2023 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive End

4/24/23: In 2022, Carter totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted. He missed a chunk of time due to a sprained MCL from a dirty hit versus Missouri. Despite Georgia’s crowded defensive line filled with future early-round picks, Carter flashed as a sophomore in 2021 with 37 tackles and three sacks. Multiple team sources said Carter is a better player and prospect than Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt were. Carter has quality size to go along with shocking speed and athleticism.

However, multiple team sources noted that Carter is not a hard worker and has a reputation for not loving football to go along with his other off-the-field character concerns. I know of three teams with top-10 picks that could definitely use Carter, but have dropped hum from their boards.

Evaylators are not thrilled with Carter’s lack of production despite him being faster, stronger, and more athletic than the players he went against. Despite those advantages, he only had three sacks in each of the past two seasons. Carter did not produce sacks in college like other top defensive tackle prospects like Quinnen Williams, Aaron Donald or Ndamukong Suh. That being said, Carter has a tremendous skill set and a ton of upside.

7/5/22: Despite Georgia’s crowded defensive line filled with future early-round picks in 2021, Carter flashed as a sophomore with 37 tackles and three sacks. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder showed the ability to get after the quarterback and has real upside as an interior pass rusher. He also has natural strength to get off blocks and pursue to the ball in the ground game. According to team sources, Carter had the second-highest grade on NFL teams’ preseason watch list, behind only Alabama edge defender Will Anderson. Carter could be in store for a monster 2022 season and looks like a future high first-rounder.

4/24/23: Wilson recorded 61 tackles, one forced fumble and seven sacks in 2022. He has good size with some functional speed and length. A foot injury on Nov. 12 caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Some team sources are high on Wilson because of his size, length and upside. Some scouts have compared Wilson to Carlos Dunlap in terms of his skill set and potential. Others see some issues at the point of attack and feel Wilson is a project. Wilson not working out before the 2023 NFL Draft because of the foot and a back injury have some teams concerned about him medically.

7/6/22: Wilson did not do much in 2020 and 2019, racking up 22 tackles and three sacks over that time, but he broke out with an impressive 2021 season. The junior recorded 37 tackles, seven sacks and a pass defended in 2021. Wilson has the size, length and strength to be a tough edge defender.

4/24/23: In 2022, Bresee totaled 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He is a solid run defender who needs to improve his pass rush for the NFL. Bresee should have gone back to Clemson to improve rather than enter the 2023 NFL Draft. He dealt with a lot in 2022, tragically losing his younger sister to cancer. Bresee was also not in the best of shape and had some injury issues.

Bresee has upside, but his best season came as a freshman, and sources have not given him high grades for the 2023 NFL Draft. Still, this year’s draft is weak at defensive tackle, so some team sources feel Bresee might sneak into Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft despite his underwhelming 2022 tape and production.

7/5/22: Bresee (6-5, 300) was impressive in 2020, recording 33 tackles, four sacks, 6.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two passes defended. He totaled 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in 2021 before tearing his ACL versus N.C. State. Bresee has good size to go along with some quickness and athleticism. He should only get better as he gains experience and develops physically. Bresee has the upside to be a riser.

4/24/23: Dexter totaled 50 tackles, two sacks, one pass batted and an interception during 2022. He put together impressive games against Utah and LSU. Dexter also played really well versus Kentucky. He is a beast as a run defender and showed more pass-rush ability in 2022. However, he was inconsistent. Dexter has teams giving him consideration in the second round.

7/5/22: Even though the Florida defense struggled in 2021, Dexter flashed and played well for the Gators. He totaled 50 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one pass defended on the year. Dexter has good size, length, quickness and strength. He could be poised for big things as an upperclassman.

4/24/23: Pickens collected 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three passes batted in 2022. He was a solid run defender, but not a factor in the pass rush.

7/5/22: Pickens was decent in 2020 with 35 tackles, but he was a breakout performer as a junior in 2021, racking up four sacks, 38 tackles and a pass defended for the Gamecocks. Pickens has good size to go along with quickness and athleticism. He could be riser if he continues to show interior pass-rush ability.

4/24/23: Silvera recorded 55 tackles, three passes batted and a forced fumble in 2022. He had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl to help himself. Silvera showed nice quickness at the point of attack.

7/5/22: Silvera has been a quality interior defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes over the past couple of seasons. In 2021. he notched 38 tackles after recording 35 stops the previous season. As a senior, it would help Silvera to improve his pass-rush production. He had one sack in 2020 and one in 2019, but zero in 2021. After 2021, Silvera transferred to Arizona State for his senior year.

4/24/23: Lacy collected 27 tackles, one pass batted and three sacks in 2022. He helped himself with a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

7/5/22: In 2021, Lacy collected 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. It was his second season of decent production after 32 tackles and four sacks in 2020. It would help Lacy if he could add weight for the NFL.

4/24/23: Over the course of 2022, Stills collected 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass broken up.

7/5/22: Stills could be a riser because he has shown some pass-rush ability in multiple seasons for the Mountaineers. In 2021, he had seven sacks to go along with 36 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception. He notched two sacks and 35 tackles in 2020, but in 2019, he had seven sacks alongside 23 tackles. Stills may have been graded higher by the NFL advance scouts if his body type wasn’t that of a tackle/end tweener. For the pros, Stills could lose weight to be play end or add weight to be a full-time tackle.

4/24/23: In 2022, Robinson picked up 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He is a solid defender in possession of size and length.

7/5/22: Robinson flashed ability in 2021, recording 24 tackles and a pass broken up. His only collegiate sack came in 2020, but Robinson still managed to receive a favorable projection from NFL advance scouts.

4/24/23: Jeffcoat recorded 21 tackles and one sack in 2022.

7/6/22: Jeffcoat started making his presence felt in 2020 when he had six sacks and 23 tackles for the Tigers. In 2021, his run defense was improved, resulting in 34 stops, but his pass rush production declined to 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Jeffcoat could rise with a big senior year.

4/24/23: Crumedy recorded just 15 tackles and two sacks in 2022, but he also didn’t see the field until November.

7/5/22: Crumedy recorded 23 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in 2021. He produced more in 2020 with 32 stops and two sacks. Crumedy has functional size to be a tackle or five-technique.

4/24/23: Brown is a sleeper prospect who could be a late-round find. In 2022, he totaled four sacks, one forced fumble and 32 tackles. Brown put together a phenomenal pro day that included recording impressive numbers in the 20-yard shuttle, the bench press and the vertical jump, as well as a tremendous field workout.

4/24/23: Mullens recorded 11 tackles in 2022.

7/5/22: Mullens could fit best as a technique prospect for the NFL. He had 24 tackles with two sacks in 2021. Mullens could be better now that he has a year of experience.

4/24/23: Slade recorded 20 tackles and .5 sacks over 2022.

7/5/22: Slade recorded 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes batted as a junior in 2021. If he builds off last year, his first as a starter, he could rise.