2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mekhi Wingo (DL – LSU)

With being more than halfway through the College Football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Mekhi Wingo.

• 2024 NFL Draft Guide
• 2024 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | iOL | DL | EDGE | LB | S | CB
• 2024 NFL Mock Draft: First Round Picks & Predictions

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mekhi Wingo

Mekhi Wingo (DL – LSU)

6’1″ – 295 lbs.

Background:

Three-star recruit who originally attended Missouri, where he spent his first season at the college level. Over 460 snaps, including four starts, he totaled 27-2.0-1.0 and returned an interception for a touchdown. Transferring to LSU the following season, he started all but the first game of the season, finishing the year with a whopping 821 snaps and a line of 46-6.0-3.0.

Positives:

He is a thickly built defender with three years of experience in major programs. Plays a lot of nose tackle on the Tigers’ three-man lines, often lined up directly over the center, but takes snaps from other techniques as well. Plays the game with some violence and urgency. Does a pretty good job of locating the ball and flowing in the play direction. Has some lateral quickness to get himself into the right gap in the run game. Very active with his hands. Has good power to execute push-pull moves or otherwise discard blockers; shows nice timing to shed when two-gapping. Can occasionally attract additional blockers on passing downs, and flashes the power to walk back opposing centers with his bull rush when he gets his legs going. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes. Showed in 2022 that he was capable of playing a very high number of snaps per game.

Negatives:

On the small side compared to many of his competitors in the class, with a maxed-out frame and less height/length than ideal. Inconsistent get-off when the ball is snapped. Would like to see a little bit more knee-bend to maximize his natural leverage. More impressive upper-body strength than anchor strength. Overall range in pursuit is limited. Value on passing downs is somewhat limited. Usually ends up idling around the line when he can’t find a lane; doesn’t seem to have a deep repertoire of rush moves and counters. Would like to see him commit more to using his power to bull-rush opponents; his legs go dead too early on some passing downs.

Summary:

A thick, experienced defender who does a nice job of locating the ball and shedding blockers as a two-gapping nose tackle, showing heavy hands and a strong motor. May not offer a ton of value on passing downs, but has the look of an early-down run defender. Could possibly transition from playing the nose on the Tigers’ three-man line to being more of an even-front one-technique in the pros.

Projection: Round 3-4