Fixing 3-Tech (Interior Pass Rush)

[Untouchable]

Current Starter: Zach Kerr - With Short back on IR, Kerr is forced to step in here.  He's a natural NT however so it should come as no surprise he's not producing as a 3T.

Depth: Efe Obada, Bravvion Roy - Efe is the only one offering any consistency rushing from the interior right now but not stout enough to be an every down lineman.  Roy is another natural NT and has little effectiveness on the money down.

Projected 2021 Starter: Kawann Short - Short is good and the only true 3T on the roster, but he has a massive price tag come next year and health is now becoming a consistent issue.  If he restructures, he'll likely be back as the starter next season (but some depth is badly needed here in that case).  If not he's going to be released leaving a massive void at this position again.

 

Free Agent Options

Leonard Williams - Giants just traded for him.  He's good and going to cost you.

Roy Robertson-Harris - He's 27 and has been a good disruptive depth piece in Chicago after coming out as an UDFA.  His season is over this year and could come significantly cheaper than most of the other on this list.

Sheldon Rankins - He has some troubling injury history but is one of the Saints better pass rushers.

Larry Ogunjobi - He's underrated and has been very good in the pros.  Local kid in a contract year who will likely cost a pretty penny.

Shelby Harris - Had a cold market last offseason after coming off a very good year.  Signed a cheap 1 yr contract and he's playing very well again.  The 29 yo vet has been a 34 end in Denver so he might want familiarity when signing his next contract.

Jihad Ward - This is a depth piece and a bit of a projection since he's spent his career bouncing around 34 defenses.

 

Trade Options

Quinnen Williams - He makes too much sense in this defense so its no surprise people have been calling for him in trades.  Will the jets be interesting in parting though?

Matt Ioannidis - Maybe you can convince Rivera to part with him.  He's been solid in Washington and there is familiarity with the staff.

 

Draft (Top 100 Prospects, Draft Network)

Christian Barmore, Alabama - He's not the consensus top prospect yet but I imagine he will be come the draft.  He's a RS Soph in his first year as a starter working back into the lineup but he is seen as an ascending prospect.  Needs more rush moves and some work on hand technique.  Consistently seeing him in Round 1.

Jay Tufele, USC - He opted out.  He has versatility along the interior and some good explosiveness and power in his hands.  Seeing him projected mid first to into the second round.

Levi Onwuzurike, Washington - He opted out this year but he's surprisingly good against the run and is a good pass rusher.  Analyst have high praise for him if he can consistently put it all together.  Seeing him projected as Day 2 prospect with potential to sneak into the end of Round 1.

Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh - He opted out as well.  He's quick and can get after the QB but needs to work on his pad level to get more consistency there.  Needs some work in the run game if he wants to stay on the field.  He's being viewed as a back end of Day 2 prospect currently.

 

This issue has been so obvious all year and another one of the huge holes that needs to be filled.  Kawann's absence the last two years hurts.  So how do you fix this position going forward? Chime in with another free agents, trade options or draft prospects worth taking a look into.

[Panthercougar68]

2 hours ago, Untouchable said:

Current Starter: Zach Kerr - With Short back on IR, Kerr is forced to step in here.  He's a natural NT however so it should come as no surprise he's not producing as a 3T.

Depth: Efe Obada, Bravvion Roy - Efe is the only one offering any consistency rushing from the interior right now but not stout enough to be an every down lineman.  Roy is another natural NT and has little effectiveness on the money down.

Projected 2021 Starter: Kawann Short - Short is good and the only true 3T on the roster, but he has a massive price tag come next year and health is now becoming a consistent issue.  If he restructures, he'll likely be back as the starter next season (but some depth is badly needed here in that case).  If not he's going to be released leaving a massive void at this position again.

 

Free Agent Options

Leonard Williams - Giants just traded for him.  He's good and going to cost you.

Roy Robertson-Harris - He's 27 and has been a good disruptive depth piece in Chicago after coming out as an UDFA.  His season is over this year and could come significantly cheaper than most of the other on this list.

Sheldon Rankins - He has some troubling injury history but is one of the Saints better pass rushers.

Larry Ogunjobi - He's underrated and has been very good in the pros.  Local kid in a contract year who will likely cost a pretty penny.

Shelby Harris - Had a cold market last offseason after coming off a very good year.  Signed a cheap 1 yr contract and he's playing very well again.  The 29 yo vet has been a 34 end in Denver so he might want familiarity when signing his next contract.

Jihad Ward - This is a depth piece and a bit of a projection since he's spent his career bouncing around 34 defenses.

 

Trade Options

Quinnen Williams - He makes too much sense in this defense so its no surprise people have been calling for him in trades.  Will the jets be interesting in parting though?

Matt Ioannidis - Maybe you can convince Rivera to part with him.  He's been solid in Washington and there is familiarity with the staff.

 

Draft (Top 100 Prospects, Draft Network)

Christian Barmore, Alabama - He's not the consensus top prospect yet but I imagine he will be come the draft.  He's a RS Soph in his first year as a starter working back into the lineup but he is seen as an ascending prospect.  Needs more rush moves and some work on hand technique.  Consistently seeing him in Round 1.

Jay Tufele, USC - He opted out.  He has versatility along the interior and some good explosiveness and power in his hands.  Seeing him projected mid first to into the second round.

Levi Onwuzurike, Washington - He opted out this year but he's surprisingly good against the run and is a good pass rusher.  Analyst have high praise for him if he can consistently put it all together.  Seeing him projected as Day 2 prospect with potential to sneak into the end of Round 1.

Jaylen Twyman, Pittsburgh - He opted out as well.  He's quick and can get after the QB but needs to work on his pad level to get more consistency there.  Needs some work in the run game if he wants to stay on the field.  He's being viewed as a back end of Day 2 prospect currently.

 

This issue has been so obvious all year and another one of the huge holes that needs to be filled.  Kawann's absence the last two years hurts.  So how do you fix this position going forward? Chime in with another free agents, trade options or draft prospects worth taking a look into.

I like Kerr as a rotational guy.

I’m on the bring Larry Ogunjobi home train and don’t think it will be as expensive as we think.

Draft wise I’m high on the Twyman. He’s got size and uses his hands very well inside with his pass rush moves.

[Untouchable]

2 hours ago, Panthercougar68 said:

I like Kerr as a rotational guy.

I’m on the bring Larry Ogunjobi home train and don’t think it will be as expensive as we think.

Draft wise I’m high on the Twyman. He’s got size and uses his hands very well inside with his pass rush moves.

Kerr as a rotational guy is definitely ideal, he is a solid player we got on a cheap contract.

For Ogunjobi, only projection I'm seeing so far is in the 10-13 mil/yr range.

[Untouchable]

Iowa's Daviyon Nixon is someone to keep an eye on if he declares. He has put up some outstanding tape this season and would rank very highly in a weak class

Other names entering the Top 100 discussion are West Virginia's Darius Stills, NC State's Alum McNeil and Ohio State's Haskell Garrett

[SOJA]

I'd love Ogunjobi I wanted us to draft him