2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Princely Umanmielen

Umanmielen completed every key athletic test except for the bench press between the NFL Combine and his pro day. He graded out with a relative athletic score of 8.99 out of 10.

Background:

Coming out of high school in Manor, Texas, Princely Umanmielen was a four-star recruit, the #18 ranked defensive end, and the #42 overall recruit in the state, per 24/7 Sports. He committed to Florida over offers from Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Baylor, and Ole Miss.

Umanmielen spent the first four years of his college career at Florida. He was primarily a reserve player for the first two years before becoming a starter in 2022. In his two years starting for the Gators, he was graded as one of the best pass rushers in college football, per PFF. Umanmielen entered the transfer portal for his final year of eligibility and committed to Ole Miss. Over the last three years, Umanmielen accumulated 22 sacks, 127 pressures, and 36 tackles for loss across 37 games.

• 2023: Second-team All-SEC
• 2024: First-team All-SEC, Second-team All-American

Amongst 199 FBS EDGE rushers with at least 300 snaps in 2024, Umanmielen had the 4th-best overall PFF grade, the 5th-best pass-rushing grade, and the 42nd-best run defense grade. His pass rush win rate of 22.8% ranked 6th.

Strengths:

• Tall and long EDGE rusher with an excellent first step, an ultra bendy frame, and burst to close in space.
• A menace on stunts with the athletic ability to attack from multiple angles.
• Rare body control and flexibility to dodge, dip, duck, dive, and dodge around would-be blockers.
• Possess a well-established pass rush toolbox with a nasty spin move, cross chop, and euro-step. He formulates and executes a plan of attack.
• He improved his hand usage as a run defender in 2024, using additional strength and improved technique to keep blockers out of his chest.
• He has tons of proven production at the college level, leading his team in sacks each of the last three years.

Weaknesses:

• He still lacks the desired mass to put his hand in the dirt and line up head-up on offensive tackles despite added mass.
• Umanmielen lacks any power moves as a pass rusher, relying on going around blockers far more often than through them.
• While his hand usage improved in 2024, he needs to continue to grow his hand-fighting arsenal to stay clean and not get bullied off the line of scrimmage.
• Run defense remains a big question for Umanmielen. While he showed growth in 2024 and has made splash plays throughout his career, he must prove he can consistently set the edge and play with the requisite power the NFL demands.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for Princely Umanmielen:

Princely is my favorite pass rusher in the class. I fell in love with his tape two years ago at Florida, and the pass rush skills have only improved with time. His deep arsenal of moves and seemingly unlimited body flexibility are the things you dream of on 3rd and long. But what about first and second down? That will be the big question with Umanmielen.

Umanmielen is a tall, long, and highly athletic EDGE rusher with an explosive first step, elite flexibility, and a deep pass-rush arsenal. He excels at attacking from wide angles, showing rare body control and a clear plan on each rush.

However, he still lacks the ideal mass and power to hold up against offensive tackles in a more traditional role. His run defense and power moves remain areas of concern, as he relies more on finesse and needs to show he can consistently play on rushing downs at the next level. At the very least, Umanmielen should be a good rotational pass rusher at the next level. If he can add mass and some power to his game, he has a Pro Bowl ceiling.

That doesn't sound like a fit for Dennis Allen and the Chicago Bears, but I am holding out hope regardless. While the tape doesn't match what Dennis Allen historically seeks out in EDGE rushers, I see a moldable frame with intriguing tools that could feasibly fit. While it is unlikely that the Bears would target Princely, he is the most clear fit amongst the lighter pass rushers in the class.

Pro Comp: Will McDonald