Brandon Dorlus NFL Draft Scouting Report

Size:

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 290 lbs

Accomplishments

Second Team All-Pac-12 (2022) • Coaches’ Pac-12 All-Conference (2022) • Three-star recruit

“Brandon Dolrus is a versatile defensive lineman who is a natural pass rusher with length, body control, and quickness but needs to get stronger at the point of attack to consistently impact the game in both phases.”

Strengths:

• Length
• Quickness
• Body Control

Concerns:

• Tweener
• Power at the point of attack
• Finish

In-Play Film Analysis:

Brandon Dorlus is a player who has flown under the radar for the Ducks’ defense, but he has been one of the most consistent and productive players for the unit over the last few seasons. A versatile player, Dorlus has played up and down the line of scrimmage for the Ducks, playing multiple positions ranging from 3-tech, 5-tech, 4i, and stand-up EDGE. 

Dorlus is an excellent athlete with good overall movement skills. He has good length and a strong upper body, although his lower body could use some additional mass. Dorlus is a penetrating defensive lineman who is best when rushing the passer. He flashes very good initial quickness off the ball and can win edges with his first step. The best thing about Dorlus is his ability to win with his hands and the variety of rush moves he has in his toolbox. He has excellent body control and can bend and flatten to the quarterback when he is given a gap. He is a slippery rusher who can uncover when working upfield and has lateral agility to make offensive linemen miss with their hands. 

In the run game, Dorlus is more finesse than physical. He is more effective when he is able to swim over linemen or shoot gaps to the backfield rather than putting his hat on a hat and trying to win with power at the point of attack. He flashes good range with good foot quickness when pursuing the ball carrier. 

The main concerns with Dorlus are his ability to hold up in the running game and his lack of a true home at the next level. He lacks the power to consistently set the edge and too easily gets driven back versus double teams. Additionally, while Oregon uses him primarily as an edge rusher, he lacks the explosiveness and athleticism to consistently win off the edge at the next level and therefore I believe his best role will be inside playing in a single-gap defense where he is asked to get upfield—something he wasn’t asked to do at Oregon. While I love Dorlus’ ability as an interior rusher with his blend of length, quickness, and body control, I do have questions about how he translates to the NFL with his run-defense ability. 

Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter

Written By: Brentley Weissman

Last Updated: June 1, 2023

Exposures: UCLA (2022), Georgia (2022), Washington (2022) 

Brandon Dorlus’ NFL Draft Scouting Report will be updated by Draft Network throughout the season. Add him to your big board here.