Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
Today we move on to the defensive side of the ball after spending the last 4 days on the offensive side of the ball. If you missed the last article, you can find my interior OL here.
The interior defensive line class is headlined by two players (you can probably guess who) and then a real mixed bag with plenty of upside but not much star power. Let’s take a look.
First Round Grades
1. Jordan Davis, Georgia Red Flags: Conditioning? Player Comp: Dontari Poe if he was given the “secret stuff” from Space Jam
Ideal Role: Nose Tackle who can develop pass rush moves over time
In the U.K., home of Blue Chip Scouting’s own Zac Rogers, “moving house” is when you relocate from one residence to another. In the U.S., “The Moving House” is what I am petitioning Jordan Davis’ nickname should be. It is not fair to be 6’6, 341 and move the way he does. Does he need to work on his conditioning? Yes. What’s his pass rush upside look like early on? Well, that’s in the realm of “pick up the offensive lineman and move him out of your way”, but a defensive line coach is going to love this kid who’s built like a shed.
Second Round Grades
2. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia Red Flags: 24-year-old rookie, off-field (domestic dispute, no charges filed) Player Comp: Corey Liuget Ideal Role: 4-3 Interior DL (3-tech) or 5-tech in a 3-4
Wyatt has improved every year at Georgia and in 2021 had his breakout season. He shoots gaps without hesitation and is able to deconstruct and shed blockers head-on. He’s solid against the run and the pass. His ceiling may be close to being realized, but his floor is that of a 5+ year starter in just about any scheme.
3. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M Red Flags: Poor Athletic Testing, Positional Fit Player Comp: AJ Epenesa
Ideal Role: 4-3 interior DL
Why A&M used Leal as a stand-up EDGE rusher I will never understand. He didn’t fit that role whatsoever. His athletic testing is similar to AJ Epenesa back in 2020 who was an EDGE I thought needed to be kicked inside as well. I’ve written his full report, you can access a more in-depth analysis by clicking on his name.
4. Travis Jones, UCONN Red Flags: None Player Comp: Marcell Dareus
Ideal Role: Nose Tackle
Who doesn’t love a nose tackle from a smaller school who goes to the Senior Bowl and wrecks house? Couldn’t possibly be me. I think he’ll be used the same way Marcell Dareus was when he was coming into the league. A space-eating nose tackle who can rush the passer here and there. I think Jones could go at the end of round one, but if he’s available in the second, any team with the need of some girth on the interior should jump at the chance to bring him in.
5. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: 4-3 defense as a 3-tech or 4i
There’s the narrative that Mathis is only a run-stopper. He had 8 sacks this year. Yes, he was largely a run-stuffer in his first few years in Tuscaloosa, but this past year he showed that he’s becoming a well-rounded defensive tackle. I think he’ll fit in a defense in the Jarran Reed mold from Seattle.
6. Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma Red Flags: None Player Comp: Daviyon Nixon/ Darnell Dockett
Ideal Role: Pass rushing 3-tech in a 4-man front
I’ve written Winfrey’s report, so you can find his full writeup by clicking on his name, but the TLDR version is that Winfrey, like most of Oklahoma’s team, underperformed in 2021 but his stock was boosted by a good week at the Senior Bowl and a good NFL Combine workout.
Fourth Round Grades
7. Eyioma Uwazurike, Iowa St. Red Flags: Age (Turns 24 the week after the draft) Player Comp: None Ideal Role: 3-tech in a 4-man front, or 5-tech in a 3-man front
I wrote Uwazurike’s final report, but I feel like I was too harsh. On film, I graded him as a 5th-round grade, but then again, I hate the way he was used at ISU, despite his production. He was a better athlete than I expected him to be, so he got bumped up a round into the 4th.
8. Zachary Carter, Florida Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: 5-tech
9. Matthew Butler, Tennessee Red Flags: none Player Comp: Sheldon Day
Ideal Role: Rotational 5-tech
Fifth Round Grades
10. Thomas Booker, Stanford Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental interior tackle in an even-man front
11. John Ridgeway, Arkansas Red Flags: None Player Comp: none
Ideal Role: Nose Tackle
Sixth Round Grades
12. Haskell Garrett, Ohio St. Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: 3-tech in a 4-man front
Seventh Round Grade:
13. Tayland “Big Sauce” Humphrey Red Flags: none Player Comp: A Cube Ideal Role: Nose Tackle
14. Marquan “Bully Ball” McCall Red Flags: None Player Comp: A bowling ball
Ideal Role: Nose Tackle