Washington’s Bralen Trice is a Real Handful

It didn’t take long into my 2022 film session studying Washington Huskies’ Edge rusher Bralen Trice for him to get my attention.

Based on last year’s film – – Trice looks like he’s going to be a problem in the NFL.

He showed a rare combination of size, brute power, violent hands, speed, acceleration, tenacity, and a high effort level to get it done. There is no quit in Trice.

This guy brings it.

Pass rushing

Trice rotates in and out of the lineup and flip-flops from the left to right edge where he relentlessly keeps testing and attacking offensive tackles.

With cat quickness off the snap, he gets into blockers fast and I can’t stress enough how well he uses his hands.

Trice has explosive and devasting power at the point of attack that he uses combined with his speed to win through the back door of either side of the pocket or he just slips inside and blows up the pocket.

Pure and simple – – this Huskies’ edge is highly disruptive, and what makes him exceptional is he plays like he wants it.

Trice is very quarterback-minded.

To put him further into perspective as a pass rusher, according to Pro Football Focus, last season Trice logged 70 quarterback pressures. Edge Chase Young had 75 (2018), Nick Bosa had 66 (2017) and Joey Bosa had 75 (2014).

Against the run

Some guys are great pass rushers but leave a lot to be desired when playing the run.

However, that doesn’t describe Trice.

While he had mixed results against the run it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort, which got him in there making tackles and assists his fair share of the time.

He seems to be very disciplined and true to his assignments and there were a number of times he was content getting tied up outside while playing contain (on the edge).

However, he did miss a few tackles due to some slight tightness showing up in space and he could improve disengaging from blockers on running plays.

Where is Trice currently on the board?

Trice looks like the perfect pick in the first round in the range of 25-32. Just what the rest of the league needs, a playoff team adding another skilled pass rusher to their roster.

He’s along the lines of last year’s second-round pick (who I had in the first-round predraft) Tuli Tuipulotu (No. 54 overall), but not as polished in terms of a full arsenal of pass rush moves. According to Pro Football Focus, “Tuipulotu’s 13 quarterback pressures are the most by a rookie Edge rusher through three games since 2019, when San Francisco’s Nick Bosa had 17.”

There’s a little tightness there too that I alluded to with Trice, and questionable instincts that occasionally show up at times on film.

However, based on 2022 game film, Trice looks like he’s going to be a really good addition to an NFL roster in this pass-happy league. I can’t wait to see him on his 2023 tape to confirm.

#8 Bralen Trice 6-foot-4, 274 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 58.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 2, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, and Michigan State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 39 tackles (23 solo) and 10 sacks

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

An active and disruptive fighter with bullish strength and consistent high motor. A powerful human being. As a pass rusher, quick first step and rocks blockers initially like a wrecking ball and then uses long arms, quick hands, moves, and speed from there. Really shoots in. Can win outside or inside. Commanded 17 double teams in these games and worked his hardest to fight through those. Will chase down quarterbacks. Most reps either won or neutralized, with no notable consistent weaknesses shown. Athletic enough to drop into short-range coverages occasionally. Against the run often around the pile or in on tackles and assists as he gave good effort in this department. Football appears to be very important to him. Has some Khalil Mack to his game and similar size (Mack is 6-foot-3, 269 pounds).

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Can he put together back-to-back productive seasons at this level?

2. Tightness showing up on film?

3. Questionable instincts shown?

4. How does he look against the run?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.