2025 NFL combine: Top draft prospects, best workouts, risers
Drills at the NFL combine began Thursday in Indianapolis, with the 2025 NFL draft’s top defensive line and linebacker prospects showcasing their skills in front of all 32 teams. Defensive backs and tight ends will take the field at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, followed by quarterbacks, running backs and receivers at 1 p.m. ET Saturday. The workouts conclude Sunday with the offensive linemen at 1 p.m. ET.
Who ran well in the 40-yard dash? Who dominated in the rest of the on-field work? Draft experts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates will recap all four days of the combine workouts, evaluating the top performances from every position, picking prospects who are rising (or potentially falling) and addressing notable under-the-radar showings.
Let’s get into it with a breakdown of all the action at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jump to a section:
DL/LB: Takeaways | Risers | Top names | Notes
Notables who did not work out: Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, Mike Green, Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant
Miller: We’ve talked about the depth of the defensive line class in the leadup to the combine, and it showed up in workouts. Even without many Round 1 prospects participating, there were some impressive workouts — which you’ll read about below — from many Round 2 and Round 3 players, along with Day 3 guys who popped during drills and testing. I have 30 defensive tackles with draftable grades, the most in my 15 years of doing this, and that quality was apparent during drills. This defensive line class is truly remarkable.
Yates: The combine is an evolving event, and one of the realities of it these days is that sometimes what isn’t taking place on the field is as notable as what is taking place. To that end, there were several notable defensive linemen who did not participate in the on-field work (some of whom were out due to injury). I would have liked to see Michigan defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams could have dominated. Marshall edge rusher Mike Green and Ole Miss tackle Walter Nolen also opted to skip the workouts. Of the first group of defensive linemen — 40 players in total — only 18 actually took part in the 40-yard dash.
Field Yates explains why Abdul Carter will still be a very high draft pick despite his current foot injury.
Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Alexander, the No. 36 player on my board, certainly lived up to the hype Thursday. He has aced every step of the process, building on a big Senior Bowl week. At nearly 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, he ran a 4.96-second 40-yard dash and carried that explosiveness into positional drills. Alexander’s strong hands were apparent in bag drills on the strike. He also showed a flexible lower half and positioned himself to be a top-40 pick. — Reid
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Collins has a well-put-together frame, measuring 6-foot-5, 332 pounds. He also has the matching physicality, which he showed during a breakout senior season. Scouts wanted to see how well he could move and if he could execute change-of-direction skills as a pass rusher. Collins answered those questions and more, moving quickly through drills and showing plenty of lower-body mobility.
He is an NFL-ready run defender who is stout at the point of attack, and his wide frame makes it difficult for offenses to displace him out of gaps. Collins will primarily serve as an early-down defender but can also play sparingly on late downs. His ability to play immediately as a rookie makes Round 2 Collins’ sweet spot. — Reid
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
A noticeable buzz went through Lucas Oil Stadium when Jackson executed a 40.5-inch vertical jump. Doing that at 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds was one of the most impressive feats from Day 1. Jackson followed that up with a 10-foot-9 broad jump before running a smooth 4.69 in the 40. Jackson is a power player on tape, so showing this type of explosive ability and flexibility was key for his draft stock. He’s a solid Round 2 player on my board, but Jackson’s performance this week could get him picked inside the top 40. — Miller
Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA
Oladejo wasn’t an edge rusher to begin the 2024 season, starting the year at inside linebacker before eventually taking on a heavier pass rush role. He checked some of physical boxes at Indy, weighing in at 6-foot-3, 259 pounds with a 36.5-inch vertical jump before looking sharp in positional drills. Oladejo is an extremely smooth player who is still learning to use his physical traits as a rusher, but teams will have no trouble envisioning a developmental arc that will lead him to a successful NFL career. — Yates
Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Robinson kick-started his day with a 4.83-second run in the 40-yard dash before a solid all-around performance in position drills. The 6-foot-5, 288-pound Robinson’s strengths as a power rusher showed up in bag drills, where he had to chop and punch at simulated blockers. But he also displayed enough agility to easily navigate through and over bags during these drills. I was high on Robinson following the Senior Bowl, and his workout confirmed my Round 2 grade on him. — Miller
Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Sometimes measurements are the most important aspect of the combine. That was the case for Schwesinger, who checked in at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds. He also jumped 39.5 inches in the vertical — the second-best mark in the linebacker group — before sitting out drills with a minor hamstring injury. The former walk-on is a fluid mover chasing ball carriers, and concerns about him weighing under 230 pounds in-season have been quieted. Schwesinger has a real shot at Round 1. — Miller
CJ West, DT, Indiana
West had a strong showing during Senior Bowl week and continued to ascend at the combine. His 4.95-second 40-yard dash was an excellent number at 6-foot-1, 316 pounds, as was his 33-inch vertical. West was the anchor of the Hoosiers’ defense as a stout and durable run defender with some pass-rush juice. He projects as a dependable depth player at the next level who could eventually turn into a starter. Teams that I have talked to view him as a top-100 prospect who could be picked as early as Round 3. — Reid
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Campbell is an easy-moving, explosive football player on tape with the ability to play inside or outside linebacker. He checked all the boxes during testing on Thursday. Campbell weighed in at nearly 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds and clocked an impressive 4.52-second 40. His 1.53-second split in the first 10 yards highlights just how explosive his first step is. I think Campbell is ultimately a top-25 pick in Round 1. — Miller
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Ezeiruaku didn’t run the 40, but he performed well in positional drills. He measured in at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds before leaping 35.5 inches in the vertical and 9-foot-9 in the broad jump, but his best performance came in the bag and wave drills. Ezeiruaku is a fluid mover with ideal balance and poise on the move and doesn’t waste movement while navigating through drills. He’s quick on tape, too, which is why I have him as a top-40 player. — Miller
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Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Harmon was one of Thursday’s biggest winners, as running a 4.95-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5, 322 pounds was impressive. He also dominated the workout portion, with his movement skills and fluidity during the wave drill standing out. This comes after Harmon had the best season of his career in 2024 following a transfer from Michigan State to Oregon. He showed a consistent ability to disrupt offenses by penetrating the first level.
Harmon must learn to play with more control, as he sometimes misses tackles and overruns plays because of his initial aggression. He came into the combine as a late first-round pick, but he could realistically be picked as high as the Bengals at No. 17 overall.– Reid
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
The most important event for Pearce entering Thursday was the weigh-in, and he checked in at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, a good number for the long, lean pass rusher. But his 40-yard dash might have been the most eye-opening occurrence, as he ran it in 4.47 seconds. Pearce’s explosive ability on tape was confirmed with his burst and long speed during drills. He did struggle on the vertical jump (31 inches), but scouts got an up-close look at Pearce’s first-step quickness and his closing speed, as he had a 1.58-second 10-yard split in the 40. — Miller
Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
Scourton checked in at 6-foot-3, 257 pounds, considerably less than the 285 pounds that he was listed at this season, so scouts will be keeping a close eye on his pro day testing. He opted to participate only in position drills, which provided a glimpse of his skill set as a pass rusher. His hand power and strength were easy to see as he went through multiple drills, though he faced some challenges when he was asked to win by bending around tight corners. Scourton currently has a mixture of second- and third-round grades. — Reid
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Regarded as one of the most explosive athletes in the 2025 class, Stewart started his day by jumping 40 inches in the vertical leap and 10-foot-11 in the broad jump. He is a classic “potential over production” prospect, as he recorded only 4.5 sacks during his college career. That has led to mixed reviews from scouts.
Some teams are comfortable trusting the traits and hoping the production eventually catches up to his physical ability, while others question why Stewart didn’t finish more. Either way, his movement skills were on full display Thursday, and it’s easy to see why he’s highly regarded by several teams. Stewart is a polarizing prospect but could be selected as high as the Jets at No. 7 overall. — Reid
Miller
Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen is one of my favorite pass rushers in the Day 2 area of this draft class, and the 6-foot-4, 244-pounder had a strong workout. Umanmielen posted a 1.62-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash — a number that backs up the quickness and explosive first step seen on tape. He had strong numbers in the vertical (38 inches) and broad jump (10-foot-6) as well. He’s a solid Round 2 prospect on my board.
Oladejo and Schwesinger weren’t the only UCLA players who starred Thursday, as Kain Medrano is another linebacker to watch. The former rodeo star blazed with a 4.46-second 40 and had a fluid, fast workout in the four-bag agility drill. He was marked as a late-rounder on my board, but I’m going back to the tape to confirm that the athletic tools seen in Indy showed up in the fall.
