2023 NFL Draft: Could Auburn's Derick Hall Be the Jaguars' Pass-Rush Answer?

The Jaguars have shown pre-draft interest in Derick Hall, but will that result in them selecting him in next week's draft?

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Apr 18, 2023 3:58 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.

Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.

As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.

Next up: Auburn pass-rusher Derick Hall.

Overview

A four-star recruit in the 2019 class, Derick Hall was the No. 149 player in the nation in 247Sports' rankings, ranking as the No. 8 weak side defensive end and No. 9 recruit in the state of Mississippi. Hall received 15 offers out of high school, picking Auburn over Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Kansas, LSU, Louisiville, Memphis, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee.

Hall appeared in 11 games as a true freshman, starting three and recording 13 tackles and 1.5 tackles ofr loss. He increased his production in 2020, appearing in 11 games and starting 3, recording 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in the process.

Hall became a full-time starter in 2021, starting all 13 games and recording 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and two forced fumbles, leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks and earning Second-Team All-SEC honors.

Hall finished his career with another 12 starts in 2022, leading the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (7.0) along with two forced fumbles, one pass deflection, and one interception, earning First-Team All-SEC honors as a team captain.

What Derick Hall Does Well

Just in terms of explosiveness and juice off the edge, Hall could be an instant impact for a team in need of pass-rush depth like the Jaguars. Hall has an explosive first-step that gives him the chance to win with speed against slower-footed tackles, while also possessing the power to go through blockers and win the leverage game.

Hall's go-to as a pass-rusher is a speed-to-power move where he attempts to win by going through the middle of a tackle's frame, attacking their chest with powerful hands and rushing low enough to uproot them and generate force. Hall can get under the pads of offensive tackles and force them off balance, quickly taking advantage with his length when doing so.

Hall's eyes as a pass-rusher as hard to not be impressed by. His natural instincts for attacking a tackle's leverage and body-positioning when a quarterback moves in the pocket allowed him plenty of chances to win on second-effort rushes. For a pass-rusher who is more explosive moving forward than he is around the arc, Hall shows good body control crossing the face of tackles and closing in on quarterbacks.

How Derick Hall Would Fit With the Jaguars

The Jaguars need more bodies on the edge. While Hall doesn't have the size of some of the other pass-rushers in this class who could provide a rush inside and outside, he would help the Jaguars fill out their edge rusher depth chart. Between Dawuane Smoot and Arden Key's snaps at either defensive end or outside linebacker, the Jaguars have 698 edge snaps to replace.

Per Pro Football Focus, Hall was tied for 14th in quarterback hits last year and played all but six of his snaps lined up outside the tackle. Hall is a strict edge only player, but he would allow the Jaguars more depth behind Travon Walker and Josh Allen in case of injuries. He would also give Walker the chance to slide inside on passing downs, lining up opposite of Allen on the edge.

Hall has the length and metrics the Jaguars have targeted in most of their edge additions over the last three offseasons, while also having a power-based game that would fit in with the rest of the Jaguars' front. A team captain and experienced starter, Hall would also check the boxes in terms of the type of locker room presence they add in the draft.

Verdict

It makes sense why the Jaguars would have some pre-draft interest in Hall. He isn't a finished product as a pass-rusher, but the experience, production, length, and athletic traits are there to be a plus pass-rusher that they could select outside of the first round.

Hall is ranked No. 51 on the consensus board, so it is obvious that he would require selection with the No. 56 overall pick. As far as Day 2 pass-rushing prospects go, Hall is probably about as good as it gets and would present solid value for the Jaguars.

For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.