Draft Profile: Jamaree Caldwell
Defensive Tackle, Oregon
6’2, 330 lbs.
Projected: Fourth-Fifth Round
After watching the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine (Mark Madden says I’m a loser) one of the things that stood out to me is how deep this draft class is for defensive lineman. There are a lot of gems that can be found in later rounds. What this should tell the Steelers is that if there are similar rated prospects available in the first round that fulfill a need, good defensive lineman can be found later.
Keeanu Benton is playing out of position in my eyes. He’s done decent at nose tackle, but I feel he has better potential at the 5-tech. To put this in perspective, he’s pretty much the exact same size as Cam Heyward. Ideally in a 3-4 defense, you want a big, squatty, powerful nose tackle that can eat up space in the middle. A player that has the ability to take on double teams and close up interior running lanes.
Let’s say that in the first round of the 2025 draft the Steelers are on the clock and sitting there is, I don’t know, Emeka Egbuka. Omar Khan, remembering all of the articles he read on Steel City Blitz decides to pull the trigger and drafts him. The second and third round come and there are other prospects that fell to them that were too good to pass up. Now we’re in the fourth round and still looking for a defensive lineman. Enter Jamaree Caldwell.
Strengths:
Jamaree Caldwell has the size of a traditional nose tackle at 6’2, 330 lbs. He has a wide frame and is a space eater who is capable of winning double teams. Caldwell has great natural leverage and gets under taller offensive lineman. He is powerful with a strong punch yet possesses short-area quickness that helps him get to ball carriers. Caldwell has a good motor and plays through the whistle. His teammates love his effort, and he is a high character teammate.
Weaknesses:
Caldwell is not a pass rusher and may be limited to being a two-down lineman. He was able to get his playing weight down while at Oregon, but he’ll need to work on NFL level conditioning. At times he stands too tall, particularly when in lateral pursuit and can get stifled by offensive lineman. He needs to work on perfecting his form and body control. His arm length is slightly below what is preferred by NFL scouts.
How he fits:
Should the Steelers decide to move Benton to defensive end (3-4), then you won’t find someone with a more traditional nose tackle build than Jamaree Caldwell. The best nose tackle the Steelers ever had was Casey Hampton, who was 6’1, 325 lbs. I’m not saying that Caldwell is going to be Casey Hampton, but the size comparison is there. Caldwell is stout and powerful, is a high-effort player, and will fit in well in the locker room. With a proper NFL strength and conditioning program, he could be a monster in the middle for years to come.
Player Comp:
When I watch tape of Jamaree Caldwell, I can’t help but be reminded of Packers nose tackle BJ Raji. Raji was surprisingly nimble for his size and the Packers would even occasionally line him up as a fullback. Raji played nose tackle in a 3-4 defense and was known for plugging up the middle of the line. Coming out of college, one of the knocks on Raji was his shorter arms.
In every NFL draft there are players that fall further than expected. The 2025 draft is also especially deep in defensive lineman. This could cause the Steelers to load up at other positions or double dip on the defensive line in order to find Cam Heyward’s eventual successor. Jamaree Caldwell received a little more attention after his performances in practice at the Senior Bowl. He’s a prototypical nose tackle and someone that could be a steal for the Steelers in the middle rounds. Who Knows? Maybe even throw him in at fullback in an offset I formation as a blocker for Jaylen Warren. Just sayin’.
