2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: CJ West

CJ West completed every test at the NFL Combine except the agility tests and broad jump. He scored an elite relative athletic score of 9.15 out of 10, including an eye-opening 4.95 forty-yard dash at 316 pounds.

CJ West Background

Coming out of Nazareth Academy High School in La Grange Park, Illinois, CJ West was a three-star recruit and the #99 ranked defensive tackle in his class, per 24/7 Sports. After initially committing to Minnesota, West re-opened his recruitment and wound up at Kent State. He held other offers from Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Toledo.

West played at Kent State from 2020 through 2023, starting 35 of his 39 games and earning third-team All-MAC recognition in 2023. After the 2023 season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Indiana University.

According to PFF, West generated 25 pressures and one sack across 239 pass-rushing snaps in 2024. Amongst 350 FBS defensive tackles to play at least 300 snaps in 2024, West had the 13th-best overall PFF grade, the 10th-best run-defense grade, and the 36th-best pass-rushing grade. He recorded a pass rush win rate of 10.1%, which ranks 50th.

Strengths:

• Build: West has a stout, wide frame that eats up space and gives him natural advantages as a nose tackle.
• Powerful Upper Half: He pairs his powerful upper half with active and purposeful hands to steer, shed, and find rushing lanes. He has bricks for hands that jolt blockers backward with commanding pop.
• Powerful Lower Half: West has a stout anchor that is difficult to move off his spots, even against combo blocks and double teams. He possesses a natural leverage advantage at 6'1" with impressive contact balance to stay upright through awkward positions.
• Demeanor: West is a violent, gritty, and nasty football player who makes life hell for blockers. His constant effort player and non-stop motor are difficult to match.
• Pass Rush Traits: He shows good burst and lateral quickness to penetrate, with an understanding of how to deconstruct blocks with his hands.

Weaknesses:

• Age: While his age is not listed online, he is a 5th-year senior, so he is likely at least 23.
• Length: Short arms limit his ability to two-gap and work counters against longer blockers
• Consistency off the Snap: West is inconsistent with his get-off on pass rush opportunities. At times, he plays with a forward lean that more intelligent, more athletic blockers could take advantage of. At other times, he plays with more balance but tends to be too upright.
• Sack Production: West has only accumulated nine career sacks, which could limit his ability to stay on the field for third downs. He needs to win with first contact as a pass rusher due to his limited counter arsenal.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for CJ West:

CJ West has the second-highest film grade I have given any defensive tackle prospect in this class, trailing only Mason Graham. He was a dominant force in the middle of Indiana's defense and was a big reason Indiana went from the 101st-best graded defense in 2023 to the third-best graded defense in 2024 (per PFF). West was an absolute problem for opposing offenses.

Overall, West is a powerful, gritty defensive lineman known for his immense strength, relentless motor, and aggressive demeanor. His ability to shed blockers and maintain leverage makes him effective in run defense, and he shows solid burst as a pass rusher.

However, his age, limited arm length, and inconsistent get-off can hinder his effectiveness against more skilled blockers. His modest sack production and limited pass-rush attack also raise concerns about his impact on passing downs. Despite these limitations, his toughness and power make him a difficult assignment for any offensive lineman. He will make his presence felt.

West's ceiling is that of a good starter, playing a run-stuffing nose tackle role while providing some pass-rush upside. His floor is that of a rotational piece that can play significant snaps in a good defensive line rotation. West has one of the higher floors in this class. His versatility is questionable, though, as his arm length will limit his ability to consistently two-gap in 3-4 defenses. He should make an instant impact as a rookie for an even front with his run-stopping prowess.

West is one of the best-kept secrets in the draft class and should be an ideal target for the Bears at pick 72, if not sooner. He fits the defensive scheme, with some ability to show off his burst in stunts and loops while also being able to plug up run lanes. He will be protected from two-gapping in the Bears' even front while spelling Andrew Billings at nose tackle. His 24/7 transfer portal description compared him to Andrew Billings. It is time to bring CJ home. Someone get Ryan Poles on the phone and let him know ASAP.

Pro Comp: Alim McNeill