ESPN’s NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. understands that defensive tackle Brandon Mebane’s window is closing, and he isn’t blind to see the depth behind him is slim given the unrestricted free agents they will have to consider, as well.
He feels former Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence would be the perfect selection for Los Angeles with pick No. 28 in the 2019 NFL Draft.
L.A. already has Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram on this defensive line. Now drop in a 342-pound run-stopper with 5.05 speed and high-end athleticism. With multiple members of this unit heading toward free agency, Lawrence would be a great get.
This past weekend at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, Lawrence showed that his athleticism for a 342-pounder is remarkable by running a 5.02 40-yard dash and 1.76 10-yard split. Unfortunately, he suffered a leg injury, which kept him from participating in the rest of the drills.
In terms of film, he is a difficult evaluation because there isn’t much else to his game aside from a space-eating nose tackle that defends the run very well. The technique he uses is inconsistent and he needs to commit himself to improving his pass rushing skills to maximize his tools.
Overall, Lawrence relies on brute strength over technical savvy, which won’t be as effective in the NFL as it was in college, but his rare combination of athleticism, power and size is why he is being considered a potential first-round selection as opposed to a third rounder, in this case to Los Angeles.
