DJ Dale NFL Draft Scouting Report

IDL, Alabama Crimson Tide

DJ Dale is an experienced player, playing in more than 40 games throughout his collegiate career. Dale plays in a multiple-front Alabama defense that sometimes plays to strengths as a player but also puts him at disadvantage depending on his alignment.

Dale’s strengths as a player show best when he aligns in a gap and is allowed to attack upfield using his quick first step at the snap. Dale is able to effectively run twists and stunts and is able to bend the edges and turn around both guards and tackles to get penetration to sack the quarterback or make a play on the ball carrier. Dale also is effective when there is a called slant play and he has to shoot a gap. Dale has a quick first step and can quickly get into the gap and get penetration. Dale has a compact, strong frame that allows him to play with good leverage and become a difficult player for offensive linemen to stop once he gets into a gap, leaving them little surface area to be able to block. Dale’s frame also allows him to do a plus-level job of maintaining the point of attack against the run and being able to shed offensive linemen in one-on-one blocking situations. 

When Dale is placed in odd fonts, it appears that he is out of position. At Alabama, Dale has to play the nose tackle position where he had to take on double dreams and be a two-gapping player. That is not to his strengths. Dale is a scrappy player with high effort and motor, but it becomes apparent that he lacks the overall mass to play in this alignment and be dominant. Against the run, Dale will attempt to hold the point of attack against the double team but he eventually gives ground. As a pass rusher, this alignment prevents Dale from being able to quickly get into a gap and attack upfield. Overall, playing in an odd front appears to minimize Dale’s effectiveness as a player. 

Dale plays in a multiple-front scheme at Alabama but his physical skill set looks to be best utilized if he plays in an even front where he has to attack gaps and get upfield penetration to be a disruptive interior defensive lineman.  

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Plays with good initial leverage to anchor against the run 
• Quick first step  
• Good motor and effort 

Top Reasons For Concern: 

• Scheme-specific traits 
• Limited mass and length 
• Needs to develop pass-rush repertoire 

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 1”

Weight: 302 lbs

Arm Length: 32 7/8”

Hand Size: 9 3/4”

Athletic Testing (NFL Combine):

40-yard Dash: 5.26s

Vertical Jump: 25.5”

Broad Jump: 8′ 2”

Short-Shuttle: 4.80s

Three-Cone: 7.69s

Bench Reps: TBD

Ideal Role:  Starting DT 

Scheme Fit: 4-3 Scheme

TDN Consensus Grade: 71.50 /100 (Fifth-Round Value)

• Sanchez Grade:  71.50/100

Written By: Keith Sanchez 

Exposures: Texas (2022), Tennessee (2022), LSU (2022), Ole Miss (2022), Kansas State (2022)

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