DRAFT TRACKER 2021

The explosive testing will surely get teams and evaluators excited, but it might be hard to bang the table for him based on the tape. Paye's traits and potential should not be discounted, as he'll continue to be skilled up in technique and fundamentals. However, he's a choppy-stepping short-strider who doesn't play with the feel and instincts of an NFL playmaker. He can overcome his lack of stride length as a rusher with a more focused, upfield attack and better hands at the top of his rush, but he might be better-suited as a reduced rusher on passing downs, where his quickness could overwhelm guards. The traits and explosiveness are enticing but the film says "good" rather than "great" at this time

Prototypical NFL build and some of the most exciting traits and explosiveness of any edge defender in this draft. Those features can't be taught but they can be coached up, so any concerns about his lack of polish at this stage should be tempered. He has dominant potential as a run defender with burst and range to upend back-side and play-side runs, turning them into short gains or losses. While he figures to stack up stats with sheer athleticism, he does lack eye discipline and feel for blocking schemes, which tends to derail his momentum at times. He's slow getting off the snap, which dulls the early advantage he should be able to generate with his wicked get-off as a rusher. At this point, the hand usage and overall rush plan are lacking, but he has the feet for inside counters, the power to pull rush and the bend to dip and run the rush arc with fury. It's not all there yet, but with more coaching and experience, Oweh has the ability to rate as a Pro Bowl rush linebacker with the ability to stick a hand in the ground if you need it.

Fully grown 3-4 outside linebacker with NFL-ready strength and impressive explosiveness. Ojulari is better in pursuit than he is as an edge setter, but he is quick to slide off a block and either make a tackle or accelerate to pursue in space. His ability to attack pulling blocks and shut down potential running lanes was fun to watch against Alabama. He has quality rush burst with loose limbs, but has a limited number of rush moves. Ojulari hasn't learned to set up blockers yet. The strength, football character, explosiveness and athleticism all get check marks, but he won't reach his potential until he cultivates his pass-rush talent and learns to stay separated from the punch.

Edge defender with plus physical attributes and a motor that keeps him working and attacking throughout the rep. Philips might have the combination of length and athleticism that would allow teams to look at him with a hand on the ground or standing depending on his weight. Adding play strength will be important so that he can stack it up when setting the edge as a run defender in the league. He's a slippery-limbed pass rusher with good first-step quickness, which bodes well for his future rush success if he gets better with his hands and learns a go-to counter. He has a shot at becoming a solid future starter along the edge if his medicals pan out.

Rumph is more of a litmus test than a prospect with a defined position. As a 3-4 outside linebacker, teams will worry about his edge-setting power. As a designated pass rusher, teams could have a hard time pinpointing his draft value. That said, if a team sees him as an explosive athlete with a knack for finding the pocket, it will draft the talent and figure out the rest. There is no question that his lean frame and lack of play strength will cause him to take some bad losses, but that shouldn't overshadow his ability to make plays on the other side of the line despite his strength deficiencies. He's an instinctive rusher with the skill and traits to win outside or inside and can activate a long-arm bull rush from a position of leverage from time to time. He has the talent to play off the ball on occasion as a chase linebacker and can be activated as a rusher from a variety of entry points to further stress the protection. There is some boom/bust in his projection, but I see an ascending NFL rush talent.

Impressive physical specimen with the traits and athletic profile to move up the draft board, but tape shows he might still need more course work before he’s ready to make a difference in the pros. He uses his length and hands effectively at the point of attack, but needs to weaponize them as a pass rusher. Currently, he's too obvious as a rusher and doesn't have a myriad of go-to moves or counters when he's facing off against a talented opponent. The key for Tryon will be learning to grease the edge and create angles of entry both inside and outside. He has high upside but could spend the first year or two as a rotational defender while adding more polish.

Long-limbed, even-front end with a projectable frame but a concerning lack of functional edge experience. Much of his sack production came via athletic mismatches against interior blockers when reduced inside. He lacks prototypical get-off and needs more violence and pop in his hands, but his length, pursuit agility and wide-open throttle really stand out on tape. He doesn't come off as unwilling at the point of attack. Expect noticeable improvement as a run defender once he adds play strength and learns to bend and anchor more effectively. The checked boxes are a bit uneven, but that appears to be more a reflection of a lack of film rather than projectable talent. He carries a bit of a boom/bust profile, but also has the makings of a player who can become a quality 4-3 end within his first three seasons.

