DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Muscular ball of explosiveness with the tools and talent to become a productive three-down defender in the right scheme. Twitchy first-step quickness combined with flexion and power in his lower half create a recipe for disruption as a gap shooter or as a pass rusher. Murphy is powerful and well-schooled at taking on double-teams but lacks ideal mass and length for that role long-term. He’s successful at bypassing protection with sudden hands and quick feet, while his motor and passion create an activity level coaches will love. Forget the average physical traits and modest production and focus on his competitive spirit and disruptive qualities. Murphy is ascending and could become a successful nose tackle or 3-technique in an even front.

Sweat is a massive space-eater whose size and skill set will have him plugged into a role as a run-plugger for odd- or even-front defenses. He’s not quick off the snap or explosive into first contact, but it takes a village to try to uproot him and move him out of the way. The attention he will require from blocking schemes should help unlock the playmaking potential of speedy inside linebackers who won’t have to contend with as much traffic climbing into the second level. He offers more rush than expected for a man his size and could play more snaps than most at his position. Sweat’s area of impact will be narrowly focused, but it could create a much larger impact on the defense overall.

Active interior defender with the potential to build on his disruptive production in college. Newton’s size and length don’t stand out, but he has shown a consistent ability to gain extension and set edges against bigger opponents. Newton is clever in setting up blockers and then beating them with sudden hand usage and foot quickness as both a run defender and a pass rusher. He’s strong enough to hold the point, but he’s not going to overwhelm NFL guards with force or power. His skill level and athleticism should create additional playmaking opportunities for him as a three-down 3-technique with early starting potential.

Defensive tackle with below-average mass and length who makes up for it with above-average quickness and a constantly revving engine. Fiske uses sudden hands and nimble feet to whip single blocks. Once he finds daylight, he flies to whoever has the ball. He doesn’t have the anchor to sit down and muddy gaps, so scheme will be important for him. Fiske is a hustle rusher who can win quick or late if opponents don’t play with proper hand usage and match his energy. He lacks ideal measurables but has a chance to become an impact defender.

Possesses rare pedigree with a college football national title under his belt and a father who was a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Jenkins has a smaller frame for his position, but he plays with good strength in one-on-one power swaps. He can neutralize single blocks but has trouble fighting back to muddy his gap against double-teams. His motor stays engaged. He’s frequently running down ball-carriers and chasing quarterbacks by the end of the play. Jenkins flashes more rush talent than his sack production would indicate, but he still needs to work on developing more go-to moves to pair with his spin counter. Jenkins isn’t a natural two-gapper, but he can play upfield or read-and-react football on the next level as an eventual starter capable of creating disruptions.

There might be a different conversation if Hall was a little bigger, but a lack of size is hard to overcome on the NFL level. Hall plays with good pound-for-pound strength and stands up to bigger players in front of him. He’s twitchy to knock blockers off balance but will also be engulfed by size at times. He rushes with sudden feet and active hands to whip guards with quick wins but appears to lack the lower-body drive to capitalize on early advantages against stronger competition. Hall needs to add mass but should compete for a backup role early on and has immediate sub-rush potential as a 3-technique in a one-gapping scheme.

Orhorhoro had to wait his turn and share reps during his time at Clemson, thanks to the Tigers' deep, talented defensive fronts. His game is built upon leverage and explosiveness, but in 2023, he added a little more polish. Orhorhoro can get distracted by individual battles and needs to keep his focus trained on pursuing the ball and making positive plays. His foot quickness and sudden hands shine in the running game and as a pass rusher when he has space to work, so teams would be wise to keep that in mind when it comes to his alignments. The pass rush still needs improvement, but he projects as an ascending talent and future starter in odd or even fronts.

Lovett is a wide-bodied, two-gapping impediment to running attacks looking to impose their will between the tackles. He blends long arms, big hands and a powerful lower half to withstand double-teams and leverage his gap with consistency. He lacks the snap quickness to disrupt in gaps or attack the pocket as a rusher, so his blue-collar toughness can't be quantified by box-score scouting. He understands his job is to bring the work to whomever may be in front of him. His run-plugging talent could create early playing time for him at nose for 4-3 or 3-4 stop units.

Wingo is a shade undersized, but his tape is fun to watch. He is compact and powerful, with the ability to separate and play off of lateral blocks quickly. He can be overcome by length or mass at times but is rarely dominated. He has first-step quickness and processing to beat blockers to erase their landmarks and is tremendously agile as a short-space tackler. Wingo has a hop-and-chop rush move typically seen from defensive ends and will be too athletic for some guards to handle as a pass rusher. Wingo could become an early backup as an even-front 3-technique but he has three down-potential and could eventually become a starter.

