2023 DL Thread

[rossihunter2]

Jalen Carter might be the best player in this draft class. That would have felt like sacrilege to say with Will Anderson around last year... but Carter as a sophomore already looked like the best DL on a defensive line that included Travon Walker (2022 number 1 pick), Jordan Davis (2022 top 15 pick), Devonte Wyatt (2022 1st round pick).

Not sure about the depth behind him though. We're looking pretty stacked at DL though so it might be the case that we're looking to draft a difference maker if there's one available, or depth on day 3 if there's value to add to our rotation. But with Madubuike, Pierce, Washington and Jones we've got a really nice core group to build this unit from in 2023.

 

[rossihunter2]

Bryan Bresee to me feels like this year's DeMarvin Leal

a guy who got overhyped, has been high on a bunch of boards all season...

but is gonna drop like a stone once these draftniks start talking to actual scouts

in much the same way as i felt about Leal... this guy is definitely not top 10 like ive seen some places, and imo i dont think he's 1st round either

 

[Simba]

Bryan Bresee to me feels like this year's DeMarvin Leal

a guy who got overhyped, has been high on a bunch of boards all season...

but is gonna drop like a stone once these draftniks start talking to actual scouts

in much the same way as i felt about Leal... this guy is definitely not top 10 like ive seen some places, and imo i dont think he's 1st round either

Bresee is an interesting one for me. He's a local kid so been following his career more than most.

I don't disagree with the sentiment. Has moments where he looks like an absolute stud but it's far too inconsistent for me to trust it. Think he's going to get dinged hard on the medicals as well.

 

[rossihunter2]

Bresee is an interesting one for me. He's a local kid so been following his career more than most.

I don't disagree with the sentiment. Has moments where he looks like an absolute stud but it's far too inconsistent for me to trust it. Think he's going to get dinged hard on the medicals as well.

yeah isnt it like ACL, Shoulder and also a kidney infection...

he's also just generally, while freakishly athletic linearly, really stiff

 

[rossihunter2]

Calijah Kancey is an amazing watch

but... might be the most confusing/toughest evaluation ive ever had???

dude might be the best pass rusher in the class but he's an interior DL who's 6'0 and weighs only 275lbs and isnt gonna play the run much lol

where do you draft a pass rush specialist who plays only 3t???

the height doesnt bother me so much but being 275lbs is so tough lol

but he's amazing - lateral explosion, violent hands, great counters, natural leverage, upfield burst, great get-off... that feels like a 1st round pick... but is he???

will be a classic case if he goes super high (and maybe he should) of projecting and focusing on what he CAN do and not what he can't do

 

[RaineV1]

Calijah Kancey is an amazing watch

but... might be the most confusing/toughest evaluation ive ever had???

dude might be the best pass rusher in the class but he's an interior DL who's 6'0 and weighs only 275lbs and isnt gonna play the run much lol

where do you draft a pass rush specialist who plays only 3t???

the height doesnt bother me so much but being 275lbs is so tough lol

but he's amazing - lateral explosion, violent hands, great counters, natural leverage, upfield burst, great get-off... that feels like a 1st round pick... but is he???

will be a classic case if he goes super high (and maybe he should) of projecting and focusing on what he CAN do and not what he can't do

I could see a team like the Eagles going for him if he's still there. They always have a high rotation on their D-line so a specialist interior pass rusher fits them. Plus that defense thrives on penetration in general.

 

[RavensMania]

McDonald is an intriguing case because he was played entirely out of position. 4T and 5T at 236 pounds. I think he's a projection but he could be a very solid pass rusher. Still managed high grades in that department despite the disadvantage.

 

[rossihunter2]

McDonald is an intriguing case because he was played entirely out of position. 4T and 5T at 236 pounds. I think he's a projection but he could be a very solid pass rusher. Still managed high grades in that department despite the disadvantage.

as in will mcdonald of iowa state?
he's 100% an edge not a DL

 

[RavensMania]

as in will mcdonald of iowa state?
he's 100% an edge not a DL

played mostly 4 and 5T, but yes agree he's an edge and as I said above, definitely played a lot out of position,

 

[52520Andrew]

Calijah Kancey is an amazing watch

but... might be the most confusing/toughest evaluation ive ever had???

dude might be the best pass rusher in the class but he's an interior DL who's 6'0 and weighs only 275lbs and isnt gonna play the run much lol

where do you draft a pass rush specialist who plays only 3t???

the height doesnt bother me so much but being 275lbs is so tough lol

but he's amazing - lateral explosion, violent hands, great counters, natural leverage, upfield burst, great get-off... that feels like a 1st round pick... but is he???

will be a classic case if he goes super high (and maybe he should) of projecting and focusing on what he CAN do and not what he can't do

Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Bennett is taller but I don't think that would hold him back inside when you have a guy like Donald who is 6'1 and 285

 

[rossihunter2]

Michael Bennett (defensive lineman, born 1985) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Bennett is taller but I don't think that would hold him back inside when you have a guy like Donald who is 6'1 and 285

When you look at them, Donald certainly looks more filled out than Kancey - that would be the worry a little bit

Also Donald didn’t really have a bunch of concerns on tape over run defence whereas there are with kancey

 

[52520Andrew]

When you look at them, Donald certainly looks more filled out than Kancey - that would be the worry a little bit

Also Donald didn’t really have a bunch of concerns on tape over run defence whereas there are with kancey

Yeah I think Kancey likely would have to shift to DE on early downs but it has been done before. Good interior pass rushers have value although an offense could be smart and go quick tempo with him out there.

 

[rossihunter2]

Yeah I think Kancey likely would have to shift to DE on early downs but it has been done before. Good interior pass rushers have value although an offense could be smart and go quick tempo with him out there.

Part of the reason why Aaron Donald is one of the greatest of all time (if not the greatest) is because of the way he can hold up inside - obviously if teams target him in the run game they can get positive results but he’s able to hold up well enough and create enough negative plays (and the team is built around him to do this) that teams are forced into situations where he’s unignorable

Kancey still has a ton of value but tough to expect him with his tape and profile to have to rely on being built around like a HoFer

I think you’re right though that most teams are gonna think they can at worst put him on the edge or at 5t early and move him inside on passing downs in the way that lots of teams like to get faster rushers on the interior on 3rd downs anyway

 

[UPennChem]

 

[JoeyFlex5]

They sleep

 

[rossihunter2]

Same with Josh downs

Normally means teams are pretty comfortable with the person/player/medicals

Also will have met with teams at the combine etc