Jordan

Elliott

Elliott serves as DT Javon Hargrave’s (injured reserve) primary backup so the defensive interior is now worryingly short-staffed. Elliott exhibited a clear limp as he walked off the field under his own power. He was later ruled out.

Elliott spent the last two seasons starting on the Browns’ defensive line. Starting in 31 of 34 possible games over that span, Elliott has totaled 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks over the last two years while also notching eight TFLs. While the counting numbers aren’t bad, Elliott has consistently graded on the lower end of PFF’s defensive line grades for his career and has been credited with missing 11 percent of his tackle attempts. Despite playing in all 17 games last season, Elliott played on just 440 snaps — the fewest since his rookie season. With Arik Armstead expected to be released, Elliott could be tasked with replacing at least part of what Armstead has offered the 49ers over his nine-year career.

It wouldn’t be an offseason Sunday without at least one Best Shape Of His Life blurb. Mary Kay Cabot believes that if Elliott capitalizes on this momentum, he’ll probably be starting inside for the Browns. Defensive tackle is one of the few weak points of this defense. They could desperately use some good run defenders. Elliott could be one of them.

Elliott was a top-25 player on some boards. Elliott (6’4/302) went to Texas as a top-150 high school recruit but transferred to Missouri where he started two seasons. He transformed his body going into his redshirt junior season, which led to more twitch off the line of scrimmage and more disruption with his pass rushing moves. His trimmed down build didn’t affect his play strength either. He remained strong against the run and eventually earned second-team Associated Press All-American after compiling 31 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. A 65th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete, Elliott offers quality starter potential at multiple interior positions, especially if he continues reshaping his physical build.

Elliott was a top-25 player on some boards. Elliott (6’4/302) went to Texas as a top-150 high school recruit but transferred to Missouri where he started two seasons. He transformed his body going into his redshirt junior season, which led to more twitch off the line of scrimmage and more disruption with his pass rushing moves. His trimmed down build didn’t affect his play strength either. He remained strong against the run and eventually earned second-team Associated Press All-American after compiling 31 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. A 65th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete, Elliott offers quality starter potential at multiple interior positions, especially if he continues reshaping his physical build.

Elliott was a top-25 player on some boards. Elliott (6’4/302) went to Texas as a top-150 high school recruit but transferred to Missouri where he started two seasons. He transformed his body going into his redshirt junior season, which led to more twitch off the line of scrimmage and more disruption with his pass rushing moves. His trimmed down build didn’t affect his play strength either. He remained strong against the run and eventually earned second-team Associated Press All-American after compiling 31 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. A 65th percentile Adjusted SPARQ athlete, Elliott offers quality starter potential at multiple interior positions, especially if he continues reshaping his physical build.

Elliott was a consistent contributor for Missouri for a long while. After being rotational player as a freshman in 2017, Elliott assumed a starting role in 2018 and 2019, churning out 5.5 sacks and four passes defended over those two seasons. Despite being fairly tall at 6-foot-4 and 302-pounds, Elliott plays with excellent leverage and explosive burst, giving him the perfect combination of tools to blow up guards in the passing game. It is unlikely Elliott slips into the first round, but he is primed to be the prized DT prospect on Day 2.

Though not a star player, Kawann Short has been one of the league’s best interior defensive linemen since he entered the league in 2013. As Zierlein points out, Elliott’s leverage and flashy speed through gaps in the offensive line make him a weapon of similar caliber to short. Additionally, like Short, Elliott (6'4/302) can flip-flop between both defensive tackle spots, even earning the “scheme versatile” title from Zierlein. Elliott is expected to be a top-50 pick.

Elliott (6'4/302) couldn’t quite crack five seconds with his 40-yard dash, but still, quite a nice time for the Missouri product. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler loves the physical attributes, here, calling his frame “twitchy.” He is keen on Elliott’s ceiling and versatility. Brugler and PFF both rank Elliott as their No. 3 iDL prospect for April’s draft.

Brugler notes that the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Elliott “peppers blockers with his long, twitchy frame to earn an early advantage, locking out, finding the ballcarrier and disposing of his man.” The analyst does note inconsistent pad level in the Missouri defender’s game, but on the whole, views Elliott as a “high-ceiling, scheme-versatile NFL starter.” Both Brugler and Pro Football Focus rank Elliott as the No. 3 interior defensive lineman for April’s draft.