Full defensive line weigh-in numbers courtesy of Steelers Depot.
Edge rushers: Round II will come Sunday when the defensive linemen duke it out on the field during their physical testing and positional drills, but the battle of the shorts between potential top ten SEC edge rushers Josh Allen of Kentucky and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat during Friday morning’s weigh-in goes to the Bulldogs’ Sweat. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with Allen, who many people figure is a likely top 3 pick this coming April, as he measured in with good length at just over 6-4.5 and 262 pounds. However, both Allen’s hands – at 8.5 inches – and arms – at 33.5 inches – are closer to the lower end of the acceptable parameters for an elite edge rusher. Sweat, on the other hand, was just imposing measuring in at over 6.5.5 and 260 pounds with long arms (almost 36″) and huge hands (almost 11″).
The Clemson DE duo of Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant also looked good in shorts. Ferrell, who has seen his stock dip a little, although he remains a viable top 10 candidate, measured in at just over 6.4.5 and 262 pounds with 34-inch plus arms and big (10.5″) hands. Meanwhile, Bryant , who currently carries a second day grade checked in at just over 6-3.5 and 271 pounds with long 34.5″ arms and 9.5″ hands. Other pure ERs who stood out at the weigh-in included Alabama’s Christian Miller, who is a little undersized at 6-3.5 and 247 pounds, but has over 35″ arms; D’Andre Walker of Georgia who is only 6-2, 251, but has almost 35″ arms and 10″ hands. Florida State’s Brian Burns also got all the boxes checked off as he came in at 6-4.5, 249 with 34″ arms and 10″ hands.
On the other hand, the one top ER prospect that didn’t really wow in shorts was Florida’s Jachai Polite who was solid enough at 6-2, 258, but has only 32.5″ arms among the shortest among the edge rushers. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois’ Sutton Smith must have wondered if he had wandered into the wrong room as he measured in at barely 6-0 and 233 pounds with a reach under 31 inches.
Defensive ends: Of course, several of the DEs are actually almost interchangeable with the pure edge rushers. That said, most of the top guys also were able to get most of the boxes checked off, although Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, the consensus #1 prospect for the upcoming draft, didn’t have quite the reach people were hoping to see as his arms checked in at only 33″ which is at the lower end of acceptable spectrum for pass rushers. Bosa though should be able up some of that disadvantage as he has huge (10.75″) hands and decent size at 6-3.5 and 266 pounds. Meanwhile, Michigan’s Rashan Gary, whom scouts can’t wait to see workout on Sunday, was solid across the board as he measured in at 6-4. 5 and 277 pounds with 34″ arms and 10″ hands.
In fact, there were a bunch of very studly looking big DEs out there today. Charles Omenihu of Texas, for example, measured in at a full-sized 6-5, 280 with 36-inch arms, while Zach Allen of Boston College weighed in at 6-4, 281 with 35″ arms and 10″ hands. Same for Anthony Nelson of Iowa, who checked in at 6-7, 271 with almost 35″ arms and 10″ hands, while Georgia’s Jonathan Ledbetter measured in at at 6-3.5 and 280 pounds with 34.5″ arms and almost 10″ hands and Miami’s Joe Jackson registered in at 6-4, 275with 34″ arms and 10″ hands.
Defensive tackles: There was more checking off boxes among the defensive tackles. Alabama’s Quinnen Williams, another likely top 2-3 pick this coming April, along with Clemson’s Christian Wilkins, who is also generating some top 5-10 buzz, for example, were both fine, although neither has super long arms. However, the guy who blew people away among the DTs today was Wilkins Tigers teammate Dexter Lawrence who looked like a complete monster as he measured in at 6-4, 342 with almost 35″ arms and 10.5 inch hands. Notre Dame’s Jerry Tillery also drew some oohs and aahs as he checked in at 6-6.5 and 295 pounds with 34-inch plus arms and 10.5″ hands.
However, the DTs did leave NFL personnel people with some work to do. In particular, Ed Oliver of Houston is not in fact any bigger than scouts had feared as he measured in at a tweener sized 6-1.7 and 287 pounds with very short arms under 32″. Of course his game is quickness but it will be interesting how NFL teams view him. At the same time, Ohio State’s Dre’mont Jones also checked in somewhat smaller than projected at 281 pounds, although he does have long arms for a DT at almost 34″. The other DT that showed up a little smaller than expected was Gerald Willis of Miami who measured in at 6-1.5, 302 with 33″ arms and just 8.5′” hands.