Former inside linebacker who has seen his stock rise quickly after a move to a more natural edge position. Ossai's draft grade will require a good deal of projection as he is still raw and inexperienced at his new position. His passion and go-go motor are the juice that fuels his desire to make plays, and his outstanding practice habits improve his chances for continuing to adjust quickly to his newfound positional home. He's long but has some hip tightness that limits his ability to hold the point of attack and bend the edge as a rusher. Ossai won't out-race tackles to the edge, but if a team can coach up his hands and add to his rush plan, he should turn into a solid pro as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Versatile defender who has worked both open and closed sides as an even-front edge defender. Snowden is a long, smooth athlete dropping into space or transitioning with change of direction. Lower-body anchor is an issue and he needs more play strength, but he's usually first to land his hands and does an adequate job of separating and setting the edge. Despite having some twitch with his get-off as a rusher, he gets locked out of the cookie jar due to an inability to convert at the top of the rush with hand usage or go-to counters. However, he has excellent lateral quickness for use in twists and stunts and has surprising potential as a zone or man defender when asked. Snowden is an ascending prospect with Day 2 potential as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but his ceiling will be defined by whether he can add mass and improve his rush.

Tall, gangly edge defender who is lacking in functional strength but makes up for it with traits and flashes of pass-rush instincts. Currently, even an average punch can stall out his rush momentum and he has a hard time exiting the block once opponents get into his frame. However, his pursuit of the play rarely comes to a full standstill and he naturally works to counter movements. If he schools up his hands and rush approach, the rush movements could turn into rush moves. He has plenty of burst and agility to make plays behind the line of scrimmage if he can free himself and get there. Smith is a developmental project, but he might be worth a shot in the middle rounds.

Productive but undersized defensive end who might need to prove he can play standing for a 3-4 scheme. Perkins is tight-hipped and a very average athlete with production coming thanks to his hard-charging motor as well as Oklahoma's slant-heavy defensive front. He's tough but the lack of bend has a distinct impact on his anchor and contact balance at the point of attack. Despite some physical deficiencies, he plays with forward focus and the attitude to go find the football. There are differences of opinion in the NFL scouting community regarding his NFL potential, but the lack of traits and functional quickness are challenges that could limit him.

Long-levered stand-up rusher whose production over the last two seasons will surely catch a team's eye. Anchor strength and contact balance are the two immediate stumbling blocks Koonce faces in terms of his NFL future, but some of those concerns might be alleviated with more work in an NFL weight program. Koonce has a noticeable second gear to the football, but needs to improve as a tackle finisher. His approach as an edge rusher is basic and predictable, but he plays with instinctive feet and tempo changes, which could be crafted into a more dangerous attack in time. The step up in competition will be a challenge, but he has a future in the NFL as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Projects as a rugged stand-up rush linebacker who plays the game with his mad face on. Johnson possesses the compact frame, play strength and hand usage to set strong edges and hold his own when the running game rolls downhill at him. He lacks desired length and explosiveness as a rusher, but varies his angles and targets the blocker's edge to help make up for those deficiencies. While he definitely smells blood once he's in the pocket, he's more likely a hard-hat rusher than a highly productive sack master on the next level. He should come into the league as a solid backup at 3-4 outside linebacker with the potential to become a rotational defender or eventual starter down the line.

Sample is a short-stepper with hip tightness and wasn't able to convert enough pressures into sacks while playing outside. However, his skilled rush attacks and short-area footwork could give him advantages on the interior, where he can take more of a straight-line approach to the quarterback. He has quick hands and good upper-body strength, but it's not a lock he'll get used to battling NFL wide-bodies inside, despite his physical nature and toughness. Sample should become a solid, scheme-diverse defender with the ability to play strong-side end on early downs and reduce inside as a rusher. There could be teams who see him as a smaller three-technique if he can carry the weight.

Roche has packed the stat sheets for the better part of four years, but he's very average athletically and doesn't have the mass to consistently hold up at the point of attack. He's tight in his lower half, which limits his ability to corner sharply when attacking the pocket. However, he's limber in his upper body, which creates opportunities to slide off of blocks and make plays at awkward angles. His production should matter, but the athletic profile might push him down the board.

Traits-based edge defender with the potential to play standing or as an even-front end. Studying tape can be a frustrating exercise, as the same player doesn't always show up from game to game. He's an agile athlete with rare length and has the traits necessary to make plays on the next level, but his wingspan often goes to waste due to a lack of skilled hand usage, and he seems content to put it in cruise control in certain situations. He has the physical tools and athletic ability necessary to play in the league, but his ceiling and floor could be defined by his motor and willingness to put the work in that is necessary for improvement.

Compact edge defender with hard-hat demeanor and play strength that seems suited for the NFL game. Dimukeje will typically win with force and physicality over plus skill and finesse. He loses some reps to longer tackles but does a good job of setting strong edges, as long as he's able to long-arm the blocker in time. Below-average burst limits his range as a run defender and ability to close out quarterbacks as a rusher. He needs to diversify his rush a little but is already efficient and powerful to trim the edge and create pocket pressure. He has an average ceiling but should be a fairly steady backup as a 3-4 rush linebacker or 4-3 base end.

