Overview

Position: DL

College: Oregon

Class: Senior

Age: 24

 

Measurables

Height: 6’2 1/8”

Weight: 332 lbs.

Arm length: 32”

Hand size: 9 3/8”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 5.16 sec.

10-yard split: 1.86 sec.

Vertical jump: 27.0”

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Tremendous mass and stoutness. Excellent overall power. Never seems to get driven backwards. Will not get pushed off the ball when single blocked. Very good extension strength when engaging accurately. Very strong holding his ground versus double teams. Great strength to stand his ground in short-yardage situations. Has quickness off the ball and will get low in short-yardage situations. Quick and aggressive slanting down the line of scrimmage. Very effective defeating blockers coming from an angle. Will cross in front of reach blocks and use a rip move to get into the backfield. Impressive range to pursue outside runs at his size. Strong tackler when he gets his hands on ball-carriers. Good overall effort in pursuit of the ball. Nimble feet to break down. Experience both as a nose tackle and over the guard. Shows relentlessness trying to reach the quarterback if he gets a step as a rusher. Able to power through double teams as a rusher. Works to split blockers as a rusher. Nimble slipping between blockers as a rusher. Will use a swim move. Impressive quickness and fluidity changing his rush path. Flashed highly impressive bend for his size as a rusher. Used to loop late on stunts. Excellent burst to close for a player his size. Big with quickness trying to get to the quarterback and will force him off the spot. Reaches for deflections on his way to the quarterback. Hustled for a tackle versus Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka on the perimeter (2024).

 

Weaknesses

Inconsistent finding the ball and overall play recognition. Too often lost trying to find the ball in the trenches. Needs to be quicker reacting to finish as a run defender. Average length leads to struggles with sudden disengagements to make a tackle. Could be quicker to disengage towards his inside shoulder to play cutbacks working down the line of scrimmage. Moved down the line of scrimmage when he doesn’t get his anchor down. Want to see him use power and bull rushes more. Too often stands up and hand checks as a rusher rather than trying to generate a push.

 

NFL comparison

B.J. Raji

 

Conclusion

Overall, Caldwell is a stout, wide defensive lineman who consistently holds his ground and possesses impressive quickness/nimbleness at his size. Increased usage as a two-gapper versus the run and displaying more power as a rusher will help him reach his full potential at the next level.

 

Big Board ranking: #78 | Positional ranking: #11