Bird’s Eye View – IDL Position Report
- John B. Everett
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
The IDL class is front-loaded with a talented group of potential rookie starters who should be instant contributors in the NFL. Kayden McDonald / Ohio State and Peter Woods / Clemson are the two best IDL prospects in this class and should be top 20 picks on April 23rd. Caleb Banks / Florida would seem to be another first-round lock if it were not for breaking his foot at the combine, a re-aggravation of an injury that cost him all but three games last season. Lee Hunter / Texas Tech could slide into the first-round, also. Another half dozen prospects should go in the top 75 overall - Darrell Jackson / Florida State, Christen Miller / Georgia, Zxavian Harris / Ole Miss, Rayshaun Benny / Michigan, Chris McClellan / Missouri, and Tim Keenan / Alabama. Overall, this class has potential starters at the top of the draft and a quality group of run stuffers (Domonique Orange / Iowa State, Dontay Corleone / Cincinnati, Gary Smith / UCLA) and pass rush specialists (Zane Durant / Penn State, Gracen Halton / Oklahoma, Kaleb Proctor / SE Louisiana, Landon Robinson / Navy). |
Position Grade – B |
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
*Measurements are taken by 1/8ths. Example: 6004 is 6 feet and ½”
Tier I
Two prospects – Kayden McDonald / Ohio State and Peter Woods / Clemson
McDonald – Although only a one-year starter in Columbus, McDonald displayed elite skills including fantastic strength, strong, fast hands, and plays with natural leverage and bend. McDonald possesses ideal size (6021 / 326 lbs) and the natural power that is hard to duplicate. McDonald profiles as an instant plug and play starter as a rookie.
Woods – Woods has great position versatility with experience as a DT and EDGE in an even man front and with a fantastic profile to excel as a 5T in an odd man front. Woods (6030 / 298 lbs) has started since the moment he walked on campus at Clemson as a freshman and has proven to be effective against both the run and the pass. Woods is a complete prospect who is ready to start in the NFL as a rookie.
Tier II
Eight prospects – Caleb Banks / Florida, Lee Hunter / Texas Tech, Darrell Jackson / Florida State, Christen Miller / Georgia, Zxavian Harris / Ole Miss, Rayshaun Benny / Michigan, Chris McClellan / Missouri, Tim Keenan / Alabama
Banks – Banks is an athletic freak with rare size and length (6062 / 327 lbs / 10 & 7/8” Hands / 35” Arms) and elite athleticism (5.04 40 / 32” Vertical / 9’6” Broad) to become an instant impact contributor in the NFL as a rookie. Unfortunately, Banks re-broke the foot at the combine that he broke last season that forced him to miss nine games and his availability for the start of the NFL season in September is in question. Banks’ medical evaluation will influence when he gets drafted the last weekend of April.
Hunter – Hunter (6034 / 318 lbs / 33 & ¼” Arms) has some of the best game film of any IDL in this draft and that alone makes him a first-round draft possibility. However, Hunter’s athletic performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, although solid, pales in comparison to many of the other IDL prospects in attendance in Indianapolis – 5.18 40 / 1.82 10-yard split / 21.5” Vertical / 8’4” Broad. Hunter is a potential plug and play starter and a top 50 prospect in this month’s draft.
Jackson – Jackson has rare size and length (6055 / 315 lbs / 11” Hands / 34 & ¾” Arms) for an IDL and is one of the most powerful prospects in this draft. Jackson is not a great athlete but is incredibly strong and powerful and squeezes down inside runs well. Jackson looks like a top 50 prospect and immediate contributor in the NFL.
Miller – Miller (6036 / 321 lbs / 33” Arms) has prototypical size and has teased with his upside that may make him the best IDL in this draft, when all is said and done. Miller is naturally strong and he flashes the quickness, agility, and movement skills to become a perennial Pro Bowler. Miller looks like a top 50 selection on April 24th.
Harris – Harris is a huge prospect with fantastic length (6080 / 330 lbs / 34 & 5/8” Arms) and durability (played in 54 career games in Oxford) and when he keeps his pads down, he is a real force against both the run and pass. Harris is also an elite kick blocker with six career blocked FG attempts in his career. Harris is a likely top 75 selection later this month.
Benny – Benny’s size and length (6030 / 298 lbs / 33 & 3/8” Arms) and position versatility – he has played as a DT in an even front and as a 5T in an odd man front – bodes well for his NFL future where he looks like a ten-year contributor as a pro. Benny grades out as a second or third-round pick on April 24th.
