Lander Barton

● Passes eye test with his tall, broad frame, thick trunk and wingspan ● Has room on his body to get up to 250 pounds, if he wants ● Physical versus the run, with base strength to leverage gaps and keep climbers off him ● Quick to read run keys and plays with a sense of what is going to happen ● Enough coverage range to undercut routes as hook/curl defender ● Skilled as delayed blitzer and can disguise his intentions ● Universally liked in the Utah program; voted a team captain in 2025 ● High pain tolerance and pushes through bumps and bruises ● Showcased versatility with tight end snaps in 2025 (seven targets resulted in six catches for 44 yards and one touchdown)

● Speed looked better on his underclassman tape than it did in 2025 ● Lacks explosion in movements and when attempting to punch his way off blocks ● Physical in tight spaces, but his tackling declines as space expands 493 Back to table of contents -- 497 of 629 -- ● Needs to tighten angles and avoid wasted steps ● Inconsistent coverage awareness and late to work through route combinations ● Will struggle to stay in position versus seam runners and explosive backs ● Production and effectiveness declined in his final season ● Right foot injury (Oct. 2023), which required surgery and ended his sophomore season

A three-year starter at Utah, Barton was an inside linebacker in former defensive coordinator/current head coach Morgan Scalley’s base 4-2-5 scheme. He announced himself to the NFL as a Freshman All-American in 2022, although he didn’t quite reach the heights scouts had hoped over the next three seasons. He surpassed 200 career tackles and intrigued scouts on the offensive side of the ball, as well, while seeing tight end snaps in 10 games in 2025. Like his two older brothers, Barton has the makeup for the NFL with off-the-charts mental and competitive toughness. He shows adequate instincts versus the run, with the firm anchor and play strength to be combative in the box. But questions about his reaction quickness and long speed will be high hurdles to clear at the next level. Overall, Barton has the size and downhill temperament to provide depth to an NFL defense, although his next-level versatility feels more perceived than realistic. Several teams are entertaining him as a potential tight end convert in the NFL.