Redskins Draft Defensive Tackle Tim Settle in Round 5

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April 28, 2018; Updated 8:45 p.m ET

by Steve Thomas

The Washington Redskins drafted Virginia Tech defensive tackle Tim Settle with the 26th pick in round 5 today, 163rd overall.  He is the second interior defensive lineman selected by the Redskins during this year’s draft, behind Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne, who was Washington’s first round pick.

Settle, 6’3” and 330 pounds, played 23 games in three years for the Hokies and was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2017.   During his collegiate career, he made 28 solo tackles, 25 assisted tackles, and 4 sacks.  He was timed at 5.37 seconds in the 40 yard dash and posted a 23.5 inch vertical leap at the NFL Combine; however, Settle improved his performance at the Virginia Tech pro day in March, running the 40 in 5.22 seconds and jump 25.0 inches in the vertical leap.  He did not do the bench press.

Settle, who was originally projected to be selected as high as the first or second round by some prior to the NFL Combine, is principally a nose tackle but does have the ability to move outside to the 3 technique as well. He is fairly agile considering his size and has good hips and good balance.  His quickness allows him to provide some pass rush. Settle plays low to the ground and can be disruptive and destructive.  He is a player who battled the need for weight loss and improved conditioning in college, and the Redskins coaching staff will need to help him continue to work on improving his technique.

Settle joins a now-crowded defensive line group that includes last year’s first round pick Jonathan Allen, Matt Ioannidis, Payne, Ziggy Hood, and 2017 free agent signings Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee, among others.  It appears as though the long-term plan for this group is for Allen and Payne to be the primary 3/5 technique tackles, with Settle rotating in at nose tackle.

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden stated that he was surprised at Settle’s availability in round 5 and noted that “He’s a big, wide body, has good feet, good short-area quickness, plays off blocks well. He’s disruptive in the passing game and I think can play multiple spots along the defensive line as [Da’Ron] Payne, as [Jonathan] Allen.”

In his introductory telephone conference with the DC media, Settle described his game as “Destructive, physical, explosive, raw”,. When asked about his abilities against the pass, he stated, “I feel like if it’s one-on-one, then I’m going to win every time. If it’s two-on-one, I’m still going to win a majority of them.”  As has been the case for nearly every defensive lineman, Settle had praise for defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, provided that “he’s keeping it 100. He talks from his heart. He’ s not going to beat around the bush. He’s honest, you know? He told me, ‘If you come here, you’re going to work.”

We’ll have a complete wrap-up of all of the draft choices on the next episode of The Hog Sty.

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