Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN NFL insider: T’Vondre Sweat has potential to be Vince Wilfork-type player at next level

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Suzanne Halliburton | Last updated 4/10/24

T’Vondre Sweat is just beginning his pro football journey. But as the former Texas Longhorn awaits the NFL draft, one analyst provided him some goals.

According to ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, Sweat, the large human with nimble feet, is giving off some Vince Wilfork vibes. So does that mean Sweat will be sporting some Super Bowl rings and a handful of Pro Bowls by the end of his career? Could be. But both Sweat and Wilfork, the former Patriots and Miami Hurricanes nose tackle, share the same kind of nose tackle game.

Tannenbaum wrote: “Sweat is 366 pounds and was unblockable at times during his final season at Texas and during this year’s Senior Bowl practices. While he might not have the range of Wilfork, he did have a 10-yard split of 1.8 seconds at the combine, showing his quickness.”

ESPN likened a number of rookies to prominent NFL players

ESPN, in trying to best tell this year’s NFL Draft story, polled some experts to explain some marquee players of this year’s rookie class to hardcore pro fans. The best way to do so can offer a comparison to players who have already put time into the NFL.

There were other comps besides T’Vondre Sweat to Vince Wilfork. Caleb Williams reminds ESPN’s Bill Connelly of Russell Wilson, presumably Wilson in his prime. Of course, Williams likely will be the top player selected in the NFL Draft. Wilson was a fourth-round gem.

Meanwhile, on defense, Jordan Reid likened UCLA’s edge rusher Laiatu Latu to Maxx Crosby and Florida State pass rusher Jared Verse reminds Matt Miller of Trey Hendrickson. You can read all of the story here.

T’Vondre Sweat arrested for DWI in Austin, Sunday

Let’s circle back to T’Vondre Sweat. He has a legal issue on his hands with the draft 15 days away. Back in Austin, police arrested him, then charged him with DWI. That’s a Class B misdemeanor in Texas. He was arrested just before the sun came up Sunday morning after he was involved in a car wreck. Sweat posted $3,000 bond and was released from jail Sunday afternoon. The arrest affidavit indicated Sweat had a blood alcohol content of .105. The legal limit in Texas is .08.

It remains to be seen whether T’Vondre Sweat will drop in the draft. Before the weekend, most mock drafts had the big nose tackle as a second or possibly third round pick. Some had talked of Sweat even sneaking into the first round if there was a run on defensive linemen.

After his release from jail, he headed to Nashville for a draft visit with the Titans. That’s according to NFL Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. He also has a visit set up with the Seattle Seahawks this week.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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