Tyler Lancaster was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. The scouts got it right, says Tyler Lancaster.
Lancaster rarely penetrated the backfield in four seasons at Northwestern. In 39 starts over his final three years, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive tackle had three sacks and two forced fumbles. He had 13 tackles for loss the last two years, including 9.5 as a senior in 2017 but make very few highlight-reel plays.
“The scouts did their jobs," he said after signing a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.
He doesn't mean the Packers' scout did their jobs in making a top priority after the draft. He means NFL scouts did their jobs in realizing he didn't do enough to get drafted. Though Lancaster is motivated, he's not irate or bitter at teams for passing on him.
“You see other guys making plays out there, and I’m like, ‘Man, I should be doing that,’ and unfortunately I hadn’t.
"That’s one part of my game I want to step up. I want to get in there on the pass rush. I want to start making plays. Even though before I was just doing my job, I have to go above and beyond doing my job. That’s how I’m going to make it.”
The Packers did not draft a defensive tackle for just the fourth time since 2003 but Lancaster is one of three rookie defensive tackles in minicamp this week, alongside free-agent signee Filipo Mokofisi (Utah) and minicamp invitee Caleb Melton (Cal Poly).
