
The Miami Dolphins selected Iowa Edge Max Llewellyn with the No. 238 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Max Llewellyn is a solid athlete who boasts a handful of pass-rush moves that he can use to win. That combination makes him an intriguing Day 3 prospect with the potential to contribute on third downs. The 6'5", 263-pound defensive end also has a decent frame that NFL teams will be interested in working with.
The 3-star recruit's collegiate career began at Iowa in 2021, where he redshirted as a true freshman. He didn't become a significant part of the Hawkeyes' defensive line rotation until 2024, when he collected 22 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble.
This past season, Llewellyn became a full-time starter and racked up 26 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, six PDs and two forced fumbles. That was good enough to earn him an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.
Highlights
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Where He Wins
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- Solid overall athlete who shows quickness, decent burst and lateral movement skills.
- Solid size and frame for an NFL defensive end. Has room to add weight if needed.
- Sets up his pass-rush moves well by stemming inside or outside and/or using head/shoulder fakes to manipulate offensive linemen.
- Active hands when rushing the passer.
- Has flashed several moves that he can win with: hand swipe, inside stick, swim, cross chop and inside spin.
- Gets his hands up when he doesn't win as a pass-rusher to bat passes at the line of scrimmage.
- Good at recognizing blocking schemes against the run to either work flat down the line of scrimmage when unblocked or put himself in a position to take on blocks.
Areas of Improvement
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- Subpar run defender overall. Lacks the strength to set the edge consistently against offensive tackles and gets washed inside against down blocks.
- Limited knockback power in his hands as a run defender. Will have issues getting extension on blocks and escaping in the NFL.
- Gets scooped out of his gap by combo blocks easily due to below-average rotational strength to prevent his shoulders from getting turned.
- Doesn't have the strength and power to effectively turn speed to power as a pass-rusher.
- Shows hip and ankle stiffness, making it difficult for him to turn tight corners and bend at the top of the rush.
Grade, Rank and Pro Comparison
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GRADE: 6.3 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)
COMPARABLE GRADE: Quandarrius Robinson, Alabama (6.4 in 2025), Brennan Jackson, Washington State (6.2 in 2024), Amare Barno, Virginia Tech (6.3 in 2022)
OVERALL RANK: 193
POSITION RANK: EDGE19
PRO COMPARISON: Cameron Thomas
Measurables and Testing Data
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Height: 6'6"
Weight: 258
Hand: 9"
Arm: 32¼"
Wingspan: 78"
40-Yard Dash: 4.81
10-Yard Split: 1.64
3-Cone: 7.23
Shuttle: 4.48
Vertical: 32.5"
Broad: 9'7"

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