With preseason comparisons like Quinnen Williams, there was a lot of early hype on Christian Barmore. Although his regular season play did not live up to its expectations, Barmore demonstrated why the comparisons were valid in the bowl games and in the championship. That development thrusts him into the top interior defensive line spot without hesitation. There is a lot to like when the tape is on. This is one of the worst interior defensive line classes in recent memory. This might lead to some increased demand to secure one of the few day-one starters. Will the demand be warranted? Will Barmore flourish into a star on the interior? Let’s find out.
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Christian Barmore
Jersey: #58
Position: Interior Defensive Line
School: Alabama
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 310 lbs
Run Defense (4.75/10)
This was a surprise. Barmore has very little impact in the run game. His push is negligible, and there is little done to shed blocks. This will heavily limit his potential as a nose tackle, but that should not be his role in the first place. There are some plays that show the tools to develop into a good run defender. The issue is that those tools are seldom found. Given his lack of experience, this could easily be mitigated. The ceiling is sky high on Barmore.
Note: 5.0 is average, 9.0 is elite.
Pass Rush (8.0/10)
Wow. Barmore has quite the ability to rush the passer. His score is a nine for talent but is dropped to an eight for inconsistency. Barmore has some polished moves and he never gives up. His legs keep churning and he continues to rip through linemen to get to the quarterback. There is a major reason why teams double and triple-team him. A few more great attributes are that Barmore has a consistent push on linemen and that he puts his hand up in passing lanes when stuffed. This allows the Alabama product to have an impact on the play even when the line succeeds. If his consistency is improved, Barmore could have Fletcher Cox potential.
Length (7.5/10)
Barmore measured out at 34 ⅝’’ arms (which is 91st percentile). His score once again will drop due to inconsistency. In pass rush, he extends his arms to gain leverage on linemen. That is a huge plus that few interior defensive linemen have. In the run game, Barmore is inconsistent in using his length, especially in zone blocking. One great usage of length for the Alabama product is that he always uses his full length to tackle. That greatly increases his tackling radius.
Technique (7.0/10)
Barmore lacks a full set of pass-rush moves, but his moves are polished. The swim move and rip both are executed at a high level. If Barmore continues to develop his technique and open up a larger tool box, he could be extremely dangerous. Given his lack of experience, this score is a major asset to a team that can take time to develop him further.
Tackling (7.5/10)
Barmore certainly is a solid tackler. He uses his full length to make every tackle. That ensures a larger tackle radius. Given his enormous arms, his tackling radius is among some of the best. In terms of form, Barmore does not tackle high, which is a common criticism of Alabama defenders. That is another huge plus. There is a lot to like here, but Barmore certainly could improve the authority that comes with his tackling.
IQ (6.5/10)
Barmore has solid timing overall. He has solid awareness of weaknesses in pass protection, yet he is not nearly as mentally polished in the run game. The inconsistencies highlight this. If Barmore can slow the game down a bit further, he has top-three potential at his position in the NFL. Having only two years of experience, this score is extremely promising.
Athleticism (9.0/10)
In terms of raw athleticism, Barmore is elite. His tested speed (4.93-second 40-yard dash which is in the 73rd percentile) does not demonstrate his play speed. Barmore plays at 4.7 speed easily. That is just in terms of straight-line speed. The explosiveness is off the charts. The Alabama product plays so smoothly and quickly that it is hard to say that he plays on the interior. Barmore can certainly play edge with the athleticism he displays play-in and play-out.
Power or Skill at the Point of Attack (7.5/10)
Barmore consistently drives blockers back. He knows how to transfer speed to power, but there are some reps that show some inconsistencies. The sky’s the limit here. Barmore did not test bench press at his pro day, but it is apparent that there is some serious power generated at the point of attack. Any team should dream of having the Alabama product on their roster. If the inconsistencies disappear, Barmore is worth a top-15 pick.
Versatility (8.25/10)
Barmore is extremely versatile. His playstyle and run-game impact limit his upside as a nose tackle, but he fits every other role on the defensive line in both 3-4 and 4-3 (besides outside linebacker in the 3-4). The burst, power, and aggressiveness will translate into any defensive scheme.
Competitive Toughness (5/5)
Barmore fights every down like it is his last. Even the way he tracks down the ball carrier is admirable.
Injury (3.75/5)
Barmore is noted as having a mid-season knee injury and an offseason injury that slowed his production at the start of 2020.
Player Summary
The initial hunch was that Barmore was a bunch of fake hype due to the rest of the class being mediocre at best. Luckily for the NFL, the hype is warranted. Given his age and athleticism alone, heshould be taken in the first round. When combined with the borderline elite pass-rush ability, a top-15 selection would not be too surprising. One could only hope that this becomes more consistent.
If coaching leads to more consistency, Barmore could be a perennial pro bowler. People forget how young he is. As a redshirt sophomore, he had only two years of actual playing while he had one to sit. That is a minute amount of time to develop. In short, the ceiling is through the roof for Barmore, and it would not be surprising if he snags an all-pro selection one day as the greats at his position continue to age.
Final Grade (74.75/100): Top 20
Player Comp: Cameron Heyward
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