Tag: T’Vondre sweat

TeX’s and O’s: T’Vondre Sweat could reach new heights with Texans

Texas Longhorns star T’Vondre Sweat might be the biggest player and bigger boom-or-bust prospect the Houston Texans could target.

For a team that preached the importance of the trenches, the Houston Texans’ strategy at the defensive tackle has been puzzling for some.

The AFC South winners lost Sheldon Rankins to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency and traded away fellow starter Maliek Collins to the San Francisco 49ers. In return, they signed Folorunso Fatukasi after a high-profile free agent stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, alongside career backups such as Tim Settle from the Buffalo Bills and Mario Edwards Jr from the Seattle Seahawks.

Houston added power up the middle when it signed Tennesee Titans’ star Danico Autry but the 33-year-old represents much more of an interior edge rusher than a true three-down defensive tackle.

Houston still could target one of the top defensive linemen in April’s draft, but its pickings could also be minimal when on the clock at No. 42. Illinois’ Johnny Newton and Texas’ Byron Murphy were prime options at pick No. 23, but the Texans shipped off their Day 1 pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange to move back 19 spots and a 2025 second-round pick.

That pick was used to acquire Stefon Diggs from Buffalo Wednesday morning, thus making Houston’s path to the draft much more clear.

Houston should feel content with the line entering OTAs, but there’s not there’s not a clear “upgrade” path to the trenches for head coach DeMeco Ryans. Even with promising upside, the Day 2 talents are going to take time adjusting from life on Saturdays to life in the pros.

There are, however, some intriguing options in the second round that could booster what appears to be a position the Texans will attack as a collective, including former Longhorn standout T’Vondre Sweat.

Sweat Stands Out In Run Defense

Sweat was debatably the most high-profile defensive tackle in college football this past season at a monstrous 365 lbs. He played five seasons on the Forty Acres and ended 2023 on an incredibly high note, earning consensus All-American honors and first-team All-Big 12 player honors.

Sweat was also named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior defensive lineman.

In 15 games, the Huntsville native totaled 45 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks while wielding his immense strength and size to anchor the Longhorns against the run and help propel the defense to the College Football Playoff.

When there’s smoke, a fire is not far behind. Rumors have been heating up between the two sides ever since the start of the offseason, and they’re about to set Twitter ablaze with three weeks to go.

Houston has an obvious need for the position in place of Collins. Sweat is one of the more well-rounded trench prospects projected to go outside the first round.

Ok, so what’s the debate? What doesn’t Nick Caserio run in the card and never look back at No. 42?

Ryans simply has never deployed a defensive tackle of Sweat’s size.  During his time as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, he vastly preferred smaller and quicker defensive linemen, capable of getting upfield to push the pocket on passing downs and additionally playing a higher volume of snaps to supplement the ferocious, attacking nature.

How could the largest defensive tackle in years fit that profile? Despite the awkward optics, the film doesn’t raise as many questions. Sweat proved he’s someone that could not only immediately contribute to how Ryans wants the Texans to play defense, but also someone who could become more at the next level.

Immediately, Sweat would represent an upper-tier run stopper at the defensive tackle position as a rookie. His mass allows him to engage multiple blockers and makes it difficult for offensive lines to move him off his spot. Sweat is additionally strong enough to work through double teams and make plays on the ball carrier even when accounted for. More often than not, teams simply chose to run in the other direction.

His effect on the game goes beyond the sheer strength and size that’s bundled underneath the uniform. Sweat is surprisingly adept at using his hands to win 1-on-1 situations with offensive linemen and he took advantage of players who weren’t prepared for both the physical and technical level required to stay in front of him.

Often billed as an elite run-stuffer, and fairly so, Sweat still brings some surprising chops to the passing game.

His strength translates to incredible bull rushes that force offensive tackles and guards alike backward. Sweat would immediately be able to contribute towards collapsing the pocket and is a handful when offensive linemen can do nothing but work backward against him. His strong hands also contribute to some surprising sacks on film.

