2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: T.J. Sanders

Strengths:

• Physical Traits: Sanders is a smooth athlete with quick feet, a powerful upper half, and flashes of explosive lateral movement ability.
• Length: He uses his length to stand up solo run blockers and discard them quickly.
• Relentless Hands: Fast, urgent hands that relentlessly pop, dent, swim, and toss blockers aside with purpose and creativity. Sanders shows a developing understanding of how to formulate a pass-rush plan.
• Contact Balance: He possesses impressive body control, balance, and the ability to get skinny around blockers.
• Bend: His pliable frame allows him to absorb and dish out power from awkward positions without losing his base.

Weaknesses:

• Lateral Footwork: Sanders struggles to maintain his base and hold his ground when moving horizontally. His footwork is noticeably inefficient when asked to execute stunts.
• Pad Level: His upright play style limits his first-step quickness and ability to generate a bull rush. Many expect Sanders to test well athletically, but he only shows an average bust on tape.
• Size and Power Profile: He is undersized to play inside a 3T in the NFL, limiting his versatility. Sanders prefers to play around blockers instead of through them.
• Hesitant: He didn't start playing football until his junior year of high school, and his game shows a noticeable amount of hesitation. Can he let the dog loose more often?
• Conditioning: He seemed to get gassed as the games wore on despite ranking 145th in snaps played amongst FBS defensive tackles. His impact was much more noticeable early in games.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for T.J. Sanders:

Sanders is a dynamic defensive tackle projected to be selected in the top 50 of the NFL Draft. His build is workable for an even-front 3-technique role, but he could also work as an odd-front defensive end. Sanders showcased impressive pass-rushing skills in college, using his athleticism, unrelenting hands, and ability to leverage his length to disrupt.

However, Sanders has some areas for improvement. Despite his quick feet and explosive lateral movement, he struggles with lateral footwork and maintaining his base while moving horizontally. His upright play style affects his pad level, limiting his first-step quickness and bull-rush effectiveness. Additionally, Sanders is undersized for a versatile role in the NFL, typically playing around blockers rather than through them.

Sanders should be able to contribute to a defensive tackle rotation immediately, likely in a pass-rushing role until he proves he has the mass and strength to play rushing downs. His college tape implies that he could succeed against the run, but questions will persist at only 284 pounds.

His ceiling is a good starter, which he would achieve by becoming more decisive in the moment and more consistent with his burst. His floor is that of a developmental backup. In his floor scenario, Sanders needs to add mass or adjust his playstyle to account for faster, more powerful blockers at the NFL level.

Sanders could be a fit for the Bears at picks 39 or 41. However, I prefer to see a handful of other defensive tackles picked at those spots. He would fit into the Bears' defensive line and philosophy well, likely taking on a role similar to the recently departed DeMarcus Walker. The Bears have not had issues finding depth for the three-technique spot. They need more meat up front, as in players who can play nose tackle.

Pro Comp: Ruke Orhorhoro