Caden Curry is a 6’3”, 257-pound edge defender with a strong, compact frame and a high-effort play style, developing into a productive and experienced contributor within a deep Ohio State defensive line rotation. He has below average arm length measuring at 30 1/8” and posted an average 40-yard dash time of 4.78, reinforcing his athletic profile as functional but not a high-end athlete for the edge position. Appearing in 54 career games and producing 11 sacks in his final season, Curry brings a combination of experience, competitive toughness, and positional versatility, with the ability to align at EDGE and slide inside in sub-packages. His game is built more on awareness, effort, and positioning rather than elite athletic tools, consistently putting himself in position to affect plays without necessarily dictating them at the point of attack.
From a mental and technical standpoint, Curry stands out as a high-level processor and communicator, showing strong awareness of blocking schemes and play concepts. He diagnoses run/pass keys effectively, particularly against play action, and rarely loses sight of the football within traffic. However, his processing can work against him at times, as he will overread and delay his trigger and footwork, leading to a noticeable drop in play speed. When he quickly identifies pre-snap, he plays with significantly more urgency and effectiveness, highlighting the balance between his intelligence and reaction time. In addition, he has been shown to tip his stunt and twist responsibilities pre-snap with a more-than-usual off-the-line-of-scrimmage alignment.
As a pass rusher, Curry shows a linear, effort-driven portfolio with flashes of functional tools but an overall underdeveloped arsenal. He shows the ability to generate initial pop on a speed-to-power bull rush and has a well-timed counter spin move that he sets up effectively when he understands the leverage of the offensive lineman. However, his lack of burst, bend, and consistent pass rush sequencing limits his ability to win cleanly or sustain pressure. His rush plan can stall when his first move does not win, and he tends to widen his rush path, taking himself out of plays and reducing his ability to finish consistently.
In the run game, Curry operates as more of an anchor-and-contain defender than a true point-of-attack displacer. He shows the ability to absorb contact, anchor against doubles and base blocks, and maintain outside leverage, while being effective laterally down the line of scrimmage on slants and angled plays. However, he lacks consistent hip explosion, urgency at contact, and the ability to destroy blocks, limiting his effectiveness against stronger offensive linemen. He will often win with positioning and effort rather than power, and at times can give up inside gaps due to over-widening or failing to generate movement at the point of attack.
The Big Picture
Caden Curry is a high-effort, assignment-sound defensive lineman who wins with awareness, positioning, and motor rather than high-end athletic traits or elite pass rush ability. He projects best as a rotational defensive lineman in a movement-based front where he can be schemed into pressure opportunities, as his lack of burst, bend, and get-off limits his ability to consistently win one-on-one. Curry’s intelligence, versatility, and effort provide a high floor as a depth contributor, but his ceiling is capped unless his pass rush plan and play urgency take a meaningful step forward.
Scheme and Team Fits:
Curry projects best in a 3-4 or multiple-front, movement-based defensive scheme that emphasizes defensive line movement, versatility, and the ability for the edges to play like true edges. He is most effective when allowed to operate at the edge of the defensive line, play on angles, and operate within schemed opportunities, where his effort and anchor ability can translate without requiring much processing. His versatility to align at both Edge and interior techniques adds value in rotational packages, particularly in sub-package situations.
Cincinnati Bengals
With the departure of Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati presents a strong opportunity for Curry to step into a rotational EDGE role within a system that emphasizes simulated pressures and front movement under DC Al Gordon. The Bengals’ ability to create pressure through scheme rather than pure pass rush ability allows Curry to contribute as a structure-based defender, where his 5-tech processing, effort, and discipline can translate into consistent rotational snaps without requiring him to win in isolation.
Dallas Cowboys
Following the departure of Micah Parsons and the addition of interior presence such as Quinnen Williams, Dallas is transitioning toward a defensive front built around interior disruption and versatile edge rotation under Christian Parker. Curry fits as a complementary rotational piece who can transition inside on passing downs and benefit from interior attention being drawn away from him as an edge, allowing him to operate through effort, angles, and schemed opportunities rather than relying on elite pass rush traits.
Indianapolis Colts
Under Lou Anarumo, the Colts offer the cleanest projection for Curry within a flexible, opponent-specific defensive system. The scheme’s reliance on movement, simulated pressures, and front multiplicity helps offset Curry’s tendency to over-process and lack of pass rush ceiling, allowing him to play faster and contribute through design. With a need for rotational depth opposite Laiatu Latu, Curry projects as a versatile front piece who can be schemed into production while minimizing exposure to his limitations.
NFL Player Comparison: Deatrich Wise Jr.
Curry mirrors Wise as a versatile, effort-driven defensive lineman who wins with positioning, awareness, and alignment flexibility rather than dominant physical traits. Both players provide value across multiple alignments and contribute within structure, but lack elite burst, bend, and consistent pass-rush production, projecting as rotational defenders with scheme-dependent impact.
Draft Projection: Round 5 (Day 3)
Curry projects as a 5th round selection due to his experience, intelligence, versatility, impact, and willingness to play on special teams, and reliability within structure, but is limited by his lack of get-off, pass-rush ceiling, lack of run disruption, and overall impact on tape. His profile fits as a rotational piece rather than a primary contributor, which caps his draft value.
Grade: 4.1
Curry holds a 4.4 tape grade before the curve and a 31.51/49 trait grade. The curve adjustment lowered his final grade to a 4.1, reflecting a gap between his functional traits and overall play impact. Although he was a productive player, we have only one season with a true sample size, and his tape suggests less impact in the NFL. While he shows solid processing, effort, and hand usage, his marginal get-off and limited pass-rush development prevent him from consistently affecting plays against more refined NFL talent. He projects as a rotational defensive lineman whose early-career value will come from special teams contributions, execution, and effort rather than disruptive ability.
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