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, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Illinois defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.
No. 90 JAMES THOMPSON JR./DL/ILLINOIS – 6055, 308 POUNDS (REDSHIRT SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
James Thompson 6055/308 9 3/8 32 7968
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
5.02 N/A 4.78 7.73
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’2″ 28″ 36
THE GOOD
-Good size and power within his game
-Plays with good technique, taking on half-man against double teams; showed consistent ability to split and make plays
-Sound run defender that plays with good pad level and extension to ward off blockers and find the football
-Powerful pop in his initial punch, dealing blows to the blocker
-Has good eyes at the line of scrimmage to get hands into passing lanes
-Motor runs hot with Thompson; effort never an issue
-Experience playing up and down the line of scrimmage
THE BAD
-Severely limited as a pass rusher; not much of an arsenal to work with
-Came off the field often in obvious passing situations
-Leans too much on bull rush; hasn’t fully developed hand usage as a pass rusher
-On the older side for a prospect with some injury history
-Needs to add more weight to his frame to be a true 3-4 DE at the next level
STATS
-2025 stats: 41 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one pass breakup in 13 games
-Played in 41 games at Wisconsin across four seasons; finished with 50 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery with the Badgers
-Named All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2025 by conference coaches
INJURY HISTORY
-Missed 10 games in 2024 with a torn pectoral that required surgery in August; redshirted
BACKGROUND
-Former 3-star recruit coming out of high school
-Named an All-Ohio third-team player in 2019 as a senior
-Academic All-Big Ten every year, including at Illinois
-Transferred from Wisconsin to Illinois for his final season
-Graduated from Wisconsin before transferring; holds a degree in community & organizational development
-Pursued a master’s degree at Illinois in recreation, sport, & tourism
-Competed in the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Big men in the trenches on both sides of the football are becoming more valuable in today’s NFL. That bodes well for Illinois defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Though his production is solid, his versatility playing up and down the line of scrimmage, his power, and his size are all key factors that will get him drafted — and potentially even by the Steelers, too.
Thompson measured in at 6055, 310 pounds at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, and then later put on a buzzworthy show at the Illinois Pro Day. He’s also a Wisconsin product, spending the first five years of his collegiate career there.
He’s at his best defending the run, and that will get him plenty of looks in the NFL.
Thompson needs to add some weight to his frame to hold up as a 3-4 defensive end, not to mention to play on the interior. But he held up consistently against double teams in college, even splitting them to make plays against the run.
He’s good at attacking half-man in these instances, allowing him to win that initial matchup and then split the blockers, clearing himself to make run stops.
Ohio State tested him repeatedly during the 2025 season, and he came up with plays against the run multiple times.
Yes, he gives some ground initially, but he can give some ground, position himself well, and then split the blockers to make plays.
He consistently finishes at the point of contact, too, and you won’t see him miss many tackles.
Thompson uses his hands well as a run defender. His good initial punch delivers a blow to the blocker, and then he gains control, stacking and shedding to find the football.
His eyes and hands are synchronized, allowing him to make some plays on the interior.
Thompson’s motor runs hot, too.
He isn’t going to give up on any reps. He’ll play through the whistle and drain the tank repeatedly.
Thompson strains to make plays and will defend every blade of grass, much like he does here against USC.
This could have been a walk-in touchdown, but Thompson played with effort and delivered a goal-line blow, keeping the USC running back out of the end zone. Sure, the Trojans scored one play later, but that type of effort and intensity matters.
I am concerned with Thompson as a pass rusher. He doesn’t use his hands well and has a small arsenal of moves. As an older prospect, he still has some development to do there, which is concerning.
But some moments on tape are intriguing.
He has a good rip move against Tennessee in the bowl game to get in on half a sack. He has good power to run through blockers, and that effort also shows up.
Nice closing burst there, too, to finish off the play.
He flashed a nice swim move here against Ohio State, too, leading to pressure and flushing the quarterback out of the pocket.
When he’s dialed in, he’s a good rotational defensive lineman. Thompson can provide some third-down snaps when necessary. He needs more refinement with his hands, though.
CONCLUSION
James Thompson Jr.’s size and strength against the run are his key calling cards. He checks a lot of boxes NFL teams look for, and his versatility playing up and down the line of scrimmage will be invaluable in the NFL. I’d like to see him add just a bit more weight — maybe 10 pounds — to hold up better in the NFL.
Thompson can be a Day 1 contributor against the run, but he needs some time to work on his hand usage as a pass rusher and develop a better plan of attack rushing the passer. He reminds me a lot of another former Wisconsin defensive lineman, Isaiahh Loudermilk. He was a solid run defender, but didn’t offer much as a pass rusher.
NFL Projection: Mid-To-Late Day 3
Steelers Depot Grade: 6.3 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 6.0-6.8
Games Watched: Ohio State (2025), USC (2025), Tennessee (2025), Washington (2025)
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