NextGen Stats unveiled a new Combine IQ metric that measures athleticism. The metric is on a scale of 1-99, with a “good” score in the 75 to 89 range, while elite athletic testers register a score of 90-99. Stewart received an 84 score, with a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and a 40-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-5, 267 pounds. Stewart ranked second among edge rushers behind only Arkansas edge rusher Landon Jackson (86).

On tape, Stewart uses excellent first-step explosiveness while unlocking his length to convert speed to power. He has the hip flexibility to sink and stun blockers with his hands to push the pocket and set the edge of the defense. The knock on Stewart is that he only had 4.5 sacks in his final season with the Aggies, while he needs to expand his pass-rush toolbox to develop a go-to move and counters.

Stewart is the type of traits-based prospect that, with the right coaching, say from a former linebacker-turned-head coach, can blossom into an impact pass-rusher in the NFL. It still feels like a reach for the Patriots to select Stewart at No. 4 overall, but he’s an obvious candidate if New England trades down into the 8-12 range in the first round.

5. Other Edge Rushers That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts

Moving down the board, the next edge rusher prospect worth discussing is James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee, who registered a 74 score in Combine IQ. Pearce didn’t perform as well in the jumps, so his score was slightly lower, with only a 31-inch vertical to gauge explosiveness. However, the Tennessee product put down the fastest 40-yard dash among edge rushers with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and a 1.56-second 10-yard split.

The Vols edge rusher is an interesting case. Some of the best draft pundits, like NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, don’t have Pearce going in the first round. The main reasons are that Pearce has great explosiveness, fluidity and a sturdy frame (6-5, 245), but lacks the nuance and instincts to win with more than raw athleticism. Pearce has first-round talent and was once viewed as a top prospect in this class but was sliding down the board. Maybe a strong showing at the combine will have his stock pick up steam again.

A few other standouts from Thursday night’s workouts were Arkansas’s Landon Jackson, who led all edge rushers with an 86 Combine IQ score. Jackson also had a 40.5-inch vertical at 6-6, 264 pounds. Jackson’s length to win with an effective long arm/bull rush and play strength and instincts to win as a run defender are standout traits on film. UCLA’s Femi Oladejo continues to have a fantastic pre-draft process. Oladejo had signature moments at the Senior Bowl and was impressive during position drills. Lastly, Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku posted the best agilities among the D-Line group, with a 6.94-second three-cone. That quickness and bend are all over Ezeiruaku’s tape. The BC product has serious juice to rush off the edge.

6. Other Defensive Line Prospects That Caught the Eye in Combine Workouts

With the strength of the draft being the depth along the defensive line class, it’s possible that the Patriots could wait until day two to address their needs in the trenches. For example, the Pats could select Hunter or LSU OT Will Campbell in the first round, knowing they can bolster their defensive line with plenty of talent available outside the first round.

The top testers among the DTs were all in the “good” range of Combine IQ’s metric: Ty Robinson (82), Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (81), Jared Harrison-Hunte (80), Darius Alexander (79), and CJ West (79). From an athletic testing and film perspective, Alexander is the most appealing player of the group. The Toledo product also had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, flashing his penetrating style from the three-technique position with an effective rip move and swim counter. Alexander is also a stout run defender on film, playing with good balance and pad level.

As for the IDLs who stood out during positional drills, Oregon DT Derrick Harmon and Ohio State’s Ty Hamilton were impressive. Both power-five D-Tackles were very efficient movers and showed good footwork and body control through the weave drill to be quick through the bags. Going slightly further down the board, Harmon’s Oregon teammate, Jamaree Caldwell, isn’t built to be a combine standout at 6-2, 332 pounds. But he was an average tester (62 score) and showed explosive movements during drill work to project him as a nimble nose tackle.