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Reid
Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman running a 4.52-second 40 was the biggest surprise of the linebacker session. He didn’t consistently show that type of lateral range on tape, but he ran better Thursday than some of his counterparts who looked faster in game action. In a down linebacker group, Stutsman’s workout helped his stock, as he received a mixture of late Day 2 and early Day 3 grades from scouts whom I have talked to.
Yates
Oregon edge rusher Jordan Burch didn’t generate as many headlines coming into the combine as some of his positional counterparts, but he possesses some of the most unusual physical attributes that we’ve seen in Indy. Burch checked in at 6-foot-4, 279 pounds, then went on to run a 4.68 40, showing that he can really move. He needs to become more consistent to succeed at the NFL level, but Burch has the tools to make it work.
An upbeat Shedeur Sanders talks with Laura Rutledge at the NFL combine and says his “work ethic” is why he should be drafted at No. 1. (1:41)
INDIANAPOLIS — Shedeur Sanders didn’t tone down his overt displays of confidence at Jackson State or Colorado.
Now, as the draft prospect continues his path to the NFL, there’s no reason to expect him to modify that approach.
Speaking at the scouting combine Friday morning, Sanders made a bold prediction about the kind of impact he expects to make in the NFL.
“We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back to back,” said Sanders, who played at both programs under his father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders. “So you don’t think I could come to an NFL franchise and change the program again? It’s history. We’ve done it again. It’s always going to repeat itself.”
Sanders’ confidence was a theme of his media session, per usual. He was also followed, as always, by a personal videographer documenting his every move in Indianapolis.
The source of Sanders’ confidence — besides his father instilling it — is the college success he enjoyed. Along with star two-way player Travis Hunter, Sanders helped turn around Colorado’s fate from a 1-11 team in 2022 before their arrival to 4-8 a year later to 9-4 (7-2 in the Big 12) in 2024.
And he adamantly promised to do it again in the NFL.
“That’s the plan,” Sanders said. “If that’s not what you’re trying to do, don’t [pick] me. If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t [pick] me. You should know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I’ve done it over and over and over So, it should be no question.”
Sanders said he wouldn’t alter his confident approach even while meeting with NFL clubs at the combine. He was unapologetic when asked about those interactions.
“It was easy meeting with people because I’m going to just be myself,” he said. “It’s like you either like it or you don’t.”
While Sanders is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, Miami’s Cam Ward could be selected before him. Sanders begs to differ, saying he views himself as the top quarterback available and questioning why some might feel differently.
“I’ve [turned around teams] at two locations already,” he said. “So it’s simple. So that’s why when people say I’m not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, [I say] what are y’all going based off of? Because I did it year after year after year, and you see the progression. So it’s, like, obvious it’s got to be some type of external hate that you have for the family, for the last name, for anything. Because I know I proved myself on the field.”
Among the topics Sanders addressed at length was his relationship with former NFL quarterback and now Las Vegas Raiders part-owner Tom Brady. Brady has become a close mentor of Sanders’ and continues to advise him through the predraft process.
The Raiders’ need at quarterback plus their possessing the sixth overall pick has become an interesting subplot around Sanders.
Asked about possibly joining forces with Brady in Las Vegas, Sanders said, “He’s an all-time great. Being able to have that resource, being able to have that person I’m able to talk to and call whenever I’m having questions about the game, and he’s able to relate to it — he did it at the highest level — is truly amazing. I’m thankful for that.”
The relationship, Sanders said, dates back a couple of years and began with an overture from Brady, who invited Sanders to Tampa, Florida, to work out with him. Sanders said he filmed each of those sessions and still refers to the advice Brady offered.
“Sometimes I go back and just listen to the things that he said at that time and it registers,” Sanders said. “Everything that he said back then registers now and it applies.”
Sanders, like his close friend Ward, won’t participate in Saturday’s on-field quarterback workouts. Both are expected to do so at their campus pro days instead.
Whatever anyone might think of that decision or anything else Sanders chooses does not seem to trouble him.
“You think I’m worried about what critics say or what people have to say,” he said. “You know who my dad is? They hate on him too.”
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DAY 1: DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, LINEBACKERS
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Thursday’s top NFL combine standouts: Which defensive linemen, linebackers impressed?
