28. Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas (6-4, 235)
A long, lean athlete, Sanders is cunning and agile with the instincts of both an off-ball player and pass rusher. He posted impressive numbers as a first-year starter, but there were too many “almost” tackles on tape, and he left production on the field with his tendency to over-pursue. Overall, Sanders must become a more skilled tackle finisher and take-on player, but he offers intriguing versatility as a “do-everything” front-seven defender thanks to his size and athletic range. He is an ascending player with the talent to be a matchup linebacker and occasional pass rusher in the NFL.
Grade: First-second round
33. BJ Ojulari, Edge, LSU (6-2, 248)
Similar to his older brother (Azeez), Ojulari is quick, fast and bendy from anywhere on the field, closing with burst or creating movement at contact. He has a collection of pass-rush moves to frame his attack in different ways — his “go-to” is a long-arm that sets up his ghost move — but he can be covered up and give up the edge if he doesn’t win with quickness. Overall, Ojulari doesn’t have ideal size for every scheme, but he offers a dynamic pursuit package with his explosive traits and unrelenting effort. He offers scheme versatility as an NFL starter, projecting best as a stand-up edge rusher for an odd-front defense.
Grade: First-second round
38. Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson (6-2, 235)
An impressive size/speed athlete, Simpson plays physically to work off blockers and appears to be moving at a different gear than the rest of the pursuit thanks to his short-area burst and acceleration. Though he plays with urgency, he must show better control as a tackler and improve his coverage awareness to lock down a full-time gig versus NFL skill players. Overall, Simpson must continue developing his play recognition to translate his immense talent into playmaking production, but he is an active ball hunter with the pursuit speed and appetite for contact to fill multiple roles. He projects best in a fast-flowing defense where he can be a run-and-hit backer and handle overhang responsibilities.
Grade: First-second round
43. Joe Tippmann, C, Wisconsin (6-6, 313)
Tippmann is an athletic blocker who shines on pulls, cutoffs and any move-block that shows off his range and eyes. With his bend and flexibility, he is able to play low for a taller player and generate explosive torque through his hips, but he gets off schedule when his pads rise, often ending up on the ground. Overall, Tippmann must be mindful of his body leverage/balance to match up versus NFL defenders, but his quickness, strength and vision are all plus traits for a starting interior lineman. He projects as an NFL starter (either center or guard), ideally suited for a wide-zone scheme.
Grade: Second round
45. Cody Mauch, G, North Dakota State (6-5, 302)
Although he wasn’t often challenged on an island in pass protection, Mauch has the foot quickness and body control to comfortably operate in space and skillfully maneuver from block to block. His technical approach needs continued refinement, but he is a sticky blocker in the run game, using his hands to latch, create leverage and reset engagement. Overall, Mauch doesn’t have ideal length or sand in his lower body, but he has outstanding movement skills, fierce handwork and innate competitiveness to become a starter early in his NFL career. He should get a look at tackle first but also projects well inside, reminiscent of Mitch Morse.
Grade: Second round
47. Keion White, Edge, Georgia Tech (6-4, 285)
White is a rangy mover for his size, capable of spot dropping with running backs or collapsing blocks off the edge with his physical hands. However, he needs to better understand his biomechanics and improve his pass-rush plan, as he prefers to surge into blocks instead of setting them up and countering. Overall, White is still developing his craft and pass-rush technique/instincts, but he is a high-motor height/weight/speed edge player with power as a bull rusher and the mass to anchor versus the run. Similar to Datone Jones, he is a scheme-proof prospect and projects as a rotational base end as an NFL rookie.
Grade: Second round
54. Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse (6-5, 318)
With his on-field demeanor and approach, Bergeron can generate movement in the run game and control pass rushers when his hands, feet and eyes stay on the same page. However, his inconsistent weight distribution leads to issues in pass pro and he doesn’t have repeatable hands, which were tough issues to mask against the better opponents on the schedule (Clemson, Notre Dame, Florida State). Overall, Bergeron is very efficient in his movements and grades well as a run blocker, but his inconsistent base and hand placement are gateway issues that disrupt his rhythm and ability to finish, especially in space. He has NFL starting talent, although his skills might be maximized inside as a zone-blocking guard.
Grade: Second round
55. Gervon Dexter Sr., DT, Florida (6-5, 310)
Dexter carries his weight well with impressive foot quickness and pass rush potential, although you wish he had more backfield production to show for it. His impact can be traced to his ability to leverage — he is a very different player when he utilizes his long levers to put blockers on skates as a pass rusher or anchor, stack and work the point in the run game. Dexter must develop a more disciplined approach to turn the flashes into more consistent play, but he is an agile, coordinated big man who has yet to play his best football. He is a traits-based projection who can play up and down the line, which will interest both even and odd fronts.
Grade: Second round
56. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin (6-3, 309)
With his push-the-pocket power, Benton consistently resets the line of scrimmage when his pad level is right and plays with the movement skills to get up and down the line of scrimmage. His mediocre college production is a product of his role for the Badgers and his pass-rush potential boosts his draft grade. Benton needs to play with consistent leverage and become a more consistent finisher for the NFL game, but his stout power base and above-average athleticism at his size are outstanding foundation traits. He has the talent to play all over the defensive line as a pro.
Grade: Second round
58. Derick Hall, Edge, Auburn (6-2, 254)
Only two pounds and nine ounces when he was born, Hall grew into a long, rocked-up defender who wears down blockers with aggressive stabs and speed-to-power moves. He can set a physical edge versus the run, but hints of stiffness leave him tardy to disengage and work off contact. Overall, Hall doesn’t have fully fleshed-out counter maneuvers, but he is an urgent, hard-charging pass rusher with linear athleticism and power in his hands. He will be attractive to multiple schemes and projects as a potential NFL starter, similar to the Denver Broncos’ Jonathan Cooper.
Grade: Second-third round
60. Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame (6-5, 264)
Although his pass-rush plan and move-to-move transitions are undeveloped, Foskey is a tough player to contain because of his revving motor and rangy chase skills up and down the line of scrimmage. He has active hand work but requires time to disengage from sustained blocks once reached, which leads to questions about his position fit. Overall, Foskey needs to be more consistent versus the run and his pass-rush arsenal lacks variety. However, he has promising traits, and his play speed and non-stop hustle raise his floor as an NFL player. He projects an impactful sub-package rusher as a rookie with the talent to develop into a full-time edge rusher.
Grade: Second-third round
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