The NFL Combine provides hundreds of players with a chance to raise their draft stock with standout performances that showcase their athletic abilities. For defensive line prospects, being able to demonstrate great strength and explosiveness at the combine is key to securing a high draft pick. These five defensive line prospects are names to watch at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Defensive Line Prospects to Watch at the 2025 NFL Combine
Jordan Burch, Oregon
Jordan Burch is a huge defensive end, listed at 6’6” and 295 pounds. He is a highly explosive athlete for his size as well. Burch has hit a top speed of 20.75 mph and has a vertical leap of 35 inches, according to College Football Insider Bruce Feldman. He has showcased his rare combination of size and speed in games on many occasions, including a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown as a defensive lineman his sophomore season and a 36-yard fake punt run against Maryland in 2024. Burch is currently projected to be a third-round pick but could go higher with a strong performance at the combine.
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Similar to Burch, Stewart’s combination of size and explosiveness is exceptional. Listed at 6’5” and 281 pounds, Stewart has good length, great strength and quick feet. However, Stewart enters the draft with limited production in college. He had just 1.5 sacks in 2024, and just 4.5 sacks in his entire three-year career in college. In order to convince NFL teams to spend a first-round pick on him he needs to have a strong pre-draft process. Stewart already had an impressive Senior Bowl, and now has a chance to continue making a good impression on NFL teams during the pre-draft process with a great combine.
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. is an explosive athlete, and his athletic ability shows up in games as he uses a quick first step and great bend to beat offensive linemen. He ranked No. 17 on Bruce Feldman’s College Football Freaks List which highlights the best athletes in college football. Pearce Jr. has a chance to run one of the fastest 40-yard dash times at his position and excel in the agility tests. As an undersized edge defender, if Pearce can also show improved strength and size, his draft stock could rise even higher after the combine.
Darius Alexander, Toledo
Darius Alexander has good length, incredible strength and a quick first step. He has the ability to move offensive linemen with his strength and can also drop back into coverage, intercept the ball, and run it down the sideline for a 58-yard-pick-six as he did against Pittsburgh last season. Alexander had an impressive Senior Bowl earlier in the pre-draft process, and being able to stack back-to-back great performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine could further raise Alexander’s draft stock.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Grant is listed at 6’3” and over 340 pounds. Similar to Jordan Davis in 2022, Grant could post some insane numbers in athletic testing for someone his size. He ranked No. 3 on Bruce Feldman’s 2024 Freaks List, and his rare blend of size, speed and agility makes him a dominant force on the football field. Grant is currently projected to be a mid to late first-round pick and a strong showing at the combine could solidify him as a first-round pick with the potential to go high in the first round.
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