Brenton Cox Jr. Complete NFL Draft Profile (Proven Physicality Should Help Cox Adjust to NFL Play)

Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. is eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft following his standout college career. A consistent contributor for the Gators, Cox was usually found making a highlight play behind the line of scrimmage and could hear his name called as early as the third round at the end of April.

Here's everything you need to know about Brenton Cox Jr. heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.

Brenton Cox Jr. Draft Stock & Mock Draft Projections

Mock draft sources accurate as of 4/26: NFL.com, ESPN, CBS Sports, Walter Football, Sporting News.

Projected Draft Round: Round 3 (1), Round 4 (1), Round 7 (1), Undrafted (2)
Projected Team: Texans (1), Bengals (1), Patriots (1)

Brenton Cox Jr. Scouting Report

Cox committed to play at Georgia coming out of high school and made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, logging 20 total tackles (2.0 for loss) and 1.0 sacks as a freshman. He was then released from the team after being arrested for marijuana possession and signed with the Florida Gators.

The Georgia native redshirted for a year before becoming a reliable contributor from 2020-22. He totaled 118 total tackles (32.5 for loss), 13.5 sacks and 7 pass breakups in 33 games in that span. Cox was released from the team after only eight games last season, though, for an unspecified reason.

Highlighted strengths of Cox's game focus on his physicality. He has the size (6-foot-4, 250 pounds) to bully offensive linemen in pass rush attempts and the strength to hold his ground when containing the edge in rush defense. He has also showcased enough speed to catch ball-carriers from behind.

Cox is far from a perfect prospect, though, as his issues off the field obviously present as a red flag. The Florida star also shows a tendency to start late when the ball is snapped, but that is something that can be fixed through experience. Nevertheless, Cox has the traits of a traditional NFL linebacker.

Brenton Cox Jr. NFL Draft Prediction

Cox's ability to make an instant difference in rush defense should land him with a team aiming to upgrade that area. Any improvement he would make in terms of his pass-rushing abilities would be an added bonus. Cox's best chance of being a reliable starter will come through learning from the best.

That makes the Patriots stick out as a potential landing spot. Head coach Bill Belichick is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL and has a knack for getting even the most controversial players to live up to expectations on the field. It also doesn't hurt that New England has Matthew Judon ready to be a mentor.

Keep in mind the Patriots finished among the top 10 teams in both rushing yards allowed per game as well as opponent yards per carry. Cox would definitely be a luxury addition, but one that could help the Patriots stay relevant in the AFC East. It would likely cost them just a fourth or fifth-round pick.

Prediction: New England Patriots (Round 4, 117th overall)

Check out more NFL Draft content from The Duel:

Brenton Cox Jr. NFL Combine Results

Brenton Cox Jr. College Stats

Brenton Cox Jr. College Highlights

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.