From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on LSU EDGE Jack Pyburn.
No. 44 JACK PYBURN/LB LSU – 6040, 258 POUNDS (SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Jack Pyburn 6040/258 10″ 30 7/8″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Well-built frame in both halves
– Good play strength; capable of displacing blockers
– Good punch placement
– Sets edge well; good assignment discipline
– Great mental processing
– Consistent leverage and pad level
– Decent short-area burst
– Very high motor
THE BAD
– Lack of arm length will be an issue in NFL
– Stiff hips hinder changing direction
– Doesn’t break feet down in the backfield leaving him prone to whiffs
– Lacks any consistent counter moves
– Athletic ability is just adequate overall
STATS
– Career: 132 tackles (10.5 TFL), three sacks, 1 INT, 1 PD, 1 FF
– 2025 (at LSU): 52 tackles (5.5 TFL), 2 sacks, 1 PD in 12 games
– 2024 (at Florida): 60 tackles, (4 TFL), 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF in 12 games
– Career snaps: 1,060 on defense, 57 on special teams (6 units)
– 6 career ST tackles, 4 misses
– Pro Football Focus: No. 209 ranked EDGE in 2025 (No. 17 run defender, No. 519 pass rusher)
– PFF: 43 total pressures (34 in 2025), 18 missed tackles (11 in 2025)
INJURY HISTORY
– Torn ACL (left knee) in early November 2023
BIO
– Age not listed
– Three-star recruit out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla.
– Spent first three seasons at Florida before transferring to LSU in 2025
– Chose LSU in transfer portal over Texas A&M
– High school wrestler
– 31-0 as a senior in wrestling; won Region 1-1A title at 285-pound weight class
– Woke up at 3:45AM in HS to get daily 2-plus hour lift in
– Drinks two gallons of water per day
– Moved from ILB in HS to EDGE in college
– Does Yin Yoga for tendon and ligament care
– Accepted Senior Bowl invite, but did not report
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Pyburn is a high effort player, and clearly very strong. I wish he had participated in more drills at the Combine to see exact numbers, but I’m quite certain he would have put up eye-popping numbers on the bench press. His long-arm and solid-punch placement are the main ways he wins both against the run and pass. He knows how to create leverage with his pad level, strong base, and long arm.
He is disciplined with his assignments and sets the edge well. Again, with the use of that long arm. He does a nice job keeping his outside arm free.
Unfortunately for Pyburn, the main way he wins is going to be difficult to accomplish in the NFL. His short arms will make it hard to land that long arm. This clip is my biggest fear for him at the NFL level, getting completely controlled by superior length.
With the long arm, or with a two-hand strike and good leg drive, Pyburn has a nice bull rush. He can displace blockers back into the pocket pretty easily, even much larger players than him.
His mental processing is very good overall. This cutup shows two examples. In the first, he sniffs out a screen while he is twisting on a stunt and immediately makes the tackle. In the second, he wrong arms a pulling blocker to close off the intended hole.
Pyburn doesn’t have much in the way of counter moves and there are legitimate questions about his overall athleticism, but I was very intrigued by this play in particular. Look at his ankle flexion and shin angle while rushing around the edge. He pivots back inside with a path to the QB. That’s impressive flexibility and can be developed to give him more pass-rush options.
CONCLUSION
Pyburn finally rounded into form in 2025 as a pass rusher with almost 80 percent of his career pressures in his senior year. For now, he is a plus run defender with functional strength that will translate just fine to the NFL. The biggest issue is his lack of length and how that might limit the good parts of his game. He needs to develop better counter moves off his power, and he might need to make his money on special teams or a practice squad at first.
I wouldn’t necessarily label him a sleeper, but there are some traits that are really attractive, and the recent trend toward rushing attacks in the NFL bodes well for his desirability. He also profiles as somebody who is going to outwork everybody around him, which definitely means something.
He reminds me of a sawed-off Anthony Chickillo.
NFL Projection: Late Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 6.2 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 5.9-7.0
Games Watched: vs Texas A&M (2025), at Alabama (2025), at Clemson (2025), at Mississippi State (2024)
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