Cameron Thomas NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive end
Height: 6′-4″
Weight: 267 pounds
School: San Diego State
Cameron Thomas 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Cameron Thomas is a local San Diego kid who stayed home for college and developed into an outstanding edge defender. He came to Montezuma Mesa as a pass-catching tight end, but his size and love for contact made him an ideal candidate to switch over to the defensive side of the ball.
Thomas was redshirted in his freshman season at San Diego State. He took the year to learn his new trade and the Aztecs received the benefits in the 2019 season. Thomas recorded 49 tackles (nine for a loss), 5.5 sacks, and two pass breakups in 13 games (12 starts). His play earned him First-Team All-Mountain West Conference honors. Also, Thomas was named the recipient of the Aztec Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
He followed his outstanding debut with another dominant performance in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Thomas totaled 35 tackles (9.5 for a loss) and five sacks in eight games. The redshirt junior was selected First-Team All-MWC for the second consecutive season.
In 2021, Thomas took his game to the next level. He had 71 tackles (16 for a loss) and 11.5 sacks in 14 games. He was named Second-Team Associated Press All-American honors and won the MWC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Strengths
- Versatile defensive lineman
- Quick hands
- Disciplined pass-rusher who rarely goes past the pocket
- Excellent at separating himself from a blocker
- Great gap run defender
- Ferocious tackler
Weaknesses
- Still fairly new to playing on the defensive side of the ball
- Too upright upon impact
- Lacks quickness and explosiveness off the snap
- Must refine his pass-rushing skills
- Needs more upper-body strength
NFL Comparison: Aaron Lynch
Teams With Need at Position: New England Patriots, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and New York Jets
Projection: Late third or early fourth round
Bottom Line on Cameron Thomas
Cameron Thomas is one of the few defensive linemen in this year’s draft class who can generate a pass rush from any position along the line of scrimmage. On one down, he may bull rush an offensive tackle off the edge. On the next down, Thomas might use his strength to split a guard and center double-team block from the tackle position.
Versatility could be Thomas’ calling card at the pro level. Quickly, league scouts have learned that he can line up on the outside in a 3-4 set or inside at the tackle position in a traditional 4-3 defense. It may come down to which scheme allows Thomas to use his strength to succeed.
Thomas certainly was an excellent producer at the collegiate level while at San Diego State, but that does not guarantee he will have the same success in the pros. He lacks explosiveness off the snap, which may lessen his chances of being used on the edge. If Thomas is moved to the interior, his love for contact could make him an ideal run-stuffing defender.
He very well could wind up being successful, but Thomas’ development as a football player is not complete.
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