The 2022 NFL Combine this weekend featured one of the deepest groups of defensive linemen in recent memory, and the testing results didn’t disappoint. If we could pick everybody as winners, we would. But unfortunately, we have to be selective. These are the defensive linemen who improved their stock the most.
5 Defensive linemen who boosted their stock at the NFL Combine
The 2022 NFL Draft may go down as one of the most athletic defensive line classes in recorded NFL history. Not only is the top-end talent at a clear blue-chip level, but there’s also plenty of athletic depth. Looking back on the results of NFL Combine testing on Day 3, these defensive linemen benefitted the most.
Jordan Davis, Georgia
If you’re standing for this one, sit down. If you’re holding a cup of coffee or some other heated beverage, set it down in front of you. Jordan Davis not only tested as the most athletic defensive tackle in recorded NFL Combine history, but he also tested as the second-most athletic player ever, regardless of position — behind only Calvin Johnson.
The numbers, when put together, simply don’t make sense. At 6’6″, 341 pounds — read that again for emphasis — Davis clocked a 4.78 40-yard dash with a 1.68 10-yard split. He also logged a 32-inch vertical and a 123-inch broad jump, with the latter number being near the 99th percentile.
Without agility drills, Davis earned a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of exactly 10. And just for kicks, he would’ve had an elite RAS at tight end as well. There are still questions regarding Davis’ game. He plays upright a lot, lacks stamina at times, and can still develop as a pass rusher. But this kind of athlete doesn’t come around often. If your scheme demands a lot of two-high, you want this unnatural entity anchoring your line.
Travon Walker, Georgia
I hope you had the popcorn out for Travon Walker‘s testing results at the NFL Combine because the Georgia star joined his teammate Davis in pacing the defensive linemen. He finished with an absolutely freakish RAS of 9.98 at the defensive end position. And odds are, he likely would’ve put up an elite RAS at either defensive tackle or linebacker as well. He was used all over the line at Georgia, and that can carry over to the NFL.
Among the otherworldly numbers, Walker posted a 4.51 40-yard dash at 6’5″, 272 pounds. He also logged composite numbers in the 90th percentile in both the explosiveness and agility drills. Walker had a 35.5-inch vertical, a 123-inch broad jump, a 4.32 shuttle time, and an absurd 6.89 three-cone. Tack on the fact that Walker has massive 35 1/2″ arms, and he’s looking more and more like a top-15 pick.
Dominique Robinson, Miami-Ohio
If you’ve been in the loop, you saw this one coming. Dominique Robinson was a Feldman Freak back in the offseason. He caught on toward the end of the 2021 season, and he was a standout at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Now, the former wide receiver has officially lit up the NFL Combine with his high-end athletic tools.
Robinson ended up with a RAS of 9.4. He came in at 6’5″, 253 pounds, and also put up an impressive 25 bench reps. The former RedHawk ran a bit slower than expected with a 4.78, but his explosive numbers did more than enough to catapult him into elite range. Robinson earned a 121-inch broad jump, and his 41-inch vertical put him ahead of 99.5% of defensive ends all-time in that drill.
Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
Nik Bonitto turned heads early on when he measured in heavier than expected. The Oklahoma edge rusher came in around 6’3″, 248 pounds — over 10 pounds heavier than his playing weight with the Sooners. You love to see players getting stronger ahead of the NFL. But Bonitto’s weight did bring up a question — would he retain his athleticism and test as well as expected?
Bonitto swiftly quelled those concerns with a superb showing at the NFL Combine. Bonitto ran an electric 4.54 40-yard dash, had a 35.5-inch vertical, and also hit 120 inches on the broad jump. After weighing in well, Bonitto needed to show he still had his trademark burst and speed. Those traits, along with his twitch and bend, will help him succeed at the NFL level.
Matthew Butler, Tennessee
Matthew Butler has been on the radar here for a while. He consistently flashed on his 2021 tape, with his explosiveness serving as a chief defining characteristic. With that explosiveness, Butler put up 5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2021. He shined at the East-West Shrine Bowl. And his burst helped him yet again at the NFL Combine.
Butler solidified his reputation as one of the most explosive DTs in the NFL Draft on Saturday. He logged a 32-inch vertical and a 112-inch broad jump at 6’4″, 297 pounds. He also ran a 5.00 40, with a strong 1.73 10-yard split. Butler wasn’t perfect; his 17 bench reps weighed down his RAS, as did his below-average agility numbers. But the agility drills have been criticized this year (players were already tired). And on tape, Butler shows more than enough ankle flexion to work with.
Honorable Mentions
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia; Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon; David Ojabo, Michigan; Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State; George Karlaftis, Purdue; Travis Jones, Connecticut; Sam Williams, Ole Miss; Josh Paschal, Kentucky; Amaré Barno, Virginia Tech; Eyioma Uwazurike, Iowa State
