In a deep EDGE class NFL Draft, can Eastern Michigan’s Jose Ramirez represent the Eagles at the 2023 NFL Draft? He’s been one of the team’s most productive defenders for two years on end, and he may just have what it takes to sustain that production in the NFL.
Jose Ramirez NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Eastern Michigan
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height/Weight: 6’2″, 253 pounds
Ramirez came out of high school all the way back in 2017, initially signing with the Arizona Wildcats out of Orlando, Florida. He enrolled early with the Wildcats, but ended up not seeing game action and ultimately took the JUCO route after his stint in the Power Five.
The stretch between 2017 and 2020 was an uncertain time for Ramirez, but he ultimately made the most of his opportunity when it came his way. At Riverside City, he made a name for himself as a weapon off the edge, amassing eight sacks and 44 tackles in 12 games.
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Ramirez was able to vault back to the FBS level with his success on the JUCO stage. That success led him to Eastern Michigan, where he only continued to rise up the ranks.
After getting acclimated once again in 2020, Ramirez emerged as a star defender in the MAC, putting up 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2021. In 2022, he took his game to another level entirely, recording 12 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss.
Ramirez paced his conference in 2022 and was one of the entire nation’s top defenders. The production speaks for itself and serves as an endorsement of Ramirez’s pro potential. But looking at his profile, does he have the traits to surprise evaluators and exceed his draft billing?
Jose Ramirez Scouting Report
Strengths
- Twitched-up rusher who can adjust attack angles quickly and load twitch into power.
- Has a good blend of natural leverage and proportional length with his frame.
- Possesses good explosiveness from wide alignments and can quickly stress blockers
- Flashes impressive hip flexibility at the apex and can dip under while churning legs.
- Has the spry lateral agility to stunt across gaps and exploit open spaces.
- Has shown he can drive back blockers with powerful long-arm moves.
- High-motor rusher who routinely works through contact and provides second effort.
- Can use his length to close out rushes with rip moves and swims.
Areas for Improvement
- Relatively undersized overall and doesn’t have the strength to deconstruct consistently.
- Even at his size, he visibly lacks elite initial burst and pursuit speed.
- Plays too far upright at contact and makes himself easier to gather.
- Can be more consistent channeling length and base to fully exert power.
- Hand placement can be inconsistent on initial strikes, limiting knock-back.
- With lacking mass and uneven leverage, can be easily displaced in the run game.
- Not the most flexible athlete at his size and has some torso stiffness.
Eastern Michigan EDGE Jose Ramirez Current Draft Projection
Ramirez grades out as a late-round prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Whether or not he earns a selection will depend on his offseason performance. A standout showing at the Shrine Bowl will help matters, and the one-on-one setting offers a chance for Ramirez to show what he does best.
Ramirez’s lacking size and mass naturally deflates his stock a bit. But within his mold, the 6’2″, 253-pound rusher does have good proportional length, which he can use to generate solid power. And when he’s on, Ramirez has the burst, bend, and hand strength to be a headache for opposing tackles.
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The top selling point with Ramirez, beyond his well-rounded pass-rushing framework, is his overall lateral agility and twitch. He’s an amped-up rusher who flourishes using his twitch and lateral agility to put stress on blockers and gain displacement before using his length to capitalize.
Without high-end play strength and mass, or over-arching elite traits, Ramirez’s early-down utility may be somewhat limited at the next level. Nevertheless, he has shown he can use his length to pry through blocks and hold outside gaps.
As a stand-up edge defender in odd alignments, Ramirez can be an ideal passing-down catalyst with some utility in run support. He may never become a starter, but in a league where pass-rushing rotations need depth and versatility, Ramirez can be a valuable rotational asset at a lighter Day 3 cost.