*Jachai Polite – Noteworthy
Previewing the 2019 NFL Combine: Second Day (Future) Starter: Jachai Polite, Florida: The 2019 NFL draft features a rare bounty of pass rushers with talent coming in all shapes and sizes. That includes Polite, who – not to be rude or anything – struggled with his weight early on at Florida before committing to his craft as a junior and enjoying a breakout campaign as one of the nation’s most feared edge rushers. Starting all 13 games as a stand-up edge rusher in 2018 after previously seeing action as an undersized defensive tackle, Polite exploded for 45 tackles, including 19.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.
Polite was hardly that when it came to taking the ball away from opponents, leading the nation and tying the Florida record with six forced fumbles in 2018, including one in the Gators’ Peach Bowl win over Michigan. While he lacks ideal size and therefore requires a real plan as to what an NFL team wants to do with him, Polite’s frame, suddenness and grit remind me of former Indianapolis Colts’ great Robert Mathis (6-2, 245), warranting top 40 consideration even in a draft blessed with several more traditionally-built rush linebackers. – Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com