Aaron Graves

Draft Projection

Measurements

Athletic Testing

College Statistics

Strengths

• Possesses legitimate pass-rush ability from the interior with natural leverage and hand placement that creates consistent pressure up the middle
• Demonstrates exceptional motor and pursuit, chasing plays sideline-to-sideline with the relentlessness that Iowa's system demands from its defensive tackles
• Shows impressive strength at the point of attack, able to hold his ground against double teams while maintaining gap integrity
• Exhibits excellent hand technique and punch timing, using his wrestling background to gain leverage advantages in one-on-one battles
• Displays solid football intelligence, reading blocking schemes quickly and adjusting his rush lanes accordingly without getting washed out
• Brings versatility to rush both A and B gaps effectively, showing the lateral quickness to work different angles
• Maintains good pad level for his size, staying low through contact while generating power from his lower body
• Proves durable and reliable, starting 38 career games with consistent availability that NFL teams covet from interior defenders

Areas to Improve

• Lacks the elite first-step explosion that separates good interior rushers from dominant ones, sometimes arriving a half-step late
• Can be inconsistent finishing tackles in space, occasionally struggling to bring down elusive backs in open field situations
• Shows some limitations in lateral range, getting washed out of plays when offensive lines successfully create movement
• Needs to develop more pass-rush moves beyond his primary bull rush, lacking the repertoire to consistently win against quality guards
• At times appears to play too upright, losing leverage advantages and allowing linemen to get under his pads