1. Jaelan Phillips, Miami
Size: 6-6, 260
The Good: A huge recruit for UCLA, he wasn’t able to get his career going thanks to a slew of injuries and was on the verge of having to stop playing altogether. He rebooted his career with a transfer to Miami after a year off, and then he showed off what he could do when healthy and rejuvenated.
Big, active, and fiery, he blew up with eight sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 45 tackles in just ten games of work, shaking the rust off and getting better and better as the season went on.
He’s got the size and the all-around athleticism and burst to be used as a true end or as an edge rushing specialist.
If you don't know @CanesFootball EDGE Jaelan Phillips…
You'll definitely know him once you see his Pro Day highlights. 😤 @JJPhillips15 pic.twitter.com/i6pDpRFZTN
— NFL (@NFL) April 5, 2021
The Not-So-Good: Those injuries. He was able to get past the problems at UCLA to rock at Miami, but there have to be some concerns about long-term durability after missing time with concussion issues.
He’s strong, but he’s not really an inside defender and might not be the exact right fit for every team. While he was good in his limited time as a freshman with UCLA, he only has one year of production.
The injuries and issues at UCLA are just enough to worry about longevity – that’s what the NFL medical staffs have to figure out, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: If a team can be assured that all is okay and there aren’t any unreasonable concerns going forward, he’s a near-lock to be a first round pick with the best all-around pure defensive end ability in the draft.
However, like the other guys on this list, there’s still a whole lot of prove-it side to his game. To beat this into the ground, the one difference is the medical evaluation. In terms of fire, passion for the game, and ability to be a Pro Bowl game-changer, though, it’s all there.
Projected Round: First
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