Edge

Position Analysis: ROSS UGLEM

01 KWITY PAYE, Michigan

02 JAYSON OWEH, Penn State

03 RASHAD WEAVER, Pitt

04 JAELAN PHILLIPS, Miami

05 JOSEPH OSSAI, Texas

06 RONNIE PERKINS, Oklahoma

07 GREGORY ROUSSEAU, Miami

08 AZEEZ OJULARI, Georgia

09 BOOGIE BASHAM, Wake Forest

10 PAYTON TURNER, Houston

11 QUINCY ROCHE, Miami

12 JOE TRYON, Washington

13 DAYO ODEYINGBO, Vanderbilt

14 WYATT HUBERT, KansasState

15 JOSHUA KAINDOH, Florida State

16 PATRICK JONES, Pitt

17 HAMILCAR RASHED, Oregon State

18 CAMERON SAMPLE, Tulane

19 CHRIS RUMPH, Duke

20 JORDAN SMITH, UAB

1

Height: 6’3” Weight: 261 lbs. Arm: 33”

PRO DAY:

Vertical: 35.5” Broad: 18” 40-yard: 4.57 Bench: 36 reps

2019/20 STATS: (16 GAMES)

8.5 sacks 66 tackles 0 FF 16.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

Myles Garrett, Bradley Chubb, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young; for the last several draft classes, there has been a superstar EDGE largely agreed by everyone as not only the top rusher in his class but one of the best three or five prospects in the entire class, quarterbacks included. This year, while we don’t have one of thoses guys, we do have Kwity Paye. Paye is a large human being with athleticism who explodes off the tape. He is one of those athletes whom college football programs love. He’ll turn heads walking through an airport and immediately stepping foot off of the team bus—he looks the part of an Avenger.

vs. Pass: This is where Paye doesn’t quite measure up to the players mentioned above. His pass-rush plan is not quite as developed as those elite college players. He’s a thick EDGE but is one with a reported sub-6.5 second three-cone time, meaning he’s an athletic freak. While not every athletic freak is a great pass-rusher, almost every great pass-rusher is an athletic freak. That may sound confusing, but it’s a fact. Right now, Paye’s specialty is explosion off the line and a speedto-power bull rush. If a good defensive end or outside linebacker coach gets his hands on Paye and expands his bag of tricks, watch out.

vs. Run: Michigan moved Paye around the formation and was sound in gap discipline, regardless of responsibility. In a onegap scheme, he absolutely can shoot the gap because of his elite athleticism. The effort level and athleticism is so high with Paye that as both a rally defender and a backside defender he’s elite. He has the burst to chase down runners.

BEST GAME:

Paye exploded onto the scene in the 2020 season, completely destroying Minnesota’s game plan in Michigan’s season opener. It was an eye-opening performance on national television as the Gophers and Wolverines locked up on ABC. Paye moved up and down the line, creating significant problems for an overmatched Gophers offensive line, and the internet got very excited about it. Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan ran for his life as the Wolverines dominated a Gophers club that had gone 11–2 the previous season and had high hopes for 2020 considering Morgan’s return. Paye registered four quarterback hurries, a quarterback hit, and two sacks. He also helped limit a strong Gophers running attack led by future NFL draft choice Mo Ibrahim to just 3.1 yards per carry. Paye was truly unblockable in that game.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Paye is the old-school Packers EDGE. He’s someone Mike Pettine would’ve loved with his 272-pound frame. Was that a Pettine preference or something Brian Gutekunst thinks is important? We’ll probably find out during this draft. Anticipate the Rashan Gary approach with Paye, and not because they’re both from Michigan; it’s because they’re both athletic marvels who need time with Mike Smith to develop. Paye is so large and so athletically gifted that someone very early is likely to give him a chance. As much fun as it would be to reunite him with Gary, it’s unlikely that Green Bay will get that chance. Paye is likely to be a top-15 pick, and Green Bay isn’t likely to trade up to take a rusher with Preston Smith staying in the fold.