“I’m a better pass rusher than people give me credit for. I can push the pocket,” Sweat recently said in an interview with The Draft Network That’s what a lot of coaches look for at the next level, somebody that can push the pocket,” Sweat told The Draft Network. “If the quarterback doesn’t have enough room to step up into the middle of the pocket, what’s he going to do when he’s under pressure? That puts the passer in a tough spot. I love pushing that pocket. Coaches love it when I do that.”

Collapsing the pocket and the strength he has to do it is evident everywhere on film. Even on the edge, watch Sweat walk back Alabama’s left tackle and nearly lay a hand on the quarterback.

His strength translates to any assignment when rushing the passer.

Talent Transition To Pros

So yes, it’s fair for fans to ask at his profile. How Sweat will adjust to the NFL game and how many snaps he’ll be able to effectively play at a staggering size is a huge part of his draft projection. Additionally, how effectively his pass rush game translates when linemen are stronger and better prepared to deal with his size could mean Sweat needs additional tools to succeed on 3rd downs at the NFL level.

Where would this project Sweat if he dropped into Houston’s current brand?

He could start immediately as the 1-technique defensive tackle and would represent an enormous challenge for opposing centers and guards. The defense still needs someone to anchor at that position on run-downs and Sweat would immediately serve that role. He would change the dynamics of the run game and the attention he demands would open up favorable scenarios for the Texans’ newest linebacker duo in Christian Harris and Azeez Al-Shaiir.

In the passing game, Ryans has often preferred smaller defensive linemen due to their ability to quickly get upfield and affect the dynamics of the- passing game. Due to Sweat’s strength and technical work, he isn’t prohibited from affecting the passer at his size. He would help to collapse the pocket and is a disaster waiting to happen for guards that needs to account for him on stunts and switches when Danielle Hunter or NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson are flying in from the edge.

He may not be transformative in the passing game, but even at his current level, he offers a phenomenal fit in the context of Houston’s incredible defensive infrastructure. This doesn’t even address the fact that there may be another level to Sweat as a professional.

Best Case-Scenario?

What happens if Sweat can play more than 50% of the snaps as an NFL tackle? What if he drops some of the weight that he’s gained during his last two seasons of college but still represents a sizable mass in the 330-340lb range? That’s when outcomes could become special.

A lighter weight could allow Sweat to play far closer to the defensive tackles historically deployed by Ryans in San Francisco and last year in Houston. It would certainly elevate his ability to quickly fly to the quarterback and likely would come without sacrificing much, if any, of his impact on the running game. Still, there’s little need to dwell on hypotheticals when such a clear skillset is already apparent to evaluators.

Even without a first-round pick, there is a lot to love about the potential for Caserio to attack the position in the second round with the homegrown Sweat.

He would bring an elite run-stopping skillset to the 1-tech defensive tackle position and could represent a huge problem when left 1-on-1 or employed as the decoy on stunts for passing downs. Whether the Texans would truly gamble on a different archetype on tackle is yet to be seen.

The potential is undeniable. So is the risk-reward factor in an offseason where the Texans are gambling big.

2024 NFL draft: Texans send 5 coaches and GM to Texas’ Pro Day

The Houston Texans were well represented at the Texas Pro Day with Nick Caserio, DeMeco Ryans and several staff members in attendance.

The Houston Texans were well represented at the University of Texas Pro Day on Wednesday.

Six members of the team — including general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans — made the three-hour journey from Houston to Austin to watch some of the Longhorns’ top players work out ahead of the 2024 NFL draft in April. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, defensive coordinator Matt Burke, newly promoted defensive line coach Rod Wright (who’s also an alum of Texas) and wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels were also in attendance.

Texas boasts a long list of potential fits for the Texans, including wide receiver and defensive line.

First, let’s start with the wideouts: Xavier Worthy — who broke the NFL combine 40-yard dash record —and Adonai Mitchell. Worthy is more of the take-the-top-off burner wide receiver, while Mitchell is often compared to the pass-catchers like Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Worthy’s speed is a very interesting aspect of his game, while Mitchell feels like the more natural fit for the Texans given his versatility to play in the slot and on the boundary.

The need for a slot wide receiver is obvious for the Texans, but neither Worthy nor Mitchell could be on the board when Houston picks in the second round after Caserio traded away the No. 23 overall pick to move back to No. 42.

