Chris Rumph II NFL Draft Overview
Position: Edge Defender
Height: 6’-4”
Weight: 235 pounds
School: Duke University
Chris Rumph II Draft Profile
Overview
Son of an NFL position coach, it’s clear on tape that Chris Rumph II has picked up a thing or two from his father. Rumph is a productive pass rusher with one of the best sets of rush moves in this year’s draft class. On the edge, he works inside and outside of blockers comfortably, making him difficult to prepare for as a lineman. However, the biggest knock on Rumph is his lack of size for the position. The former Duke Blue Devil is facing a potential position change at the pro level.
Rumph moved around a lot as a child due to his father’s career as a pro football coach. His father of the same name recently took up a position as a Chicago Bears defensive line coach. However, Rumph transferred to Bucholz High School in Gainesville, Florida as a sophomore. Listed as a three-star recruit out of high school, Rumph committed to Duke over offers from UCF and Vanderbilt.
After redshirting his first season at Duke, Rumph earned freshman All-American honors in 2018. He recorded 25 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks in 12 games. Rumph’s production took a step forward as a redshirt sophomore as the edge rusher racked up 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2019. In his final college season, Rumph earned second-team All-ACC honors after making eight sacks in just eleven games. After the season, Rumph declared he would enter the 2021 NFL Draft as an underclassman.
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Strengths
- Deep toolbox to work with; has developed more variety in pass rush moves than most in this draft class
- Excellent counter rusher; reacts well to what the tackle does during a rep
- High motor; gives 100% from snap-to-whistle
- Excellent technique; bends well at the top of the rush and uses his hands effectively
- Moves well in space; bodes well for a potential position change to off-the-ball linebacker
Weaknesses
- Lacks prototypical size to play on the edge at the pro level
- Not a truly explosive athlete; loses burst the more weight he adds to his frame
- Unlikely to be a three-down edge defender at the pro level; lack of size means he could get washed away in the run game
- Gets moved around when he’s slow off the snap; doesn’t project well to win consistently against NFL tackles
- Lack of experience as an off-the-ball linebacker if he is to make that position switch (76 career snaps in coverage)
NFL Comparison: Andrew Van Ginkel
Van Ginkel is undersized for a typical edge defender in the NFL. The measurements are similar to Rumph. However, Van Ginkel has carved out a role for himself with the Miami Dolphins. He made six sacks in 2020 and forced two fumbles as a situational pass rusher off the edge. Miami limited him to 50% of defensive snaps throughout most of the season, keeping Van Ginkel fresh for obvious passing situations. However, Van Ginkel stepped into a starting role towards the end of the season, playing over 80% of defenses snaps in the final four games of 2020.
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants
Projection: Fourth round
Bottom Line on Chris Rumph II
Rumph has worked hard to develop his pass rush skill set for the pro level. The trouble he faces is scouts will grade Rumph as a boom or bust prospect which will limit his draft stock. Edge defenders at his size typically aren’t drafted high because they are more difficult to project. Many teams would rather take a larger, more athletic edge rusher with a limited pass rush toolbox and have their coaching staff develop the athlete into a productive football player.
However, Rumph has the advantage of his advanced pass rush technique. This edge class is ranked all over the place depending on who you talk to, so it’s possible Rumph’s skillset, production and NFL bloodline give him an advantage over many other edge rushers in this class. By all accounts, Rumph has a high football IQ, making a potential position change to linebacker plausible from a scheme learning standpoint. Rumph would be a dangerous blitz threat as an off-ball linebacker if he developed a feel for the position.
The team who drafts Rumph must have a plan for him. He offers value as a situational pass rusher but his stock is limited if he can’t stay on the field all three downs. To stay on the field, he needs to add size to his frame or he is a potential liability in the run game. The good news is he has showcased advanced pass-rush technique, displayed incredible work ethic, and is clearly a coachable prospect, evidenced by his pro coach father. NFL coaches will grade Rumph higher than professional scouts for those reasons.
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