Stock Watch: Edge, Linebacker, & Defensive Tackle
RISERS & FALLERS
In a defense first draft, the linebackers and defensive ends were off at a blistering pace. It is only the first leg of the four day combine gauntlet, but a critical one for a few of these prospects. At linebacker you have an class with a number of prospects at the edge of the 1st or day one. The Edge class is tightly packed, and with a number of older and smaller prospects looking to make their record whole. We look at who helped themselves and who didn’t on the defensive front.
Jump to Combine Reports by Day
Sonny Styles | LB
Sonny Styles needed the boost more than Arvell Reese. He profiles as a pure off-the ball presence, and has few less impact moments on tape than you’d expect for player we knew would excel at the combine. Still, hitting the gymnasium at 6-5 and 244lbs was a great start. He finished even better posting a 4.46 second official 40-yard dash time — and drawing comparisons to Calvin Johnson on the process.
Arvell Reese | LB
Just damn good. It is tough to categorize the bluest of blue chip players as a winner, or someone who raised their stock, but Arvell Reese was a combine hit. He can’t get any higher on the board, and will likely go to the first team that needs him in the top-10. But running under 4.5 puts Reese into cyborg territory.
TJ Parker | Edge
T.J. Parker did put his best foot forward in 2025, but he finsihed strong. And he’s acing the finals, winning in every predraft process. The Senior Bowl standout also did well at the combine. It’s one thing to run a 4.68 time in the 40 yard dash at 263. It’s another to also post the 6th best 10-yard split among edges.
Jacob Rodriguez | LB
Jacob Rodriguez had some doubters about his total athletic profile. He didn’t measure better than you hoped, but topped 230lb, which is what you’d look for. That said, the savvy, turnover machine and team leader also clocked a nifty 4.57, flashing the sideline to sideline speed you want to see.
Caleb Banks | DT
Just when you thought Caleb Banks was crashing, he’s been a surprise star in the pre-draft process. He came to Indianapolis a true, and massive, 6’6″ and 327 lbs. But the Florida Gator also glided to a 5.05 in the dash – a time that is excellent considering his proportions. With Peter Woods having a quiet draft season, it’s not hard to image Banks sneaking into the DT1 conversation again.
Romello Height | Edge
Romello Height already had questions about whether he was the straw that stirs the drink, or the ice cube melting in it. But the combine hasn’t cooled those worries. Coming in at a very light 239, and then jobbing it to a 4.64 time in the 40-yard dash has hurt his stock as much as anyone.
Cashius Howell | Edge
Cashius Howell’s arms came in legendarily short at 30 inches. But we knew this. What we were hoping to see was the Aggie tear it up and show that speed he has said makes up for his lack of length. A 4.59 isn’t a terrible showing. But it’s also not doing Howell any favors by making him appear like the kind of super-athlete who can overcome deficiencies.
LT Overton | Edge
Either coming in closer to 285 (290 would be better) or coming in under 4.8 in the forty yard dash would have been good outcomes for LT Overton. Neither occurred yesterday. The Alabama Edge/DL tweener did nothing to quiet the chorus that he has no position. He posted a 4.87 dash which would be very good among the DL group. But he left the scales at a mere 274, which is far too light to package him as an odd front end.
