Chris McClellan Draft Grade | Round 3, Pick 13 | FanVerdicts

Bottom 20%Pick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Significant Reach

Position

DT · Standard Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #110 · Day 3 Sleeper

Chris McClellan emerged as Missouri's most consistent interior defender over his three-year career, transforming from a raw developmental prospect into a reliable two-gap defender. The 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive tackle brings impressive core strength and leverage principles that allow him to hold the point of attack against SEC competition. His ability to maintain gap integrity while showing flashes of pass-rush upside has caught NFL scouts' attention, though questions remain about his ceiling as an impact player. McClellan's steady production and high football IQ make him an intriguing mid-round developmental piece.

Strengths

+Exceptional core strength and leverage technique allows him to consistently anchor against double teams and maintain gap responsibility in run defense.

+Shows natural feel for using hands to shed blocks, demonstrating good timing on hand placement and punch technique to disengage from offensive linemen.

+High football IQ evident in his ability to diagnose plays quickly and slide to correct gaps, rarely caught out of position in complex defensive schemes.

+Impressive motor and effort level, consistently pursues plays sideline to sideline and shows up in cleanup tackles 15-20 yards downfield.

+Solid pass-rush fundamentals with developing repertoire of moves including bull rush, arm-over, and occasional swim technique.

+Projects well as a two-gap defender with the discipline to maintain assigned gaps while still making plays in both run and pass situations.

+Strong hands at 10 1/8 inches provide natural advantage in hand fighting and controlling offensive linemen at the point of attack.

+Demonstrates good pad level consistency, rarely rises up during engagement which helps maximize his leverage advantages despite modest height.

+Shows flashes of interior pass-rush ability when allowed to attack single gaps, generating pressure up the middle with bull rush moves.

+Character and work ethic are unquestioned, emerged as defensive leader during senior season and consistently graded well in team meetings.

+Versatility to play both nose tackle and 3-technique positions gives defensive coordinators flexibility in personnel packages.

+Surprisingly effective at batting down passes at the line of scrimmage, using good timing and hand positioning to disrupt throwing lanes.

Weaknesses

-Limited athletic ceiling with below-average burst and change-of-direction ability that restricts his pass-rush upside against NFL-caliber guards.

-Struggles to disengage from blocks once engaged, often needs help from teammates to make tackles after initially controlling blockers.

-Pass-rush move arsenal remains underdeveloped with heavy reliance on power moves, lacking the finesse techniques needed for consistent interior pressure.

-Height limitation at 6-foot-2 creates challenges when facing taller offensive linemen who can get hands on him first and control leverage.

-Inconsistent ability to penetrate into backfield, too often content to occupy blockers rather than creating disruptive plays behind the line.

-Lateral mobility concerns become evident on outside zone runs and stretch plays where he struggles to maintain pursuit angles.

-Limited experience in pure pass-rushing situations may require significant development time to become effective on third-down packages.

-Occasionally gets overwhelmed by combination blocks from center-guard tandems, showing need for better recognition and counter-moves.

NFL Comparison: Maliek Collins

Fan voting will be available once grades are published.

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