2021 NFL Draft IDL Rankings with NFL Comparisons
5. Marlon Tuipulotu, USC
NFL Comparison for Marlon Tuipulotu: Tyler Davison
Tyler Davison is not a brand name but has been a six-year NFL starter for the Saints and Falcons. He is not flashy and going to dominate the sack stats, but there is a reason that teams consistently find ways to get him on the field. If you put him next to a Grady Jarrett, or Sheldon Rankins, he is going to eat up blocks and let them shine. He works with his hands and can shut down the run. The upside is not high, but the floor is much higher.
4. Alim McNeil, NC State
NFL Comparison for Alim McNeil: Javon Hargrave
The issue for McNeil is consistency. There are moments where he springs off of the tape into the backfield and you cannot believe what you saw. At the same time, he does not rush with a plan or purpose and finds himself in the backfield but out of the play.
McNeil just recently put on weight and is new to the position as he has grown into his body. The upside is a Javon Hargrave penetrator who clogs up the A gap as a nose tackle.
3. Levi Onwuzurike, Washington
NFL Comparison: Jonathan Allen
The two are similar from size and athletic perspective, but Allen and Levi Onwuzurike compare best in their ability to hand fight. You hear heavy hands often, and that is what these two bring. His upside and size is not sky-high, and Jonathan Allen is underrated in Washington because he is not cleaning up all the sacks. Still, he is a part of that force of a defensive line because he battles every snap, and knows how to work with his hands. That is the upside of Levi Onwuzurike.
2. Christian Barmore
NFL Comparison for Christian Barmore: Larry Ogunjobi
Everyone is going to put Barmore number one because he went to Alabama. It is easy to excuse a one-year starter when he has first-round picks ahead of him. However, while he flashed at times moving upfield, he does not have the change of direction skills to show a developed pass-rush plan. He did not hold his ground against the run and would be better off as a three-tech next to a nose tackle where he is able to get upfield with reckless abandon.
It is not to diminish Barmore, who will be able to get upfield in the NFL. Larry Ogunjobi just saw a nice payday this offseason and has been a presence in the interior of the Browns defensive line, but you are getting that type of player more than the Quinnen Williams that some will compare him to.
Next. 5 OL Chicago Bears should avoid drafting. dark
1. Daviyon Nixon
NFL Comparison for Daviyon Nixon: Kenny Clark
It is less about Christian Barmore being a bad prospect, and more than the upside of Daviyon Nixon makes him a more intriguing prospect. When comparing the 3-cone of each, Nixon posted a 7.56-second shuttle at 313 pounds while Barmore had 7.81 at 310 pounds. In the short shuttle, Nixon had a 4.71 second time to 4.75 of Barmore, and a 4.86 40-yard dash to 4.97 for Barmore. At the same weight, Nixon is more agile with his feet and this shows on tape as well.
His athletic peak would be close to Kenny Clark, who is a terror of a pass rusher from the nose tackle spot. Nixon can move like Clark at that size and has the most upside in the 2021 NFL Draft.