Tyler Shelvin 2021 NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6’-2”
Weight: 346 pounds
School: LSU
2021 NFL Draft: Tyler Shelvin Player Profile
After opting out of the 2020 season thanks to COVID-19, LSU defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin is taking his talents to the next level in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite missing an entire season of action, the redshirt Junior has done more than enough to establish himself as a legitimate NFL prospect. During the 2019 season, Shelvin played 568 snaps, recording 16 run stops, 1 quarterback hit, five hurries, and one batted pass.
Shelvin initially joined the college football ranks as a four-star recruit out of Notre Dame High School. The Louisiana native received plenty of interest from top programs around the nation but ultimately decided to stick with his hometown LSU. After taking a redshirt season thanks to academic issues, Shelvin saw his first significant playing time in 2018. Appearing in 144 snaps, the defensive tackle recorded five run stops, two sacks, and one quarterback hit.
Strengths
- Absolutely massive build – physically unmovable in the trenches;
- Solid fundamentals keep opposing linemen from engaging his body;
- Quicker than a man his size has any right to be;
- Multiple years of above-average run defense – no one-year wonder;
- Eats up space and double teams, freeing others to make easy plays.
Weaknesses
- One-dimensional player that probably won’t do much against the pass;
- Reportedly weighed 390 pounds at one point, meaning that weight discipline could be an issue;
- Not a three-down player and has no real value on passing plays;
- Never played more than 570 snaps in a season;
- Conditioning could be an issue with all that added mass;
- Doesn’t offer any positional versatility as an edge defender;
- Had to take an academic redshirt early in his career.
NFL Comparison: Danny Shelton
Teams With Need at Position: Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders
Projection: 3rd-4th Round
Bottom Line on Tyler Shelvin
Tyler Shelvin is great at all the things that don’t really matter in today’s NFL. The 6’-2”, 346-pound defensive tackle is an absolute force in the run game, capable of lining up all along the interior front and eating up double teams. He’s simply unmovable in the trenches, as his massive frame prevents all but the strongest offensive linemen from moving him off his feet. He’s more than just a big body, as he also possesses strong fundamentals and surprising quickness for a man of his size.
Unfortunately, these skills don’t really move the needle in 2021. In today’s pass-happy league, defensive players need to do something to slow down an opposing quarterback. Shelvin can’t do that, as he simply doesn’t collapse the pocket. He’s strictly a run defender in an era where offenses are throwing more than ever, which puts a very real cap on his ceiling.
Based on his tape alone, I would give Shelvin a third-round grade. However, there are a few off-field issues that I do not have the resources to investigate. The LSU product reportedly had weight issued and ballooned up to 390 pounds during the offseason. If these reports are true, then they could signal a conditioning issue at the next level. Any team willing to draft Shelvin will need to do his homework and make sure that weight discipline concerns will not follow him to the NFL.
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