2

Height: 6’5” Weight: 257 lbs. Arm: 34 1/2”

PRO DAY:

Vertical: 39.5” Broad: 134” Bench: 21 reps 40-yard: 4.39 20 yd: 4.20 3-cone: 6.90

2019/20 STATS: (18 GAMES)

5.0 sacks 59 tackles 2 FF 11.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

Grab everything that was said above about Paye and elite pass-rushers and copy and paste it about Oweh. Oweh reportedly ran a sub-4.4 laser-timed 40-yard dash. With length, bend, explosiveness, and a frame that could add an additional 12 to 15 pounds, Oweh has every athletic gift. He’s a lean athlete who will start his career as a designated passrusher but could move into a more complete role as he develops physically and as a football player. Oweh was a one-way player until 2020. He was borderline unusable against the run in 2019 but fixed that in a big way in 2020.

vs. Pass: Ball-get-off may not be matched in this class, but he’s not a snap-jumper. He’s just that twitched-up of an athlete. Oweh shows excellent hip and ankle flexion, exhibiting the proper bend to marry to his other athletic tools. The chop/rip is the primary tool, but you’d like to see more counters. More often than not, if plan A didn’t work, plan B flat-out didn’t exist. A good EDGE coach could add a few more arrows to the quiver. He’s raw, but the sky’s the limit.

vs. Run: Right now, Oweh is too lean to be a major threat on the front-side of a run play. On the backside, he’s as exciting of a player as you’ll find. He consistently destroys option looks as the unblocked player (he’s too athletic). His chase-down plays are legitimately electric to watch. Effort and motor are not an issue for Oweh. Again, Oweh was so much better against the run in 2020, and he’s still just a redshirt sophomore. A few more pounds of muscle could really help; he has the requisite frame.

ATHLETICISM:

Oweh has appeared inside the top 10 of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list twice. There are very few human beings walking the earth who possess the blend of speed and athleticism Oweh enjoys. According to a report from the Penn State affiliate of 247 Sports, Oweh absolutely destroyed a winter workout prior to spring football in 2020. Oweh reportedly ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at 6’5”, 260 pounds. He also registered a 46.5” vertical leap. As mentioned with Paye, the very best passrushers in football are almost always incredible athletes. These “underwear Olympics” numbers don’t guarantee anything, but they do paint a picture of nearly unlimited potential. Unlimited athletic potential is something Green Bay has targeted over and over, with varying levels of success.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

It would be fascinating if Oweh were available when Green Bay picked or if they wanted to go up and get him. It would be difficult to remember a rushing tandem in NFL history with more testing-based athleticism than Oweh and Rashan Gary. His thin frame is the complete opposite of what the Packers targeted with Pettine as the defensive coordinator. Still, a player with unlimited athleticism is the type of addition the Packers make all the time. Brandon Staley, for whom Joe Barry worked, implemented plenty of “Eagle” front, which would put the EDGE players in the “Wide-9” alignment. It’s difficult to think of a better plan early on for Oweh than the Wide 9. Oweh could be exactly what the Packers need as they make this scheme adjustment. Given Oweh’s incredibly obvious physical gifts, it’s not very likely that we’ll ever find out.

3

Height: 6’4” Weight: 259 lbs. Arm: 33 1/4”

PRO DAY:

Vertical: 32” Broad: 114” 40-yard: 4.88 20 yd: 4.2 3-cone: 6.97 Bench: 20 reps

2020 STATS:

7.5 sacks 34 tackles 3 FF 14 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

Weaver is a sledgehammer. In short, he’s exactly the kind of the EDGE the Packers have targeted since the beginning of the Gutekunst era. Lacking in burst and flex, Weaver utilizes heavy hands, an extensive pass-rush toolbox, and length to win. An older prospect, he’ll turn 24 during the 2021 season. He’ll immediately be one of the better run defenders on whichever roster adds him.

vs. Pass: A power-first player, Weaver does not explode off the ball, but he still displaces his defender consistently. He’s got significant “pop” in his hands, using the long-arm and countering off of that to win against opposing tackles. Weaver works a solid combination of counters and swipes. He’ll need to continue to be a technician and to be strong, because the burst-and-bend isn’t going to get it done. There’s not a lot of burst and almost no bend. Still, Weaver was incredibly productive last season, registering 48 total pressures (hits, hurries, and sacks) in just nine games in 2020.

vs. Run: For his size, there are things you’d like him to do better. He’s not a rock-solid anchor, although he will fight to maintain gap integrity. His length bails him out against the run quite a bit. Opposing defenders struggle mightily to have any sort of control of where they want to move him. His hands are strong enough to stack and shed, but it would be better if it showed up more consistently on tape. Lowering his pads during the run phase on a consistent basis would be helpful. Still, he’s one of the better run defenders in this draft, largely because his hand placement is excellent.

