NFL Draft: Pro comparisons for the top 32 prospects in 2021

NFL Draft 2021 Pro Comparisons: Jaelan Phillips → Whitney Mercilus

Thanks to Gregory Rousseau opting out of the 2020 season, Jaelan Phillips was able to get more opportunities at Miami last year and he took full advantage of all of them.

A transfer from UCLA, Phillips accumulated 45 tackles (15.5 for a loss), eight sacks, three pass breakups, and one interception in 10 games for Miami last season. All were career-highs for the 21-year-old defender.

Thanks to his impressive performance in 2020, Phillips is now expected to be one of the top pass rushers to come off the board during this year’s NFL Draft. He might even end up getting selected before his former teammate, Rousseau.

Why he compares to Whitney Mercilus:

Phillips has the size to line up as either a 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. If he ends up landing with a team that runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, his abilities could resemble those of current Houston Texans linebacker, Whitney Mercilus.

Mercilus is a little smaller than Phillips, but he’s found ways to make life incredibly difficult for opposing offenses. Since entering the league in 2012, the current Texans linebacker has racked up 54 sacks, 112 quarterback hits, 68 tackles for a loss, 13 forced fumbles, and two interceptions.

Like Phillips, Mercilus has utilized a combination of power and speed to get to opposing signal-callers. His speed has also allowed him to get into the offensive backfield quicker to bring down explosive ball-carriers.

Whoever ends up selecting Phillips in this year’s NFL Draft should expect him to do many of the same things that Mercilus has been able to do during his pro career.