2023 NFL Draft: How Would Auburn's Colby Wooden Fit With the Jaguars?

How would the versatile SEC pass-rusher fill a void in the Jaguars' defense?

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Apr 23, 2023 1:27 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 Colby Wooden.

Overview

A former four-star recruit who was ranked the No. 20 weak side defensive end in 2019, Wooden began his career as a starter in 2020, being named to the SEC all-freshman team after nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Wooden returned as a started in 2021, recording 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, along with two pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

Wooden put up his best numbers as a third-year starter in 2022, recording 11.5 tackles for loss, six sacks three pass deflections, two fumbles recovered, and three forced fumbles while earning team defensive lineman of the year honors.

What Colby Wooden Does Well

Wooden is like a bull in a china shop when he pins his ears back as a pass-rusher. He brings violent intentions on contact, frequently attacking a blockers frame with a jolting punch and forcing them off balance. Wooden's play-strength and overall ability to rush with power and overwhelm a blocker physically will never be in question.

As a pass-rusher, Wooden is a bit too stiff and non-dynamic off the ball to consistently threaten offensive tackles. With that said, he does show an ability to create sacks and pressures off the edge by using his instincts and awareness for the ball, keeping his eyes on the ball throughout his entire rush and then winning inside with a spin move when quarterbacks step up.

Wooden's best work as a pass-rusher, though, comes as an interior rusher. He has shown the ability to win outside a guard's frame with a quick first step (compared to when he is on the edge) and fast and reactive hands to swipe blockers out of his frame. He closes quickly on targets for a bigger rusher and has the balance and agility to win by crossing a guard's face with quickness, too.

How Colby Wooden Would Fit With the Jaguars

It is hard to watch Wooden's tape and not be reminded of Dawuane Smoot when he was a prospect coming out of Illinois. Smoot didn't have elite bend or explosiveness, but he had a deep bag of tricks as a pass-rusher, could play the run, and could provide value both inside and outside as a pass-rusher.

It took Smoot a few years to develop, but he eventually turned into one of the Jaguars' most consistent pass-rushers and most important defensive linemen, recording 22.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over the last four seasons despite starting just 17 games. Wooden has the type of SEC experience and production after starting every game over the last three years to hit the ground running as an NFL pass-rusher, however, which could help him make a Smoot-like impact more immediately.

The Jaguars need more players who can take snaps on the edge on base downs after the loss of Key and Smoot, with K'Lavon Chaisson, De'Shaan Dixon and Jordan Smith combining for just 113 snaps last year. Wooden can do that on early downs before then sliding inside on passing downs, giving the Jaguars the same versatility they had with Smoot.

Verdict

If the Jaguars want a non-top 50 pass-rusher who can step in and help replace the inside/outside versatility that Arden Key and Dawuane Smoot brought, not many players in this class make more sense than Wooden.

He doesn't have the burst to consistently threaten tackles off the edge, but he offers a high enough floor as a run-defender and can legitimately slide inside and wreak havoc on nickel downs. He won't ever be a team's top rusher, but he is a solid addition to a rotation. He would be a solid third-round selection.

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