Daron Payne, the Alabama DT, sits at No. 17 on the consensus board across 27 public boards. The tier model reads him as an impact starter — 50% elite, 35% starter.
Physicality
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: “Payne possesses one of the most impressive combinations of strength and athleticism that we've seen from an interior lineman.”
Production Context
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein: “Payne is a game-ready starter who immediately upgrades a defense's ability to slow the run.”
Sources · 2 · quotes 1
The report above is our synthesis. These links preserve the research trail; quoted language below remains the source's own.
“…Payne possesses one of the most impressive combinations of strength and athleticism that we've seen from an interior lineman. He will be the premier run-stuffer in this draft, but he may have enough in the pass rushing toolbox to project as a better pro than college pass rusher. Payne is a game-ready starter who immediately upgrades a defense's ability to slow the run. If teams view him as just a run-down player, the…”
Sourced synthesis from 2 scouting sources, not original film. How these reports are written →