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The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine has completed its first night, with testing completed for defensive linemen and linebackers. Not many players underwhelmed us, but there were definitely some who outperformed others and, as a result, can be seen as winners.
Who could be finding themselves in a Bucs uniform in 2025 from those winners and losers?
We have a total of five players we want to highlight with their testing numbers and what their role could be with the team. There are several linebackers who could make for fun additions to the team. While we know they want to bring Lavonte David back, regardless of his status, there will be some needed depth and projection of future years behind this draft.
Best Testing Number: 4.58 40-yard dash time
Knight Jr. is a rangy, dynamic linebacker who could do well with the Bucs. He has good physical traits, and his testing confirmed his athletic play style on film. I am not sure he could be the lead linebacker for the group, but pairing him up with either Lavonte David or Chris Braswell is something that could work.
Worst Testing Number: 4.82 40-yard dash time
Higgins wasn’t the best athlete on film and looked stiff at times and his testing basically confirmed that. Higgins could find himself waiting till day three of the draft as a result of his testing. While I like him as a rotational linebacker in the NFL, the Bucs have enough of those.
Best Testing Number: 10′ 10″ broad jump
A surprising tester, after seeing his film, Smael Mondon Jr. is going to see his draft stock rise after Thursday. He could be another fun rotation piece with Braswell and SirVocea Dennis. His size may not let him become the guy at linebacker but he can be reliable.
Worst Testing Number: 4.63 40-yard dash time
Chris Paul Jr.’s film was great this past year. He is a technician when it comes to tackling, and good instincts, but his athletic testing on Thursday may create questions. The underwhelming testing may turn some teams off but the film may speak louder for some teams.
Best Testing Number: 10′ 3″ broad jump
Nick Martin played all year with reckless abandon, and the result was some of the more fun linebacker film of the class. He tested about as well as expected with his broad jump, as we mentioned, showcasing his potential for explosive plays. Martin could be a fun addition for the Bucs if they decide to draft, and he could be a value on day three.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Winners and Losers from linebacker testing at the NFL Scouting Combine
Winner: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Loser: Jay Higgins, Iowa
Winner: Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Loser: Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
Winner: Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Official website of the New England Patriots
Staff Writer
Indianapolis – The attention at the NFL Scouting Combine is turning to the athletic testing inside Lucas Oil Stadium, with the linebackers and defensive line kicking things off on Thursday.
On Wednesday, news broke that the Patriots reportedly granted NT Davon Godchaux permission to seek a trade. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 30-year-old nose tackle is not a “scheme fit” for head coach Mike Vrabel’s defense. Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams could bring a more aggressive approach to the defensive front. Historically, the Pats have been an odd front (3-4) two-gapping defense that prioritized space-eaters like Godchaux on the defense line. Now, they could favor more explosive gap-shooting linemen who can make plays in the backfield.
During his appearance on Patriots Draft Countdown, Vrabel discussed Williams’s tendency to coach an “aggressive” defensive line that can make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
“We want to play on their side of the line of scrimmage,” Vrabel said. “There’s different techniques. There’s different things that we’ll be able to do whether we play a three-down front, four-down front, or five-down front. We want to have a lot of different things at our disposal to teach the players, and it might be some new teaching and that’s okay.”
Along with Godchaux possibly being moved in a trade, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Daniel Ekuale are unrestricted free agents this offseason. The Patriots could be headed for a significant overhaul on the defensive line under Vrabel after ranking 29th in team pressure rate and 16th in run-stopping success rate in 2024.
Luckily, it’s a tremendous defensive line class, with some estimating that 20-plus defensive linemen project as NFL starters, meaning there will be starting-caliber prospects into day three of the draft. On Wednesday, Patriots EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf quickly named the defensive line one of the strongest position groups in this year’s class.
Before we get into the notes from Thursday’s workouts, top prospects Abdul Carter and Mason Graham didn’t participate. For Carter, doctors discovered a stress reaction in his right foot in Indianapolis. There doesn’t appear to be any long-term concern for Carter, but he’ll need to hold off until his Pro Day to work out for teams. Graham, on the other hand, did the bench press in Indy but will do his full workout at his Pro Day.
There seems to be an uptick in top prospects dropping out of athletic testing and on-field drills at the combine this cycle. Projected first-rounders Jalon Walker (waiting until Pro Day), Mykel Williams (ankle), and Kenneth Grant (hamstring) also sat out workouts at the combine.
