Can Nelson Ceaser, a UDFA for the Seahawks, earn a position on the team?
Among the Seahawks’ undrafted free agents, Ceaser is one of the more interesting ones.
Through Mookie Alexander at mookiealexander.com 28 May 2024, 5:04 p.m. PDT
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Though they did not choose an edge rusher in the draft, the Seattle Seahawks did sign one of the more exciting undrafted free agents.
Remarkably, Nelson Ceaser of Houston, who was expected to move to the third round, did not hear his name called. In his draft guide, Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Ceaser in the fifth round:
Ceaser, a two-year starter at Houston, mostly played from a two-point stance as the field defensive end in the four-man front formation of former defensive coordinator Doug Belk. He gained knowledge from former Cougars defensive ends like Logan Hall and Payton Turner, and each season in college, his output gradually increased. As a senior, he recorded career highs, including a Big 12-leading 9.5 sacks during the program’s inaugural conference season. Ceaser attacks with quickness and burst upfield, bending just enough to get into several pass-rush lanes. He can move quickly and has range against the run, but at the next level it will be more difficult to hide his poor physicality and anchor at the point of attack. Generally, power-based blocks slow down Ceaser, but he varies his pass rush, and his physical prowess and football spirit should inspire NFL teams. He has potential as a part-time rusher.
Ceaser led the conference in sacks with 9.5 and tackles for loss with 13.5 during his senior season, earning him a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team. Ceaser finished third in the conference in terms of pressure rate at the conclusion of conference play (bowl games and the playoffs not included). The first draft pick of the Seahawks, Byron Murphy II, is one of the two players ahead of him (and the only defensive tackle in the top-5).
Leaders in pressure percentage for edge rushers and defensive linemen in Big 12 play.
UDFA advantage for Seahawks Nelson Ceaser is a truly exceptional athlete.
– Performs best in broad alignments when translating velocity into power.
– Convenient for extended arm and hand swipes
Played a remarkable number of coverage snaps and stack LB despite tightness in his body and his peculiar characteristic profile picture.@GzKdkviFEW on Twitter
— April 28, 2024, Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1)
Nelson Ceaser, Houston’s EDGE
Ceaser was employed in a very special way by Houston, both off the edge and true off the ball, as well as as a second level blitzer. He is quickly finishing off the activity in front of him. He sprints for the sack after exploding to the quarterback. tweet.com/3jvKJGtC7R
— April 11, 2024, Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft)
Nelson Ceaser, Houston’s EDGE
He is among the class’s more tactical and technical pass rushers. Smooth, but not the freakish athlete some are. wins the match against Baylor by hitting the cross chop. Twitter/picture/sNKrS3ZyFx
– @RiseNDraft’s Ryan Roberts April 11, 2024
Aside from other UDFAs like Sunny Anderson and Rason Williams II, Darrell Taylor is Ceaser’s most obvious rival. Rather than allow Taylor to enter free agency, Seattle re-signed him to a one-year contract, however the terms of his pact make his $3,116,000 compensation subject to change. The Seahawks would only lose $20,000 in signing bonus dead money by cutting Taylor.
Taylor’s run defense grade was never consistently good during his time at Tennessee; it wasn’t even good in his final year of college. This issue has persisted into the NFL, when Taylor was temporarily benched by Pete Carroll in favor of Darryl Johnson Jr., who was selected on waiver wire and suffered an injury that required rapid attention. If you’re a great pass rusher, you can tolerate bad run defense, but despite Taylor’s impressive 21.5 sack total over the course of three seasons, his pressure rate has never topped 8.8%. In addition to being a subpar run defender, he has continuously been a below-average edge rusher.
On the other hand, Ceaser finished his three seasons at Houston with better run defense marks; but, it’s unclear how much of it will translate physically in the pros. One of the best late-down run defenders available for the NFL Draft, according to reports:
Because of his awareness of and use of leverage, especially in the run game, Ceaser fits the profile of a late-down rotational edge defender at the next level. With five run stops on third and fourth down and an incredible 20.4% positively evaluated play rate compared to only 2% negatively assessed, the former Cougar was unstoppable.
Ceaser’s physical appearance is one of the main issues. Everything else in every category is below the 75th percentile, with the exception of hand size.
If Ceaser isn’t a three-down guy, he can at least be a situational pass rusher. I don’t think the ceiling for Day 3 and UDFA guys is that high, especially if they are positioned at premium. However, he is one of my UDFAs to keep an eye on going into training camp because of his versatility as an occasional off-ball linebacker and his on-field production.
