Terrell Lewis | EDGE | Alabama
Elevator Pitch
Lewis is a lengthy and athletic edge rusher who brings plenty of explosiveness, range and upside to the table. The injury history might affect his stock a bit, but if he can stay healthy, he can be a quality starter at the next level.
Vitals
Height | 6-5
Weight | 262
Strengths
The long-awaited debut of Lewis as a full-time contributor in Alabama’s defense finally came in 2019, and he made the most out of the opportunity.
In addition to the lengthy frame he possesses, Lewis is a great athlete for an edge rusher. He shows explosiveness coming out of his stance off the snap, and he has the mobility to move around fluidly in space and jump inside on stunts. He has good closing speed as an open-field tackler and offers some value as a pursuing backside defender. His ability to bend his hips to obtain pad leverage has shown some flashes at times, and the motor with which he plays in space is commendable.
Lewis has also shown plenty of upside in terms of his hand usage. He plays with quick hands and has flashed some strength in his swipes and jabs when stringing moves together. He’s also a smart player who has a good sense of where the ball is and where it’s going to go, and he can work off of blocks upon reading the play to quickly disengage and work to make a play on the ball.
Weaknesses
The biggest issue with Lewis is his durability. He’d be a pretty safe first-round pick with a clean bill of health, but he suffered a torn elbow ligament that forced him to miss 10 games in 2017, as well as a torn ACL that made him sit out all of the 2018 season. His bad luck with injuries is a bit of a red flag, so whichever team chooses him will have to be able to convince themselves that his skill set is worth the risk.
On the field, Lewis can do a better job of maintaining consistent pad level, as he rushes a bit high at times, preventing him from generating more power in his lower body. He doesn’t really have a power move in his arsenal yet; he’s much more of a finesse rusher at this stage in his career. His ability to set the edge as a run defender could use some work, and the power he plays with in his hands could be improved.
Projection: Day 2
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