Here are seven takeaways from Thursday’s defensive line and linebacker workouts in Indianapolis.
1. Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Joins NFL Network Broadcast at the Combine
During Thursday evening’s broadcast, the Patriots head coach joined NFL Network’s Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah in the broadcast booth. Vrabel discussed his approach to the No. 4 overall pick and said that New England’s brass met with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter in Indy on Wednesday night. On the fourth overall pick, the Pats HC left the door open for New England to trade down in the first round.
Vrabes knows a thing or two about playing offense and defense 🤣
📺: #NFLCombine on NFLN pic.twitter.com/Hsdzk4dXNY
“This is the highest I’ve picked and been a part of. Having a quarterback, we have to look at the premier players. Obviously, if somebody wants to come up for a player, and if we think it’s a good value for us, I think we have to look at every option,” Vrabel told NFL Network.
As a team with several holes to fill that doesn’t need a quarterback, it makes sense that the Patriots would listen to trade offers for their top draft choice. The question is, would a team be enticed enough by a player on the board to make it worthwhile to trade down? That trade partner would most likely be a QB-needy team looking to swoop in for either Shadeur Sanders or Cam Ward. We’ll see if a trade comes to fruition.
2. Mason Graham Measures in at 6-3, 296 Pounds with 32-inch Arms
Although he didn’t participate in on-field workouts, we now have official measurements on a potential option for the Patriots with the No. 4 overall pick. Graham is on the smaller side for defensive tackles, ranking in the 26th percentile for weight (296 lbs) and the 12th percentile for arm length (32″). Graham’s arms were expected to be shorter, but he was listed at 320 pounds on Michigan’s website, so the 296-pound number is surprising.
After seeing him at the podium earlier in the week, Graham isn’t a “first off the bus” guy who will impress with his physique. Instead, he’s a trust the tape player, with one of the best film libraries of any prospect in this year’s draft. That said, there are some instances on film where Graham’s power and ability to absorb double teams on the interior D-Line.
You try not to overreact to press conferences and measurables because the tape is king. However, when picking No. 4 overall, you want the prospect to be as clean as possible. Graham’s smaller frame is now a part of the conversation with his evaluation.
3. Assessing Georgia Hybrid LB Jalon Walker as a Patriots Target
Another possible first-round target for the Patriots is the do-it-all linebacker from Georgia, whose playing style is reminiscent of Pats from the past in the hybrid linebacker mold.
Walker has the skills to play all over the defensive front, telling reporters he feels like he’s a three-position defender: off-ball linebacker, edge rusher, and nickel. The tape and movement skills are phenomenal. However, Walker is slightly undersized at 6-1, 243 pounds with 32-inch arms.
Georgia LB Jalon Walker Combine measurements
As an edge:
HT: 6010 (2nd percentile)
WT: 243 lbs. (6th percentile)
Arm: 32” (5th percentile)
Hand: 10 1/4″ (79th percentile)
As an off-ball LB
HT: 6010 (30th)
WT: 243 lbs. (63rd)
Arm: 32” (37th)
Hand: 10 1/4″ (90th)
As an off-ball linebacker, Walker has okay size. But he’s likely locked into a very situational pass-rusher role rather than playing as a full-time EDGE. There are shades of Jamie Collins or even Dont’a Hightower in Walker’s game, and his polish at the podium and leadership are reminiscent of Hightower. But he’s in a much smaller frame than those two Pats legends.
If we’re going to factor Graham’s size into his evaluation, we also have to note that Walker doesn’t have great size for the position, either. Again, it’s probably best to trust the tape with both players, but this information matters coming out of the combine.
4. Evaluating Texas A&M Edge Rusher Shemar Stewart as a First-Round Pats Target
Most evaluators expected Stewart to put on a show at the scouting combine that could lead to a Travon Walker-like rise into the top 10, and the Texas A&M product didn’t disappoint.
NextGen Stats unveiled a new Combine IQ metric that measures athleticism. The metric is on a scale of 1-99, with a “good” score in the 75 to 89 range, while elite athletic testers register a score of 90-99. Stewart received an 84 score, with a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-5, 267 pounds. Stewart ranked second among edge rushers behind only Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson (86).
