NFL Draft 2021: 3 biggest potential late-round DL steals

3. Cameron Sample, DE, Tulane

Cameron Sample had a solid career at Tulane. In 41 games over the course of four seasons for the Green Wave, Sample accounted for 162 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Coming from a good AAC league, he has experience and big and meaningful national games. In fact, one of his best games came at the Horse Shoe against Ohio State, where he had 9 tackles, 2.5 for loss and a sack.

Sample is one of those guys that you can easily argue that if he played at a bigger school in a Power Five conference, he likely would be higher than a day three prospect. He was only a two star prospect coming out of high school, the 2590th ranked prospect to be exact, but still has his name in the hat as a potential impact player at the next level.

At 6-foot-3 and 274 pounds, he would definitely benefit from getting bigger. Adding strength would go a long way to offset some of his issues of being overmatched by opponents, particularly right off the snap. He’s also been burned coming off the edge by rushers that he simply doesn’t have the speed to catch.

Still, Sample’s pure power will work as a benefit to him. In his time at Tulane, he showed he can play pretty much anywhere on the defensive line. That versatility will go a long way with scouts willing to take a chance. He’s good against both the rush as well as pass. He improved a good amount in both areas in 2020.

Sample could very will become a three down impact player given his ability against the run, but as of right now, he’d be good on passing downs where he’s able to blitz the quarterback. If he is given the chance, Sample’s ceiling is as a solid run stopper with 10-plus sack capability.