Mississippi State defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy is among the toughest, most selfless defensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft. Crumedy is a high-level run-stopper who takes on multiple blocks. Crumedy is also super athletic, having run the 40-yard dash in 4.97 seconds at the NFL Combine while tipping the scales at over 300 pounds.
Crumedy recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network about his 2023 career-best season, his eye-popping performance at the NFL Combine, which teams have shown interest in his services, and more.
JM: I thought you took a big step forward this season. You recorded career highs in tackles (35), sacks (2.5), and pass breakups (2). What led to the uptick in production?
Jaden Crumedy: I just feel like it came from my personal motivation. I wanted to be a better player and strive to reach new heights. I poured a lot of time and hard work into that. I was doing more drill work than ever before. I watched a lot of film that helped me along the way. I feel like I did a great job with my preparation.
I’m ready to take the next step and continue getting better at the next level. I want to reach my performance ceiling as a player. I want to keep showing people what I can do.
JM: Is Jaden Crumedy a better run-stopper or pass-rusher at this point in time?
Jaden Crumedy: I’m most definitely a better run-stopper at this point in time. I’m a taller guy, but I do a great job staying low with my pad level and winning the leverage battle. I take on two guys and win the battle in the trenches.
My power comes from physicality. It serves me well in the run game. Stopping the run brings a lot of excitement and joy to me. I love taking on two blocks and helping my teammates make plays. I like commanding the line of scrimmage and preventing running backs from reaching the second level. I love helping my linebackers make a play.
JM: You’re a selfless teammate and run-stopper. You’re also very athletic. You put forth an outstanding performance at the NFL Combine. You ran a 4.97 40 with 2.87 and 1.69 splits at 301 pounds. That's incredible. Were you satisfied with the performance?
Jaden Crumedy: I most definitely was. There was a lot of pre-draft training preparation that went into those numbers. All of that hard work reached the conclusion I wanted it to. I was very happy with the numbers. I felt good about everything I did out there.
JM: As you should. It was a great showing. Have you noticed an uptick in the attention you're receiving from NFL teams since the combine?
Jaden Crumedy: Yeah, I most definitely am. A lot more teams started reaching out to me. A good amount of teams I’d say. I’ve been on phone calls with coaches. I went to Pittsburgh for a 30 visit with the Steelers. I’ve also hopped on Zoom with almost every team. I was with the Titans, Commanders, Patriots, Raiders, Seahawks, and Vikings come to mind. It’s been a great experience for me.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time today. What kind of impact is Jaden Crumedy going to make at the next level?
Jaden Crumedy: I’m going to bring a great personality and work ethic into the locker room. I want to be a great all-around player. I can play multiple positions across the entire defensive line. I’m going to bring a lot of juice as a consistent performer.
