Welcome Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon (R3, Pick 86)

[powderblueboy]

I'm hearing crazy athlete for his size, played on the edge at Houston (before transferring) and that Oregon didn't use him in a manner conducive to his skill set.
Will be a way better pro than college player.

That's what i'm hearing.

Body type and movement reminds me of Louis Nix, if people remember him.

[AK47]

#1 way to beat the Chargers is the run game. Hence drafting a guy that eats the run game makes sense.

[Fleet 1]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/better-than-team-for-2025-nfl-draft-here-are-the-prospects-pete-prisco-likes-more-than-scouts-do/

Jamaree Caldwell
OREG • DL • #90

Over the course of a game, a season, a career, there are singular plays that speak volumes about a player, whether it's talent, effort in a situation or a combination of both that show up in a big way.

That play for Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell came late in his team's blowout loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl this past January. It's one of the many plays that stand out from his tape, one of many that make him this year's Better-Than Team captain, a team of down-the-line players I like more than the NFL scouts.

The situation for this significant Caldwell play: Ohio State 41, Oregon 21 with 2:36 left in the game with Ohio State having a first down at the Buckeyes' 49. It's a play where some players would go through the motions, even if in the game, to move on to get ready for the NFL Draft season, especially with the Oregon championship dreams crushed a lot earlier in that game.

Yet here was Caldwell still playing hard, tough, physical football. The Buckeyes ran to the left side on the play, which was right at Caldwell. They tried to double him with the left guard and tackle, the tackle being Donovan Jackson, who could be a first-round pick next week. At the snap, Caldwell exploded into the double, and when the guard moved to the next level, he ran right through Jackson to grab the jersey of running back Quinshon Judkins as he tried to pop outside. Carroll then bear-hugged him to the ground for a 1-yard gain.

Caldwell, by the way, is 6-2, 332 pounds and plays with a power game. At that weight, you could almost understand not giving it his all late in a blowout, yet here he was making a big-time play with nothing more than individual pride on the line.

One play says a lot, but there is so much more to like about Caldwell, which is why he is this year's Better-Than Team captain. This is a team I've put together for years as part of the pre-draft process. Among the players who have been past captains are Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David and Chicago Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

Players who have made previous teams are Travis Kelce, Dak Prescott and George Kittle. Some recent picks were Tampa Bay Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan, Washington Commanders corner Mike Sainristil, Tennessee Titans corner Jarvis Brownlee, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, Green Bay Packers tackle Zach Tom and Texans receiver Tank Dell. There are misses like my 2023 captain, defensive end Viliami Fehoko. He was a fourth-round pick by the Cowboys who they cut and is now with Washington.

Caldwell will not be a miss. Playing on a talented Oregon front, next to the more-heralded Derrick Harmon, Caldwell, who transferred from Houston, was just as good at times -- and even better. He is not just a two-gap run stuffer either. He can push the pocket and shows off an ability to move with quickness to go with his strength. He had 6 1/2 sacks for Houston in 2023 but didn't get any last season despite getting inside push on a lot of plays. He can move.

With teams seemingly always on the lookout for big, strong, tough players who have quickness inside, there is reason to think he will be a third-round pick. Here's saying he plays better than that during this career and will outplay many of the defensive tackles taken ahead of him.

One play doesn't make a career. But, in Caldwell's case, it's the cherry on top of an outstanding season for the Ducks and shows who he is as a player.

[Whydachargers?]

I wonder if Caldwell could be used as an extra blocker or even RB for goal-line situations (or other short-yardage opps). Seems like a natural.

[Boltsfan70]

Needed to fix the run D

[DerwinBosa]

From Popper's article:

How he fits

A massive human at 6-foot-2, 332 pounds, Caldwell was an elite tester as an explosive and low-to-the-ground nose tackle who can really make a dent at the line of scrimmage. He was not a consistent player in college, however, and if the Chargers want to use him as a nose he’s going to have to be better with his hands and gap discipline. Bit of a risk here in the third round, but not a huge one.

[AK47]

I wonder if Caldwell could be used as an extra blocker or even RB for goal-line situations (or other short-yardage opps). Seems like a natural.

Lets run this play 1 time on the goal line in preseason....um for research purposes.

Caldwell at FB. Omarion at QB. I-formation. Mattlock at RB to punch it in.

[Whydachargers?]

Lets run this play 1 time on the goal line in preseason....um for research purposes.

Caldwell at FB. Omarion at QB. I-formation. Mattlock at RB to punch it in.

COOL. I want to see it.

[dmac_bolt]

Poona's heir?

Poona was more of a 3T but played a bit stronger than should be expected over the A gap? I leave it to experts, welcome correction - this guy has 20 lbs on Poona. I love he’s 6’2” - perfect height for a 1T to get under OL pads. Nothing more disappointing than a big fat 6’4”+ NT that gets stood up every play and loses all leverage.

He’s a poor man’s Grant. Poona was a poor man’s Graham.

[dmac_bolt]

I wonder if Caldwell could be used as an extra blocker or even RB for goal-line situations (or other short-yardage opps). Seems like a natural.

He’s a natural RB? I don’t know why he would be. I don’t know if he can block either. Did you see any tape or plays showing these traits - I haven’t seen more than 30 sec of him yet, don’t know anything about him yet - I look forward to learning much more by the end of Sunday and I trust in JH2. Jim sure seemed more geeked when on the phone with him than he was in Rd2 (which I think was more about the many calls, delay, last second pick submission than the actual pick).

I’m fine just letting him learn to win inside battles at 1T for now and contribute in a DL rotation. Jump in class to beating NFL OLs is enough of a challenge to start him out on.

If he can get into a regular rotation at NT/1T, and last year’s R4 pick finds his game to get significant snaps in a 3T/5T role, we may have started the building of a long term IDL, value edition.

I thought they might go OC, OG or Edge there. A TE in R4 won’t surprise me, grab one of the better remaining projects. Fun shit!!!

[Cdn Bolt]

NFL Draft Countdown had him ranked #90 and we took him at 86 so good value.

[dmac_bolt]

Lets run this play 1 time on the goal line in preseason....um for research purposes.

Caldwell at FB. Omarion at QB. I-formation. Mattlock at RB to punch it in.

Lol you guys kill me. How about we put Omarion at RB, Herbert at QB, and bring on a 6th OL that blocks for a living next to the blocking TE instead of a DT that never blocks, in fact his entire rookie learning focus should be on learning the opposite of blocking = shedding blockers?

besides, I just read that Trey is our secret trick QB … he threw to Nabors in HS