Carlos Dunlap NFL Draft scouting report

Carlos Dunlap
6'6, 290 pounds | Defensive end | Florida

Pass Rush/Closing Ability/Moves and Counter Moves: Totaled 19 sacks over the past two seasons. Can get the quarterback from every angle, best used as an interior rusher on passing downs. Uses a nice spin move to the inside gap while maintaining balance and power. When his leverage is right, Dunlap can use a variety of moves to get past a blocker and in to the passer’s face very quickly. Strong bull rusher that can collapse a pocket.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement/Agility: Very agile for a player his size. Can stay on his feet and keep his balance when moving east/west. Can close a gap in the open field fast with his long strides, makes a lot of tackles/sacks from behind.

Quickness/Explosion: Slow off the ball, late reaction. Often the last defensive lineman to move post-snap. Does not shoot out of a cannon, instead gets out of his stance too high which slows him down even more at the point of attack.

Run Defend/Recognition: 25 tackles for loss over the past two years. Very strong at the point of attack and can toss away a blocker with ease when his technique is right. Uses his length well to play with a lot of range within the tackle box. Slow to react, can be set up easily by a counter.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Has ideal size for the left defensive end position in a 3-4. Has a strong 290 pound frame with minimal loose weight. Very long arms that create a lot of separation between him and the blocker when his technique is on point.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Shows flashes of dominating the point of attack where no blocker can stick with him. His functional strength turns on and off. Will struggle to get off a block when reushing the edge. If he doesn’t get the initial position advantage against a blocker, he takes way too long to get off a block.

Tackling: Does not get in on a lot of action over the course of a game. Can chase a ball carrier from behind, but he does not show proper technique when tackling. Does not explode through the ball carrier, simply tries to drag him down.

Technique/Hand Use/Leverage: Inconsistent technique from top to bottom. Stands out of his stance more often than not and at his height, he makes for an easy target for a blocker to lock on to. When his technique is on however, he becomes nearly unblockable.

Versatility: Has seen plenty of time inside and outside, left and right. Was moved all over the place at Florida, creates mismatches and absorbed double teams across the line. His best performances have come from the inside as a pass rushing defensive tackle.

Final Word: Dunlap is the kind of player that will be drafted higher than what his production would lead one to believe. The physical tool set that he brings to the table is as good as it gets and any defensive line coach that is confident in their ability to get the most out of a player will drool over Dunlap’s potential. Dunlap has shown flashes of being unblockable, but those kinds of performances were too few and far between, as his lack of consistency was maddening to watch. There are motivational issues with him as his level of effort given on each play is up and down. Because of the physical package he brings to the table and the flashes of strong performance, Dunlap could break his way in to the top 10 because of the ceiling he possesses. However the underachiever label that has been placed on his name will scare some away because of the contracts that will be required that high in the draft.