Three-time team captain with undisputed leadership ability to go with his production. Carter is best suited for a one-gapping scheme that allows him to utilize his foot agility and upfield mentality. He plays with bend and leverage but is average at holding his ground against power. Issues mirroring initial lateral movement from blockers is a concern against zone-based running attacks. While he doesn't have jarring rush production, he might be a more talented pass rusher than run defender on the pro level, thanks to his bull rush and lateral quickness. Carter has the ability to become a good rotational piece in a 4-3 scheme.

Physical, heavy-handed defender whose pedestrian production could see an increase at the pro level. Dorlus is a fairly natural edge defender who can play standing or with a hand down. He doesn't play with desired instincts or awareness in the run game but has the upper-body power to become a more forceful edge-setter or interior penetrator in the future. He shows an impressive ability to slide and slap his way around blockers for quick wins, even though the sack total fails to show it. Dorlus is a natural fit as a power end in a 4-3 or 3-4, but teams might want him to add weight and take on a role as a full-time 3-technique.

A fireplug nose tackle with a compact frame, Davis plays much stronger than his measurables might indicate. He lacks the pure mass teams covet along the interior but uses terrific strength and leverage to bow his neck and take on all comers. He's usually first off the snap and first in with his hands, but the size and length of an NFL interior blocker could be challenging for him as he makes the step up in class. The physical limitations will make him less attractive earlier in the draft, but his motor and consistency in pressuring blockers should push him into snaps as a 4-3 nose.

Jefferson has a proportional frame with good upper-body thickness. His game against Alabama was discouraging, as he was often overwhelmed at the point of attack by the size and power of the Crimson Tide. However, it is hard to ignore his first-step quickness and ability to shoot into the backfield as a run-play disruptor. Teams will need to invest the time to get him stronger and to improve his take-on technique. He might be worth a draft and stash for one-gapping teams willing to put developmental work into him.

Traits-based prospect with an exciting ceiling but a concerning lack of experience and consistency. Smith plays tall and lacks the anchor and hand usage to keep from being mashed out of gaps by double-teams. The measurables and playing style have him best suited to play as a 3-4 defensive end, where he will have an opportunity to better utilize his length at the point of attack. Smith flashes as a pass rusher with a healthy blend of footwork and victories to the edge, which should keep improving with additional skill work. He has early round traits but middle-round tape. Smith requires scheme fit and patience if he’s to reach his potential, but he should be no worse than a viable backup.

Playmaking interior lineman who makes up for his lack of size with quickness and instincts. Harris punches above his weight class in the strength department, utilizing upper-body power and lower-body balance to fight the good fight. He'll get moved around by bigger bodies, but he's relentless and has the athleticism to find his way back into plays. He has skilled hands and the lateral quickness to dive into gaps as both a run defender and pass rusher. Harris' best chance to succeed will be as a one-gapper in an even front where he can become a very good rotational defender or eventual starter.

Feast-or-famine interior lineman who came into Miami as a highly touted recruit but leaves on the heels of a relatively disappointing junior season. Taylor's physical tools and athletic ability stand out, but his technique and fundamentals need work. A lack of body control sees him knocked off balance or to the ground too often. When he’s right with his hands and feet, he can beat blockers in front of him as his power and natural talent shine through. If he doesn’t win early with the rush, he probably won’t get home, but there is potential improvement in that department. Taylor’s tape has too many ups and downs, and he will need to find much better consistency to reach his potential.

Hall's draft standing with each team will be determined by scheme and just how much the team values traits over tape. Despite his imposing size and length, Hall fails to play with consistent command at the point of attack and is too often beaten soundly in the finishing phase. He has the initial quickness, bend and hand usage to improve against the run, but it's not a given. Hall is best aligned as a 4i- or 5-technique in an odd front where he has more space to use his athleticism and length as a pass rusher. He has the tools needed to become more impactful on the next level for a defensive line coach ready to work with him.

Rogers is a "what you see is what you get" nose tackle with a girthy build and film full of fistfights where he gives as well as he gets. He's built low to the ground and plays with a terrific anchor to ward off block finishes and stay on his feet. He has decent length for his size but not enough to consistently shed blocks, despite possessing the power to stack single blocks. Rogers is a drain-clogging nose capable of muddying the A-gaps for teams looking for depth and help slowing the run. 

Squatty interior defender who felt somewhat miscast as a 0-technique nose over the center. Jackson is explosive off the snap with the ability to get into blockers quickly or to attack their edges as a penetrator. He tends to ride on blocks once they land squarely and needs to develop his hands for better counters as both a run defender and a rusher. Jackson plays with good strength, but he's more gradual than twitchy in his battles. He might be more consistently effective at a lighter weight and as a rotational nose in a one-gapping even front.

