2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Brandon Dorlus

Strengths

• Twitchy athleticism with excellent lateral agility and short-area quickness
• Explosive get off
• Long arms to control the point of attack
• Strong upper body
• Multiple years of elite pass rush productivity (at least 42 pressures each of the last three seasons)
• Quick to diagnose run game and has a good understanding of offensive line assignments to put himself in favorable positions

Weaknesses

• Doesn't have the bend to consistently win off the edge
• Tweener listed at 290 lbs but reported weight around 280
• Will need to add good weight to play on the interior
• Maxed out frame
• Upright pad level
• Anchor vs. double teams

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Brandon Dorlus

Oregon's versatile defensive lineman has been one of the most consistently disruptive forces in college football since he took over as a starter, finishing with over 40 quarterback pressures each of the last three seasons. Dorlus's sack production numbers aren't eye-popping, but his 45 pressures and seven QB hits in 2023 ranked first among Power Five interior defensive linemen.

He's a twitchy athlete who made Bruce Feldman's annual "Freak List" after reportedly hitting 20.75 MPH on GPS last season at 290 pounds. This translates to the field, where Dorlus wins with an explosive first step that rivals anyone in the 2024 NFL Draft class. His explosiveness keeps offensive linemen on their heels, and he then uses his elite lateral agility and swim move to get after the quarterback.

Dorlus played up and down the defensive line for the Ducks, lining up anywhere from 1-technique nose tackle to standing up in a wide 9-alignment as an outside linebacker. That versatility made him a matchup nightmare for college offensive coordinators, but he'll undoubtedly be hit with the dreaded "tweener" label by scouts as he transitions to the NFL. His lateral agility and short-area quickness make him an ideal 3-technique defensive lineman in a penetrating, one-gap scheme. This is where most of his production comes from anyway.

Dorlus could potentially play defensive end on early downs, but he doesn't possess the long speed necessary to threaten the edge in the NFL. His length and strong upper body will have teams that run multiple or odd fronts interested as well. Either way, his future is on the interior.

Dorlus combines his twitchy athleticism with good strength and power. Beyond his athleticism numbers, he made Feldman's Freak List in large part due to squatting and deadlifting nearly 700 pounds along with a 345-pound power clean. He's not just a workout warrior, however. That power flashed plenty in college, where combined with his explosive first step, he was able to quickly get into the chest of offensive linemen and overpower them. He tends to pop straight up out of his stance, so playing with better pad level will allow his natural power to play up more consistently in the NFL.

Dorlus is listed at 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, but his reported playing weight is more in the 275 to 280-pound range. His frame appears to be pretty much maxed out, and I'm worried adding too much weight will sap some of his explosiveness. But to hold up in the NFL on the interior, he'll need to get much closer to 300 pounds.

He has large, heavy hands at the point of attack, and combined with his length, he can stack offensive linemen to play the run first. And if it's a pass, Dorlus has the upper body strength to pull them off their spot and get to the quarterback.

As a run defender, Dorlus uses his hands well and has the natural quickness and power to win one-on-one matchups. He's further along as a pass rusher but improved every year as a run defender and should be at least adequate in the NFL, especially if he plays on the edge on early downs where he will face fewer double teams. And that's really where he struggled in college. He was routinely washed away when doubled, and that only adds to the tweener worries.

Overall, Dorlus is an experienced and polished interior pass rusher who should be able to contribute early on as an NFL rookie. He's currently projected as a Day 2 pick but could see his stock rise with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and good athletic testing at an adequate weight. He'll be in contention for a top 50 spot on my board.

Pro Comparison: Solomon Thomas