Bralen Trice Has the Potential to Be a Dominant Pass Rushing Threat at the NFL Level
Josh Frey
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This year’s NFL Draft once again features a very deep group of pass rushing talent at the OLB/EDGE position.
One of the prospects who could be considered near the top of the group is Bralen Trice out of Washington, who offers an intriguing combination of size and athletic ability off the edge. Today’s edition of the Vikings Draft Thermometer series will discuss Trice’s potential as an NFL player.
Overview
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 275 pounds
- Arm Length: TBD
- Hand Size: TBD
- Wingspan: TBD
- 40-Yard Dash: TBD
- School: Washington
- Games Watched: Texas (2022), Texas (2023), USC (2023), Michigan (2023)
Bralen Trice came out of high school as a three-star recruit via 247 Sports and the 117th-highest rated defensive lineman in the Class of 2019. After receiving offers from a number of top-tier programs, including Alabama and Oregon, Trice decided that he would head to the University of Washington for his collegiate career.
However, Trice would have to wait a full two years before he would see any game action. The defensive end redshirted his freshman season in 2019, and then, he opted out of the 2020 campaign due to the pandemic.
The pass rusher finally broke onto the field during the 2021 season and earned a starting role for each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, totaling 23.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks over the past two years. He was named a Third-Team All-American in 2023.
Statistics
- 2021: 14 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks (6 games)
- 2022: 38 tackles, 12 TFLs, 9 sacks (13 games)
- 2023: 49 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble (15 games)
Strengths
Trice’s size at the defensive end position combined with some fantastic strength and an endless motor makes him an incredibly tough matchup for opposing offensive tackles.
He can win reps off the edge in multiple ways. Trice uses his hands well to create leverage with his incredible length and can throw multiple moves in a single rep to find ways to get into the backfield. He wins with a bull rush as well as by utilizing some strong athletic ability to beat blockers to landmarks on the field.
Weaknesses
If Trice is going to be successful at the NFL level, he needs to get much better at wrapping up tackles. He was on the hook for 15 missed tackles during the 2023 season, tied for the fourth-most among all EDGE players at the FBS level. In 2022, his missed tackle percentage of 32.6% was the third-highest among edge rushers who played at least 400 defensive snaps.
This calls into question Trice’s effectiveness as a run defender. An ability to get into position to make a play becomes much less important if he isn’t able to finish plays on a consistent basis.
NFL Projection
- Draft Stock: Late First Round-Top 50
- Immediate Role: Rotational pass-rusher
- NFL Comp: Harold Landry without the size concerns
- Vikings Draft Thermometer (1-100): 60
The Vikings should have the goal of additional pass-rushing support near the top of their draft wish list in April. If they were to wait until the second round to fill that need, Trice fits in nicely as a player with positive traits as a pass rusher. If he can become more consistent as a run defender, the Washington product has the potential to be a three-down contributor on an NFL defensive front.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via 247 Sports, Pro Football Focus and Sports Reference CFB.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.