Our “Why the Slide” series parallels and grew out our “Why Undrafted” series. The latter was created a number of years ago in response to your questions about why certain well-known prospects went unselected in NFL drafts. For both series, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. The positive response to “Why Undrafted” and questions from readers about why prospects were drafted lower than the media expectations led us to create the parallel series “Why the Slide?”
Both series are back this year. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
After starting out his collegiate career at Tennessee, To’oTo’o transferred to Alabama and turned into a quality starter for the Crimson Tide. He started things out in Alabama with a solid 2020 season that saw him record 76 stops, an interception and two passes broken up. To’oTo’o improved his tackling in 2021, totaling 111 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended on the year. He had the potential to have been a second-day pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he decided to return to school. As a senior, To’oTo’o collected 94 tackles and 2.5 sacks. His steady and consistent play led to him being a consensus second-day prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft, but he ended up sliding well into Day 3.
Team sources from around the NFL shared with WalterFootball.com that their biggest concern with To’oTo’o was his physical skill set. Some evaluators said they felt that To’oTo’o would always struggle with getting pushed around and bounced around by NFL offensive linemen because To’oTo’o is not a big or physical linebacker. To’oTo’o could have gone earlier in 2023 NFL Draft, but non-pass-rushing linebackers are often downgraded, and that, alongside the physical concerns, caused him to slide.
The Houston Texans ended To’oTo’o’s slide in the fifth round, and they were a good landing spot for him. Houston has 2022 third-round pick Christian Harris slated to start at one spot, but the organization’s other starting linebacker role is manned by NFL journeymen like Denzel Perryman, Cory Littleton and Christian Kirksey. Those veterans are not long-term starters, and To’oTo’o could work himself into a starting job if he plays well. While To’oTo’o could be disappointed about his slide in the draft, he landed in a great opportunity to carve out a pro career.
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