6’3” – 265 lbs. – 4.89
Has pro bloodlines; father is former pro linebacker Bryan Cox. Started throughout his sophomore and junior seasons, but had a more limited role this past season due to injury. Versatile player. Plays defensive end from a few different techniques and on both sides of the line; takes the rare snap on the inside or from a two-point stance as well, where he’s been asked to jam opponents at the line of scrimmage and make shallow drops into zone coverage. Offers an attractive combination of bulk and length for a pro pass rusher; arms measured 33.75” at the Combine. Has heavy hands to discard blockers when handling two-gap responsibilities in the run game; length and thickness are also well-suited to that type of role. Patient player who stays home when he’s on the backside. Physical and is able to help set the tone as a thumper. Length gives him a good radius. Doesn’t hold up well against double-teams but can stand his ground in one-on-one situations. Range is limited by his average athleticism. Can appear hesitant and struggle to locate the ball at times. Plays with a good level of intensity on passing downs. Not really a quick-twitch athlete but has a reasonable first step off the snap and is able to dip his shoulder and bend back to the passer when rushing off the edge; could tighten his arc a little bit. Does a pretty good job of setting up his rushes and mixes in some swim moves to vary his approaches. Has the power to generate some push as a bull-rusher but is more likely to try and win the edge. More explosive as a junior than his disappointing workout numbers would indicate, although it’s unclear how well his edge-rushing success at the college level will translate to the NFL. Senior-season injuries and back surgery following his sophomore campaign will require further medical investigation and look likely to affect his draft stock, especially because they limited his production last season. Teams will have to determine whether or not his junior-year tape was more representative of his ability, or whether his forgettable senior campaign and Combine are all he has left. That said, the combination of bulk, length, power, and bend he offers should be attractive enough to teams to earn him consideration as a mid-to-late-round selection assuming their doctors sign off on him.
DRAFTEXAMINER 