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A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN'S DRAFT TRADES
MARLON DAVIDSON
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-3
303 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
Marlon Davidson was a four-year staple on the Auburn Tigers' defensive line, totaling 14.5 sacks in his career. Those aren't jaw-dropping numbers for a defensive end, but Davidson is more of a run-stuffer who could move to defensive tackle at the next level based on his 300-pound frame. Davidson took nearly 200 snaps either over or inside the tackle left season. He forced three fumbles and broke up nine passes during his tenure as well. Named a first-team All-SEC talent. Could fit into the second-tier of defensive tackles that may fly off the board on Day 2.
COMBINE NOTABLES
5.04 40-yard dash
21 bench reps (T-7th worst)
VIKINGS' COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3 out of 5. Probably doesn't profile as a Vikings edge rusher, but Minnesota has been known to transition edge picks to an inside role (i.e., Jalyn Holmes).
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "Four-year starter who posted elevated production against the run and pass as a senior. Davidson has been durable and his play consistent, but he fails to really stand out in the shadow of teammate Derrick Brown. The team who drafts him will need to determine how best to utilize him because despite his build, he's most effective when playing outside the tackle. He's athletic enough to work as a base 4-3 end with sub-rush talent, but getting over the hump from good backup to starter might take time."
Benjamin Solak, Draft Network: "Marlon Davidson is a scheme-specific Day 2 candidate for teams looking for a big SDE with an intriguing blend of skills. Davidson has great length throughout his frame but is not lacking for mass, which allows him to win the point of attack and squeeze boundary runs to the inside. Davidson presents a better outside pass-rush ability than you'd expect for a player of his weight: he throws his hands well to soften rush angles and has a wide base to rush with tilt and close on the quarterback. Davidson won't be attractive for teams with wide ends who 1-gap exclusively, but should find a home in the Top-100 picks for a team that needs his skill set."
WHAT PFF SAYS
83.9 pass-rushing grade in 2019 (career best)
74.3 run-stop grade (above average)
20+ hurries each of last three seasons
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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