BEST TAPE:

While there aren’t actually any sacks in the box score, Weaver completely wrecked the game against Boston College in 2020. Weaver recorded a staggering 10 pressures, including eight hurries, two knockdowns, and a forced fumble. Play after play, Weaver bothered Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec and moved him off his spot. Jurkovec was actually incredibly productive despite running away from Weaver all day long, leading BC to a 31–30 victory. Still, it’s very difficult to watch that game and not notice Weaver’s work snap after snap after snap. He was able to open things up for fellow Panther and fellow 2021 prospect Patrick Jones II for a multiple-sack performance.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Depending on just how multiple the Packers want to be running the Barry/Fangio/Staley scheme, Weaver just may be the Packers’ best Dean Lowry replacement. Whether it’s 4i (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle), 5T, or 4-3 base end, Weaver can win in all of these spots, not necessarily carving off the edge. They can also use him in a “play the run on the way to the quarterback” chess piece, as they use Za’Darius Smith. He’s a straight-line rusher. Either way, he’s a really good football player. The Packers need as many good football players on their team as possible. As easy, or simple or nontechnical as that may sound, Weaver is an ass-kicker. Green Bay could use more ass-kickers on defense in its front seven.

4 5

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 260 lbs. PRO DAY: Vertical: 36”, Broad: 125”, Bench: 21 reps, 40-yard: 4.56, 20 yd: 4.13, 3-cone: 7.01 2020 STATS: 8.0 sacks, 45 tackles, 0 FF, 15.5 TFL MEASURABLES: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 256 lbs. | Arm: 33 7/8” PRO DAY: Vertical: 41.5”, Broad: 131.5”, 40-yard: 6.46, Bench: 19 reps 2020 STATS: 5.5 sacks, 55 tackles, 3 FF, 15.5 TF

IN A NUTSHELL:

Phillips was a massive “get” for the UCLA Bruins as the top high school recruit in the country in 2018, but Phillips actually retired after being hit by a car and did not play in 2019. When Phillips returned as a Miami Hurricane, he really came on in the second half of 2020.

vs. Pass: Phillips uses explosiveness and length to cover significant ground/depth to start his rush. The stab and longarm are jarring, often displacing blockers with one hand. Phillips exhibits a lengthy bag of tricks with hand usage. Hip and ankle flex is better than you might think, but Phillips is unlikely to try to win by flattening at the quarterback. When he doesn’t win, Phillips will still likely achieve one or two “effort” sacks per year. He absolutely dominated when sliding inside to rush against guards and centers.

vs. Run: Phillips is a high-effort, high-energy player, and that certainly applies to run defense. He’s a true edge-setter who consistently turns opposing backs back into his help or strings out the play to the outside for a minimal gain. Phillips is a good enough athlete to pursue plays from the backside and agile enough to not get turned around in the read-option.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Phillips’ length and versatility allow him to be a fit in most defensive schemes, which will certainly apply to Barry’s new scheme. He profiles as a player who can play some base 4-3 end and line up as a 3-4 outside linebacker. His success inside on tape doesn’t hurt any, either. Phillips works as a potential 4i, 5-technique, or 6/7 tech defensive end on early downs and can slide inside and play 3t on third down. Green Bay has often taken chances on players with elite high school recruiting profiles. Jaelan Phillips was the top of the top in that regard.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Ossai absolutely tore up his pro day in Austin, registering a 41.5” vertical leap and a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at 256 pounds. His speed and explosiveness are apparent on every play. He made an immediate impact at Texas, starting 24 of 36 possible games. Ossai almost never came off the field for the Longhorns and has significant experience as both an edge player and an off-ball linebacker. He’s extremely comfortable in space.

vs. Pass: Ossai is a big-time ball-get-off player, as his explosiveness from a 10’11” broad jump leaps off the tape as well. He gathers ground quickly. As good of an athlete as he is, his ability to bend doesn’t appear elite. Ossai is an excellent counter-rusher, working swims and spins off of his initial move. He repeatedly displaces offensive linemen with the first punch.