Boyd is a well-built interior defender with short arms but good power. He was able to crank up his pressure totals as a pass rusher in 2023, but he might not see that same success against an upgrade in competition. He plays with adequate upper-body power, but he doesn’t press and shed blocks quickly enough to be a big factor as a run stuffer despite his bend and anchor at the point of attack. Boyd has the size and power to wage battle against NFL centers at the nose, but he might not have enough positive impact to do anything more than fight for a rotational spot as a late-Day 3 pick.

Payne returned in 2023 from an Achilles injury that sidelined him for the 2022 season, but you would never know that by watching his 2023 tape. He’s lightning quick off the snap, attacking gaps and frequently disrupting play design. He doesn’t use his hands effectively enough and might be pigeon-holed as a pure one-gapper. He’s a tremendous athlete with good bend and short-area agility to hunt and tackle. His lack of lower body mass makes him a bit of a tweener, but his electric pass-rush potential could plant him firmly as a designated pass rusher with under-the-radar upside.

Four-year starter with adequate size and impressive power at the point of attack. Crumedy plays with top-notch pad level off the snap and through the rep. He's not quick enough to consistently play into gaps but does feature quality knock-back pop and can handle himself against double-teams. He's slightly below-average as a pass rusher but above-average as a run defender and should continue to improve with better technique. Crumedy has the potential to become a rotational lineman in odd or even fronts.

Sturdy nose tackle with the anchor to battle against double-teams and instincts to find the play. His body composition is subpar and he lacks desired length for clean stack-and-shed football inside. Anderson will flash athletic qualities to make tackles and win in short spaces but he might need to continue to refine his body for additional first-step quickness. He’s unlikely to play much of a role as a rusher but does have a shot at challenging for a roster spot as a rotational nose in an even front.

Interior defender with below-average mass but outstanding athletic traits. With loose and explosive hips, Laulu has rare fluidity and closing burst to the football. He springs into blockers off the snap and has the ability to become a more disruptive run defender, but he lacks ideal instincts and diagnosis quickness. Laulu’s rush production is nothing special, but it is easy to see the ingredients are all on the table if a team can help craft his hands and counters. Laulu’s potential and traits will make him a coveted addition as a late pick or priority free agent.

Tweener with solid power but below-average snap explosiveness and quickness, which prevents him from making more plays. Eboigbe plays base end and can slide inside when needed, but lacks the anchor and power associated with most Alabama interior defenders. He’s more than capable of bullying tight ends as a base end, but will need to move inside as a pass rusher. Eboigbe’s NFL frame and strong pop at contact could create an opportunity for him to compete for a backup role in 4-3 or 3-4 schemes.

An interior defender with good strength and pad level, Randolph lacks a true positional play quality where he can plant his flag on the next level. He's not twitchy off the snap or with his field movements, but Randolph has managed to stack up tackles at a relatively high rate during his tenure at Illinois. He's consistently playing as low as or lower than his opponents and can neutralize a base block, but he's not a classic stack-and-shed defender. He could factor as a rotational defender but won't offer much help as a pass rusher. Randolph has backup talent as a potential Day 3 pick.

Interior defender with a high-performance motor and the foot quickness to pressure opposing linemen. Matterson was a rotational defender for UTSA but posted starter’s production in the impact columns. He used harmonious hands and feet for quick wins against Tennessee’s linemen and proved he could handle himself when it became a battle of force. However, he doesn’t rid himself of blockers quickly enough and needs to add more weight. Matterson's foot quickness, agility and forward-charging play demeanor could make him a player to watch as an upfield disruptor once he makes it into a camp.

Durable three-year starter as an undersized defensive tackle in the aggressive Iowa front. Lee has the size and length of a 5-technique but might not possess enough twitch and power to control blockers from that spot. He has good strength but needs time to ramp it up and doesn't have as many quick wins as teams will want. Lee's pass rush is very pedestrian but could improve some with better hand work and training. He's a hard worker but fails to stand out with power, quickness or pass-rush talent, which puts a firm cap on his upside.

An interior defender with good size, Murphy lacks a consistent batting average when it comes to defeating blocks and making plays. Murphy appears heavier and slower than he has previously, and his sphere of influence has shrunk accordingly. He does play with good power, but a lack of lower-body bend makes it harder for him to anchor and hold his spot consistently. He's not much of a pass rusher, so he will need to play with more consistency at the point of attack in order to make a roster as a backup interior defender.

