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Three defensive linemen for the Redskins to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine

By Jacob Camenker

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: James Lynch #DL34 of the Baylor Bears speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: James Lynch #DL34 of the Baylor Bears speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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MORGANTOWN, WV – OCTOBER 25: James Lynch #93 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after a sack in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field on October 25, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV – OCTOBER 25: James Lynch #93 of the Baylor Bears celebrates after a sack in the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field on October 25, 2018 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

There were a number of reasons that Baylor was able to make a legitimate run at a Big 12 title last year, but a big part of it was their defense. And James Lynch was arguably their best player on that side of the ball.

Lynch, a big-bodied interior threat on the defensive line, totaled 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss for the Bears and frequently made splash plays for the squad. And with his 6-foot-4, 289-pound frame, he should be well-built to find success at the NFL level.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein actually compared Lynch to Matt Ioannidis in his pre-draft scouting report. Here’s what he had to say about Lynch’s skill set.

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"Active, powerful defensive lineman with some moldable upside still to be had. Teams who view him as an even front three-technique may not view his gaudy, high-impact production as translatable to the pros, but his snap quickness and power to displace at the point of attack are important traits for interior success. Lynch played in a team-oriented upfield scheme and flashed potential to handle read-and-react duties if asked to slide out to five-technique. He should come into the league as a scheme-independent, rotational defender with the tools to challenge as an eventual starter."

Zierlein hits on Lynch’s best traits: his power at the point of attack and overall quickness. He can shoot gaps but also fight through bigger offensive linemen up front and disrupt plays. Interior pressure is becoming more and more valuable because of the negative impact it has on quarterbacks, so having that skill could make Lynch a hot commodity.

The Redskins may not necessarily need Lynch but if he falls into their laps, it would be hard to pass up his production and upside. His testing at the combine will be important to his draft range, as some may view him as a positional tweener. If he shows good testing numbers, he could go early enough that the Redskins won’t target him. But if he’s average, maybe he’ll be available for them in the early part of Day 3. And that would at least make them think about targeting him.

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