The Indianapolis Colts began Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft adding depth to the defensive side of the ball.
After landing Penn State star tight end Tyler Warren at No. 14 overall Thursday night, the Colts turned around and gave new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo some more depth to work with by selecting Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau with the No. 45 overall pick.
Regarded as a high-floor prospect, Tuimoloau had a strong 2024 season with the Buckeyes, recording 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss across 16 games (all starts).
Here's what the NFL draft scouting reports said about Tuimoloau ahead of the draft:
JT Tuimoloau scouting report
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide):
Brugler: "Overall, Tuimoloau's college tape is more good than exceptional, but he is competitive, skilled and doesn't have major deficiencies that would keep him from being a dependable edge presence in the NFL. He is one of the most well-rounded defensive prospects in the class."
Zierlein: "Rugged edge defender with the size, length and toughness to play up or down in hybrid fronts. Tuimoloau plays to his size. His game revolves around power and force. He uses well-timed strikes and good length to stay separated and shed the block cleanly. He plays hard but has average pursuit quickness outside the box and trouble holding his ground against drive blockers in-line. Tuimoloau's power rush helped him tear through the expanded College Football Playoff, with 6.5 sacks over four games, but his rush plan and hand work need refinement to maintain the momentum he built as a rusher during the 2024 season. He’s unlikely to become a star but his traits and demeanor fit the profile of a good NFL starter."
Parson: "JT Tuimoloau projects well as a traditional hand-in-the-ground defensive end in even fronts. He has great size and can be a good run defender with his strength and physicality at the point of attack. Setting the edge is fairly easy for him, and he can get off blocks to make plays against the rushing attack."
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
Cummings: "Without great functional bend, Tuimoloau needs a heightened degree of technical refinement to succeed, and right now, he doesn’t quite have that, either. There are flashes of high-level hand usage and synergy on his tape, but his placement, timing, and overall pass-rushing plan are inconsistent.
It’s refreshing, at the very least, that Tuimoloau has showcased the capacity to stack rushing moves and execute successful counters. But until he becomes a truly consistent technician on the attack, he’ll be a tools-rich developmental Day 2 player with limitations that stem from his lack of bend."
PFF: "Tuimoloau presents a good floor for an edge rusher in a 4-3 defensive front. His pass-rush win percentage has been average over the last two years with quite a few clean-up sacks on his stat sheet, but he improved in his true pass-rush win areas in 2024. He is a good Day 2 prospect to bet on because you'll get a spot starting/rotational floor out of him."