McClellan – Missouri’s NT for the last couple of seasons, McClellan has prototypical size and length (6040 / 313 lbs / 11” Hands / 34” Arms) who plays with strength and surprising quickness for such a large man. McClellan should contribute immediately in the NFL and has potential to be a full-time starter within the next couple of seasons. McClellan is a likely third-round pick at the end of the month.
Keenan – Keenan may be the best run stuffing IDL available in this draft and his size (6011 / 327 lbs) seems perfectly suited to playing NT in an odd man front. Keenan displays very little pass rushing ability and that lack of upside limits his draft ceiling. Keenan looks like a third or fourth-round pick.
Tier III
Eleven prospects – Zane Durant / Penn State, Albert Regis / Texas A&M, Gracen Halton / Oklahoma, Kaleb Proctor / SE Louisiana, Domonique Orange / Iowa State, Dontay Corleone / Cincinnati, Bryson Eason / Tennessee, Deven Eastern / Minnesota, Bobby Jamison-Travis / Auburn, Tyler Onyedim / Texas A&M. Gary Smith / UCLA
Durant – The fastest IDL at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.75 40 / 1.66 10-yard split), Durant lacks ideal size (6010 / 290 lbs) to be an every down player in the NFL but his speed and burst are as good as any IDL in this draft. Durant looks like an outstanding sub-package pass rushing specialist with starter’s upside if he can hold up well enough against the run. Durant is a likely third or fourth-round pick in Pittsburgh later this month.
Regis – Although not measuring in with desired size and length (6012 / 295 lbs / 31 & 5/8” Arms), Regis plays with a low center of gravity, heavy hands, and the effort desired. Regis has good lateral agility and range and offers a ton of upside as a pass rusher. Regis is a likely early day three draft candidate.
Halton – Halton (6025 / 293 lbs) is a talented interior pass rusher whose first step quickness is amongst the best in the class and he is one of the best interior pass rushers available. Halton’s lack of length (31 & 1/8” Arms) means he can get glued on blocks but his quickness and burst give him potential as an NFL pass rusher. Halton is a likely fourth or fifth-round pick later in April.
Proctor – Proctor is an exceedingly quick FCS prospect who lacks ideal size (6030 / 291 lbs) but proved to be as athletic as any IDL in this draft at the combine where he recorded a 4.79 40 / 1.69 10-yard split / 33” Vertical / 9’5” Broad and moved fluidly during field drills. Proctor may not contribute much early in his career but has tremendous upside to be developed into a productive NFL player. Proctor is likely a third or fourth-round pick.
Orange – Orange possesses desired size for an IDL – 6020 / 322 lbs / 33 & 3/8” Arms – and plays with a low center of gravity which makes it difficult to unroot Orange from the middle of the DL. Orange offers little as a pass rusher and may never be more than a running down specialist in the NFL. Orange looks like fifth or sixth-round pick later this month.
Corleone – “The Godfather” has been a force in the middle of the Bearcat DL for the last four seasons and is one of the best run stuffers in college football. Corleone (6005 / 340 lbs / 31 & 7/8” Arms) offers little as a pass rusher and that will limit his draft value. Corleone looks like a fourth-to-sixth round pick on April 25.
Eason – Eason is one of the most-twitchy athletes amongst IDL in this draft and is much bigger than other similarly gifted interior pass rushers – 6023 / 323 lbs / 33 & 1/8” Arms. Eason needs to get stronger and sturdier but his quickness gives him tremendous upside. Eason is an early day three choice on the last Saturday of April.
Eastern – Eastern has great size for an IDL – 6050 / 315 lbs / 34” Arms – and is a powerful interior run defender whose pads rise, which limits his effectiveness. Eastern offers little as a pass rusher, which limits his starting potential, but looks like a valuable contributor in the NFL. Eastern is a late round draft prospect.
Jamison-Travis – BJT has NFL size and length – 6030 / 328 lbs / 34 & ¼” Arms / 82 & 1/8” Wingspan - and flashes NFL-level play. But BJT needs to improve his conditioning and stamina to stay on the field and stay productive longer. He offers little as a pass rusher but he is naturally strong and will compete for a roster spot in the fall.
Onyedim – Onyedim (6034 / 292 lbs / 34 & 1/8” Arms) flashes fantastic first-step quickness and possesses an impressive closing burst on the QB in the pocket and he could excel as a sub-package pass rushing specialist. Onyedim should be a fifth or sixth-round pick later this month.
Smith – Smith offers excellent size and frame for a NT (6011 / 319 lbs / 32 & 5/8” Arms) and excels as a running down specialist for the Bruins. Smith offers little as a pass rusher but is a dominating run defender with a great motor. Smith is likely a sixth or seventh-round pick on April 25.
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