The interior defensive line position has seen their draft stock sway. Generally, players at that position who don’t rush the passer are falling farther and farther down draft boards. Interior pass rush pressure is all the rage now. Accordingly, guys on the interior who do not consistently get after the passer sometimes get lost in the shuffle of draft season. They do not get talked about nearly enough. One of those players is T’Vondre Sweat, a mammoth interior player from Texas.
The “Texas is back” moniker has been shouted into the college football echo chamber for nearly a half-decade. In 2023, Texas was actually back. The Longhorns found themselves playing in the College Football Playoff for the first time. That resurgence was sparked by a much-maligned defense finally playing close to the level of a legitimate title contender. A defensive tackle duo of Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat spearheaded the unit. The latter, a 360-pound behemoth of a man, is one of the most intriguing players in the 2024 NFL draft.
Every T'Vondre Sweat 1-on-1 from the Senior Bowl pic.twitter.com/Yr2OeZ8RNA
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 2, 2024
T’Vondre Sweat NFL Draft Overview
Position: Interior Defensive Line
Height: 6’4” (Unofficial)
Weight: Did not weigh in at Senior Bowl, but listed at 362
School: Texas
T’Vondre Sweat 2024 NFL profile
Strengths
- Emphatically the biggest player on the field every single game
- Anchors incredibly well and is almost immovable when playing with good leverage
- True difference maker in the run game, not just a space eater
- Routinely gets hands in the air to bat passes away when pass-rushing
- High effort player
- Routinely forces runs outside by blowing up rushing lanes
- Excellent two-gapper
- Eats double teams and makes it hard for climbers to reach second level
- Active hands
- Frequently blows up plays by driving linemen backward
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent get-off at the snap, causes him to get moved backward occasionally
- Pure “Pocket pusher” in pass rush, does not try to use many moves during pass rush opportunities
- Very little quickness, but still shoots gaps
- Not an explosive player off the ball, but has flashes
- Non-factor in many pass rush reps, certainly stays on the sideline in the NFL on obvious passing situations
T'Vondre Sweat really nice movement ability at 362 pounds pic.twitter.com/kPNIbyn5c8
— mike (@bengals_sans) February 3, 2024
NFL Comparison: Michael Pierce
Projection: Early Day two pick
Best Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks
Bottom Line on T’Vondre Sweat
The nose tackle. The forgotten player. NFL teams have found themselves looking for interior defensive linemen who impact the passing game. Nose tackles are not nearly as prevalent in 2024 as they were just a decade ago. Even the players who fill those roles today are still guys who have the athleticism to get upfield in the passing game. Vita Vea may be 350 pounds, but he is also athletic enough to rush the passer.
Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat may not be an elite pass rusher for the position, but there is still a place for him in the NFL. You simply cannot teach that combination of size and strength. He probably sees himself falling out of the first round, but whichever team drafts him should be encouraged about his presence in the run game.
Main Image: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
