Aeneas Peebles 2025 NFL Draft: Virginia Tech DT Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, a standout edge rusher to know is Aeneas Peebles. He’s an excellent pass rusher from Virginia Tech with a high motor. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Aeneas Peebles 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Peebles, a Raleigh, North Carolina native, emerged as a standout defensive tackle after a decorated high school career at Knightdale High. While there, he racked up 195 tackles and 27 sacks over his final two seasons. Impressively, he earned Northern Athletic 4A Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019.
A three-star recruit, Peebles began his collegiate journey at Duke University. During that time, he played four seasons (2020-2023), appearing in 47 games and amassing 84 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss (TFLs), and 7.5 sacks.
After transferring to Virginia Tech for his final year of eligibility in 2024, Peebles solidified his reputation as a disruptive interior lineman. In total, he racked up 31 tackles (11 solo), 6.5 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks in 12 starts. Additionally, his performance earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. Not to mention, a 90.3 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus. This highlights his elite production as a pass-rushing defensive tackle.
Peebles projects as a rotational interior defensive lineman with immediate value as a pass-rush specialist on obvious passing downs. His explosiveness and technique make him a fit for 4-3 defenses that prioritize penetration over gap control, likely as a 3-technique or 4i-technique. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers, or San Francisco 49ers—each of whom met with him during the pre-draft process—could maximize his skill set in sub-packages. Unfortunately, his size and run-defense limitations cap his ceiling. However, further development of his pass-rush counters and tackling consistency could elevate him to a quality starter in the right system.
Furthermore, Peebles possesses a compact, low-to-the-ground frame at 6’0” and 282 pounds. This gives him natural leverage against taller offensive linemen. While undersized by traditional NFL defensive tackle standards, his explosive lower-body strength and quick-twitch athleticism compensate for his lack of ideal height and length. His 4.94-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine (fourth among DTs) and 32.5-inch vertical jump (seventh among DTs) underscore his exceptional burst and agility for the position. However, his shorter arm length (31 3/4 inches) limits his ability to extend and disengage from blockers once they lock onto his frame.
HT: 6004
WT: 282
HAND: 938
ARM: 3138
40: 4.94
Strengths:
- Explosive First Step: Peebles’ get-off is among the best in this draft class for interior linemen. He consistently fires out of his stance with suddenness, often beating guards and centers off the snap to penetrate gaps.
- Pass-Rush Arsenal: His pass-rushing ability stands out, blending quickness with a refined set of moves, including a devastating swim move, a spin counter, and a bull rush that leverages his low center of gravity. His 17.4% pass rush win rate since 2023 led all FBS defensive tackles, per PFF.
- Motor and Effort: Peebles plays with relentless energy, chasing plays sideline-to-sideline and excelling on secondary rushes. His hustle often results in pressures or sacks when quarterbacks hold the ball too long.
- Leverage: His shorter stature is an asset, allowing him to stay under blockers’ pads and disrupt plays in the backfield. He’s difficult to move when he establishes position in single-gap scenarios.
- Football IQ: Peebles displays a cerebral approach, reading snap counts and setting up blockers with calculated moves rather than relying solely on athleticism.
Areas for Improvement:
- Size Limitations: At his size and length, Peebles struggles against larger, more powerful linemen who can engulf him. He’s vulnerable to double teams and lacks the anchor to hold ground consistently in two-gap schemes.
- Run Defense Inconsistency: While he flashes disruptive potential against the run, Peebles’ tackling technique is inconsistent, leading to missed opportunities in the backfield. His short arms hinder his tackle radius, and he can be washed out by down blocks.
- Over-Reliance on Swim Move: His go-to pass rush move is effective but predictable. NFL linemen with better preparation can counter it, exposing his chest and neutralizing his momentum.
- Snap Timing Issues: Peebles occasionally guesses on snap counts, resulting in neutral zone infractions that could be costly at the next level.
- Limited Scheme Fit: His skill set thrives in one-gap, penetrating defenses, but may not translate as well to systems requiring stout run-stuffing or two-gap responsibility.
Conclusion:
Overall, Peebles’ 2024 season at Virginia Tech showcased his ability to dominate as a pass-rushing specialist. Lined up primarily as a 3-technique or shaded nose, he generated 35 pressures (fifth among ACC DTs) and posted a 91.2 PFF pass-rush grade, the highest among qualifying interior defenders nationally. His three sacks and 6.5 TFLs don’t fully reflect his impact, as he consistently collapsed pockets and forced quarterbacks to scramble.
Against the run, he showed flashes of brilliance. Notably, a five-tackle, two-TFL performance against Rutgers. However, he struggled to finish plays when blockers got their hands on him first. His three pass breakups highlight his awareness and hand activity, a rare trait for a defensive tackle.
Similar to Calijah Kancey (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – An undersized, quick-twitch DT with a knack for interior pressure. Peebles’ Combine performance and Senior Bowl showing boosted his stock, but his lack of prototypical size may push him out of the top 100 picks. Still, his tape reveals a high-motor disruptor who can carve out a niche in the NFL. With coaching to refine his run defense and expand his pass-rush toolbox, Peebles has the potential to outplay his draft position and become a fan favorite for a team needing interior juice.
Overall, Aeneas Peebles is a lightning bolt in a compact package. More importantly, he’s a situational game-wrecker whose pass-rushing prowess outweighs his physical shortcomings. Unfortunately, he’s not an every-down player yet. However, he’ll make quarterbacks sweat from Day 1 in the right role. Look for him in Round 4 of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | PD | FR |
| 2020 | Duke | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | Duke | 12 | 6 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | Duke | 13 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023* | Duke | 13 | 13 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024* | Virginia Tech | 12 | 11 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Career | 60 | 39 | 79 | 21 | 11.5 | 6 | 1 |
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