Positional ranking: #4

Big Board ranking: #15

 

Overview

Position: EDGE

College: Mississippi State

Class: Senior (RS)

Age: 22

 

Measurables

Height: 6’5 3/4″

Weight: 260 lbs.

Arm length: 35 3/4″

Hand size: 10 1/2″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.41 sec.

Vertical jump: 36.0”

Broad jump: 125.0”

Bench press: 21 reps

3-cone drill: 7.0 sec.

Short shuttle: 4.29 sec.

 

Strengths

Phenomenally long and athletic. Elite speed allows him to get past offensive tackles and flatten to the quarterback. Very fluid and bendy off the edge. Powerful hands. Can rip and dip. Has flashed an effective inside move. Knows how to use length to keep blockers off his frame. Sets the edge. Strong enough to hold up and disengage at the point of attack. Above-average change-of-direction skills. Breaks down in space. Great range as a tackler. Aware against zone reads. Hustles as a backside defender. Comfortable lining up on either side of the formation. High-end sack production over the past two years in the SEC.

 

Weaknesses

Relies mostly on physical tools. Needs to develop a pass-rushing arsenal. Whip tackles could lead to missed opportunities at the next level. Wasn’t quite a dominant, every-down player for Mississippi State.

 

NFL comparison

Danielle Hunter – The athletic profile for Sweat is impossible to match based on the Combine numbers he put up, but on the field, Danielle Hunter is a similarly monstrous defender with 40.0 sacks in four seasons for Minnesota.

 

Conclusion

Overall, Montez Sweat isn’t a finished product on the edge, but he has scary upside in a lengthy frame with 4.41 speed. And while I think he fits best as a defensive end in a 4-3, Sweat certainly has the athleticism to be a standup pass rusher.