Boogie
Basham.
Boogie
Basham.
Wake Forest· 6'3"· 274 lb· 4.64s 40
"A Wake Forest edge with plus size and Senior Bowl anchor reps but a first-step gap versus the top of the edge class — a five-technique projection every board landed in Round 2-3."Pre-draft read
Plays as a strong-side defensive end and also as an interior sub-package rusher. He operates using his play strength, opting for a long-arm bull rush and hand-fighting techniques over edge bend or first-step burst. He sets the edge effectively in the run game, utilizing technique and effort, and consistently holds up against pullers and down blocks on outside zone plays.
His pass-rush plan on the edge is built around a long-arm, often paired with a counter move such as a chop or an inside rip, rather than relying on speed-to-power off a jet. When used inside on 3rd-and-long, his frame allows him to cross-face guards on stunts and generate push. His ceiling is limited by average bend and non-elite get-off.
One-gap 4-3 penetrating front with dedicated run-stopping ends who can reduce inside and rush from the 3-technique and 5-technique, along with mixed Cover 2/4 shells.
Year 1 rotational strong-side DE providing run defense and interior pass rush, with a ceiling as a reliable starter at SDE.
A system that requires edge rushers to consistently win with explosive first-step quickness and bend the edge from a stand-up wide-9 alignment.
Basham's play strength, hand usage, and positional flexibility make him a good fit for schemes valuing versatility and power, rather than pure speed off the edge.
Carlos Basham Jr. 2020 Regular Season Highlights
Official ACC 2020 reel showing the All-ACC first-team season — SDE run stops, long-arm bulls and interior sub-package rushes.
Carlos Basham Scouting Report (2021 NFL Draft)
Independent scouting cut breaking down the SDE + interior rush plan, bend limits and Day-2 projection into Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills — Carlos Basham Jr.
Pre-camp career reel packaged around the Bills pick, framing the rotational hybrid rusher role behind Hughes and Addison.
He projects as a versatile strong-side defensive end and interior sub-package rusher, valued for his ability to contribute against both the run and the pass. His frame and strength allow him to occupy blockers and reset the line of scrimmage, providing a consistent presence on the defensive front even without elite edge-bending traits. He recorded a 4.87 forty-yard dash at his pro day.
He was a four-year contributor at Wake Forest, aligning as both a strong-side defensive end and an interior rusher on passing downs. In 2020, he earned All-ACC first-team honors after posting 5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss over eight games, demonstrating his impact in various alignments and situations throughout his college career.
Concerns among evaluators centered on his average get-off and bend, which limited his potential as a pure speed rusher. He was widely projected to be a Day 2 selection, valued for his versatility as a front-four piece. He was ultimately drafted in the second round, at pick 61.
- 01
Prototype Edge Frame
Prototype Edge Frame — Possesses a prototype edge frame at 6-3, 281 pounds with 33 1/8-inch arms, providing NFL length and mass.
- 02
Uses Power Rush Toolkit
Uses Power Rush Toolkit — Utilizes a power-rush toolkit, demonstrating converted power with his long-arm and stab moves to collapse the pocket.
- 03
Positional Flexibility
Positional Flexibility — Exhibits positional flexibility, taking reps kicked inside to 3-technique on passing downs for matchup advantages.
- 04
Sturdy Run Defender
Sturdy Run Defender — Shows sturdiness in run defense, using hand placement and leverage to hold the C-gap against tight-end blocks.
- 05
Developed Hand Usage
Developed Hand Usage — Flashes developed hand usage, incorporating cross-chops, swipes, and long-arm sequences into his pass-rush plan.
- 01
Average Initial Quickness
Average Initial Quickness — Displays average first-step quickness and corner bend, struggling to threaten the arc as a pure speed rusher.
- 02
Relies on Long-Arm
Relies on Long-Arm — His pass-rush plan relies heavily on the long-arm as a primary and secondary move, needing genuine counters.
- 03
Modest Sack Production
Modest Sack Production — Production in terms of sacks was considered modest for a projected top-60 edge, not matching his traits.
- 04
Positional Projection Uncertainty
Positional Projection Uncertainty — Evaluation includes some positional projection uncertainty, with teams viewing him as a 3-4 base or strong-side end.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.64sp50
- Vertical
- 34inp50
- Broad jump
- 122inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.13sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.25sp50
- Bench
- 20repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Wake Forest | 13 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018 | Wake Forest | 12 | 64 | 4.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | Wake Forest | 13 | 57 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | Wake Forest | 7 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | — | 45 | 173 | 20.5 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Realistic: rotational strong-side DE / sub-package interior piece
Ceiling: hybrid SDE/interior rusher, unlikely without the same bend
Floor: rotation big-DE role player with limited pass-rush ceiling
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Bust. Never carved out a rotational role — 2 sacks total across three seasons in Buffalo. Signed with the Giants in 2024 as a depth edge, cut in 2025 camp. Correct grade, wrong slot; the pick, not the player, was the miss.
Four-year Wake Forest contributor and 2020 All-ACC first team who posted 5 sacks and 8.5 TFL in eight games as a hybrid strong-side DE and inside rusher on passing downs. Measured 6'3 3/8"/281 with 33 1/8" arms — a base-end / big-DE body without the bendy edge trait, closer to a Bosa-family strong-side archetype than a speed-rush pure edge. Pro-day 4.87 forty and average bend testing put him firmly in the Day-2 range as a versatile front-four piece rather than a plus edge win-rate bet. Fit with Buffalo: Sean McDermott / Leslie Frazier drafted him at #61 to be the SDE + interior sub-package rusher behind Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison. Rookie year 2.5 sacks in 15 games as a rotational piece. 2022 slipped down the depth chart with Von Miller signing. 2023 traded to the Giants in October for a sixth-round pick after being cut in a Bills roster crunch. 2024 played in New York (2.5 sacks, 15 games) as a rotational SDE and moved to the Chargers on a one-year deal 2025. Retrospective: Rotational role player from Day-2 range — never carved out a starter role, delivered ~2.5 sacks/year on rotation snaps and bounced through 3 teams, so pick outcome grades as a soft miss vs the pre-draft top-60 range but not a bust.