Nesta Jade Silvera, IDL Arizona State: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Silvera was a four-star recruit from American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. in the class of 2018

Fifth-year defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera transferred from Miami to Arizona State before the 2022 season. The former four-star recruit displays explosiveness and the ability to get into the backfield in a hurry. He should generate some buzz in the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Nesta Jade Silvera, IDL Arizona State: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year graduate defensive tackle from Broward County, Fla.

Background: Silvera was a four-star recruit from American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 54 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 121 for Rivals, and No. 65 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 50th in the nation with an 85 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, Silvera totaled 79 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks. He won back-to-back Class 5A state championships and strung together 27 consecutive wins while at American Heritage. Silvera was selected for the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He transferred from Miami to Arizona State ahead of the 2022 season.

2021 Production: 11 games, 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 18 pressures, 1 fumble recovery

2020 Production: 11 games, 35 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 23 pressures, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defensed

2019 Production: 9 games, 19 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 11 pressures, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

2018 Production: 10 games, 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 3 pressures

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed four games after offseason foot surgery in 2019, missed Pittsburgh game with an illness in 2021, missed a portion of spring training in 2022

Awards: 2020 Honorable Mention All-ACC

Pros: Explosive off the line, quick penetrator, relentless pursuit, delivers hard hits, gets skinny and angular to shoot gaps, plays with natural leverage, leg drive lets him drive guards back when he gets under them and into their pads, uses a spin move to create separation and set up better angles to the football, eliminated penalty concerns in 2021, special teams experience on the punt return and field goal block units, his leg drive is a real threat to interior linemen, bullied North Carolina State (2021) center Grant Gibson a few times, good linear speed for a player his size, swim move, two-armed bull rush, accelerates into tackles, redirects off the first block to the football, works down the line to the ball, takes good angles to the ball, hands pack some pop but it’s inconsistent, upper body strength, has added weight since his time at Miami to be stouter against the run

Cons: Age, undersized player, looked lean for an interior lineman at Miami, mounting injury concerns, displaced by double teams, struggles anchoring at the point of attack, gets sealed or washed down the line against power run game, missed tackles are a concern, arm length might be less than ideal, should try for more PBUs, doesn’t generate push in the pass rush against double teams, change of direction skills are average at best, his stride looks segmented when running, relies primarily on his physical gifts as a pass rusher with limited technical development, lacks bend in his lower body, hands are sometimes a half-second late to deploy, doesn’t have go-to pass rush moves or counters, more of a pocket pusher than pocket collapser, looks less explosive at Arizona State than Miami

Overview: Silvera is unofficially listed at 6'2", 315 lbs. He produced pressure on 10% of his pass rush snaps in 2020 and 8% in 2021. Silvera primarily plays everywhere from a 4i-tech to a 1-tech, but he’s received a handful of snaps lined up over the center at 0-tech. Silvera is productive in this 0-tech role, but it’s unlikely he’ll continue playing it in the NFL where the centers are stronger and better athletes. Silvera added weight between his time at Miami and Arizona State. The added mass helps anchor better against the run and makes the Florida native look more like an NFL interior lineman. However, Silvera must be careful not to let his weight sap some of his exceptional physical gifts. At Miami, his explosive first step and quickness as a penetrating lineman allowed him to wreck plays. Silvera could play that role in the NFL if he drops a little weight. The former four-star recruit is relentless in pursuit and displays good linear speed for his size. He likes to deliver punishing hits on ball carriers. Silvera knows how to get skinny and angular to shoot gaps. He plays with natural leverage, and his powerful leg drive helps him push guards backward. Silvera dominated North Carolina State center Grant Gibson on several reps in 2021 with his power and leverage. The defensive lineman uses a spin move to create separation and set up better angles to the football. He’ll occasionally use a swim move as a pass rusher but primarily relies on a bull rush. Silvera redirects off the first block, takes good angles to the ball, and accelerates through tackles. He has impressive upper body strength, and his hands pack some pop (although it’s inconsistent). His age, growing injury history, and undersized stature could raise some concerns during the pre-draft process. Despite adding more mass, Silvera is still displaced by double teams and struggles to anchor at the point of attack. He gets sealed or washed down the line against good run blockers. Silvera always has to be in forward attack mode because he lacks the anchor to sink and hold space consistently. There are concerns about his arm length and history of missed tackles. The fifth-year lineman’s change of direction skills are average at best, and he lacks bend off the edge. Silvera relies primarily on his physical gifts as a pass rusher and displays limited technical development. He doesn’t have go-to pass rush moves or counters and is more of a pocket pusher than a pocket collapser. Silvera’s hands are sometimes a half-second late to deploy, although his placement and timing are usually acceptable.

Overall, Silvera is an explosive penetration-style defensive tackle who lacks a high ceiling as a down-to-down pass rusher but displays immense heart and effort every snap. He possesses a bit of a tweener build and role currently. The NFL team that drafts Silvera will need a pre-determined playing weight and vision for the lineman’s role to take advantage of the Florida native’s talent.

Role & Scheme Fit: Penetration style defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme

Round Projection: Mid Fifth to Mid Sixth

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 09-27-22