Yates possesses an intriguing frame with room to add good weight without sacrificing his natural length and quickness. He showed well in combine testing, posting impressive metrics that underscore his athletic upside. His length allows him to play bigger than his current weight suggests, and his quickness off the line was evident in drills. This combination makes him a prototypical EDGE build for modern defenses that prioritize speed and bend over pure bulk. Yates’ get-off is a standout trait—he explodes out of his stance with impressive burst, allowing him to challenge offensive tackles early in the rep. He demonstrates solid hip flexibility and bend around the edge, which helps him dip under blocks and maintain leverage when turning the corner.

When Yates commits to a physical approach, he can handle blockers. He secured a couple of reps by getting his hands inside and driving through contact, showing flashes of the bully mentality that could develop into a reliable power rush. His combine performance highlighted his long, quick frame, suggesting he has the raw tools to develop into a multi-faceted pass rusher. While he won a few reps through sheer physicality, his attempts to bully blockers frequently fell short due to insufficient play strength. Yates doesn’t have a deep bag of moves yet—he relies heavily on speed and initial burst but lacks counters or secondary techniques to win when his first step is neutralized. This made him predictable in extended reps. His hand usage is underdeveloped; hands come up slowly, reducing his ability to shed blocks efficiently. He often tries to initiate with a bull rush but lacks the current strength to consistently overpower stronger linemen, leading to stalemates or losses at the point of attack. Another good player that couldn’t breakthrough to top 5, but was a certain honorable mention.

Yates brings a powerful physical presence to the defensive line, showing strength and toughness on film that make him a reliable early-down defender. He consistently maintains leverage against blockers, anchors at the point of attack, and disrupts run lanes, making him particularly effective against inside and outside runs. His size and physicality allow him to set the edge, control gaps, and impact plays without needing elite speed or flash. Yates’ understanding of gap integrity and defensive assignments makes him a dependable piece on any defensive front.

On the field, Yates projects best as a strong-side defensive end in a 4–3 front, where his run-stopping ability can be maximized without relying heavily on pass-rush explosiveness. He can anchor against double teams, set the edge against outside runs, and provide stability for linebackers flowing to the ball. His size, toughness, and situational awareness make him an ideal piece in early-down defensive schemes, where he can dominate the line of scrimmage and provide a foundation for the front seven.