Jordan Phillips is a massive nose tackle who also has good enough movement skills to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme. Phillips will not light up the statistics board, but his ability to take on blockers allows linebackers, safeties and defensive ends to make plays. In three seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, Phillips made 58 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Key Measurables: 6-foot-5, 329 pounds.
Strengths: He is overpowering at times and nimble for such a huge nose tackle. He has long arms, and is able to extend and lock out offensive linemen. He is quick enough to be used in zone drops and has ideal measurables with great length and strength. Phillips can anchor and hold up against double-teams, and has the quickness to find creases and be disruptive on occasion.
Weaknesses: He plays high and his motor runs hot and cold. He really has trouble disengaging from blockers, and too often plays high and gets washed down the line. Once offensive linemen get the advantage, Phillips has very few answers and is unable to counter.
Conclusion: He is overrated based on production and tape, but will be overdrafted on potential and the fact that 6-foot-5, 329-pound tackles with long arms and decent movement skills aren’t easy to find. He can dominate when he wants, but there are too many times he’s the invisible man. He has trouble defeating college centers in one-on-one matchups one game, and he’s throwing people around, splitting double-teams and chasing down plays 30 yards downfield the next.
If he gets a little hungrier and takes to coaching, he will be a monster. If not, he’s the basic NFL underachiever.
Projection: Late-first to mid-second round pick
NFL Comparison: Dontari Poe
Game tapes watched: TCU, Texas, Clemson
Final Grade: 8.6
This is a series of profiles on the top 50 prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft. Check back daily for more profiles and position-by-position rankings.
Previous Positional Rankings
Top 10 Wide Receivers Rankings
Interior Defensive Linemen Rankings
Ranking System
9.5-10: Elite ability and should be multiple-time All-Pro performer
9.0-9.4: Top-line starter with ability to become All-Pro performer
8.5-8.9: Has potential to become a very good starter and possible All-Pro