DT Preference Question
 

So I'm noticing a lot of interest in a DT early in the draft, and I'm amongst those on board. Adding a legit DT next to C Jones could do wonders to open up the Pass Rush both inside and outside, which seems to be the primary goal of this draft

I've seen a lot of love for D Wyatt 6'3 307lbs and T Jones 6'4 326 lbs from the Chief's fanship, and in no way am I bashing those guys because I'm sure they'd be great. Hell, Wyatt has been one of my personal draft crushes, but I'm wondering if that interest might be slightly misplaced? D Wyatt is said to be a disruptive pass rusher, but only recorded 5 sacks in 4 years on a stacked Georgia DL. T Jones is more of a Nose Tackle, double-team eating, run-stuffer type. He had 8.5 sacks in 3 years.

So...why are we so high on those two and not D Leal 6'4 290 lbs or P Mathis 6'3 313 lbs? Leal had 8.5 sacks just last year, and 13 total over 3 years. Some have compared him to C Jones, he's supposed to be disruptive in the backfield as well but had a MJ charge. Mathis had 9 sacks last year! 10.5 over 3 years.

I'm just curious, if pass rush is the goal, why these guys aren't being discussed as equivalent or better options?

I'm seeing that Wyatt and Jones had better 40 times, both in the high 4's while Leal and Mathis ran in the low 5's.

Anything else I'm missing?

So the question is, do you want a guy who can spell Chris Jones and maybe eventually replace him, or do you want a guy who can actually play with Jones for the majority of snaps?

Scroll to the bottom of this page:https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/DL/2/2022

Provides an athletic chart for the top DL and DE, suggests Leal and Mathis are a step below the others. The chart makes Boy Mafe, Ojabo, and Sanders look like steals.

Not sure that 1 notch lower on athletic tests is enough to justify taking those guys over more productive players though.

Thoughts?

Assuming you're talking about T Jones here, I'd have to ask if he's a 3 down DL? Some are saying that not even J Davis is a 3-down DL with his off-the-charts athleticism for his D Poe-like size.

Do you need a bigger run-stuffer type next to C Jones, more like Jones or Mathis? Or can you put his clone in Wyatt or Leal next to him?

Give me an edge over a DT every time. I've probably been jaded by all our DT busts through the years. Sims, Dorsey, Jackson, McBride, Siavii, Freeman, etc. Dontari Poe had a couple good years but we picked the wrong guy as Fletcher Cox went with the next pick.

I just don't think it's a premium position unless it's a unicorn like Aaron Donald. We need players that will sack the QB, not stuff the run.

#29 Mafe = 7 sacks 21
#30 Ojabo = 11 sacks 21
#50 Leal = 8 sacks 21
#62 Mathis = 9 sacks 21

2023 DL Remade similar to 2022 OL.

I also like DT Uwazurike 6'6 319 lbs in later rounds, he had 9 sacks last year!

Any other later-round DT standouts?

We have the opportunity to really rebuild the dline in this draft. I hope for three of the top 5: Davis, Wyatt, Jones, Winfrey and Mathis. This would add a ton of depth and players you can instantly incorporate into the DT rotation.

For edge, If Walker falls past 8, please go get him. I think he is the top difference maker at edge not named Hutchinson.

Also interested in Ebiketie, Hall, Enagbare as traditional edges available in round two.
I would target a couple stand up guys for use similar to Ingram as well, such as DeAngelo Malone and Sam Williams. I feel like Amare Barno offers some of the biggest upside as a sub package rusher.
Alex Wright is probably another late round sleeper development project.

I hope we draft like 3 DTS, 3 traditional guys and 2 sub package rushers. I realize that this will require compromises on WRs or future draft capital, but this class is thicc at Dline, and I want like all of them haha

The position is just light this year, that's really more the problem.

I like Travis Jones because he's a 3-down NT prospect. They brought Nnadi back on a 1-year deal and he was the rotational NT last year. Saunders only has a year left too and he hasn't proven to be much more than a spot rotation guy. Jones replaces Reed for me with a guy that can 2-gap and hold down the fort. He's got enough juice to push the pocket on passing downs too, he was very disruptive when 1-gapping.

Wyatt is more of a Jarran Reed clone, maybe more athletic. Wyatt could, potentially, replace Chris Jones down the road but I see him more in that NT role too. The difference is Wyatt looks like he can provide a little more disruptive chops than Travis Jones on passing downs. That said, I like that Travis Jones was his own beast on a bad defensive line and would be salivating about what he could be when he has talent next to him.

Phidarian Mathis is a guy I really see as the same type of guy as Wyatt. Played on a stacked line, offers a similar skill set, but not as refined overall. Would like Mathis in 2.

I've been openly vocal about my like for Uwazurike but he's a guy I'd take in the 4th or so. He's a bit older prospect too, much like Wyatt. He's a guy I could see developing behind Chris Jones but I think he can project to either spot.

Ridgeway, he's a CC convert and looked good last year but he looks like an NT only with little rush ability. I wouldn't mind him either late on day 2 or on day 3.

Leal is a curious case. If he would have run a lot better I'd be more inclined to say he would be a guy that could play as an SDE and slide inside sometimes. Instead, he's kind of a very average athlete that's undersized at DT. If he can get up to 290-295 and stay there rather than 283, I'd think he could be a guy that you play as a 3-tech and could be disruptive. He's a bit of buyer beware for me.

Perrion Winfrey is a guy where I like him in the 2nd too, but he needs development and is another guy you're looking at to replace Jones. I think he could be a lot better in the pros than Leal. I think he's got the pedigree to be very disruptive.

Not many other guys I like in this draft very early. I don't mind Ferrell or Elliss as a day 3 guy at NT. I like Novil as a late flier there too. Eric Johnson, Curtis Brooks, and Jordan Jackson are intriguing guys as 3-techs later on too.

Watch winfrey at the senior bowl. He’s disruptive and my favorite for the value in the 2nd.

I could care less about a space eating NT, to be honest. You can grab guys like that in FA nearly any year on the cheap. There's a reason for that. Just because KC often does NOT, doesn't mean we should be blowing high draft picks on one.

If I'm taking a DT early in the draft, he's a plus pass rush threat, period.

I like Winfrey quite a bit in this draft. I think he's similar to Chris Jones. Not as big, but the long arms kind of make up the difference.

I saw a comp the other day on a talking head show, might have been GMF might have been Baldy... anyhow they compared Travis Jones to Muhammad Wilkerson. Basically said all the physical attributes looked the same and both are guys that went to the Senior Bowl and just dominated with strength and leverage. IF Jones became the type of player Wilkerson was, ****... that's a good player. That said, I just don't quite see the same pass-rushing chops Wilkerson had in college from Jones but maybe he can get there in the NFL?

I’m ecstatic with one of Wyatt/Winfrey.
Happy with T. Jones or Mathis in the mid-late 2nd.