NFL Combine Review: DL Eddie Goldman

A national-best 12 Florida State Seminoles were invited to this year’s NFL Combine. While some guys — Jameis Winston, Mario Edwards, PJ Williams — should have no problem going in the first half of the draft. Others needed a good showing this past weekend in Indianapolis to help bolster their draft stock and ensure they would hear their name called in Chicago this Spring.

Let’s take a look at how all 12 Seminoles fared this weekend.

Name: Eddie Goldman
Position: DT
Height: 6-4
Weight: 336
Arms: 33 1/8″
Hands: 10 1/8″

NFL.com Grade: 6.12 (Should Become an Instant Starter)

ChopChat’s Notes: Eddie Goldman came in along with Mario Edwards Jr. and like his teammate of three years, made major impacts during his sophomore and junior season.

Florida State had plenty of problems on its defensive line last season– Goldman was not one of them. One of the few consistent bright spots, Goldman fought through injuries and turned in one of the most consistent seasons on the whole defense.

And people took notice. His head coach, Jimbo Fisher, raved about Goldman from the moment he stepped foot on campus. But by his junior year other team’s coaches were heaping on praise. Dave Doeren at NC State even went so far as to call Goldman the best defensive tackle in the country.

Goldman is not really a pass-rusher, he’s not going to create a ton of pressure from the middle, but he holds the point of attack, he’s strong against the run and he’s able to absorb a double-team to free up other pass-rushers.

Goldman could sneak into the back half of round one, but he’s more likely an early second rounder.

Combine Results:

40 Time: Did Not Run
Bench Press: Did Not Lift
Vert Jump: Did Not Jump
Broad Jump: Did Not Jump
Three-Cone Drill: Did Not Run
Shuttle: Did Not Run

What They’re saying:

Strengths:

"Carries broad shoulders and well-proportioned frame. Plays the run like a full-grown man. Outstanding power in upper body. Plays with good hip flexion. Explodes out of stance and into defenders with force and leverage. Violent hands that jar offensive linemen and force them into defensive posture. Able to shed blockers with hands or with clubbing arms and spring into ball carrier. Can two-gap at the point of attack and plays square throughout, leveraging gap when offenses try to block him on an angle. Bull-rusher with ability to invert pocket, ringing up six sacks over last two seasons."

Weaknesses:

"Scouts consider him incomplete as a player due to his lack of consistent pass rush. Marginal burst upfield. Square rusher who hasn’t learned to get to shoulder of the guard consistently yet. Rushes with leg stiffness and plays too tall when attacking. No pet move to create an opening. Scouts have questions about whether or not he can be an explosive penetrator in a 4-3 front."

NFL Comparison:

"Randy Starks"

Bottom Line:

"His power at the point of attack and ability to discard blockers and actually make plays rather than just eating space will have 3-4 teams very excited about their potential nose guard of the future. However, his lack of pass-rushing prowess could limit just how high he rises on draft boards."