First 2025 Mock Draft

[CJD]

(01-07-2025, 11:59 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I'm more of a Walter Nolen fan, personally, but I want a more proven pass rushing DT.

I know Grant's potential, but I'm concerned some with never having 4.0 or more sacks in a season, especially with the other talent that's on that DL/defense to help draw attention away.

Grant has 6.5 sacks across 41 games (only 3.0 this year) whereas Nolen has 11.5 sacks across 35 games (6.5 of which came this season).

I'd be cool with Grant too, but I like Nolen better.

Yea, Nolen is great too. It's just a different position. NT vs 3T. Whether they prioritize a guy like Nolen or a guy like Grant will depend entirely on how they view the two DTs they drafted this past off season.

Jackson has the size of a NT, but do they think he can hold up in the run game?

Do they think Jenkins can turn into a dominant pass rusher from the DT position (if they didn't, I don't know why they would draft him, but we had that discussion last off season haha).

I think our defense missed Reader's presence immensely in the run game, as safeties spent a lot more time in the box this year (or, at least, they appeared to), so I'm leaning towards Grant.

The good news is that, while Grant wasn't a huge sack artist, he was disruptive in the passing game. He has 22 hurries this season, with the 3 sacks, 1 QB hit and 5 PD. Last season he had 15 hurries, 5 sacks, 3 QB hits and 3 PD. 

Compared to Nolen's last two seasons per PFF:
Grant:
950 snaps
8 sacks (I believe PFF doesn't penalize players for sharing a sack with teammates)
4 QB hits
37 hurries
8 PD

Nolen:
952 snaps
13 sacks
4 QB hits
33 hurries
3 PD

I think Nolen has higher potential as a pass rusher, but he isn't blowing Grant out of the water in terms of production.