(Photo by the Sun Sentinel/Getty Images)
Miami edge rusher Jaelan Phillips was impressive at his pro day today, as he put up incredible numbers. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Phillips ran an unofficial 4.56 in the 40-yard dash. Phillips is the complete package as an edge rusher and is projected to be a first-round pick in the draft.
According to Nick Farabaugh of Steelers Now, Phillips said that he has met with Mike Tomlin over Zoom and said he was a "great guy" and loved their call. Phillips also said that he watches T.J. Watt to really help his technique, including his run defense.
Phillips transferred from UCLA to Miami and had to sit out the 2019 season. In his lone year playing for the Hurricanes, he produced impressive numbers with 45 total tackles, 21 of them being solos, eight sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, one interception and three passes defended.
Below is a scouting report on Phillips by The Draft Network.
"A consensus 5-star recruit, Miami EDGE Jaelan Phillips played his first two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Miami where everything came together in 2020. Phillips was flashy at UCLA but played a modest amount of snaps across 11 games in two seasons. Ankle, wrist, and concussion issues limited his time on the field for UCLA before his move to Miami. Phillips’ performance in 2020 was exactly what the Bruins thought they were getting in the former prized recruit. A balanced defender, Phillips is a playmaker against the run and pass, where his exciting blend of size, length, power, technique, and athleticism make him a challenge for offenses to neutralize. Phillips is a versatile player that has experience playing with his hand in the dirt on the edge, rushing from interior alignments, and playing in space in a standup role—which makes him a fit for all teams in the NFL. The areas of concern for Phillips entering the NFL are playing with better pad level, developing consistency with his hand technique, and becoming more consistent reducing his surface area while establishing a half-man relationship with his opponents as a pass rusher. Phillips has all the makings of an impact defender at the next level, although a large sample size of high-level production in college would have been preferred."