On tape, Stewart uses excellent first-step explosiveness while unlocking his length to convert speed to power. He has the hip flexibility to sink and stun blockers with his hands to push the pocket and set the edge of the defense. The knock on Stewart is that he only had 4.5 sacks in his final season with the Aggies, while he needs to expand his pass-rush toolbox to develop a go-to move and counters.
Stewart is the type of traits-based prospect that, with the right coaching, say from a former linebacker-turned-head coach, can blossom into an impact pass-rusher in the NFL. It still feels like a reach for the Patriots to select Stewart at No. 4 overall, but he’s an obvious candidate if New England trades down into the 8-12 range in the first round.
5. Other Edge Rushers That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts
Moving down the board, the next edge rusher prospect worth discussing is James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee, who registered a 74 score in Combine IQ. Pearce didn’t perform as well in the jumps, so his score was slightly lower, with only a 31-inch vertical to gauge explosiveness. However, the Tennessee product put down the fastest 40-yard dash among edge rushers with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 1.56-second 10-yard split.
The Vols edge rusher is an interesting case. Some of the best draft pundits, like NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, don’t have Pearce going in the first round. The main reasons are that Pearce has great explosiveness, fluidity and a sturdy frame (6-5, 245), but lacks the nuance and instincts to win with more than raw athleticism. Pearce has first-round talent and was once viewed as a top prospect in this class but was sliding down the board. Maybe a strong showing at the combine will have his stock pick up steam again.
A few other standouts from Thursday night’s workouts were Arkansas’s Landon Jackson, who led all edge rushers with an 86 Combine IQ score. Jackson also had a 40.5-inch vertical at 6-6, 264 pounds. Jackson’s length to win with an effective long arm/bull rush and play strength and instincts to win as a run defender are standout traits on film. UCLA’s Femi Oladejo continues to have a fantastic pre-draft process. Oladejo had signature moments at the Senior Bowl and was impressive during position drills. Lastly, Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku posted the best agilities among the D-Line group, with a 6.94-second three-cone. That quickness and bend are all over Ezeiruaku’s tape. The BC product has serious juice to rush off the edge.
6. Other Defensive Line Prospects That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts
With the strength of the draft being the depth along the defensive line class, it’s possible that the Patriots could wait until day two to address their needs in the trenches. For example, the Pats could select Hunter or LSU OT Will Campbell in the first round, knowing they can bolster their defensive line with plenty of talent available outside the first round.
The top testers among the DTs were all in the “good” range of Combine IQ’s metric: Ty Robinson (82), Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (81), Jared Harrison-Hunte (80), Darius Alexander (79), and CJ West (79). From an athletic testing and film perspective, Alexander is the most appealing player of the group. The Toledo product also had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, flashing his penetrating style from the three-technique position with an effective rip move and swim counter. Alexander is also a stout run defender on film, playing with good balance and pad level.
As for the IDLs who stood out during positional drills, Oregon DT Derrick Harmon and Ohio State’s Ty Hamilton were impressive. Both power-five D-Tackles were very efficient movers and showed good footwork and body control through the weave drill to be quick through the bags. Going slightly further down the board, Harmon’s Oregon teammate, Jamaree Caldwell, isn’t built to be a combine standout at 6-2, 332 pounds. But he was an average tester (62 score) and showed explosive movements during drill work to project him as a nimble nose tackle.
7. Planting My Flag on Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell, a Possible Second Round Trade-Up Candidate for the Patriots?
Lastly, the Patriots need playmakers in the front seven, and Campbell checks that box with an excellent playmaking gear on film that translated to the combine. Campbell ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, which shows up on film with outstanding range, coverage ability, and pursuit speed to chase down ball carriers and spy quarterbacks. Campbell also can line up on the edge and rush the quarterback. He was too low on consensus rankings before the combine, with some having him out of the first round. Campbell is a great modern-day linebacker prospect with the size (6-3, 235) and athleticism (82 Combine IQ score) to be a stud at the next level. Could the Pats pull off a trade up from No. 38 overall to select Campbell?
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don’t necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
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The New England Patriots have mobilized on construction of a new football-exclusive training center scheduled to be completed in spring of 2026.
Watch the Patriots Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Tom Brady. Hear from past Patriots legends, recounting a night with hundreds of former players, coaches, as well multiple special guest appearances.
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