Michael Reaves/Getty Images
– Quick off the ball and has good lateral movement skills to get penetration when slanting.
– Has shown a handful of pass-rush moves he can win with, including a rip, swim and push-pull.
– Decent bend at the top of the rush.
– Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.
– Solid strength at the point of attack. Has more pop in his hands than you’d think.
– Very undersized for an interior defensive lineman in the NFL.
– Poor against double-teams and down blocks. Lack of size and strength causes him to get kicked out of his gap.
– Ineffective bull-rusher due to his lack of size and strength.
– Subpar use of hands as a pass-rusher. Often drops his hands and lets offensive linemen make the first significant contact at the point of attack. Also struggles to work the hands after contact.
– 4-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports
– Injuries: played through an ankle injury in 2022 bowl game
– Father, Howard Jr., played 13 seasons in the NFL with the New York Giants and won a Super Bowl
– 2023: Second-Team All-American
– 2024: Second-Team All-American
Howard Cross III has an NFL bloodline and had a productive six-year career at Notre Dame. He’ll also be one of the older prospects in this year’s draft class, as he’ll turn 24 during training camp.
Cross is a quick defensive tackle with good athleticism, and he has a handful of pass-rush moves he can win with. That could help him be a productive rusher in the NFL. He also has good get-off to get penetration when slanting and has sneaky strength at the point of attack.
However, Cross is very undersized to play on the inside in the NFL. That’s part of the reason why he’ll get blown off the ball against the run when he doesn’t time up the snap. He struggles to hold his ground against double-teams and down blocks. His bull rush is also ineffective, and his use of hands is inconsistent as a pass-rusher.
Overall, the Notre Dame product might have a tough time finding a true position in the NFL. He was primarily a 3-technique in college, but he might be better suited to slide outside and play as a defensive end with his lack of size and ability to take on blocks. Cross’ ceiling is likely as a rotational player in the NFL.
GRADE: 5.9 (Backup/Draftable – 6th-7th Round)
PRO COMPARISON: Kevin Givens
Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.