Name: Nate Orchard
College: Utah
Class: Senior
Position: Edge Rusher
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 251
Background/Character | Leadership: 9 | Experience: 9 | Off-the-Field: 10 |
| Mental Capacity: 8 | Mental Toughness: 8 | Durability: 9 |
A four-year contributor for the Utah program, Nate Orchard earned team captain status as a senior. He was lauded for his off-field impact within the community and seemed to be a quality student. Orchard has no documented major injuries and was able to play in 50 career games.
Final Grade: 8.83
Athleticism | Balance: 8 | C.O.D: 8 | Explosiveness: 8 |
| Flexibility: 7 | Coordination: 8 | Body Type: 9 |
As a pure pass rusher, Orchard is a solid athlete. He uses great burst off the line to get the offensive tackle off balance. Orchard has good length and a strong punch with his hands, allowing him to maneuver in small spaces well. He is not good or fluid in coverage, however, completely lacking the ability to be effective in drop back scenarios. Running backs will burn him with ease.
Final Grade: 8
Overall | Football IQ: 9 | Tackling: 7 | Motor: 8 |
| Aggressiveness: 8 | Initial Quicks: 8 | Stamina: 8 |
Orchard is very smart with how he uses his body to win. He understands angles and opportunities to get into the backfield well. He doesn't do a great job in space, as his aggressiveness will at times get the best of him. But he does stay active when he’s on the field. He played a majority, but not all of, Utah’s defensive snaps.
Final Grade: 8
Run Defense | Range: 8 | Pursuit: 7 | Positioning: 7 |
| Read/React: 8 | Block Shedding: 8 | Hole Clogging: 7 |
The area where Orchard struggles most is his ability to be a stout run defender. There are times where he is in the position to make the play and he’ll finish strong, but there are stretches where the offense can just run right at him for huge gains. Orchard has a strong upper body, but his lower body is an issue as he gets shoved downfield by more powerful run blockers. Effort and bulk can each be improved so he’s a better run defender.
Final Grade: 7.5
Pass Defense | Vision: 8 | Rip/Swim Rush: 8 | Bull Rush: 7 |
| Counter Rush: 7 | Edge Quickness: 8 | Vs. Doubles: 6 |
Orchard is a dangerous pass rusher because of his initial quickness. When he gets off the line well, he can set the blocker up for a few different moves. Orchard protects his chest effectively, giving him space to work with. His burst and speed then comes into play. He has an effective swim move, but only after he disengages. When he allows the blocker into his chest, the play is over. The NFL will be a tougher test for him because most guys are longer and stronger.
Final Grade: 7.33
| Player Comparison: | Melvin Ingram |
| Projected Draft Position: | 2nd Round |
| Best Scheme Fit: | 3-4 Edge |
| Injury History: | None |
| Career Accolades: | First-Team All-American in 2014 |
| Career Stats: | 186 tackles, 38.5 sacks, 8 FFs |
Final Analysis
Nate Orchard was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football as a senior, often using his great burst and hands to separate away from blockers. His production doesn't necessarily indicate dominance, though. Numerous sacks came against running backs or just bad tackle play.
Orchard shouldn't be faulted for that, as he is excellent when faced against running backs, but it’s going to be a big jump to NFL-quality left tackles. By putting Orchard in space as a 3-4 edge, he won’t have to create as much for himself, and he can focus on using his hands to just beat his blocker.
There were a lot of plays where Orchard just wasn't able to win off the snap, and he was a non-factor in the play. Due to this, he has upside to start, but doesn't seem like a major impact player full-time.
Final Grade: 7.80 - 3rd round value