DeAngelo

Malone

It’s clear the Tennessee Titans have been doing their homework on edge rushers ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. One of the most recent players they hosted at the position was Malone (6'3/243) who took a Top 30 visit. Malone has also visited teams like the Altanta Falcons, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts.

Malone (6'3/243) has a busy two weeks ahead leading into Draft Week. Following his visit to Atlanta, Malone is scheduled to visit the Colts, Texans and 49ers. Malone posted 11.5 sacks and 21.5 TFL last season. He posted a 9.3 RAS during pre-draft testing, blazing 4.53 40-yard dash.

Malone’s (6'3/243) RAS ranks 144th out of 1,479 defensive end prospects in the RAS system. After running a 4.53 40-yard dash, Malone also turned in solid vertical and broad jumps, coupled with good numbers in the agility drills. Last season at Western Kentucky, Malone totaled 11.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss while being named First-team CUSA and CUSA Defensive Player of the Year.

Malone (6'3"/243) ran a 4.53 (with wind, 4.58 against) had a 35.5 inch vertical and broad jumped 9'11". Those all put him solidly in the top half of DEs at the Combine. His agility scores were even better, with his short shuttle of 4.34 and three-cone of 7.04 up there with some of the best DE scores at the combine. Malone had a monster season in 2021, with 94 tackles (17.5 for loss) and eight sacks on his way to CUSA First-Team and CUSA defensive player of the year. Marry those results with the required NFL athleticism, and Malone could really be a steal in the later rounds of the draft.

Some of these decisions for Treash were likely very difficult. Naming Malone the top returner for the Hilltoppers likely wasn’t. He was awarded the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year for his work in 2019; picking up 11.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in a breakout junior campaign for WKU. “All in all, he was one of the 15 most valuable edge defenders last season,” writes Treash, “and one of the more underrated talents at the position.” If Malone has similar numbers in 2020, he’s going to soar up draft boards, even if his 6-foot-4, 230-pound size leaves a bit to be desired.