He's tall and continues to fill out his long frame with quality muscle, but he's still relatively lean in his lower body. Seemed out of position when matched up as a four- or five-technique, where bigger players were able to work him over at times. Despite that issue, Smith has been a consistent fighter and grappler at the point of attack and rarely gives in. The rush attack is very basic with standard "run, swipe and flatten" approach being used most often, but his length can be an undeniable problem for blockers whether they're pass protecting or run blocking. He may need a redshirt year on a practice squad so he can fine-tune his fundamentals and keep getting bigger, but he has a shot as a developmental prospect whose traits will keep teams interested.

Linear edge rusher with NFL size and length, but a lack of consistent urgency could hurt his chances. Jones doesn't play with much of a commanding presence at the point of attack and will need to crank it up in that area or teams will gear up to run right at him. He has enough rush get-off to occasionally threaten the corner but will find the sack production much harder to come by if he doesn't improve his hand skill and counters at the top of the rush. The physical traits are in place as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he'll just be a backup, unless the intensity and rush skill come around.

Smooth with easy change of direction, Toney's playmaking comes via athleticism over strength or high-end skill. His physical measurements are very average, but he can be explosive off the snap and around the rush arc. He also has the ability to slip blocks and chase down runners to the perimeter. He appears to lack the every-down power or toughness to handle run duties on early downs and might find that athletic NFL tackles take away some of the advantages he enjoyed in college. Toney could find a home as a backup edge defender with designated pass rusher potential if he can improve his conversion rate in attacking the pocket.

Hodge will need to prove he can go from a hand-in-the-ground defender to a full-time rush linebacker on the next level. He's a scrappy defender with good lower-body strength but his lack of bend makes it difficult to sit down and set a firm edge against the run. He has very little coverage experience, which might be a concern for 3-4 teams who are considering him. Hodge doesn't have the physical tools to consistently win at the top of the rush, so he will need to further master his rush plan and hope that his motor can make him dangerous enough to find a home either as a late-rounder or free agent.

High-character team leader with adequate size but below-average impact on the game. Hayes is athletic in his movements but he's missing an upper-echelon trait to really hang his hat on. He should get into a camp bit it might be as an undrafted free agent.

Raw but highly productive edge who could be targeted as a designated pass rusher by 3-4 defenses. Garrett's approach was fairly simple at Concordia, as he used his get-off and athletic ability to simply work around less-talented tackles on the Division II level. Even so, he put some major marks in just about every impact category -- and his processing and instincts to find rush counters is something to build upon. He's tight-hipped and plays too tall to bend edges on the next level, so he'll need to fine-tune his hands and his rush plan. His narrow waist and below-average limb thickness might mean he will struggle to hold desired NFL weight on his frame. While he can chase and pursue, he's not strong enough to handle life at the point of attack at this juncture. He's a potential practice-squad candidate early on.

3-4 stand-up linebacker with a tendency of adding to his production against lesser-talented competition. Watson is a one-speed rusher with decent get-off and a couple of inside counter moves to work with, but he lacks the desired acceleration and bend at the top of the rush and doesn't have a power move. He has enough athleticism to make some plays behind the line, but his lack of aggression and play strength are concerns as a potential NFL edge defender.

Shorter edge defender with huge hands and jarring upper-body power. Roberts' production is predicated upon his power, leverage and willful motor. Lower-body tightness creates inconsistencies through contact when he's not sitting down and ready to battle the block. He has heavy hands to thump run blockers but he's not a dynamic run defender by any measure. As a rusher, Roberts has shown the ability to cut a tight pathway into the pocket using leg drive to play through the edge of the tackle. He's missing a well-rounded game and desired traits, but his rush will give him an outside chance in camp.

Garner's tackle production is born from his length, play recognition and ability to flow to the ball with pursuit speed. However, his tape was noticeably affected by the level of competition. He has trouble slipping and taking on blocks and his success rate was noticeably diminished against an uptick in competition. He has good lateral quickness does a nice job of locating run lanes and stepping into them. Garner is a run-and-chase linebacker with good play recognition, but the toughness needs to match the traits for him to make it.

While it is highly unlikely Pututau hears his name called during the draft, he has some noticeable flashes on tape. Pututau is very raw and in need of much more fundamentals work, but had dominant production in 2019 primarily due to explosive athleticism. His burst up the field is charged up and his testing could create enough buzz that teams will open consideration for a free agent spot despite his age.

Face-up rusher with below-average upper- and lower-body flexion to defeat NFL tackles at the top of the rush. He has some straight-line explosiveness with the ability to twitch and go, but restricted stride length hurts his upfield charge and inside counters. He plays through the whistle, posting several sacks in 2019 due to secondary effort and a big closing burst on the quarterback. He plays with strong hands when setting the edge and shows an ability to shed tight ends. Rashed's tape shows a player who might be most viable as a 3-4 run defender/rush linebacker. His special teams value could play in his favor for a roster spot.

Will likely be considered a 3-4 stand-up linebacker. Mintze is a team captain and has been active in the community and as a fundraiser. He plays the game hard and with good passion and urgency, but lacks the agility and athletic prowess needed to be a functional end as a pro.