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Brayden Thomas NFL Draft Profile
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Name Scouting ReportBrayden possesses strong upper body to be explosive and create turnovers as a tackler. He takes aggressive angles to the ball. He reads the quarterback to anticipate and is a candidate to play outside. Thomas gives effort between the tackles to find the ball and is willing to take on linemen. Brayden has good balance and short-area burst to stay on his feet through contact. He is a big, aggressive hitter who can lay the wood. Has good awareness to quickly locate the ball, keeping his eyes up and on point.
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Areas for ImprovementThomas attacks the line but needs work on stacking and shedding blocks. He'll add quality depth but must earn more than a backup/special teams role. He can be too hesitant when he doesn't find the ball immediately. He's a tweener who lacks the bulk and strength to be a thumper inside and isn't fast enough to stay on the weak side in the NFL. Thomas plays upright. He ducks his head and fails to wrap up at times. He is inconsistent in giving full effort to be the second man in on the play. He must learn to use hands to beat blocks.
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Brayden Thomas Career at SchoolBrayden Thomas was a two-time all-state defensive lineman for Bismarck High School, was part of two state semifinal teams with the Demons. As a freshman, he began his collegiate career at the University of Mary where he played in all 11 games as a true freshman in 2016. He registered 25 tackles including one for loss while recovering two fumbles. In 2017 he transferred to Minnesota State University Mankato and sat out the season as a redshirt. In his redshirt sophomore campaign he appeared in seven games and totaling six tackles and one pass breakup. He was named to the NSIC Fall All Academic Team. As a redshirt junior, Brayden was All Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference second team for Division II national runner up Minnesota State University Mankato. He started all 15 games and led the Mavericks with 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. His 21 tackles for loss were second most in school history and his 116 tackles for loss yardage were a school record. Thomas transferred to North Dakota State at the winter break after graduating from Minnesota State University Mankato, where the Mavericks had their 2020 fall season cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He played in all nine games during the NDSU's spring season (2020-21). He started the final three contests at defensive end. He ended the year with 25 total tackles including 3.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was credited with a pass breakup and had four quarterback hurries. Brayden returned to the Bison program with his fifth year of eligibility due to the Covid-19. He started 13 games at defensive end, missing two games against Northern Iowa and Illinois State with an elbow injury. He contributed with a single season team record of 49 sacks. He led the MVFC with 9.0 sacks and ranked second among league player with 0.69 sacks per game. He finished with 30 tackles and led the Bison with 14.5 tackles for loss. |
Brayden Thomas NFL Draft Player ProfileWith his degree in business administration and human resources long since finished (fall of 2020), the 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end dove deep into football this season, and as he has done academically, he aced the test. It'd be a fitting end to a unique, and winding story. Thomas began his career at the University of Mary in 2016, playing in every game for the Marauders as a true freshman. From there, he transferred to NSIC power Minnesota State-Mankato, where he played in the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship game, where he had a sack and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
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