It is no secret by now that the 2025 NFL Draft class is absolutely loaded at the defensive tackle position. Teams will be able to find day-one starters on Day 3 of the draft. Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell is a prospect who has flown under the radar in draft circles. He hasn’t generated the type of other prospects, but there’s a lot to like about Caldwell’s game. A true nose tackle, Caldwell has the run-stuffing abilities and pass-rushing potential to be a productive rookie in 2025.
Jamaree Caldwell 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Measurements:
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 332 pounds
Arms: 32″
Hands: 9 3/8″
40-yard dash: 5.16 seconds
Vertical jump: 27″
Jamaree Caldwell Background
Jamaree Caldwell has been on a bit of a journey en route to the NFL draft. His collegiate career began in 2020 at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. COVID-19 canceled the 2020 season, so Caldwell never actually played at Hutchinson. He then moved on to Independence Community College, also in Kansas, where he played the 2021 season. Caldwell spent his next two seasons at Houston, where he totaled 39 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 20 games. Finally, Caldwell played his senior season at Oregon, where he earned an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection.
Strengths
The most obvious strength of Jamaree Caldwell’s game is his size. He’s not overly tall, but he’s thick with a strong base. Caldwell’s 332 pounds fill out his frame nicely. The lack of height might be more of a pro than a con; his strong legs and low center of gravity provide Caldwell with advantageous natural leverage.
Caldwell puts his dense frame to use when taking on double teams. He has the necessary strength to hold up two blockers. He’ll need to improve at shaking loose, but even if he gets hung up with two linemen, Caldwell consistently opens up lanes for his linebackers to get downfield and make tackles.
Though he has the large frame, Caldwell flashes some deceptively-quick feet. He’s quick to get out of his stance, and this explosiveness serves him well as a run stuffer. For now, being a reliable run stopper is the most complete part of Caldwell’s game. He has shown potential as a pass rusher, but even if he shows no further improvement, Caldwell will still be effective against the run in the NFL.
Weaknesses
Leading into his biggest weakness, Jamaree Caldwell hasn’t shown enough consistency as a pass rusher to be a complete draft prospect, specifically as a nose tackle. He had some impressive sack production in his two seasons at Houston, but that mostly came when he was not playing nose tackle. As a pro, he will be a nose tackle, so Caldwell will need to become a more complete pass rusher in order to carve out a more consistent role.
Though he’s strong as a run defender, Caldwell can make technical improvements in that regard, too. He can eat up blockers, but he can still take the next step and be able to consistently beat double teams, not just hold them up. One area of improvement for Caldwell is his pad level. Sometimes, he comes off the ball too high, opening himself up and allowing blockers to get inside of his frame too easily. His arms aren’t very long, either, so he’s already fighting an uphill battle to keep opposing linemen out of his chest.
Potential Team Fits
Jamaree Caldwell NFL Draft Projection
Expect Jamaree Caldwell to come off the board early on Day 3 of the draft. The class is stacked at defensive tackle, so scheme fit will play a huge role in determining draft order. Caldwell easily has the skills to be taken on Day 2 of the draft. While he hasn’t been able to win consistently, the potential is there for Caldwell to develop into a solid interior pass rusher. Until he does that, teams will still be excited to add his run-stopping abilities to their defense. He has a high floor as an early-down nose tackle, and he has the ceiling of an every-down player who can get after opposing quarterbacks.
Main Photo: [Kirby Lee] – USA Today Sports
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