Another area of concern is interior defensive line. Texas has two quality prospects at that position, too: Byron Murphy II and T’vondre Sweat. This duo amassed seven sacks in 2023 and have quickly grabbed the attention of football fans after whose team lacks the talent in their defensive front.

While each player offers a very different skill set, there is no doubt the Texans could benefit from their services after the departure of three of the four starting defensive line members from the 2023 season.

Murphy on paper feels like the more natural fit for the Texans defense, as Ryans tends to keep his front within a certain set of parameters when it comes to physical make up. Murphy is 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds — a similar build to what the other defensive tackles look like on the Texans.

Murphy could be gone before the Texans make a selection, though. Sweat, meanwhile, could be a very real possibility in the second round. Caserio appeared to watch Sweat’s workout intently, and defensive line coach Rod Wright, who played defensive tackle for the Longhorns, spoke with Sweat after his workout.

 

Sending this type of contingent of staff to a Pro Day doesn’t necessarily mean anything, especially given the short travel time to Austin. However, Texas has a lot of good players at positions of need for Houston.

The trip was warranted, but where the Texans go in the draft is anyone’s guess at this point.

Saints DL coach says T’Vondre Sweat ‘made some money today’ at Texas pro day

T’Vondre Sweat earned high praise for his performance at Texas’ pro day, particularly from Saints defensive line coach Todd Grantham:

Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat is on the New Orleans Saints’ radar, which assistant coach Todd Grantham made that very apparent at the school’s pro day this week. Scouts and position coaches are out in force on the pro day circuit as the 2024 NFL draft draws closer.

Hank South of 247Sports noted Grantham catching up with Sweat after his workout, commenting that the 22-year-old “made some money today.” Having weighed in at 6-foot-4 and 366 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, those in attendance were wowed by Sweat’s movement skills as he completed athletic drills on Wednesday.

There are areas on the defensive side of the ball the Saints are looking to improve this offseason, including their inconsistent run defense which struggled to stop mobile quarterbacks. A player like Sweat could help to remedy that issue if the Saints are to make that a priority when they’re on the clock in April.

Sweat, who largely projects as a late first-round or early second-round pick, finished out the 2023 season with 45 total tackles (18 solo), with 5 passes defended and 2.0 sacks. His stock has been ever-rising throughout the pre-draft process as he also recorded a standout performance at the combine with a 5.27-second 40-yard dash. Sweat recorded a 26-inch vertical and an 8-foot-2 broad jump in the same event.

It will be interesting to see if he carries this performance over to the Big Easy, ready to bring an instant boost to whichever NFL team ultimately picks him up.

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Shane Steichen, Reggie Wayne attend Texas pro day

Some important Colts’ figures attended the Texas pro day.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne were in attendance at the NFL pro day for Texas ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

While the Colts will have several scouts attending pro days and workouts leading up to April’s big event, it’s noteworthy when a head coach makes a trip.

It’s also notable that Wayne is in attendance considering the Longhorns have two fringe Round 1 receiver prospects in Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.

While the wide receiver prospects will certainly garner the most attention for the Colts, there are several other prospects the team likely had an eye on during the pro day.

Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is considered one of the top prospects at the position and likely a Day 2 pick. Defensive tackle Byron Murphy is expected to go in the first round while fellow defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat is a projected Day 2 selection.

Safety Ryan Watts also could be on Chris Ballard’s radar considering his elite RAS (9.84).

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Saints were well-represented at Texas Longhorns pro day

The Saints were well-represented at the Texas Longhorns pro day, and the coaches present give us an idea who they were scouting:

The New Orleans Saints were well-represented at the Texas Longhorns pro day, per Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, who says the team’s defensive line and linebackers coaches were in attendance. That likely means Saints assistants Todd Grantham (defensive line) and Michael Hodges (linebackers), though Adam Gristick (assistant defensive line) and Brian Young (pass rush specialist) may have also made the trip. Either way, we can tell which positions they were most interested in.

So which 2024 draft prospects were on their radar? Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy is widely projected to be picked in the top half of the first round and he could be an option for the Saints at No. 14. His teammates Edgerrin Cooper (a linebacker) and T’Vondre Sweat (a nose tackle) are both seen as second-round picks. Linebacker Jaylan Ford also has a draftable grade, and Jett Bush hopes to join him.

