Jalen Thompson DL/EDGE Michigan State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.78 seconds (80%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.2 DOB: 05/28/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #9 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.78 seconds (80%*) | |
| Age: 21.2 DOB: 05/28/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
80.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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77% |
| Pass Rush: |
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69% |
| Run Defense: |
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79% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#184
Position rank:
#26 (DL)
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| College Games: 31 College Snaps: 1007 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Habakkuk Baldonado - Pittsburgh |
|
92% |
| Dylan Horton - TCU |
|
90% |
| Nelson Ceaser - Houston |
|
88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A four-star out of Cass Tech in Detroit, Thompson was rated the No. 1 defensive end in Michigan in his class and signed with the Spartans, where he banked three years of starting-caliber reps against Big Ten competition. He grew into a heavier, run-first edge with plus timed speed for his size.In 2025 Thompson recorded two sacks, 20 pressures and eighteen run stops across eleven games, leading the team in tackles for loss and anchoring the edge against the run. He graded steadiest early against Boston College and added a strong game against rival Michigan, stacking and shedding blockers at the point of attack before entering the transfer portal and committing to Arizona State. The plus timed speed stands out for a 260-pound end, and three years of Big Ten starts built a heavy, run-first profile that led the Spartans in tackles for loss. He projects as a developmental power end with room to add a counter rush.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Sets a physical edge on early downs as a run-first defender
- Reliable tackler for the position, charged with only two misses
- Stoned Michigan with five run stops in the rivalry game
- Brings good timed speed to chase plays from the back side
- Experienced starter with twenty-six career games of edge reps
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Pass-rush production is light, just two sacks across the year
- The pressure rate trails the run mark and lacks a finishing move
- Carries just 260 pounds, light to hold up against edge power
- Counters are underdeveloped when his first move gets handled
- Pressured Maryland six times but the wins rarely reached the quarterback
Scouting Report: Summary
Thompson is an edge-setter first, an experienced starter whose stout against the run and whose value shows up holding the point and finishing tackles rather than chasing sacks. He stoned Michigan with five run stops in the rivalry game, missed only two tackles all year, and brings the timed speed to run plays down from the back side. For a defense that wants its edge to set a hard corner and play assignment-sound football, the foundation is there.The pass rush is where the projection thins. He produced two sacks on the year, the pressure rate trails the run mark, and even when he won, as he did with six pressures against Maryland, the rushes rarely finished at the quarterback. At 260 pounds he can get displaced by power, and his counters are underdeveloped once the first move gets handled. He is a run-down edge whose rush portfolio has to grow to earn three-down trust.
He gives a defense a rotational edge with a strong run-defense base and special-teams value, the kind of player who holds a roster spot on reliability. The pass-rush ceiling is modest unless the hand plan develops, so the floor is the selling point. That lands a Day 3 grade as a dependable edge-setter, with a move to a new program adding a variable to monitor.
How other scouting services rate Jalen Thompson (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
238.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
33.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.