Eku Leota NFL Draft Scouting Report

EDGE, Auburn Tigers

Eku Leota began and spent three seasons in the Big Ten with the Northwestern Wildcats. He operated as a rotational pass rusher for the majority of his career until this season. He started five games before suffering a torn pectoral. In his limited starts this season, Leota showcased the ability to consistently impact opposing quarterbacks.

Leota has accounted for 10 pressures and four sacks in five games. He is an active pass-rusher with a strong motor. I like that Leota does not stop after his initial move is shut down. Instead, he throws counter moves to get past his blocker. He has a good build and length to set the edge when defending the run game. His hand power to sufficient to soften edges and angles to create an easier path to the football. In addition, he possesses the quick burst to affect the outside arc of offensive tackles.

Leota is a former three-star recruit that finished as his high school’s all-time sack leader. Also, he played tight end, showing he’s a functional athlete. Leota projects as a rotational edge rusher/outside linebacker. He is capable of coming in on subpackages and assisting in generating pressure on obvious passing downs. He remains a raw pass-rusher with the tools to be highly effective and disruptive. His pass-rush plan and package must evolve to see the full fruit of his physical tools.

His development suffered due to his senior season being cut short by the injury. The more reps, the better as he can continue to refine his game. If Leota’s development track works out at the next level, he could be a valuable asset for a defensive pass rush package. Ideally, his tools give me hope to deploy him as a prominent wide-9 and NASCAR package player after a few years in the league.

Top Reasons to Buy In:

• Quick first step to corner offensive tackles
• A nice blend of size, length, and athleticism
• Functional play strength at the point of attack

Top Reasons For Concern:

• Lacks ideal bend around the edges
• Not a wide array of pass-rush moves
• Still raw from a technical standpoint

Size (NFL Combine):

Height: 6′ 3”

Weight: 252 lbs

Arm Length: 33 1/2”

Hand Size: 9 1/2”

Athletic Testing (source):

40-yard Dash: TBD

Vertical Jump: TBD

Broad Jump: TBD

Short-Shuttle: TBD

Three-Cone: TBD

Bench Reps: TBD 

Ideal Role: Outside linebacker

Scheme Fit: Odd-front 

TDN Consensus Grade: 76.00/100 (Third-Round Value)

• Parson Grade: 76.00/100

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: Missouri (2022), Penn State (2022), San Jose St. (2022), Mercer (2022)

Eku Leota NFL Draft Scouting Report. Add him to your big board here.