vs. Run: Ossai is somewhere between a large linebacker and a small edge rusher. If he’s going to play on the line of scrimmage at the next level, he’s going to be more of a gapshooter against the run than an edge-setter or a two-gapper. Ossai is strong as an ox, though, so with some coaching, he could develop into an average or above average run defender.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

The most common comp for Ossai is former Packers EDGE and likely future Packers Hall of Famer Clay Matthews. While Mike Pettine had little use for a versatile (albeit aging) chess piece like Matthews, the Rams actually acquired Matthews with new Packers DC Joe Barry on their staff. While Green Bay may park Preston Smith and Rashan Gary on the edge, Ossai could team with Za’Darius Smith as a player who moves around and creates a number of problems.

6 7

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 253 lbs. | Arm: 32 7/8” PRO DAY: Vertical: 32”, Broad: 115”, 40 Time: 4.71, Bench: 25 reps 2020 STATS: 5.5 sacks, 23 tackles, 0 FF, 10.5 TFL MEASURABLES: Height: 6’7” | Weight: 266 lbs. PRO DAY: Vertical: 30”, Broad: 115”, Bench: 21 reps, 40-yard: 4.69, 20 yd: 4.45, 3-cone: 7.50 2019 STATS: 15.5 sacks, 54 tackles, 2 FF, 19.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

As effective against the run as he was rushing the passer, Perkins was the unquestioned leader of the Sooners front seven. Perkins can pitch in all over: in a two-point stance or with his hand in the dirt. He’s a big-time athlete and a threeyear starter.

vs. Pass: Perkins is a big-time bender. He possesses top-end hip and ankle flexibility and loves the dip move. Perkins works counters off of his tendency to dip, as well. He has long arms and is able to use them to keep his frame clean and allow himself room to operate against opposing tackles with a significant size advantage. Even at less than 250 pounds, Perkins is consistently able to convert speed to power. His punch does a better job of displacing large offensive tackles than you might think.

vs. Run: He’s only played in 33 college games, and most of those are in the pass-happy Big 12. With that said, he’s an average front-side run defender and a borderline-elite backside player. His agility and long-speed allow him to consistently threaten stretch runs from behind. His effort level is apparent in the run game, too; he takes no plays off.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Perkins’ fit with the Packers is actually really similar to how they’d probably be able to use Ossai. They’ve got very similar body types and do a lot of the same things well. The main difference between the two is the time Ossai spent as an off-ball linebacker. Perkins, despite his size, spent almost his entire Oklahoma career on the line of scrimmage. Still, at his size he’s probably a movable piece and not an everydown player on the EDGE, though he’d spend most of his time out there.

IN A NUTSHELL:

It’s not difficult to make the case that Rousseau has the highest ceiling of any of these EDGE prospects. Rousseau is what the Lord intended when he decided to build edge rushers. He started out as a wide receiver and has only played on the defensive line for one year.

vs. Pass: Rousseau covers so much ground with his first step. Even if he doesn’t get a great jump, offensive linemen are already at a disadvantage. Rousseau is way too flexible for a human being built the way he is. He makes tight turns and can flatten to the quarterback, but his counter-rushes are not developed at this time. He could develop heavier hands with his initial punch. Rousseau was extremely problematic for opposing guards and centers when aligned on the interior.

vs. Run: With his wiry frame, Rousseau lacks the power (at this moment) to hold up consistently at the point of attack. What he does possess, though, is an enormous tackle radius. His effort is apparent against the run as well. Rousseau made multiple “effort” tackles for loss in the run game just by continuing to rally to the football. His lack of experience and refinement too often leads to a lack of gap discipline in the run game.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Honestly, Rousseau would be a body-type and a player-type the Packers don’t have on the roster right now. As much as they love big-time athletes, Green Bay hasn’t had anyone that looks like Rousseau since Julius Peppers. A long-levered player to move all across the line could be a fun toy for Joe Barry. Early in his career, Rousseau would probably have to rush from the inside, as he was not as effective rushing against tackles as he was against guards.

