Colby Wooden NFL Draft Scouting Report

IDL, Auburn Tigers

Colby Wooden was listed as a top-30 player at his position and a consensus 4-star recruit coming out of high school. Wooden has been a starter for Auburn’s defense for three straight seasons. He has been moved around from defensive end to defensive tackle, which speaks to his versatility. His production has been consistent as a rusher with 17 sacks in three seasons. 

Wooden’s frame stands out as he battles in the interior trenches. He is a solid run defender with the potential to be greater. Currently, his full-body power works well to absorb contact versus the run and anchor down. Wooden has a strong push-pull move to displace blockers to free his pathway to the ball carrier. The combination of punch power and arm length allows him to soften those angles and maintain separation during one-on-one sequences. As a pass rusher, Wooden flashes dominance. He has added more rush moves to his repertoire to effectively and quickly defeat blocks to flash his colors in the face of quarterbacks. He has the skill set to collapse the pocket and speed up the quarterback’s process. 

Wooden plays with inconsistent pad level at times. Being 6-foot-5, natural leverage is not in his advantage but popping straight up at the snap does not help. This creates more work for Wooden to defeat blockers that have their hands set underneath his pads. His motor versus the run is a little hit or miss right now. This stems from inconsistent coaching while at Auburn—three different coaches and points of emphasis during his playing career. Consistent coaching at the next level will help Wooden greatly. His hand placement can be improved to create more efficient reps versus both the run and pass. 

Overall, Wooden has the making of a highly-productive and impactful defensive lineman. His blend of size and strength at the point of attack allows him to play on run downs. The developmental upside as a pass rusher and pocket-collapser is tantalizing. Being asked to play at a consistent rate with technique, leveraging, etc will help as well. Wooden has the chance to be a three-down defensive lineman that teams will love to have. 

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Great blend of size, power, and length
• Pass-rush upside
• Anchor

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Consistency
• Pad level
• Hand placement

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 4”

Weight: 273 lbs

Arm Length: 33 3/4”

Hand Size: 10 3/8”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 4.79s

Vertical Jump: TBD

Broad Jump: 9′ 7”

Short-Shuttle: 4.52s

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: 23 reps

Ideal Role: 4i-technique interior defensive lineman

Scheme Fit: Odd front

TDN Consensus Grade: 81.00/100 (Second-Round Value)

• Parson Grade: 81.00/100

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Alabama (2022), Missouri (2022), Ole Miss (2022), Georgia (2022)

Colby Wooden NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.