Of that group, Murphy and Cooper best fit the athletic thresholds the Saints value with Relative Athletic Scores of 8.96 and 9.26, respectively. Ford told 247 Sports’ Jeff Howe that the Saints are one of the teams he’s had the most contact with through the pre-draft process, so they’re clearly keeping tabs on him. Howe’s peer Hank South overheard Grantham complimenting Sweat, saying that the 366-pounder “made some money” after impressing with his movement skills during his workout.

New Orleans showed some vulnerabilities in run defense last year. The Saints ranked 11th in rushing yards allowed both per-carry and per-game, and they particularly struggled to guard mobile quarterbacks. If Dennis Allen thinks someone like Sweat or Ford can help turn that weakness into a strength, it shouldn’t shock anyone to hear their names called in April.

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The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: What does the scouting combine really mean?

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys get into what the scouting combine really means for NFL teams and top draft prospects.

Once the scouting combine is over every year — and this year’s version concluded last week — NFL scouts, coaches and personnel executives are left with reams of new information to deal with, and to add to their previous evaluations.

So, what does that really mean? And what can a great combine performance really do for a draft prospect? For example, Texas receiver Xavier Worthy broke the combine record with a 4.1-second 40-yard dash. If he already plays extremely fast on the field, what does that add to his evaluation? Or if a player like Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu aces all his drills and crushes it in the meeting rooms with NFL teams, how does he really come out the other side in the minds of the people who are set to select him in the 2024 NFL draft?

In this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” the guys get into what the scouting combine really means, their individual experiences at this year’s event, and how drill work really matches up to game tape and NFL transitions for multiple top prospects.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

13 NFL Combine standouts who could help the Chiefs in 2024

These 13 combine standouts are players that the #Chiefs should keep their eyes on in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to win their third-consecutive Super Bowl next season and need to bulk up their roster in the coming months to field a team capable of achieving such a difficult task.

While free agency is sure to provide Kansas City with some options later in March, the 2024 NFL Draft in April will be the best opportunity for the Chiefs to find talented players who can help them for years to come.

The NFL Scouting Combine last week gave the team’s scouts plenty to think about as they build Kansas City’s draft board. Several standout players separated themselves from the competition with their standout performances in Indianapolis, Indiana. They may be among the prospects that the Chiefs have their eyes on heading into the most crucial part of the offseason.

Check out which players Kansas City might be interested in after testing particularly well at the combine:

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most?

2024 Scouting Combine: Which DL, EDGE, and LB helped themselves the most? (via @NFL_DougFarrar):

INDIANAPOLIS — For some draft prospects, the scouting combine on-field drills are mere confirmation for NFL teams looking to add a bit to positive tape study and personal interviews. For others, it’s a bigger deal, as great numbers might have some personnel people going back to that tape to see what they might have missed the first time around.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, we saw the defensive linemen, edge defenders, and off-ball linebackers do their thing on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. While a lot of prospects acquitted themselves well, here are the ones who did the most to stand out, and to potentially see their stocks rise through the next two months before the 2024 NFL draft is in the bag.

2024 NFL draft: Our favorite Steelers prospect at every position of need

We would love to see the Steelers draft as many of these players as possible in the 2024 NFL draft.

With the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in full swing, we decided to update our list of our favorite prospects for the Pittsburgh Steelers at every position of need.

Seahawks trade down, target QB of the future in this 2-round mock draft

In an ironic twist, we wound up doing another deal with the Giants…

The Seahawks have a dilemma going into the 2024 NFL draft. Having dealt their second-round pick to the Giants as part of the Leonard Williams trade, they’re missing a big selection early in the draft as they attempt to fill out a relatively young roster that’s on the rise.

In our latest mock draft, we set out to trade down in the first round to get that second-round pick back and target a new potential franchise quarterback in Round 2. In an ironic twist, we wound up doing another deal with the Giants, sending them pick No. 16 overall in exchange for pick Nos. 39, 47 and a 2025 second-round selection.

After accepting the deal we held our breath and hoped that our guy would still be on the board when we are back on the clock at No. 39 overall. Here’s how it played out.

7 realistic options for the Seahawks in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft