athleticism. More consistency will be needed. Thompson, as a small school prospect, will face a steep jump in competition, going to the NFL.
Summary:
Thompson is a raw NFL prospect, but one that brings a lot of upside. His athleticism and movement skills at 6’6” is outstanding, and the flashes he has put on tape of his rush moves provided a small glimpse of what he can be in the NFL. Of course, he will need time to bulk up and add the necessary weight to play the position. The good news is that his frame definitely has room to hold it. Once the weight is added and he gets stronger, he will need to prove that he can play with consistency against the run. Overall, Thompson is a project, but one that comes with a high reward if you complete it.
| Grade: 61.5 | Round Grade: 6th |
24
Jose Ramirez
School: Eastern Michigan
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 242 lbs
Strengths:
Ramirez is a good athlete who offers upside as a pass rusher. He has the speed and burst to get an early jump on the play, but I really like the bend that he has, which allows him to turn for home. Ramirez is a tenacious player. He loves getting after the QB, and is consistent in his pursuit throughout the play, until the whistle. His production in college was impressive, and his performance at the East-West Shrine Game likely helped his draft stock.
Weaknesses:
Ramirez is an undersized player who often gets overpowered at the point of attack. He lacks the strength to rush with much power, and his poor length causes him to lose leverage in a lot of situations. Unfortunately, he offers very little as a run defender, and will be facing much steeper competition than he did in college, so this likely won’t change.
Summary:
Ramirez has the athleticism to put some splashy plays on tape as a pass rusher. You have to like the way he gets after the QB, and his combination of speed, burst, and bend should translate nicely to the NFL. That said, he is undersized and doesn’t have the strength to match up against bigger players. He won’t add much in run support, meaning he projects as a situational pass rusher at the next level.
| Grade: 58.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
25
YaYa Diaby
School: Louisville
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 263 lbs
Strengths:
Diaby is a strong player, and it shows as a pass rusher. His bull rush is pretty effective, and he has the ability to walk his opponent back towards the QB. Diaby has success with the bull rush, but also incorporates pushes and pulls, as well as a good number of hand strikes. This makes it tougher for OT’s to deal with, as opposed to just playing power vs power. Diaby also has great straight line speed. This adds to his ability to bull rush, as he is able to convert speed into power on a consistent basis.
Weaknesses:
Diaby is a one dimensional player, essentially bringing his speed to power rush, and a few other variations of power rushes. But he doesn’t use any other kind of hand moves to counter inside, and he lacks the bend to turn the corner, even when his get off can give him a slight early edge. Despite his strength, Diaby has not been great against the run. Without developed hand technique, he has a hard time falling off of blocks to make plays.
Summary:
Diaby brings a nice combination of straight line speed and strength that he successfully uses to create an abundance of power as a pass rusher. However, while those things are nice, they are not enough on their own for him to find consistent success. He needs a lot of work on his hand technique, not only to diversify his pass rush attack, but also to improve in the run game. If he fails to improve on those issues, he won’t be more than a rotational backup. If he can, he has a chance to see more significant snaps.
| Grade: 58.2 | Round Grade: 7th |
26
Lonnie Phelps
School: Kansas
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 244 lbs
Strengths:
Phelps is an energetic, spark plug kind of player. He shows good speed around the edge, but it isn’t one fluid go at it. He battles all the way around the arc, showing active hands and a desire to incorporate some kind of power into his attack. I love how he will chase down the ball carrier once he is well beyond the line of scrimmage. He is athletic enough to do so with efficiency, at times looking more like a LB. In fact, he has dropped into coverage from time to time. His skill set should allow him to be a core special teamer in the NFL.
Weaknesses:
Phelps is quite undersized, and often gets overpowered at the point of attack. This limits his ability as a pass rusher, and also as a run defender. As a run defender, he looks more effective making plays in front of the line of scrimmage, instead of behind it. Phelps will need to incorporate more rush moves into his attack. At this point, his rush plan lacks diversity and is predictable. Athletically, there is a lot to like, but at times, his movements look a bit segmented, and maybe he isn’t perfectly fluid when bending around the edge.
Summary:
Phelps is a spark plug kind of player. He brings a ton of energy and a high motor on a play to play basis. His athleticism and motor is enough for him to make some splashy plays as a pass rusher, but his lack of size, strength, and length put a pretty big cap on his upside. But if he can develop his technique, he has enough there to maybe make it as a situational pass rusher. Either way, he should be a quality special teamer.
| Grade: 57.0 | Round Grade: 7th |
27
DJ Johnson
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 260 lbs
Strengths:
Johnson plays the game with good power, showing the ability to knock back his opponent at times. He packs a strong punch and can throw off the OT’s rhythm of his pass set. Johnson has shown the ability to bench press his opponent off of him in order to disengage from blocks to work towards the runner. Straight line speed looks good, and he combines it with a good motor. This gives him a chance to make an impact, even as the play begins to drag on. Johnson has a big wingspan that allows him to gain leverage, and can potentially make disengaging from blocks easier.
Weaknesses:
Johnson, at this point, is lacking pass rush moves and counters, making his plan of attack very lacklustre. He essentially relies on power and effort, which works sometimes, but not often enough to be okay with this being his only move. He does have the odd flash where he’ll use an arm over, for example, but those are few and far between. Johnson has good speed, but is still laterally, and it prevents him from bending around the edge. As well, it gives him a tough time reacting quick enough when defending the run. As a run defender, his strength is obviously an asset, but he can be a bit inconsistent as a tackler.
Summary:
Johnson brings power, a decent get off, and a high motor to the table as an edge defender. However, he lacks a pass rush plan that consists of anything more than power. He is an overaged prospect, so development may be tougher to come by. His strength and length are assets in run defence, but he will need to find more consistency as a tackler. Overall, Johnson could make it as a rotational player thanks to the power and straight line speed that he brings. But he will need to work on his hand technique, and improve consistency in both phases.
| Grade: 54.8 | Round Grade: UDFA |
Full Rankings:
- Will Anderson (89.7, Rd 1)
- Myles Murphy (87.4, Rd 1)
- Tyree Wilson (86.3, Rd 1)
- Keion White (84.0, Rd 2)
- Derick Hall (82.2, Rd 2)
- Lukas Van Ness (82.0, Rd 2)
- Nolan Smith (79.6, Rd 3)
- Will McDonald (78.8, Rd 3)
- Felix Anudike-Uzomah (77.2, Rd 3)
- BJ Ojulari (74.5, Rd 4)
- Isaiah Foskey (74.1, Rd 4)
- Andre Carter (73.5, Rd 4)
- Isaiah McGuire (73.4, Rd 4)
- Byron Young (72.3, Rd 4)
- Zach Harrison (70.1, Rd 4)
- KJ Henry (68.0, Rd 5)
- Robert Beal (67.6, Rd 5)
- Tavius Robinson (66.7, Rd 5)
- Mike Morris (66.3, Rd 5)
- Dylan Horton (65.8, Rd 5)
- Nick Hampton (62.5, Rd 6)
- Nick Herbig (62.3, Rd 6)
- BJ Thompson (61.5, Rd 6)
- Jose Ramirez (58.4, Rd 7)
- YaYa Diaby (58.2, Rd 7)
- Lonnie Phelps (57.0, Rd 7)
- DJ Johnson (54.8, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Tyler Lacy
- Eku Leota
- Ali Gaye
- Viliami Fehoko
- MJ Anderson
- Ochaun Mathis
- Thomas Incoom
- Andre Jones
- Habakkuk Baldonado
- Caleb Murphy
- Isaiah Land
- Brenton Cox
- Noah Taylor
- Ikenna Enechukwu
- Tyrus Wheat
Featured Image Via: West Point – The U.S. Military Academy (CC)