2026 NFL DRAFT
PROSPECT PROFILE
DOMONIQUE ORANGE
DL, IOWA STATE 6-2, 325
Strengths
- Massive power at the POA to push linemen backwards
- Heavy hands with exceptional punch
- Fantastic anchor to absorb the blocks, hold the POA, and find the football
- High football IQ and awareness to read screens and misdirection plays
- Good get off at the snap to shoot gaps
- Displays a variety of plus techniques with a swim, club, and hump
- Can be effective from a 0-3 alignment in an odd or even front
- Plays with decent pad level most of the time using leverage to win the rep
- Very active motor to chase plays down from behind or laterally
Weaknesses
- Pad level consistency is a problem. He has stretches where he plays to upright immediately out of his stance losing the leverage battle
- Has a tendency to turn his shoulders trying to get skinny shooting gaps which make him very susceptible to getting blown out of the play by backside blockers
- Can be to eager to shoot gaps instead of anchoring and diagnosing which takes him out of the play naturally
- Does not shed or split double teams well
The “Big Citrus” is a DT whose initial calling card is power. He has heavy hands and a sturdy punch off the snap to stun linemen and has a quick first step to shoot gaps and force the action. He is at his best when he can deliver the first strike off the snap, absorb the counter, observe, and react to make plays at or behind the LOS. Orange also displays a natural feel and instinct for the position where he can read screens and misdirection plays, and react to them instead of being sucked in by the deception. The pass rush arsenal is still developing, but he does have a fantastic swim move that he uses to get into the backfield immediately off the snap. He has decent tracking speed to chase down ball carriers and QB from behind, so he has some tools to work with and refine as a rusher. He is not just a space eater on the interior. He also has some versatility along the defensive line, being effective anywhere from a 0-3 technique.
The biggest flaws in his game are his inconsistent pad level and his tendency to play with over aggression trying to shoot gaps immediately to be a disruptor instead of anchoring, shedding and making stops. This causes him to turn his shoulders and hips making him easy to block out of the play.
To start his career, I think Orange would be best suited as a rotational run stuffer who can develop into a larger role with more refinement to his game. His ability to snuff out screens, draws and misdirection plays shows there is meat on the bone to become a complete DT.
There is no chance Domonique Orange will be the selection at 1.22, because he is not dynamic enough, but he is absolutely a day two player. If the Chargers chose to wait to address the DT until day two, “The Big Citrus” would be a great addition to the DT room by adding his awareness and run stuffing ability. I would much prefer him on day two than adding a player of similar skill set in Lee Hunter in the first round.
These have all been great scouting reports Erick, thank you! Woods obviously makes the most the sense, but I think there’s a pretty decent chance he is gone by the time we would pick. If that is the case and they want to go DT, then its between Banks and McDonald. What I like about McDonald even though his pass rush has been limited to date, is that he always seems to be disruptive. Those types of players often get better at making an impact on the pass rush in the pros.
Banks is obviously more projection. He could be an amazing player if they can harness him. Seems like he was just a little lazy and lacked effort in college so its hard to predict that would change in the pros.
Thanks man. Glad you are enjoying it. McDonald is clearly the better player to me when you watch both him and banks. Like you said, he is a way more consistent disruptor and he plays with excellent pad level, so he is rarely out leveraged. He is not the pass rusher that Woods is, but he gets into the backfield enough to at least exert pressures, which helps the defense as a whole without the sack production. I am a firm believer that being in position consistently to make plays will eventually produce. Assuming that Oweh or another top pass rusher is added with Tuli, he will get plenty of opportunity to get his share of sacks collapsing the interior of the pocket. Banks might have better individual isolated reps, but he is not the machine that McDonald is every play.
And herein lies the skill of evaluation!
I liked McDonald’s tape considerably better on the whole than Banks’ but, after taking everything into account – including the ‘splash’ plays – I still have to give Banks a higher grade (even though it comes with a ‘boom or bust’ label).
When you’re that ridiculously athletic, and have some of the flashes on tape that Banks did, in a league with only a handful of guys who can dominate from the 3-tech, it’s hard not to think that pairing him with DL Coach Mike Elston is worth the risk v the “safe” McDonald pick.
Maybe if I liked McDonald more as a prospect it would be different. I thought he was rock solid, but actually I had a slightly higher grade on Tyliek Williams coming out last year who I at least thought was elite in one specific area (Run D).
McDonald, to me, is very good as a run defender, but not elite, and basically offers nothing as a pass rusher.
Tyliek had 62 career pressures at Ohio State (12 sacks) from 1,418 snaps. McDonald had 17 career pressures (2 sacks) from 695 snaps. That profile says to me that taking McDonald earlier than Pick 50 isn’t great value.
I hear you. It’s such a conundrum. Do you take the steady, but not flashy high floor production of McDonald or do you reach for the splashy, high ceiling of Banks. There is value in both TBH. Banks has the talent and skill to be an elite dominant player, but it will have to be coached out of him. McDonald comes “plug and play” at least from a consistent run defender.
Especially with premium picks I prefer the proven production over the traits and projection. Like a wide man once said, “you might never get rich without taking a major risk, but you’ll never go broke taking a profit.”