We proceed our 2024 NFL Draft evaluate of draft prospects that would curiosity the Dallas Cowboys. At the moment we’re taking a look at defensive deal with Jer’Zhan Newton (Illinois).
Jer’Zhan NewtonDLIllinois Combating IlliniJunior3-star recruitHeight – 6’2”Weight – 296 lbs
Historical past:Jer’Zhan “Jonny” Newton is a defensive lineman (Illinois) that was graded a three-star recruit out of Clearwater Central Excessive Faculty. He had quite a lot of excessive profile faculties similar to Florida and Florida State, however opted for Illinois and enrolled in 2020.
In his freshman 12 months he performed 329 snaps on protection, ranging from Week 8. He performed in rotation for 2 weeks, however by Week 10 he was taking beginning snaps for Illinois. He had six whole pressures and two sacks as a move rusher. On run protection, he had 23 tackles, two tackles for loss and compelled fumble.
In his sophomore season, Newton was made the starter at defensive deal with. He performed 611 snaps on protection and as a move rusher he had 15 pressures and 4 sacks. As a run defender he had 50 tackles and 4 tackles for loss.
In 2022, Newton exploded on the scene. He performed a complete of 666 defensive snaps and had 59 whole pressures (a profession excessive) and 6 sacks (seventh-most within the Large 10). He additionally had 62 whole tackles and an astonishing 14 tackles for loss which was the second-most within the Large 10. He earned All-Large Ten First Crew and was nominated All-American.
In his senior season for Illinois, Newton was elected as staff captain and the manufacturing by no means stopped. He had a profession excessive in snaps, enjoying 749 snaps in all 12 video games. He created 43 pressures and registered eight sacks which was third most within the Large 10. He additionally had 52 whole tackles and 9 tackles for loss with one pressured fumble and one fumble restoration. He was once more named All-Large Ten First Crew and All-American. He was additionally awarded Large Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
2023 Statistics:749 Complete snaps43 Complete Pressures 8 Sacks32 Defensive Stops52 Complete Tackles9 TFL1 FF1 FR2 PD3 Penalties
NFL Mix/Professional Day:TBD
Awards:All-Large Ten First Crew (2022, 2023)All-American (2022, 2023)Large Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months (2023)
Scorecard:Total- 95.0/100Tackling- 70/100Run Stopping- 88/100Pass Rush- 87/100Discipline- 94/100Speed- 81/100Strength- 90/100Acceleration- 80/100Agility- 97/100
THE GOOD:
As a move rusher, Newton is as dominant as they arrive. He registered 102 pressures in his final two seasons, no different defensive deal with registered greater than 78 in that very same time.
He’s an entire technician along with his arms and has a spread of move rush strikes at his disposal. His club-swim is extremely efficient.
Elite instincts off the snap with precision timing.
Precision striker along with his punch. Very fast arms.
Above common energy to bull-rush.
Has elite flexibility to play defensive finish and bend across the edge. Given his measurement this makes him extraordinarily versatile to play all throughout the road.
Reveals good energy when defending on the level of assault on working performs.
THE BAD:
His brief arm size will put most NFL coaches off the thought of him enjoying as an edge defender.
Undersized for a standard inside defensive lineman.
For an undersized defensive deal with, his burst could be underwhelming.
Fails to beat double groups. Principally attributable to him carrying much less mass for the position.
Lacks aggression at instances on working performs.
Having performed throughout the road annually at Illinois he’s change into a “jack of all trades, however the grasp of none”.
THE FIT:There’s little doubt primarily based on Jer’Zhan Newton skills and manufacturing he goes within the first spherical and turns into a useful defender on any roster within the NFL throughout his rookie season. He’s proven to be an mental move rusher with an array of strikes he executes with textbook precision and has lightning quick arms. On run protection, he’s proven to be succesful and disruptive with a excessive stage of effort.
His challenge comes with measurement and energy. He’s undersized within the NFL for defensive deal with and has hassle taking over double groups. Then as an edge defender, though his flexibility and agility is elite, he lacks the arm size to stay constant. So the quandary turns into the place he suits. His finest avenue for achievement could be to play on a staff the place he could be paired with a big one-tech defender and emulate what Tampa Bay did with Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea.
Though Newton isn’t one of many most secure picks on this 12 months’s draft, he does have one of many highest ceilings. For that motive, he’ll get chosen early and be one of many first defensive tackles off the board.
COMPARISON:-Maurice Hurst, Cleveland Browns
GRADE:Mid-first spherical (final participant with a first-round grade)
CONSENSUS RANKING:twentieth(Consensus rating primarily based on the common rating from 90 main scoring companies)