8 9

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’2” | Weight: 249 lbs. | Arm: 34 1/4” PRO DAY: Vertical: 30”, Broad: 127”, 40-yard: 4.63, 20 yd: 4.34, 3-cone: 7.27, Bench: 26 reps 2020 STATS: 31 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 4 FF, 12.5 TFL MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 274 lbs. | Arm: 32 7/8” PRO DAY: Vertical: 34”, Broad: 122”, Bench: 20 reps, 40-yard: 4.64, 20 yd: 4.25, 3-cone: 7.13 2020 STATS: 28 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 4 FF, 4.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

The true ball-get-off king of the 2021 EDGE class, Ojulari explodes off the snap. Comfortable in both two-point and three-point stances, he was a bit of a one-year wonder, but his 2020 was certainly wonderful. A bit undersized, Ojulari is somewhat of a “tweener” whose top position may end up being as a SAM in a one-gap 4-3 system. Still, he’d rush the passer as a Packer.

vs. Pass: Ojulari’s ankle flexibility is more impressive than his flexibility in the hips, but he still shows the ability to get low and corner. His first punch has more “pop” than you’d expect from a pass-rusher that size. Hand usage and counter rushers are minimal. He will not/can not bull rush, but Ojulari will create hustle/effort sacks.

vs. Run: Ojulari is the size of an actual linebacker. There’s no question about that. Ojulari is not a player you want setting the edge on the front side of a run play. Ojulari’s best work comes when teams ran at him revolved more around getting small and making blockers miss or fail to engage cleanly. He was too often “handled” by tight ends on the perimeter. On the backside of run plays he’s fantastic due to initial burst and above average long speed.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

A selection of Ojulari would signify a departure from Green Bay’s normal drafting philosophy at this position. He’s so slight in frame and plays a position the Packers haven’t really featured. With that said, they have a new head man in charge of the defense. Barry may have use for a true rush linebacker. Los Angeles targeted undersized rushers Samson Ebukam and Ogbo Okoronkwo. It’s a player type he’s used before, just not one the Packers have.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Carlos “Boogie” Basham Jr. is the captain of the watch-theprevious-year’s-tape team this year. He was excellent in 2018, and even better in 2019 but didn’t quite meet expectations as a senior in 2020. Basham’s on the older side for a prospect, as he’ll turn 24 during his rookie season.

vs. Pass: Basham possesses tremendous ball-get-off. He uses a strong punch and attacks the quarterback in a straight line as opposed to trying to carve around the corner. Basham works a number of inside moves working off of his bull rush and primary plan. His top ability, though, is collapsing the pocket—he moves offensive linemen into the lap of quarterbacks. There is certainly an upside to Basham that can be unlocked by a top coach.

vs. Run: It’s probably not fair to question Basham’s effort, but his down-to-down consistency is not great. He was pretty easily Wake Forest’s best front seven player, so he never left the field and it showed. He’s gap-sound and understands where he needs to be but isn’t quite the dominator that a player of his size should be on the edge. Basham’s fine against run but looking at his build and potential, it leaves you wanting more.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Check back a few pages on what was said about Pitt’s Rashad Weaver. While Basham is certainly an EDGE defender, he may be more in the Dean Lowry mold than the Gary/Smith/ Smith mold. Tampa Bay drove Green Bay nuts with power rushers. Basham may be the best power rusher in the class. Most would probably tell you he’s a 4-3 defensive end. In an Eagle front (Staley/Barry), he has potential as a 4i.

10 11

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 270 lbs. PRO DAY: N/A

2020 STATS: 25 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 1 FF, 10.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

Positionally, Turner is probably headed for the same fate as Basham, though he may be a more versatile player. He’s played all of the different defensive alignments that go along with those weights, from 3-technique all the way out to standup rush linebacker. Turner is a powerful hand-fighter with a high motor.

vs. Pass: Turner has everything you want in a power rusher, possessing a strong initial punch, heavy hands, and long arms. He’s able to lock out and keep his own frame clean. Turner is also able to flatten at the quarterback and bend around the corner more effectively than you might think for a big guy. Houston did not play against a lot of top offensive tackles during his time there. His motor runs so hot with maximum effort apparent on every single rep.

