NFL Draft Profile: Jarron Gilbert

With many players on the defensive line (Seymour, Green, Wilfork, Smith) in the last year of their contract, the Pats probably will look to draft a defensive lineman for the future. One such player is San Jose State’s Jarron Gilbert, who would play DE in a 3-4. He visits the Pats on Monday (April 13th) at Gillette among his pre-draft trips. Gilbert is projected to go anywhere from the late first-round until the late second-round. It should be noted though that his stock has been increasing lately, making it unlikely he will be available in the late second-round. If the Pats want to take Gilbert, they probably will have to take him with one of their first three picks. Still, #23 seems like a bit of stretch, especially considering their need for linebackers. However, they run the risk of another team selecting Gilbert if they wait until #34 or especially #47. They could make a trade with another team, moving down from #34 to around #40, or, in the other direction, moving up from #47 to around #40.

Gilbert came on strong in his senior year, picking up 51 tackles (36 solo and 22 tackles for a loss) and 9 sacks. He was the WAC co-defensive player of the year in 2008. At 6’5’’, Gilbert possesses long arms and great explosiveness. He has terrific speed for a defensive lineman (4.76 40) and is agile, allowing him to quickly change directions. He has a great first step and gets up field quickly. He has good football instincts, often allowing him to get an early jump on the snap, and sheds blocks well. Gilbert played offensive tackle in high school, switching to defense line in college. He really improved in college, but still has enormous potential. Concerns abound about his strength and size to play a 3-4 DE though and I question whether he could two-gap. His effort can be inconsistent at times and he does not possess great mental toughness. Gilbert nonetheless remains a great prospect and, with a year to be brought along, could be a good player in the future.

Here is a video that shows Gilbert’s athleticism: