Name: Ed Oliver
Position: Defensive lineman
School: Houston
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 287
40-yard dash: Did not run
Bench: 32 reps
Vertical: 36.0 inches
Broad: 120.0 inches
3-cone: Did not run
20-yard shuttle: Did not run
How he fits: Oliver is a bit undersized at 6-foot-2, but some analysts said the same thing about Aaron Donald (6-foot) coming out of Pittsburgh in 2013, and he's made a pretty good career for himself in the NFL thus far.
Oliver's game is like Donald's in that he's at his best as a penetrator and disruptor from the interior. He played all over the line in Houston, even nose tackle, but he'll probably work in the three-technique at the NFL level. He's athletic enough to also swing outside and rush from the edge.
Oliver was asked to perform both defensive line and linebacker drills at the Combine, which speaks to his athleticism and versatility.
The Lions are looking for players who can rush the quarterback, affect the pocket and make plays. Oliver seems like he could be a moveable player in a defense that prides itself on being multiple from week to week.
Key observations: Oliver was the first five star recruit to sign with a non-Power Five conference school in Houston, according to NFL.com. He went to work right away recording 23 tackles for loss as a true freshman, the second most in the nation.
Oliver won the Outland Trophy and was a finalist for the Nagurski Award as a sophomore after recording 73 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, mostly while being double teamed. He suffered a knee injury this past season and played in eight games with 54 tackles, a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Similar to Devin White, who was profiled last Friday, Oliver owns and rides horses as an off-the-field hobby.
View photos of NFL prospect Ed Oliver.
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2016, file photo, Lamar running back Kade Harrington, right, is tackled for a loss by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Houston. Oliver was named to the AP Preseason All-America Team on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
Portrait of Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Portrait of Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver does the bench press drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Houston, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Houston Cougars defensive tackle Ed Oliver does the Cougar Paw with his teammates and the Bayou Bucket trophy after defeating Rice in a NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Florida Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Portrait of Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver during the NFL Scouting Combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver looks on during the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 3, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver does the bench press drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) works to get around Rice offensive lineman Uzoma Osuji (77) during a NCAA college football game, in Houston. Oliver was named to The Associated Press Midseason All-America team, Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018.(AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver drinks from a Gatorade cup during the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 3, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver poses for a headshot during the 2019 Scouting Combine,Friday, Mar. 1, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) zeros in on SMU quarterback Ben Hicks (8) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2017, file photo, SMU offensive lineman Evan Brown (63) blocks Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) during an NCAA college football game in Houston. At 6-foot-3 and 290, Oliver combines power, quickness and rare sideline-to-sideline speed for an interior lineman. Houston will push him as a Heisman Trophy contender, but he is more likely to be the first pick in next year’s draft. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2018, file photo, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) jumps over Rice offensive lineman Uzoma Osuji during a NCAA college football game, in Houston. Mired in a three-game losing streak and desperate to get some production from its struggling offense, Navy faces the unenviable task of going up against surging Houston and standout defensive tackle Ed Oliver. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)
Central Florida quarterback McKenzie Milton, left, avoids the tackle of Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, in Houston. Houston won 31-24. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, left, sacks Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) is blocked by Texas Tech offensive lineman Paul Stawarz (76) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Houston. Texas Tech won 27-24. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
File-This Oct. 28, 2017, file photo shows Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver stopping South Florida running back Darius Tice (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tampa, Fla. Oliver was selected to the AP All-America team announced Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver (10) keeps a handle on Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) in the second half of Houston's 33-23 victory in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/George Bridges)
Connecticut quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, left, is sacked by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is sacked by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
What they had to say about him: "With his football flexibility and natural biomechanics, he has rare athletic ability for the position with the backfield vision to recognize play designs and disrupt from different angles. Oliver still requires time to develop his body, mind and technique at the next level. He will struggle with long-armed blockers who get to his frame and control his chest, but his energy and motor are both elite. Overall, Oliver won't be a natural fit for every NFL scheme, but he is an ideal one-gap penetrator due to his athleticism, instincts and relentless nature, projecting best when he is lined up closest to the football." – Dane Brugler, The Athletic
How he stacks up: Brugler is pretty high on Oliver, listing him as the No. 5 overall prospect in this draft in his recently released top 100 prospects.
NFL Network draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah lists Oliver as the No. 6 overall prospect. Oliver comes in at No. 8 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board.
Scouts Inc. lists Oliver as the No. 7 overall prospect in this draft class.
What he had to say: "I feel like I can play anywhere on the front seven," Oliver said at the Combine. "I don't feel like I'll be wasting anybody's time anywhere on the front seven. I think I'd be wasting people's time if I was on the bench. I'd be wasting your time and money."