A two-gapping wide-body capable of standing firm when manning his gaps, Taimani has some pop and anchor to battle along the interior but is a non-factor as a rusher. He has shown the ability to play at a variety of weights, but he’s lacking initial snap quickness and rarely captures lateral positioning or the neutral zone off the snap. Taimani might not have the traits or versatility to be drafted, but players with power who can challenge run games will always have a chance to make a roster.

Squatty interior defender with short arms and a lack of ideal scheme fit. He won’t disrupt as a gap shooter and isn’t long enough to control blockers as a two-gapper. Briggs isn’t sudden off the snap but does play with good lateral quickness to hunt and tackle runners down the line. He does a decent job of utilizing hand fighting to knock a blocker’s hands off him, but he’s more likely to stay engaged early on than find quick wins. Briggs is active and plays with good hustle but might not have the traits or one-positional advantage to stand out.

The three-year starter was a stout interior lineman at the college level, but he lacks the size/length NFL teams look for inside. Letuligasenoa gets off the snap with good pad level and strikes first, creating quality leverage into contact. He doesn’t play with ideal body control through contact and is often engaged in protracted individual battles rather than getting rid of the blocker quickly. He will be a non-factor as a pass rusher but does have the play strength to battle against in-line blockers. Letuligasenoa might need to fight for a roster spot as an undrafted free agent.

With one year as a full-time starter, Logue is still inexperienced despite staying for five years at Georgia. He has good size and length but average body composition. He rarely reads early block movement and finds himself on the wrong side of move blocks a disappointingly high number of times, despite decent initial quickness. Logue just doesn't have a go-to skill set that allows him to stand out.

Rotational interior lineman at Miami who became a full-time starter in his single season with SMU. Miller has girthy lowers and long arms but lacks ideal mass to clog up the middle. He doesn’t win often enough to be a one-gapper and has issues getting rid of blockers quickly enough as a read-and-react tackle. There isn’t enough rush talent on tape to project Miller as more than a priority free agent who could have a hard time earning a roster spot.

Interior lineman with below-average frame and physical traits relative to the NFL game. Barrs plays hard and is able to create favorable angles for himself despite some lower-body tightness and unorthodox movement. He was asked to slant and move at USC, but he’s very average at beating blocks in front of him when asked to play it heads-up. I don’t expect Barrs to be on the field for pass-rush situations, so he will need to prove he can play his best ball in a one-gapping system to make a roster as a 4-3 interior tackle.

Pickering carries an underdeveloped frame and below-average musculation, but he utilizes his length and determination to get to the football. His lack of contact balance sees him end up on the ground too often, but he somehow finds himself in on plays despite lacking key elements associated with success. He’s not a powerful gap-clogger and is missing first-step quickness for disruption as a run defender or pass rusher, so making a squad will be an uphill battle.

Baugh is an athletic and undersized interior defensive lineman. He has pretty good play strength for his size but is lacking the mass and anchor to hold his spot against NFL force. While his quickness popped in pro-day testing, he needs to come off the ball earlier and with better explosiveness both forward and laterally against move blocks. Baugh isn’t going to overpower opposing blockers as a pass rusher, but he does play with good activity and change of direction in space.

Rodriguez plays with a big heart and a steady motor, but he lacks NFL size and skill inside. He gives good effort on each snap but spends too much time staying attached to blockers instead of finding quick routes around them. He has decent length for his size, but he doesn’t do enough damage with his hands and lacks the short-area foot quickness teams will look for from a smaller player. Rodriguez has been a productive player, but the step up in competition feels like it could be too big for him.

Undersized interior defender with below-average length but a revving engine that created production on the collegiate level. Motu'apuaka has good upper-body strength and active feet that rarely keep him from being a static target that is easy to sustain blocks against. He can be overwhelmed by bigger blockers at times and doesn't have the length and short-area burst to make enough of a difference against the run or pass as a pro.

Try-hard interior defender lacking the necessary size and length to fit cleanly into a position at the next level. Culpepper’s father, Brad, played for nine years in the NFL, so the bloodlines are strong. His sack total spiked in 2023 thanks to extended effort and a solid rush plan. Teams will need to take a look at his 2022 run defense to get a better feel for how he can play in a one-gapping scheme, as he was often overwhelmed against bigger blockers in 2023 when asked to read and react. Culpepper is unlikely to hear his name called on draft day and will be a long shot to make a roster.

Interior defender who split his college career between Nebraska and Oregon. Rogers lacks NFL size and mass inside but works to the echo of the whistle. He tested at his pro day with very good speed and explosiveness, but he doesn’t put those attributes into play often enough as a run disruptor or pass rusher. He locates the football quickly and can play off blocks to make tackles, but he might lack the size and playmaking ability to keep NFL teams interested.