FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Louisville defense end Ashton Gillotte. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ashton Gillotte
Ashton Gillotte (DE – Louisville)
6-foot-3 | 275 Pounds
Background
Ashton Gillotte rotated in heavily as a freshman, serving as an occasional starter and finishing with a 19-8.0-4.0 line. Took over a full-time starting role the following year, going 24-8.0-7.0. He then put up a line of 45-15.0-11.0 in 2023 — his most productive campaign. At the end of the regular season in 2024, he had a line of 43-10.0-4.5.
Positives
Has been productive throughout his four-year career. Gillotte is a thickly-built base defensive end, but will sometimes be moved around to get him different looks, for example as an A-gap blitzer from a traditional linebacker look. Physical player who isn’t afraid to mix it up. Overall functional strength is very solid; able to fire out low and walk back opposing tackles like blocking sleds.
Shows some good leverage as a run defender, and fights to anchor when two-gapping, showing an adequate anchor. Uses what length he has to lock out opposing blockers and flashes heaviness in his hands. Plays the game with intensity and a strong motor. His rush approach doesn’t undermine the team’s run fits. For a bigger end, he has a surprising amount of flexibility in his hips and ankles and is more of a technique/finesse-based rusher than anticipated.
His rush repertoire is diverse. Active with his hands, and has refined techniques commensurate with his experience. When speed-rushing, he keeps a low center of gravity and bends a very smooth arc back to the passer. Shows the ability to convert speed to power. Is active with his feet and can even generate some push when rushing from the inside. Closing speed is adequate.
Negatives
Gillotte Struggled to replicate his junior-year production this season. His frame might be ill-suited to an odd defensive front. Inconsistent get-off, often being one of the last linemen to react to the snap. Can be a tick slow to recognize plays and locate the ball.
Struggles to consistently disengage in time when playing the run. Shows some occasional balance issues, which arise as a result of his intensity. Has some missed tackles on tape. Pre-draft length measurements could be interesting. His spin counter isn’t the most impressive. Has almost no coverage experience.
Summary
A thickly-built, intense and powerful EDGE rusher who plays with a low center of gravity and shows impressive ability to walk back opponents with his bull rush, but who also has impressive body control and flexibility as a speed rusher.
While Gillotte’s thick build could make him seem like a strange fit for some odd defensive fronts and his lack of ideal length can lead him to get stuck on blocks in the run game, his game looks pretty projectable. Could get lost a bit in a deep EDGE class because he’s not as sexy as some of the other top picks, but looks like a solid strongside end on a four-man line.
Projection: Round 3
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