Long-levered edge setter with the longest arms measured among edge rushers at the 2026 combine and a motor that doesn't quit. Kelly wins with effort and length rather than explosive athleticism — his 4.91 40-yard dash was the slowest in his position group, which limits his upside as a pass rusher at the next level. He flashed at Senior Bowl practices as a high-motor complementary rusher and showed enough hand activity to intrigue late-round shoppers, but the sack production (12.5 career, just 3 in his final season) never matched the physical tools. This is a developmental Day 3 flier whose NFL future depends entirely on whether a coaching staff can refine his pass-rush plan and leverage that freakish length into consistent pressure — the floor is a special teams contributor, and the ceiling is a rotational run-defending end.
- Elite arm length — longest measured among all edge rushers at the 2026 combine, giving him a massive advantage at the point of attack to keep blockers off his frame
- Relentless motor and effort — consistently noted for high-energy play from Senior Bowl practice to regular season tape; led UCF in quarterback hurries (8) in 2025
- Run defense and edge-setting ability — described as a 'true edge setter' with good size (6-5, 256) to hold up against the run
- Quick, active hands at the point of attack — noted by evaluators as his best trait despite lacking top-end burst
- Competitive toughness and forced fumble production — two forced fumbles in 2025, both resulting in touchdowns
- Severely limited timed speed — 4.91 40-yard dash ranked last among edge rushers at the combine, and five defensive tackles ran faster; straight-line burst is a disqualifying concern for some evaluators
- Low sack production trajectory — declined from 5.5 sacks in 2024 to just 3 in 2025, and career total of 12.5 sacks across four seasons is underwhelming for a full-time starter
- Limited counter-move repertoire — high school scouting report flagged this and it never fully developed; relies heavily on effort and length rather than a refined plan
- Needs to add functional power — was noted coming out of high school as needing to find more power at the point of attack, and at 256 pounds still gets washed by powerful offensive tackles
Similar physical profile — extremely long arms and prototypical edge frame with below-average timed speed. Like Key, Kelly's NFL value will hinge on whether a coaching staff can unlock the pass-rush upside that the physical tools suggest but the production hasn't consistently shown. Key bounced around before finding a role; Kelly profiles similarly as a developmental project.