Dean Miller
Draft Movement
Down 5 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Dean Miller is a Kansas edge rusher whose 2024 junior breakout put him on NFL radars as a productive, twitchy speed-rusher off the Jayhawks' defensive front. Miller started all 12 games at defensive end in 2024 and posted a career-high 6.0 sacks, which tied for sixth-most in the Big 12 Conference, while adding 32 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss to earn Second Team All-Big 12 honors. That production landed him on the Senior Bowl's Top 300 watch list, where the all-NFL-scout evaluation staff narrowed more than 2,000 prospects to a selective group, and All Access Football's Ric Serritella has repeatedly tagged him as a Kansas evaluation worth tracking, describing him as a spry edge rusher. He projects as a late-Day-3 or priority-free-agent flier in the 2027 class, slotted at No. 231 on Sam Teets's Sports Talk board and No. 357 overall on PFF's big board, both as an edge defender. The appeal is the disruptive get-off and bend that let him win the corner and rack up backfield production against Big 12 tackles, and his motor shows up in pursuit. The questions are typical for a smaller-school speed rusher: a developing pass-rush plan, room to add functional play strength and length, and the need to prove he can set a firm edge against the run on every down. A strong, healthy senior season as a full-time starter will determine whether he climbs into a drafted range or profiles as a rotational designated rusher at the next level.
Strengths
- Career-high 6.0 sacks in 2024, tied for sixth-most in the Big 12 Conference
- Disruptive 10.0 tackles for loss and consistent backfield penetration as a junior
- Started all 12 games at defensive end, durable and dependable as a full-time edge
- Spry, twitchy get-off off the line that lets him threaten the edge
- Active motor that shows up in pursuit and chase-down effort
- Second Team All-Big 12 honoree and Senior Bowl Top 300 selection
- Productive against Power Four competition in the Big 12
- Listed as an edge on multiple 2027 big boards (Sam Teets, PFF)
Weaknesses
- Developing, still-thin pass-rush plan that needs more counters and hand-usage refinement
- Likely needs to add functional play strength to anchor and set a firm edge versus the run
- Modest overall sack and tackle volume keeps his profile in the late-round range
- Run-defense projection unproven against NFL-caliber tackles down to down
- Lands at No. 231 (Teets) and No. 357 (PFF), reflecting a Day 3 or priority-free-agent grade
- Frame and length questions, with no public testing numbers to ease athletic projection
NFL Comparison
Andre Carter II (lean, spry get-off edge whose game leans on speed over power); Janarius Robinson (developmental Big 12 edge with bend and motor); Carl Granderson (productive college speed rusher needing strength to hold the edge)
College Stats
2024 (Jr): 12 starts at DE, 6.0 sacks (T-6th Big 12), 32 tackles, 10.0 TFL, Second Team All-Big 12.
Awards & Honors
2024 Second Team All-Big 12; Senior Bowl Top 300 watch list (2025); Sam Teets 2027 board No. 231 (Edge); PFF 2027 big board No. 357 (ED)