Positional ranking: #1

Big Board ranking: #3

 

Overview

Position: DL

College: Clemson

Class: Senior

Age: 23

 

Measurables

Height: 6’3 1/4″

Weight: 315 lbs.

Arm length: 32 1/2”

Hand size: 9 3/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 5.04 sec.

Vertical jump: 29.5”

Broad jump: 107.0”

Bench press: 28 reps

3-cone drill: DNP

Short shuttle: 4.55 sec.

 

Strengths

Elite functional athleticism for a defensive lineman. Prototypical size. Plus power. Very intelligent and instinctive. Tracks down the ball as a backside defender. Quick shooting gaps and getting upfield. Light feet to work through traffic. Uses strong hands to shed blockers. Effective rip move on the interior. Shows bend as a pass rusher. Has the strength to hold up at the point of attack. Can beat double teams with athleticism or power. Versatility allows him to play all along the defensive line. Moonlighted on offense for Clemson. Culture-setting leader as a two-time national champion.

 

Weaknesses

Could struggle as a two-gapper if asked to consistently anchor. Length is average.

 

NFL comparison

Fletcher Cox – Both Wilkins and Fletcher Cox are scheme-versatile 3-techniques that can win with athleticism, intelligence, and strength on the interior.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Christian Wilkins is worth a top-five pick not only for his on-field play as a defensive lineman that can live in the backfield, but also for his leadership qualities. Teams would do well to pair Wilkins with a space-eating counterpart.