Louisville EDGE Ashton Gillotte 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Cons

• Tweener Who is Good at Many Things, Elite at None
  Gillotte lacks a trump card go-to strength in his game. He is good in run defense, but not a perfect tackler. He is good in pass rush but not among the elite in this class. It's great that he brings versatility, but where will he actually fit at the NFL level? Teams may struggle to figure that out.
• Athleticism and Length Questions
  It's quite likely Gillotte will test just fine in straight line speed while struggling a bit with agility at the NFL Combine. He also doesn't seem to have prototypical arm length when compared to most interior defensive line or edge defender prospects. NFL teams will care about that because it can impact edge-setting and winning against the most elite athletes in the world.
• Flexibility Concerns for Edge Dominance
  Gillotte's strength is impressive, but his bend is not when it comes to pass rush. Gillotte will often win due to his strength, pushing the pocket, getting around the edge on brute power along. However, he also can overshoot the quarterback because he can't bend around the edge like the best pass rushers in the game.

Player Evaluation:

Ashton Gillotte plays with impressive tenacity and power that will resonate with many NFL scouts assessing him in the NFL Draft process. His ability to win from a variety of pre-snap alignments against the pass and run despite a couple minor physical limitations is a major plus.

If he finds success at the NFL level it will be because a defensive coordinator got creative rather than forcing him into a narrow true edge defender role. Gillotte can win on pass rush stunts, one-on-one matchups inside and out, while utilizing his power to hold his position sufficiently against the run. He could develop into a solid impact player for any type of defense.

Player Comparison:

Tuli Tuipulotu
Ashton Gillotte may play a role quite similar to what we just saw Tuli Tuipulotu play for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. Just like Gillotte at Louisville, Tuipulotu was asked to shift slightly inside at times instead of just being asked to win as a true edge defender. Gillotte might not have the optimal size to play as often at 3 or 5 tech like he did in college, but he's still plenty strong to shift a bit in passing situations. Tuipulotu and Gillotte's play strength, versatility, penetration in both the run and pass games, and their rip and pull leverage techniques all look quite similar.

A to Z Rankings:

A to Z Big Board Ranking: 107

A to Z Draft Grade: 6.57 (out of 10)

Draft projection: Early Day Three (6.01-7.00)

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And if you want to check out some of the plays that demonstrate how good Ashton Gillotte might be in the NFL you can watch the highlights video below!