Iowa football: 2019 NFL Draft preview of Anthony Nelson

Anthony Nelson is one of the Iowa football team’s four early entrants for the 2019 NFL Draft and the hardest to analyze. Here’s his draft profile.

Anthony Nelson is arguably the least “exciting” prospect of the Iowa football team’s four early entrants this season, and that may be working in his favor.

The Urbandale, Iowa native just continues to quietly go about his business and let his body of work speak for itself, and come draft time, whatever team that takes a flyer on the 6’7’’ defensive end will not be disappointed.

Reviews of Nelson, however, have been a mixed bag from analysts. For example, The Draft Network’s Trevor Sikkema doesn’t feel like Nelson has the agility or the necessary power for a man his size to make a contribution at the next level.

Bleacher Reports and Stick to Football co-host Connor Rogers, however, believes Nelson could be an impactful player at the next level, calling him his red-star player.

So which is it?

I would err more on the side of Rogers’ review of Nelson than Sikkema’s in this case, and that is not me being a homer. Yes, Nelson’s game isn’t perfect, but he wasn’t going to get any better at the college level. He doesn’t have the elite traits that jump out at you on film, but he has a high motor and high-level production to go along with some elite-level testing.

Here’s what the scouts are saying:

•  Limited burst and bend for an edge
•  Solid tackler
•  Intellectual player adept at reading blockers, plays, etc
•  Great at impacting plays even when beat. For example, if he isn’t getting to the quarterback, he gets his hands up
•  Good run defender

The Draft Networks’ Jon Ledyard summed up Nelson in this way:

"Even if Nelson never becomes a double-digit sack artist, which I don’t expect him to, he’s a valuable and safe mid-round addition who can bring impressive run defense, interior nickel rush ability and high character to an organization."

Here’s what the numbers say:

•  17th most sacks in the nation (9.5)
•  13.5 tackles for loss
•  2-year starter on the Iowa football team’s defensive line
•  Academic All-American
•  Second Team All-Big Ten
•  Seven measurables above the 82 percentile including 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and vertical jump

Projection:

• Nelson makes perfect sense for a blue-collar team like the New England Patriots, who also happen to have three picks in the third round and a need at the edge position. Considering the Patriots play a relatively traditional base 4-3 defense, Nelson could hear his name called with the 101st pick in the third round on day two of the NFL Draft.

With the 2019 NFL Draft beginning tomorrow, Nelson’s draft countdown begins soon, but unless a team shocks the world, we will not see Nelson’s name called until the third round and possibly the fourth.

Wherever he is inevitably drafted, that NFL team will be a better team for it.