College: Minnesota
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 318 pounds
Positives
Pass Rush: Hageman can leave a quarterback battered and bruised after four quarters. Hageman possesses the strength and drive to run guards and centers back to the quarterback, leaving a quarterback with nowhere to step up to. Aside from that, he has a vicious swim move that lets him leave offensive linemen in the dust as he brings the quarterback to the ground.
Athleticism: One thing that sets Hageman apart from a lot of the other defensive tackles in the draft is how athletic he is, especially with how big he is. He can get up there and swat passes and block kicks, or run a play down and make the tackle 15+ yards downfield. He’s very quick, and a terror for guards. Hageman has the speed and quickness to match his raw power and that makes him a nightmare for offensive coordinators and lineman alike.
Strength: Long arms, and a strong upper body let Hageman stack and shed lineman at will, they also help him drive through them. Hageman can absolutely destroy a pocket by driving his lineman through it. Although his strength is great in the passing game, it’s really evident in the running game as he destroys running lanes, and leave a running back improvising.
Negatives
Run Defense: My biggest and practically only problem with Hageman is his run defense. It often seems like he’s going for the quarterback on every play and can leave him behind the back before he realizes it. In 2012 Hageman struggled mightily in the run game as he was often turned away from the play and left to watch as the running back cruises downfield. Although this problem wasn’t nearly as bad in the 2013 season, it’s still something to watch.
NFL Comparison: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
Not to say Hageman is on that level right now, because very few are, but Hageman has that capability. Suh is the big interior rusher that teams fear and Hageman can bring that same level to teams this year.
Draft Outlook
Hageman is virtually a lock to go in the first round. He’s right up there with all the top defensive tackle prospects and these days teams are starting to realize interior pressure is greater than outside pressure. Many of the top defensive tackle prospects differ in several ways, this will allow Hageman to stand out more. Would not be surprised if Hageman ends up a top 20 pick this coming May.
Best Fits
Teams that need help creating interior pressure like the Giants, or the Falcons could really use Hageman’s talents. The Giants will need help as the NFC East throws the ball a lot. The Falcons could really use his help. For the last several years their one and only good pass rusher was John Abraham, and since the released him last offseason the Falcons struggled to get to the quarterback at all. The Falcons ended up tied for third in sacks as a team last year and could really use an upgrade on the interior of their defensive line.