Overview
Position: Defensive line (five-technique)
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 298 pounds
School: Michigan Wolverines
Combine Performance Data
Bench press: 23 reps
Chris Wormley 2017 NFL Draft Profile
Chris Wormley has been underrated for most of his career. In 2013, he won the Ohio Division One co-defensive player of the year in his senior year of high school. Still, Wormley was just a three-star recruit coming out of high school and was the 21st ranked recruit in the state of Ohio. The first year that Wormley was on campus, he tore his ACL very early on and had to receive a medical redshirt.
That did not slow down the underrated Wormley as he continued to exceed expectations at Michigan, making an impact as a redshirt freshman. He played in ten games as a freshman, putting up 19 tackles, 4.5 for loss, to go with 2.5 sacks. In his sophomore year, he was just as impressive with 21 tackles, five for loss, and three sacks. He took over as a full-time starter in 2015, and again, made an instant impact. He recorded 43 tackles, 13.5 for loss to go with six tackles. Wormley put up 38 tackles, 7.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks as a senior. His senior season saw him earning an All-Big Ten team honors and second team All-America honors. Wormley was underestimated coming out of high school and succeeded to the highest levels, is he underrated heading into the 2017 NFL Draft?
Strengths
- Hand usage.
- Arm length.
- Relentless in finding the ball.
- Wins with power.
- Can line up in multiple techniques (best as a five three-technique).
- Sets the edge well.
Weaknesses
- Not a major athlete.
- Lacks a pass rushing arsenal or counter moves.
- Not a great burst off of the ball.
- Limited upside.
- Too small to consistently play inside, not quick enough to consistently play on the edge.
NFL Comparison: Carl Nassib
Teams with needs at position: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals
Projection: third round
Bottom Line
Wormley is going to be able to find a job in the NFL. He knows how to set the edge, and defend the run, which is one of the most important aspects to have. Wormley is relentless in pursuit of the ball, and he has the knowledge of angles, able to stop the run when going to the outside or his backside. He isn’t the greatest athlete, but he is disciplined in his movement and has enough power to have potential as a pass rusher. Wormley is going to win in the NFL in a similar way to how Nassib did as a draft prospect last season.
He is a bit too slow off of the edge to be a consistent pass rusher, and he is too small on the inside to consistently play there. However, what he brings is versatility and an ability to slide inside on passing downs. He sets the edge really well to consistently provide a run stopping presence. If he can find the right system and coaching, he is going to thrive.
His upside is limited, but his downside is high. It is what separates him from a teammate like Taco Charlton. However, his downside will likely see him getting drafted on the second day. He can play right away and is a piece that every team needs in the NFL. It will see him get drafted in the middle rounds, and he may go as high as the second round.
