Scouting Report for the 2025 NFL Draft: Jared Wilson

Scouting Report for the 2025 NFL Draft: Jared Wilson

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, one player who is expected to capture significant attention is Jared Wilson, a highly skilled and dynamic player with all the physical attributes that professional scouts crave. A standout at Georgia, Wilson has developed into one of the top prospects at his position and is poised to make a name for himself in the professional ranks.

In this scouting report, we will break down Jared Wilson’s skills, his strengths, and the areas of improvement that could impact his future at the next level. From his physical attributes to his on-field performance, Wilson has everything it takes to be a standout in the NFL. We’ll dive into his college career, analyze his key traits, and look at how he projects as an NFL player.

Player Overview:

• Name: Jared Wilson
• Position: Defensive Lineman
• School: University of Georgia
• Height: 6’5″
• Weight: 295 lbs
• Year: Redshirt Junior (2025 NFL Draft Eligible)
• Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
• High School: Atlanta High School
• Draft Projection: 1st to 2nd Round

Wilson’s background is steeped in athleticism. As a highly coveted recruit, Wilson was an All-American high school prospect who chose Georgia for its combination of strong development, winning tradition, and coaching excellence. Since stepping onto the college scene, he has rapidly developed into one of the most dominant and explosive defensive linemen in the SEC, with an impressive blend of size, strength, and quickness.

Strengths:

1. Size and Physicality: Standing at 6’5″ and weighing in at 295 pounds, Jared Wilson is a physical specimen. His tall, broad frame allows him to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. His combination of height and weight makes him a difficult matchup for offensive linemen. He is built to play inside, possibly as a 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle, but his versatility also makes him capable of playing on the edge when necessary. Wilson’s size allows him to absorb contact while still retaining the ability to shed blockers, which is key in NFL-style defenses.
2. Explosion off the Line of Scrimmage: One of Wilson’s most impressive qualities is his first step. His ability to explode off the line of scrimmage, especially against offensive tackles and guards, allows him to create immediate disruption. His initial burst is often the key to his success, as it forces offensive linemen to react quickly, often leading to mistakes. Whether it’s a pass-rush attempt or run defense, Wilson’s speed out of the gate helps him get in the backfield with speed and force. This is especially important for a defensive lineman trying to generate pressure and stop plays at the line of scrimmage.
3. Pass Rush Ability: Wilson has proven to be a force in terms of pressuring the quarterback. He possesses excellent hand usage and the ability to disengage from blockers quickly. His combination of strength and speed makes him a versatile rusher from both the interior and outside spots, allowing him to get consistent pressure against the quarterback. Wilson is not only capable of blowing past blockers with speed, but he also has the technical refinement needed to work around them with impressive footwork and leverage. His power moves, such as the bull rush, also force quarterbacks to step up into the pocket or throw off balance, which contributes to his success.
4. Motor and Effort: Wilson’s motor is one of the aspects that truly stands out. Unlike some players who may take plays off or fail to consistently give maximum effort, Wilson is always engaged. Whether it’s his relentless pursuit of the quarterback or his ability to chase down plays to the sideline, his motor never stops running. This high-effort attitude and refusal to give up on plays has been one of his most admired traits by scouts and coaches alike. It’s an intangible that translates well at the next level, where hustle and awareness are vital.
5. Versatility: Another strength that benefits Wilson is his versatility. While he projects as a defensive tackle, Wilson has shown that he can line up at both defensive end and defensive tackle in various defensive schemes. His ability to be moved around on the line is valuable for teams that run multiple fronts or like to disguise their pass rush. His ability to excel in multiple spots, including 3-technique and 5-technique, ensures he will be able to contribute to various defensive schemes in the NFL.
6. Run Defense: Wilson isn’t just a pass-rush specialist—he is also an excellent run defender. His combination of strength and quickness makes him an ideal candidate for stymieing running backs in the backfield. He is adept at setting the edge when lined up on the outside and can disengage from blockers to make tackles for a loss. His natural strength allows him to anchor against double-teams, and his quickness makes him a solid run defender in the trenches. At the NFL level, being able to stop the run is just as important as rushing the passer, and Wilson’s ability in this area will only enhance his stock.

Areas for Improvement:

1. Hand Placement and Technique: While Wilson has developed solid pass-rush moves and is explosive, his hand placement and technique at times need refinement. As he moves to the NFL, he will face bigger, more skilled offensive linemen who are quicker and more adept at countering a pass rush. He’ll need to improve his hand placement, particularly in terms of punching blockers and keeping his hands active to disengage. This is something that can be improved with coaching, but it’s a point that has been noted by scouts as a potential area for growth.
2. Change of Direction: While Wilson is quick off the line and can move in straight lines, his ability to change direction and make lateral movements can sometimes be limited. In the NFL, offensive linemen are often able to get their hands on defenders and force them to take more predictable routes to the quarterback or ball carrier. Wilson would benefit from increasing his lateral quickness, allowing him to be more effective when forced to redirect and chase plays from the backfield. Improved lateral agility would make him even more unpredictable and difficult for offensive linemen to handle.
3. Consistency and Playmaking: While Wilson is capable of dominant performances, there have been moments where his play lacks consistency. There are games where his impact is felt throughout, but there are also instances where he has been somewhat neutralized by savvy offensive linemen. As he prepares for the NFL, this inconsistency will need to be addressed. He must find ways to be more consistently disruptive throughout an entire game, whether that’s in terms of sack production, tackles for loss, or consistent pressure on the quarterback. In the NFL, consistent pressure is what makes defensive linemen elite.
4. Stamina: At times during longer drives, Wilson has appeared to show some fatigue. NFL games are longer, and while he has shown the ability to play every down with intensity, improving his conditioning will be critical to his success at the next level. As a defensive lineman, it’s important to maintain a high level of play throughout an entire game, and conditioning will be one of the key factors in determining how effective he can be in the pros.

NFL Projection:

Jared Wilson projects to be a first- or second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. His size, athleticism, and versatility make him an enticing prospect, and it is clear that he has the potential to be a day-one starter in the NFL. His ability to rush the passer, disrupt plays in the backfield, and stop the run makes him a coveted asset for NFL defenses looking for a player who can contribute both inside and outside.

Wilson’s upside is what makes him so appealing to NFL scouts. With the right coaching, there’s no reason he can’t develop into a premier pass rusher in the league. His versatility will allow teams to move him around, allowing him to exploit mismatches and disrupt offenses in multiple ways. Given his combination of size, strength, speed, and effort, Wilson has the potential to be a cornerstone player in the NFL for years to come.

Comparison to NFL Prospects:

Wilson’s blend of size and athleticism makes him comparable to some of the league’s top defensive linemen, including players like Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs and Javon Hargrave of the San Francisco 49ers. These players are known for their versatility along the defensive line, with the ability to both rush the passer and defend the run. While Wilson still has areas of his game to refine, his skill set puts him in a similar category in terms of potential.