One of the points of consensus among fans and observers regarding the New York Giants is that they need to add to the defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Of course, opinions diverge from there and there’s a split on whether the Giants should pursue a one-gap penetrator or a wide-bodied defender who can control gaps. The good news is that this draft class has plenty of talented players to fit a wide variety of molds.
Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell (formerly of Houston), is of the latter variety. The 6-foot-2, 330 pounder is massively strong and excels in clogging up the middle of an offense. Could he fit what the Giants want to do, and could he possibly be a strong value pick?
Prospect: Jamaree Caldewell (90)
Games Watched
With Houston: vs. Texas Tech (2023)
With Oregon: vs. Boise State (2024), vs. Ohio State (2024), vs. Illinois (2024)
Measurables
Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football
Strengths
Best traits
Size
Play strength
Hand usage
Run defense
Competitive toughness
Jamaree Caldwell is a massive and powerful interior offensive lineman. Caldwell has the build to be a rock in the middle of his defense at 6-foot-2, 330 pounds. And while he doesn’t have long arms at 32 inches, he plays with good extension and is able to control blockers with relative ease.
He also has surprising short-area quickness and agility. Caldwell gets out of his stand very well for such a large man and while his range is (very) limited, he moves well within that range.
He has obvious thickness in his upper and lower halves, and plays with a very wide base which allows him to maximize his already impressive play strength. He’s a handful even for double teams, and not only controls them but can drive them back if they aren’t ready for his power. His play strength and hand usage allows him to make plays off of blockers and is a stout run defender who can shut down any gap for which he’s responsible.
Caldwell won’t be known as a pass rusher at the NFL level, but he isn’t useless on passing downs. He’s shown an improved understanding of when to disengage and get his hands up, which led to three passes defensed in 2024. Likewise, he is able to disrupt through collapsing the pocket, if not with his speed into the backfield. His power also allows him to occupy blockers and create rushing lanes for his linemates or blitzers.
Finally, Caldwell offers great competitive toughness, both in fighting through blocks and in pursuit. He has an unglamorous job, but plays with great effort whenever he’s on the field.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
Athleticism
Pass rush
Conditioning
Caldwell may surprise with his short-area quickness, but he’s a very limited athlete overall. That obviously impacts every area of his game and will also limit his use and ceiling at the NFL level.
While Caldwell has a solid initial burst, his play speed drops dramatically after his second step. He simply lacks the ability to stress offensive linemen with speed or finish his rushes if he wins initially. While he isn’t hopeless as a pass rusher, his lack of speed and burst limit his ability to use any kind of speed counter if blockers are able to match his power.
Likewise, he lacks much of a closing burst, which limits his tackle radius after shedding a blocker. And while Caldwell offers great hustle and effort in pursuit, his lack of speed means he won’t be running anyone down from behind unless they have nowhere to go.
There are also questions regarding his conditioning. Caldwell was frequently rotated off the field by both Houston and Oregon, and his play speed declined dramatically at the tail end of games.
Finally, Caldwell’s sheer size can be a bit of a double-edged sword as well. His hand usage is usually good and allows him to neutralize linemen’s blocks. However, his wide body presents a similarly large target for long-limbed offensive linemen. That can lead to problems, particularly when he’s forced to take on offensive tackles who can access his chest plate before he can get his hands on them.
Game Tape
(Caldwell is the Oregon nose tackle wearing number 90 and long black sleeves.)
Projection
Jamaree Caldwell projects as a rotational nose tackle at the NFL level.
What he does, he does well, however his limitations in the passing game will force him down draft boards. This may change due to the prevalence of two-deep coverage shells, but players who are primarily run stuffers have historically fallen in the draft.
Likewise, his exact draft stock will likely depend on the eye of the beholder. Teams that are looking for pure one-gap interior defenders will likely have Caldwell further down their boards, Teams that use more two-gapping or like to scheme pressure while the defensive line controls blockers, meanwhile, could have a higher value on his skill set.
Jamaree Caldwell might have to wait until Day 3 to hear his name called, but he should make an NFL roster and have an impact in some high-leverage situations.
Does he fit the Giants?
Possibly, depending on what they’re looking for in a defensive tackle
Final Word: A later Day 2 or early Day 3 pick