2024 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Defensive End

September 22, 2023



*Walt taking 2014 and 2018

Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst

Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates.
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2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT – WALT’S | CHARLIE’S ROUND: 1

The top 2024 3-4 Defensive End prospects available for the 2024 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2025 prospect. ** – denotes 2026 prospect.

This page was last updated Sept. 22, 2023. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

1.

Maason Smith**, 3-4DE/DT, LSU

Height: 6-5. Weight: 298.
Projected 40 Time: 5.00.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

9/23/23: Smith was suspended in Week 1 and has three tackles over two games.

8/19/23: Smith was a dynamic freshman for the Tigers in 2021, and the former five-star recruit made an instant impact for them, recording four sacks and 19 tackles. There was a ton of hype coming from LSU that he was poised to have a monster 2022 season, but he suffered a torn ACL in the season opener against Florida State and missed the year. The 6-foot-5, 298-pounder has excellent size and length with the upside to build on his fantastic debut. Smith could break out and dominate in 2023.

2.

Ruke Orhorhoro*, 3-4DE/DT, Clemson

Height: 6-4. Weight: 295.
Projected 40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

9/23/23: Thus far this year, Orhorhoro has four tackles and a pass defended.

8/19/23: Orhorhoro recorded 23 tackles, five passes batted and four sacks in 2022. He was a solid rotational defender for the Tigers. Orhorhoro took advantage of the opportunity of Bryan Bresee going out with injury in 2021 to have a solid season. Orhorhoro totaled 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks that year. While Orhorhoro might be a rotational backup, NFL teams like his potential and have him with a favorable projection entering his junior season.

3.

T’Vondre Sweat*, 3-4DE/DT, Texas

Height: 6-4. Weight: 340.
Projected 40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

9/23/23: Sweat has played well, including a good game against Alabama in Week 2. He has nine tackles and a sack on the year.

8/19/23: Sweat is a massive nose tackle who is a beast at the point of attack in the ground game. He had his best statistical year in run support in 2022, recording 29 tackles. Sweat totaled 22 stops total in each of his previous two seasons. He is a big, powerful, strong man who can cause disruption at the point of attack and also generate a push in the pass rush. Off the field, team sources say Sweat a good kid but has some issues with lethargy and likes to party. Sweat possesses a big-time skill set and upside to develop.

4.

J.T. Tuimoloau**, 3-4DE/DE, Ohio State

Height: 6-4. Weight: 270.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

9/23/23: Tuimoloau has seven tackles thus far in 2023.

9/2/23: As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Tuimoloau turned in a good season for the Buckeyes, showing an ability to produce big plays. He recorded 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two interceptions and two passes broken up on the year. Tuimoloau could rise for the 2024 NFL Draft if his pass-rush and sack production improve in 2023.

5.

Leonard Taylor*, 3-4DE/DT, Miami

Height: 6-5. Weight: 250. Arm: 32.75. Hand: 10.13.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 1-2.

9/23/23: Taylor has recorded two tackles thus far this year.

8/19/23: Taylor flashed some potential as a freshman in 2021, racking up 24 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a pass broken up. In 2022, he recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Taylor has upside and talent, but his desire is the question. Some sources say he could go as high as the first round or as low as the fifth round depending on how hard he plays and works.

6.

Brandon Dorlus, 3-4DE/DT, Oregon

Height: 6-3. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2024): 3-4.

9/23/23: Dorlus has four tackles and a pass broken up in 2023.

8/19/23: Dorlus was a solid defender for the Ducks in 2022, recording 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes defended. He totaled 25 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2021. For the NFL, Dorlus could stand to add some more strength.

7.

Ty Robinson, 3-4DE/NT, Nebraska

Height: 6-6. Weight: 310.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: Robinson has four tackles and .5 sacks thus far this year. He was a solid defender for the Cornhuskers across the previous two seasons, including 24 tackles and two sacks in 2022 and 27 tackles and two sacks in 2021. Robinson possesses good height and length.

8.

Fabien Lovett, 3-4DE/DT, Florida State

Height: 6-4. Weight: 310.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: Thus far this year, Lovett has three tackles.

8/19/23: Lovett flashed in 2021 with 28 tackles and two sacks. In 2022, he was held back by injury and only played in six games, recording 10 tackles with a sack and forced fumble. Lovett looked heavier in 2022, and that seemed to have cost him some explosion off the ball. Lovett needs to put together a productive senior year to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

9.

Warren Brinson, 3-4DE/DT, Georgia

Height: 6-4. Weight: 305.
Projected 40 Time: 5.02.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

9/23/23: On the year, Brinson has two tackles.

8/19/23: Brinson was a rotational backup for the Bulldogs in 2022, recording 12 tackles and a sack. If Brinson produces more pass rush as a senior, he has the potential to rise as the 2024 NFL Draft nears.

10.

Alfred Collins, 3-4DE/DE, Texas

Height: 6-5. Weight: 292.
Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

9/23/23: This season, Collins has four tackles and a pass defended.

9/2/23: Collins is a big defensive end who has the size to move inside. He was a solid run defender over the past three seasons, but he needs to improve his pass-rush production in 2023.

11.

Tim Smith, 3-4DE/WR, Alabama

Height: 6-4. Weight: 304.
Projected 40 Time: 5.20.
Projected Round (2024): 5-7.

9/23/23: Smith has a tally of 12 tackles at this point in the season.

8/19/23: Smith has the talent upside to rise in his final season if he can produce more for the Crimson Tide. In 2022, he notched 20 tackles and a sack.

12.

Justin Eboigbe, 3-4DE/NT, Alabama

Height: 6-5. Weight: 292.
Projected 40 Time: 5.30.
Projected Round (2024): 5-7.

9/23/23: In 2023, Eboigbe has 11 tackles.

8/19/23: Eboigbe was a rotational backup in 2022, just like he was over the previous three seasons. Eboigbe is a projected starter who needs a season of big production to rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.

13.

Damon Payne Jr.**, 3-4DE/DT, Alabama

Height: 6-4. Weight: 304.
Projected 40 Time: 5.10.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.

9/23/23: Payne has two tackles thus far this year.

8/19/23: Payne has a skill set with talent, but he has not earned consistent time for Alabama. If Payne plays up to his potential, he could be riser.

14.

Jahvaree Ritzie*, 3-4DE/DE, North Carolina

Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2024): 7-FA.

9/23/23: Ritzie has six tackles on the year.

9/2/23: Ritzie is an inside/outside defensive lineman who is a capable run defender but needs to show more pass-rush ability in 2023.

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P