Durant
Scouting Profile
Zane Durant is the most athletically interesting player at the bottom of this board and also the most usage-challenged. He aligned as a 1t at Penn State while playing under 290 pounds. His 9.20 RAS is legitimate and what he does with his first step and his hands shows real short-area ability. The problem is that there is no clear NFL position for him, and that usage question is the entire evaluation.
In an isolated matchup against Oregon he repeatedly dominated their starting center from a 1t alignment by generating consistent jolt at the point of contact. That ability to combine quickness and pop is what gives him a fighting chance inside. His shorter, quicker build allows him to slide underneath reach blocks and he shows good awareness of angles when working laterally. He uses his inside arm to resist lean from slanting linemen, keeping his chest and head clean to stay square to the ball. There is functional strength in his upper half that helps him survive in tight quarters despite his weight.
“His speed is immediately obvious — but what is impressive is how much of a punch he pairs with his explosive get-off.”
Concerns & Limitations
The mass issue is unavoidable. He is roughly 25 pounds lighter than the minimum for a true nose and his frame appears to be at or near its natural ceiling. That lack of bulk shows up immediately when asked to align at 3t where double teams are more frequent and more forceful; he can be blown off the ball and displaced from his gap. His lack of mass is not a development problem — it is a physical ceiling that coaching cannot move.
Despite the elite RAS and impressive get-off, there is limited pass rush upside at this stage. Nineteen pressures on the season with seven of those coming in a single game tells the story clearly. He wins early or he does not win at all, and there is no developed counter game to fall back on. The Senior Bowl Slide badge suggests his limitations became more apparent in the evaluation process rather than less so. The most logical projection — 4i slasher — is a genuinely narrow role that teams rarely allocate significant draft capital toward. Medium confidence reflects that his traits are real even if the ceiling is low.
Scheme Fit
Durant is a late Day 3 or priority free agent acquisition for a very specific type of scheme. The elite RAS and the Oregon performance are genuine — they belong on the tape. But the CF-D rating is honest: the Chargers do not have a clear role for a 288-pound interior defender who cannot anchor at nose or hold up at 3t against committed doubles.
Medium confidence in the grade reflects that his traits are real even at this floor level. A front that values movement, stunts and 4i slashing could carve out a specialized role for him. The Senior Bowl Slide suggests the league at large is landing on the same conclusion: interesting athletically, difficult to project positionally. Worth monitoring as a late investment if the usage question finds a creative answer.
