DeWayne Carter NFL Draft Overview
Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6′-2″
Weight: 302 pounds
School: Duke
2024 NFL Draft: DeWayne Carter Scouting Report
After spending the past five years at Duke, defensive lineman DeWayne Carter has decided to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. The versatile tackle is coming off something of a down year, as he recorded 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, and one sack during his final year at the collegiate level.
Carter joined Duke before the 2019 season but first earned a major role in 2021. Appearing in 12 games, the defensive lineman recorded 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, and 4.5 sacks. He improved on these numbers in 2022, finishing the year with 36 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks.
Strengths
- Quick first step off the snap gives him the advantage in pass rush situations;
- Solid straight-line speed and acceleration allow him to quickly get after the ball carrier;
- Bull rush moves interior linemen;
- Multiple pass-rushing moves capable of helping him collapse the pocket and get after the quarterback;
- Big hands give him an advantage when engaged with blockers;
- Versatile – can line up inside or on the edge with equal success.
Weaknesses
- Considerably better as a pass rusher than a run defender – not a three-down player at this point in his career;
- Possible leg day skipper – strong upper body strength does not translate to lower half – can be pushed around when anchoring in run defense;
- Not the best tackler – misses more than you’d like and struggles to pursue running backs;
- Not quick enough to close run lanes against moving blocks.
NFL Comparision: Chris Jones (the former Patriot, not the Chief)
Projection: Round 4
Teams With Need At Position: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions
Bottom Line on DeWayne Carter in the NFL Draft
DeWayne Carter enters the NFL Draft as a player who will probably only be used situationally early in his career. The biggest selling point for Carter as a prospect is what he can do on passing downs. The Duke product possesses elite snap recognition, and his above-average speed and acceleration allow him to engage offensive linemen before they know what hit them.
This quickness combined with his strong upper body strength allows him to routinely collapse the pocket and get after the quarterback. As a bonus, Carter can also move around the defensive line and make plays for any position. This versatility is invaluable for a player who probably won’t start right out of the gate.
While DeWayne Carter is good enough to earn a role on an NFL roster, the draft hopeful has some work to do before he’s ready to start. Pass defense is more important than run defense in today’s air-focused NFL, but you still need to be able to do both if you want a three-down job. Carter lacks the lower-body strength for this role, as interior linemen can overpower and push him aside. This stems from a poor anchor, as the Duke product can’t hold space and fill gaps in the run game. Even when he does get a clear shot at a running back, he frequently misses tackles and only manages to slow down the ball carrier, rather than end the play entirely.
The good news is that Carter has the physical ability to improve this part of his game. The defensive lineman has room to add more muscle to his frame, and he’ll fix a lot of issues if he can add a few pounds of lower-body muscle and learn how to incorporate that strength into his game. The bad news is that even if he adds the required build, he probably won’t be anything more than a situational player for the next year or two. Any team selecting DeWayne Carter in the NFL Draft should do so with the understanding that he’ll only be a situational player in the short term.
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