vs. Run: Turner, first and foremost, he needs to get his pad level down. He’s a long football player, and linemen are able to get under him occasionally. Still, he has plenty of the tools that you’d look for in an excellent run defender. It may be tempting to keep moving him around the formation, but at some point he’s got to lock in and develop as a player.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Turner is another one of the big, long, strong EDGE players who reside somewhere between Preston Smith and Dean Lowry in body type and play style. Turner could play 5-technique, strong side end in a 4-3 alignment, or 4i in an Eagle front. He’s a player they don’t currently roster. With Smith almost certainly back on the roster, Turner might be available at a spot in the midearly rounds where Green Bay may actually target him. It seems unlikely they’d go EDGE in Round 1 with Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary on the roster.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 243 lbs. PRO DAY: Vertical: 32 1/2”, 40-yard: 4.68, Bench: 23 reps 2020 STATS: 45 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF, 14.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

Roche is a bit Za’Darius Smith-like in that he doesn’t profile as an elite athlete. Rather, he’s a true technician: a master of his craft. Roche isn’t particularly long or particularly big and speed and explosiveness don’t show up. But his technical work does.

vs. Pass: Rather than charge up the field with elite burst, Roche’s first steps appear to be part of a plan to set up the offensive tackle as opposed to covering as much ground as he can. Roche takes advantage of poor footwork by the opposing tackle. He’s capable of cornering but not elite. He’s extremely slippery for tackles, using his hands well and countering off of those moves. His club/swim combo is a masterpiece. Roche is not bursty enough to be a great pursuit player, and there aren’t a lot of hustle sacks seen on film.

vs. Run: Roche is obviously not a huge player for someone who spends all his time out on the edge. With that said, he’s extremely useful against the run. Much of that is the energy and motor that he brings to the table, but his play strength is excellent, as is his hand usage. Roche sets a firm enough edge and is effective squeezing gaps without losing gap discipline.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

As mentioned, Green Bay already employs a player with a lot of the same traits as Roche. Za’Darius Smith is not an overly long pass rusher, nor is he incredibly athletic. What he is is a strong, detailed rush specialist. Roche was highly productive. It’s likely at 245 pounds (as opposed to Z’s 270) Roche would end up more as an outside rusher. He could potentially be used in a two-point stance over guards as well.

12

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 276 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Odeyingbo is an enormous EDGE prospect who may end up inside but played the majority of snaps on the perimeter. It’s entirely possible Dayo’s best position could be at 3t or 5t, but it’s more likely a defensive coordinator will drool over his ability to line up all over the defensive front. He’s an athletic 275-pound prospect, but he hasn’t been extremely productive, and he just tore his achilles in the pre-draft process in January. Whichever team drafts Dayo is going to have to have a specific plan on how to use him and is likely betting on his tremendous upside. He’ll likely miss training camp and the beginning of the season, if not more.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’5” | Weight: 259 lbs. | Arm: 34” PRO DAY: Vertical: 35”, Broad: 118, Bench: 22 reps, 40-yard: 4.64, 20 yd: 4.36, 3-cone: 7.18 2019 STATS: 41 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 0 FF, 12.5 TFL

IN A NUTSHELL:

If you just look at Tryon physically, he looks exactly like a first-round pick would look at the edge position. He’s tall, long, and powerful. The issue with Tryon is that the sample size isn’t very big, and neither are the career numbers.

vs. Pass: At this point in his career, Tryon is really only trying to go through defenders. He had a reasonable amount of success with that as a sophomore (eight sacks), but diversity would help his game in a major way. Tryon possesses an elite first step, threatening the tackle immediately. Flexibility appears to be adequate for an athlete of his size, but Tryon rarely flattens and bends at the corner. Development of counters to his bull-rush could unlock a Pro Bowl-level player, as he does not use his hands well at this point.

vs. Run: Tryon is built like an edge-rusher Adonis, and sometimes that means he plays too high. Tryon has the ability to shock offensive linemen and disengage, and moves well enough laterally to play the run on the edge. His athleticism shows up on tape as a pursuit player. There are no issues with effort or commitment to the run game.

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Physically, Tryon fits what any outside linebackers/defensive ends coach would want in a pass rusher. At 6’5” and 262 pounds, he is capable of helping out any scheme at multiple positions. It would be fair to view Tryon as a “Diet” Rashan Gary. He won’t be ranked as highly as Gary was coming into the process, but developmentally you’re trying to get the tape to match the potential. Mike Smith should help with that.

