Dom Nichols DE/EDGE Michigan |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Needs more mass at 245 pounds to hold up against double teams and drive blocks
• Discipline lapses, with two penalties this fall, including a facemask on Oklahoma's touchdown drive
• Ordinary straight-line speed, so he rarely bends and flattens on wide rushes
• Tackling has slipped as a starter, with two misses against Oklahoma and another against Iowa

Scouting Report: Summary

Nichols waited two years for his chance at Michigan, and he has made the most of it as a first-year starter. He gets off the ball quickly, uses his long frame to reach the tackle's edge before the blocker is set, and plays with constant effort. That combination made him the most disruptive player on the field in his first start against Western Michigan, when he made nine tackles and 1.5 sacks, and he kept Oklahoma's quarterback under duress throughout the 17-10 win a week later. He can also drop into coverage, a role he played as a reserve last season, which adds to his value in a multiple front.

However, his body is a long way from finished. Weighing 245 pounds, he lacks the mass of an every-down end, and his tackling has been loose as a starter, with two misses against Oklahoma and another against Iowa. He has only average speed, so winning wide around the arc will not be his calling card, and his rush plan is still built on effort and get-off more than a set of counters. He will also have to decide whether to leave after only a single season starting.

Overall, Nichols is an ascending, high-effort edge rusher with length and a quick first step. He projects as a fourth-round defensive end who brings immediate value as a sub-package rusher and special teamer, and if he adds 15 pounds and a reliable counter, a starting job is within reach.