Chris
Rumph.
Chris
Rumph.
Duke· 6'2"· 244 lb
"A 6'3", 244-pound Duke edge with 6.5 sacks in a shortened 2020 (six games) and sub-34" arms — a Round-4 sub-package rusher whose frame capped him to third-down and hybrid LB duty."Pre-draft read
This undersized designated pass-rusher functions best as a stand-up outside linebacker in odd fronts or a wide-9 sub-package end. He wins with first-step quickness and short-area bend, dipping the near shoulder to reduce the tackle's target and whipping his hip around the corner rather than attempting to overpower the anchor. His hand usage is average, featuring a decent chop-rip combo and an occasional inside spin.
As a run defender, he plays smaller than his listed size, getting sealed inside by pulling guards and struggling to consistently set a hard edge against gap-scheme runs. Effort and pursuit angles are consistently praised, as he closes chase plays from the backside. Coverage snaps are functional in short zones and short motion carries.
Fangio 3-4 front or hybrid nickel system where one-off pass-rush skills are prioritized, with the ability to flex alignments.
Immediate special teams contributor and sub-package pass rusher in year one, with a ceiling as a situational stand-up rusher in a diverse front.
Traditional 4-3 base front as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end where he would be asked to consistently set a hard edge.
Rumph projects as a third-down designated pass rusher due to elite burst and bend, but his undersized frame and lack of length limit his every-down utility.
Chris Rumph II NFL Draft Tape | Duke DL
Pre-draft ACC cutup showing get-off, bend and hybrid alignments at Duke.
Selecting Duke DE Chris Rumph II The 118th Pick | LA Chargers
Chargers' internal breakdown at the moment of the pick, with college cutups.
Demario Davis & Chris Rumph II Saints vs. Broncos
2025 Saints clip showing Rumph's rotational role and pursuit speed as a veteran end.
Chris Rumph II was viewed as a high-motor, quick-twitch prospect with significant college production. He was projected as a sub-package pass rusher, expected to provide a team with an immediate third-down rotation option, leveraging his demonstrated ability to generate pressure off the edge.
He produced 12.5 sacks and 22.5 TFLs across three seasons at Duke, including 6.5 sacks in just six games in 2020. He was deployed in hybrid roles within Duke's under-front scheme, playing both hand-in-the-dirt and stand-up positions, as well as dropping into coverage. This usage against ACC competition provided evaluators with tape showcasing his versatility.
Concerns about his frame flagged him for a specific role; at 6'3" and 244 pounds with sub-threshold arm length (33-3/4 inches), his projection was limited to specialized pass-rush duties rather than a full-time, early-down role. Consensus boards placed him in the 100-150 range, with the Chargers ultimately selecting him in the fourth round.
- 01
Elite first-step quickness
He shows elite first-step quickness among the best in his class for generating pressure.
- 02
Notable bend and ankle flexibility
He possesses notable bend and ankle flexibility, allowing him to dip the corner and turn the arc effectively.
- 03
Consistent motor and closing speed
His consistent motor and excellent closing speed are evident in downfield pursuit.
- 04
Hybrid alignment experience
He has experience in hybrid alignments, playing various roles in Duke's defense.
- 05
Disruptive inside counters
He effectively uses inside counters against over-setting tackles and recognizes RPOs and screens.
- 01
Sub-threshold length and mass
His 6'3" and 244-pound frame with 33-3/4" arms limits his projection to sub-package roles.
- 02
Struggles anchoring against run
He struggles significantly with anchor deficit against the run, often displaced by pulling guards.
- 03
Limited pass-rush counters
He relies heavily on bend, lacking a consistent inside spin or long-arm when the arc is sealed.
- 04
No verified athletic data
Key athletic grades are based solely on tape due to the 2021 combine cancellation.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
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- Vertical
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- Broad jump
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- Three-cone
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- Shuttle
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- Bench
- 18repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Duke | 13 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | Duke | 12 | 47 | 6.5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | Duke | 11 | 51 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | — | 36 | 123 | 17.5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Realistic outcome — a rotational sub-package edge with a productive year or two but no full-time role.
Ceiling comp if the frame filled out — an undersized ACC/PAC edge who became a paid every-down starter through length and bend.
Downside comp — an undersized college pass-rusher who bounces between practice squads and 17-game rosters without carving a role.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Bust. 1.5 sacks across three seasons in Los Angeles, cut in 2024. Signed with the Dolphins in 2025 as depth. Sub-package specialist that never got the specialist snaps.
Pre-draft context. Chris Rumph II arrived at Duke as a 220-pound recruit and left as a 6'3", 244-pound designated pass-rusher with 33-3/4" arms and 9-1/4" hands — light for the position, but the tape spoke. In David Cutcliffe's under-fronts he lined up as a stand-up rush LB and hand-in-the-dirt end, producing 12.5 career sacks and 22.5 TFLs across three seasons, including 6.5 sacks in just six games during a COVID-shortened 2020. The 2021 combine cancellation meant no verified splits; Duke's pro day reported 18 bench reps and adequate lateral drills, but no widely circulated forty. Boards had him as a Day 3 sub-package rusher — PFF and NFL.com landed in the 110-140 band — with the frame flag driving the tie between "quicker than most Round-4 edges" and "no NFL role on early downs."
NFL fit — Los Angeles Chargers. Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley used the 118th pick to add a designated sub rusher behind Joey Bosa and Uchenna Nwosu in Staley's 3-4 nickel-heavy scheme. Rumph flashed as a rookie (3 sacks in a limited role) and got more snaps in 2022 (2 sacks), but never carved out a full-time role once Khalil Mack arrived. He was inactive stretches of 2023, released after the 2023 season, spent 2024 bouncing between the Texans and Bears practice squads, then landed on his feet with the New Orleans Saints in 2025, where he played all 17 games and posted a career-high 2.0 sacks and 39 tackles as a rotational end.
Retrospective. Five NFL seasons, three teams, roughly 5.0 career sacks: the outcome scouts feared for the frame more or less arrived. Rumph is a real NFL edge — he made a roster every year — but never became the sub-package weapon the Chargers hoped they were getting, and the 2024 practice-squad year is the tell on his ceiling. A backup outcome from a Round-4 pick isn't a disaster; it's the median expectation, which is why the profile grades out as mixed rather than a miss.