From now until the 2024 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson.
NO.4 BRADYN SWINSON, EDGE, LSU (R-SENIOR)– 6035, 255 POUNDS
SHRINE BOWL PARTICIPANT
MEASUREMENTS
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Bradyn Swinson | 6035/255 | 9 7/8 | 33 3/8 | 81 1/4 |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| N/A | N/A | 4.33 | 7.13 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
THE GOOD
— Has the ideal height, size, and length you look for at the position
— Possesses good play strength and a strong bull rush
— Can bench press blockers backward with his strength and leg drive
— Mismatch for tight ends in the run game
— Has a diverse pass rush package with multiple moves in the toolbox
— Can win with speed off the edge as well as dip under blocks
— Impressive hand usage as a pass rusher to defeat opposing blockers
— Displays good pursuit of the football
— Will kick inside and blow past interior blockers with his athleticism
— Uses the cross chop, two-hand swipe, arm over/swim, and dip/rip or chop rip combo
— Goes for the football when he gets home to the passer
— Will command some double teams and tight end/running back chips
THE BAD
— Spatial awareness could use some work
— Motor seems to wear out quickly, causing him to become less effective
— Can get stuck on blocks and allow outside contain
— Feet can get narrow, leading to balance issues
— Can be a waist bender, dropping his head and leaning into blockers
— Pash rush plan needs to be more methodical
BIO
— Redshirt senior prospect from Douglasville, GA
— Anthropology major
— Three-star recruit according to Rivals
— Committed to the Oregon Ducks out of high school
— Wore #4 for his former Oregon teammate, Spencer Webb, who passed away in a rock climbing accident
— Played in seven games in 2020 as a true freshman and made three tackles and a pass deflection
— Played in 11 games in 2021 and made 24 tackles, with four being for a loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and two pass deflections
— Played in 12 games with no starts in 2022 and had eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss
— Transferred to LSU ahead of the 2023 season
— Started 1-of-12 games in 2023 and had 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles
— Started 12-of-13 games in 2024 and had 58 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three pass deflections
— Second-Team All-SEC (2024)
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Bradyn Swinson took that long route to get to the NFL, but the fifth-year LSU senior has made himself a quality prospect along the journey. Swinson started his career at Oregon and saw some success as a rotational player in 2022 before getting buried on the depth chart, opting for a change of scenery in Baton Rouge. In his second season with the Tigers, Swinson developed into a quality pass rusher, posting 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, along with double-digit quarterback hurries.
When you pop in the tape on Swinson, you see a big, long edge rusher that fits the mold of what teams are looking for on the outside. He has plenty of tools in his toolbox when it comes to pass rush moves, using his hands well, as you can see in the clips below of Swinson defeating opposing blockers with a dip/rip, two-hand swipe moves to clear the block to make his way to the quarterback for the pressure or the sack.
Swinson also has the play strength to convert speed to power, as you can see in the second clip after he forces the fumble in the first clip, bench-pressing the opposing tackle into the quarterback’s lap and finishing in his lap for the sack. Swinson uses that same play strength against tight ends against the run game on the edge, working right through them on his path to football, as you can see in the clip below against Alabama.
Swinson is a taller pass rusher, but he does have some bend and burst to get around the corner and put offensive tackles in a bind. Watch this rep against Alabama, where Swinson dips under the left tackle as he attempts to get around the corner, having the tackle bear-hug him for just a second. Swinson still nearly gets to the passer as he releases the football, contributing to the overthrow and the incomplete pass.
Swinson is dangerous on twists and stunts, having the speed and quickness to blow past guards and centers that can’t mirror him laterally. Watch this play against the Crimson Tide as Swinson starts in a standup position outside the right guard. On the snap, Swinson hits the two-hand swipe on the blocker, gets into the backfield, and fights pressure as the guard tries to push him out of the pocket. Swinson works back and wraps up QB Jalen Milroe, who gets corralled in the pocket for the sack.
While Swinson is a strong player for his size, he runs out of gas as the game goes on, which affects his play strength and stamina. He also can have his base get narrow at times, as we see in the clip below, where the tight end plants Swinson into the turf after getting his hands on Swinson’s shoulder pads, torquing him to the ground as Milroe keeps the ball and runs right where Swinson was at for the walk-in touchdown.
CONCLUSION
Bradyn Swinson is an intriguing prospect who didn’t produce at a high level until this past season but has all the tools and measurables you want in an edge rusher. He needs to play with better spatial awareness and better technique as he fatigues, but his hand usage as a pass rusher and his play strength as a run defender make him a tantalizing prospect to draft and develop into a potential future starter on the edge.
When coming up with a pro comp for Swinson, K’Lavon Chaisson comes to mind from the same school. He was a promising prospect who also had a breakout season for the Tigers, possessing the traits and athleticism to become a quality pass rusher in the league. Chaisson has been more of a journeyman after being a first-round pick in 2020. Still, I see Swinson carving out a strong role for himself in a rotational role before potentially becoming a starter as he develops more of the mental acumen needed to succeed in the NFL.
Projection: Day 2
Depot Draft Grade: 8.1 – Future Quality Starter (2nd Round)
Games Watched: vs Alabama (2024), at South Carolina (2024), vs Ole Miss (2024)
