Danny Shelton DT Washington #55
Wt: 339
[level-scouting-reports]
Size/Athleticism: Shows flashes of impressive athleticism for his size, but it comes in inconsistent bursts. Built like a true nose tackle.
Run Defense: Not nearly as a dominant in terms of holding his ground as you would expect considering his size. Gets stood up and driven off his spot too easily due to his inconsistent balance and leverage. Shows the ability to hold up at the point of attack, even against double teams, but it all hinges on his ability to keep a low pad level and play with leverage.
Pass Rush: Quick off the snap, especially considering his size. Appears to have short arms and doesn’t deliver much of a punch to offensive linemen. Plays with very inconsistent leverage. Capable of exploding off the line of scrimmage, but does not always sustain that power and offensive linemen are frequently able to recover to slow him down. Does not convert speed to power as efficiently as you’d like to see.
Versatility: A pure nose tackle. Capable of playing a 5-tech end in a 3-4 scheme for certain coaches that value size over athleticism on the edge.
Intangibles: Three-year starter. Academic All-American. Very personable with the media.
Durability: 40 consecutive starts.
[/level-scouting-reports]
Overview: Shelton is an intriguing prospect because there are only so many players in every draft with his combination of size and athleticism. However, his inconsistent play makes him more of a developmental prospect than a sure thing. His lack of consistent dominance in college raises some concern, and doesn’t bode well for his immediate success in the NFL. His impressive stats as a senior were heavily influenced by dominating lower-level competition (seven of nine sacks came against Hawaii, Eastern Washington and Georgia State)
