Tyler Lacy Has His NFL Combine Day
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s Tyler Lacy had his day in Indianapolis at the 2023 NFL Combine on March 2 and he didn’t waste it. Lacy measured at 6-4, 270-pounds with his arm measurement at 33.25 inches and his hand was 10.8-inches. Lacy did a solid 28.5-inches on the vertical jump and a better than average 9-feet-8-inches on the broad jump. While Lacy competed with defensive linemen and linebackers March 2, Cowboys safety Jason Taylor II will workout Friday, March 3 with defensive backs.
The versatile defensive lineman that started off as a defensive end when he arrived at Oklahoma State from Sachse, Texas and then developed into a nose in the three-man-front and this past season he could bounce from three technique out to the seven technique. He was a three-time All-Big 12 honoree as honorable mention.
Lacy finished with 113 career tackles, 59 unassisted stops, 30 tackles-for-loss, 11.5 sacks, and 22 quarterback hurries. He deflected four passes, forced three fumbles, and recovered two loose balls.
In the forty-yard-dash Lacy was slower than some of the lighter defensive ends to get to speed and on the NFL Network telecast they had him unofficially at 5.15 seconds and a second run of 5.19. His official time was 5.11 seconds. It looks like Lacy, who played and showed up Senior Bowl week has a new shoe deal as he was wearing white Adidas with gold stripes for his workout.
He showed good movement in the wave drill on the field with the one exception of going to his left he anticipated a movement change early, so he kind of double clutched. He was competitive and trying to beat the drill. I can’t blame him for that.
When they got to the four-bag agility drill, Lacy’s experience on Rob Glass’ competition days showed up as he mastered the bags not moving one and going through smooth. Lacy was solid on the pass rush drill as he has a good swim move and he defied one of the weaknesses listed below in his NFL evaluation that he has hip tightness that limits his sink. He sunk low and fast coming out.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line coach and a former assistant at Oklahoma State, Kansas and TCU over the year Karl Dunbar encouraged him on the drill, saying, “C’mon Cowboy” and “good movement.”
Dunbar had Lacy do the demonstration on the run and climb drill. This is a staggered bag drill where the swim move comes up huge. Lacy was good on the demo and better on his rep as Dunbar yelled out, “excellent body control big man.”
Lacy did not do the back pedal and short drop drill. He also did not do the bench press rep test, likely waiting to do that at Oklahoma State Pro Day on March 23.
Here is the NFL.com evaluations on Lacy who comes up as a 6.18 prospect considered excellent back-up that could develop into a starter.
NFL.com Scouting Evaluation from Lance Zierlein:
Lacy is usually first with his hands but needs to learn to jolt opponents and control the block more consistently with them. His block take-on can be a little bit segmented and he can be driven off his turf as a three-technique, but he has the length and athleticism to cause disruption in a one-gapping scheme. Lacy has talent as an interior rusher but might be better suited as a five-technique or 4-3 base end on early downs.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
| NFL-ready frame with above average athleticism | Upper-body power could use more work |
| Massive hands and long arms | Comes off the ball with elevated pad level |
| Movements are loose and natural from engagement to pursuit | Could use better explosiveness into first contact |
| Sees the action and discards the block with good timing | Hip tightness limits his sink and anchor as an interior defender |
| Snap quickness helps him beat lateral blocks into the gap | Got worn down by physical Kansas State offensive line |
| Creates a rush itinerary that includes attacking edges | Uneven getting from move to move as a rusher |
| Very capable with his hands in all facets | Below average bull-rush power |
| Punishing slap and smooth swim move allow access to the pocket |