14 Wyatt Hubert (rJR)

Kansas State

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 258 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Hubert is a bit undersized, but his production and versatility at Kansas State make him an attractive mid-round option. His best spot at Kansas State was often as a rusher from a two-point stance, both as an edge and as an interior rusher. Hubert’s motor is unquestioned and shows up on tape consistently. Effort, burst, and bend will be the qualities he brings to his next team. Hubert may end up as a passrush specialist, as he’s likely too small to hold up on the edge against the run and has almost no experience as an off-ball linebacker.

15 Joshua Kaindoh (SR)

Florida State

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’6” | Weight: 260 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Kaindoh is one of those players a college program wants stepping off the bus first. He possesses an A+ frame and a staunch lower body. The physical traits are obviously there, but the tape isn’t all the way there. He has the ability to cover a ton of ground with his first step and frankly bends better than someone his size should. Still, he hasn’t put it all together technically and isn’t a very good run defender for someone who is built like a fantastic run defender. As a former five-star recruit and an impressive athlete, Kaindoh is the type of flier teams often take.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 261 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Jones is a lengthy run defender without a lot of excellent pass rush tape. In today’s NFL, that really limits his value unless he can get with a good defensive coaching staff and develop. The raw numbers look better than the actual game tape. Specifically, his hands do not “pop” the offensive linemen across from him often enough. It’s also concerning that from a pressures, hits, and sacks perspective, there was a significant step backward in production in 2020 from his 2019 effort. Jones shows excellent pad level against the run game.

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 254 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Rashed is a difficult evaluation. He was a complete wrecking ball in 2019, but leading up to the 2020 season, he added significant weight and saw a massive dip in production. Rashed will likely end up as a pass-rush specialist or an off-ball linebacker; he’s just not going to be big enough to set the edge. Still, he was far too agile for Pac-12 tackles to handle in 2019, and even as a one-trick pony he could find success in the NFL. Teams will pay plenty for a player who can come in and sack the quarterback six to eight times a season, run defense or positional flexibility be damned.

18 Cameron Sample (SR)

Tulane

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’3” | Weight: 267 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Sample is a stockier pass-rusher who doesn’t have the length NFL teams crave on the end of the line. The Green Wave moved Sample all across the defensive formation, which is probably the role that he’ll have at the next level. He’s an above-average run defender. On the pass-rush side, Sample is a bull rusher who will work counter-rushes off of the bull. Not a plus athlete, at least not for an EDGE. He was a much better pass-rusher at Tulane than the raw sack numbers would indicate.

19 Chris Rumph (rJR)

Duke

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’4” | Weight: 235 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

Chris Rumph has his limitations, both in size and athleticism, but he shows a tremendous level of technical development in his rushes. He has a considerable toolbox. His pro position is certainly in question: what do you do with a 235-pound edge rusher? He wasn’t the same player in 2020 as he was in 2019 after adding weight. Rumph is likely limited to rush linebacker status in the NFL. He is a high-effort player with an impressive motor. Rumph really struggled with Notre Dame’s offensive line in their first game of 2020. It’ll be interesting to see if he can hang weight on his frame.

20 Jordan Smith (rJR)

UAB

MEASURABLES: Height: 6’7” | Weight: 255 lbs.

IN A NUTSHELL:

The hope with Smith is that weight can be added to his frame without a significant drop in productivity. He possesses an excellent first step and works a number of pass rush moves on his way to the quarterback. The level of competition at UAB is a concern, as is the lack of power in his game. For an EDGE, he’s tall and fairly skinny. His slight build is a likely contributor to the total lack of bull rush in his pass rush. Smith started his career at Florida before being suspended and heading to junior college. 21 PATRICK JOHNSON (rJR)

22 JANARIUS ROBINSON (rJR)

23 ELERSON SMITH (rSR)

24 DEANGELO MALONE (SR)

25 CHARLES SNOWDEN (SR)

26 JONATHON COOPER (rSR) Tulane

Florida State

Northern Iowa

Western Kentucky

Virginia

Ohio State

27 ADETOKUNBO OGUNDEJI (rSR) Notre Dame

28 CHAUNCEY GOLSTON (rSR) Iowa

29 MALIK HERRING (SR) Georgia