Chargers selected USC EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tuipulotu (6’3/266) comes from a football-rich bloodline with four immediate family members who played at USC and later in the NFL. A decorated performer for the Men of Troy, he was named the Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Year two years ago before earning All-American recognition in 2022 with a nation-leading 13.5 sacks to go with a gaudy 22 tackles of loss. Interestingly, he posted a minuscule 6.5% missed tackle rate in his first two collegiate seasons before seeing that mark plummet by missing a dreadful 31.4% of his tackle opportunities in 2022. Even so, the Trojan edge rusher increased his production from 29 pressures in 2021 to 56 last season while posting admirable PFF defensive grades above 82.1 in each of his final two campaigns. Tuipulotu likes to flash his shoulders to make tackles think he’s going one way, then quickly changes direction to win the rep. Though he didn’t test at the Combine due to injury, his evolved and creative pass rush approach and ability to be productive in multiple fronts despite not having raptor-length bodes well for his NFL projection. Tuipulotu has the requisite physical traits and strength to play with his hand down and hold the point of attack on an every-down basis.
