Joshua Farmer 2025 NFL Draft Florida State DT Scouting Report

In a loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, a high-upside DT to keep on your radar is Joshua Farmer. He’s a versatile DT from Florida State with an explosive first step. 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.

Joshua Farmer 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Farmer, a native of Port St. Joe, Florida, arrived at Florida State as a three-star recruit out of Gadsden County High School. Initially a raw but promising athlete, Farmer redshirted in 2021 and steadily developed into a key piece of FSU’s defensive line. Over his final two seasons (2023-2024), he started 25 games, showcasing a blend of power and agility that caught the eye of NFL scouts. Known for his leadership, he was voted a team captain in 2024 and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition.

Furthermore, Farmer projects best as a penetrating 3-technique in a one-gap 4-3 defense. There, his quickness and power can be unleashed to disrupt plays in the backfield. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Cincinnati Bengals, who prioritize interior pass-rush production, could maximize his skill set early. Alternatively, he could develop into a 3-4 defensive end in a scheme that allows him to attack gaps rather than two-gap consistently.

Initially, Farmer profiles as a rotational pass-rush specialist with the potential to grow into a three-down starter. His ceiling depends on how quickly he refines his technique and adapts to NFL-level blocking schemes.

HT: 6032
WT: 305
40: 5.12
ARM: 3378

Strengths:

• Explosive First Step: Farmer consistently fires off the ball with a quick initial burst, often catching interior linemen off guard in one-gap schemes. His ability to penetrate gaps makes him a disruptor in the backfield.
• Upper-Body Power: Possesses a strong punch and violent hands, capable of jarring guards and centers at the point of attack. He can control blockers and dictate engagement when he gets his hands inside.
• Versatility Across Alignments: Has experience lining up as a 3-technique, 1-technique, and occasionally shaded over the nose. Shows flashes of being able to handle 5-technique duties in odd fronts.
• Motor and Effort: He plays through the whistle with a blue-collar mentality. He frequently pursues plays outside his immediate area and shows up in hustle stats (e.g., cleaning up tackles after initial disruption).
• Pass-Rush Potential: While raw, Farmer displays a developing array of moves, including a club-rip combo and a promising bull rush. His closing burst allows him to finish when he gets free.

Areas for Improvement:

• Inconsistent Pad Level: He occasionally plays too high, negating his natural leverage advantage. This exposes his chest and allows double teams to push him upright and out of gaps.
• Limited Counters: His pass-rush arsenal is still developing. He relies heavily on his initial burst and power but lacks refined secondary moves when his first plan fails.
• Run Defense Anchor: While powerful, Farmer struggles against combo blocks and double teams in early downs. He needs to improve his ability to stack and shed to hold his ground consistently.
• Lateral Agility: Shows stiffness when redirecting against zone schemes or chasing outside runs. He can be slow to recover if initially misaligned or taken out of his gap.
• Technique Refinement: Hand placement and footwork need polish. Occasionally loses balance on push-pull attempts and can be slow to disengage from blocks in the run game.

Conclusion:

All in all, Farmer is a high-upside defensive tackle prospect with the physical tools to make an impact at the NFL level. His explosive get-off, raw power, and versatility across alignments make him an intriguing Day 2 target for teams needing interior disruption. However, his inconsistency against the run and need for technical refinement temper expectations for an immediate starting role. With proper coaching, Farmer has the potential to develop into a reliable starter and occasional game-changer on the interior.

Ultimately, like Javon Hargrave coming out of South Carolina State, Farmer combines a quick first step with raw power but needs time to polish his technique and consistency against the run. Hargrave’s development into a Pro Bowl-caliber DT offers a blueprint for Farmer’s potential trajectory. Look for him in round three of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

Round Grade: 3rd Round

Stats: Per Sports Reference

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