2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Joshua Farmer

Joshua Farmer completed every test at the NFL Combine except the agility tests. He scored a solid relative athletic score of 7.14 out of 10, which can change as official results are finalized and pro days occur.

Background:

Farmer is the youngest of seven siblings with an age difference of up to 15 years. He lost his father at the age of two after a medical instrument was left inside his body during a stomach surgery. His mother, who had worked multiple jobs to support her family, passed away from a brain aneurysm when Farmer was 11 years old. A combination of his older siblings and grandparents raised him from that point on. I highly encourage reading the story linked below, which is heartbreaking but essential in determining who Joshua Farmer is.

"Joshua's older brother, Tyler, remembers him -- old enough to understand the situation but not entirely so -- shaking his mother and yelling, "Mama, wake up."" - Excerpt from an article in the Tallahassee Democrat.

Farmer began his high school football career as a linebacker for the Port St. Joe High School (Florida) varsity squad from eighth grade through his sophomore year. After his sophomore year, Farmer transferred to Gadsden County High School, where his position changed to defensive end. Gadsden County failed to win a single game in 2018. Farmer and the new coaching staff joined the program in 2019, improving to 5-5. By Farmer's senior year, the team went 6-2 and made it to the state semifinals.

"His work ethic fueled the whole team. It made everybody start working the way Josh was working." - Gadsden County recruiting coordinator Devin Rispress.

Recruiting and College Career

Coming out of high school, Farmer was a three-star recruit and the country's #118 defensive lineman. After high school, he held offers from multiple Power 5 programs, including Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Miami. But ever since he was a kid, he had his heart set on Florida State University, where he converted from EDGE rusher to defensive tackle.

“Josh, he gets better every single game. Every single practice, he gets better.” - Former FSU DT Braden Fiske.

2021: Redshirt; Played in four games

2022: Played in 13 games; Freshman honorable mention All-American; All-ACC Academic Team; ACC Honor Roll

2023: Started 13 games; second-team All-ACC; All-ACC Academic Team; FSU Defense Most Improved Player

2024: Started 12 games; honorable mention All–ACC; Bobby Bowden Leadership Award

According to PFF, Farmer generated 26 pressures and six sacks across 242 pass-rushing snaps in 2024. He totaled 20 pressures and seven sacks the prior season on 215 pass-rushing snaps. In his college career, he averaged a pressure every 11 pass rush snaps and a sack every 38 pass rush snaps.

Among the 350 FBS defensive tackles who played at least 300 snaps in 2024, Farmer had the 216th-best overall PFF grade, the 253rd-best run-defense grade, and the 49th-best pass-rushing grade. As I write this, I am shocked by how low his PFF grades are relative to the tape. In true pass sets, he recorded a pass rush win rate of 17.4%, which ranks 47th.

Strengths:

• Physical Traits: Farmer possesses a large, powerful frame with the requisite mass and size to two-gap if needed. His athletic traits point to untapped potential as a pass rusher.
• Penetrator: He flashes the explosion and quickness necessary to penetrate and shoot gaps as a pass rusher at the NFL level.
• Leverage and Length: He pairs good knee bend with excellent length (94th percentile) to get off the ball with good timing and shoot his long arms into blockers, taking control of the rep with strength.
• Run Defense: Farmer is a stout run defender with a good instinct for interior run lanes. He disrupts anchoring guards with heavy hands and a powerful lower half.

Weaknesses:

• Inconsistent Anchor: He is hit or miss with his anchor against double teams. While there is evidence of him anchoring down, his base doesn't consistently hold up.
• Horizontal Lane Integrity: Farmer struggles to maintain lane integrity against horizontal run concepts, with his feet lagging behind the action.
• Pass Rush Plan: Farmer does not offer as much pass rush juice as his highlight plays imply. He tends to get stuck on blocks due to a lack of pass-rush moves and counters.
• Hand Placement: He wins with raw power and traits rather than technique. Improving his hand placement could help him become more consistent.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for Joshua Farmer:

Joshua Farmer's background is marked by significant personal tragedy. He lost both parents at a young age, which shaped his drive and work ethic. He started his high school career as a linebacker before transitioning to defensive end and eventually defensive tackle in college.

Farmer's college career has seen him develop into a powerful and versatile interior defender. His strengths lie in his physical traits, which help him disrupt both running and passing situations. His explosive quickness, filled-out frame, excellent length, and football character carry his profile.

However, his play is inconsistent in some areas, particularly regarding consistency. While there is evidence of him taking on double teams, lapses in his anchor show up when he is not square and mindful of his technique. Additionally, he is still raw as a pass rusher, often failing to execute a refined pass-rush plan. His reliance on raw power and athletic traits rather than technical skills, like hand placement and pass rush counters, can lead to struggles in finishing plays.

Despite these weaknesses, Farmer's potential as a versatile interior defender makes him a promising NFL prospect. His ability to play in various fronts and alignments will make him a hot commodity in this year's draft class. He has a ceiling of a key contributor, falling just short of a Pro Bowl ceiling. Meanwhile, his floor is that of a rotational defensive tackle who will play as a situational specialist.

Farmer would be an excellent choice for the Bears in a trade down from picks 39 or 41. I do not think he will last to pick 72, but taking him in the top 50 will likely be too rich. He is an excellent fit for Dennis Allen's defense, with the ability to play multiple roles backing up Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings. Additionally, his athletic traits are well-suited for Dennis Allen's stunt-heavy attack. You could talk me into Farmer at pick 41, but there will probably be players higher on the Bears board still available. A player with his background and traits is someone that I want to invest in.

Pro Comp: Keeanu Benton