2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Braden Fiske, DL, Florida State
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Braden Fiske, a defensive lineman out of Florida State. He is from Michigan City, IL, and was a 4-star recruit from Michigan City High School.
Fiske began his collegiate career at the University of Western Michigan in 2019. In 12 games he totaled 10 solo tackles, 14 assists, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovered.
In the Covid-19-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 6 games. He racked up 7 solo tackles, 16 assists, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Fiske exploded in his 12 games in 2021. He totaled 27 solo tackles, 15 assists, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks.
His final season at Western Michigan saw him appear in 12 games where he piled up 32 solo tackles, 27 assists, 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 fumble recovered, and 3 forced fumbles. This career season led to him transferring to Florida State for his final collegiate season.
In 2023 as a senior, he appeared in 13 games for the Seminoles. His production in that season saw him total 17 solo tackles, 26 assists, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks. Fiske proved he could be an elite defender and subsequently declared for the NFL Draft where he dominated the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2019 | Western Michigan | MAC | FR | DT | 12 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2020 | Western Michigan | MAC | SO | DT | 6 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| *2021 | Western Michigan | MAC | SO | DL | 12 | 27 | 15 | 42 | 7.5 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | Western Michigan | MAC | JR | 12 | 32 | 27 | 59 | 12.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| *2023 | Florida State | ACC | SR | DL | 13 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | Overall | 93 | 98 | 191 | 36.0 | 19.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||
| Western Michigan | 76 | 72 | 148 | 27.0 | 13.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||||||
| Florida State | 17 | 26 | 43 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Possesses incredible size and speed as was on full display at the NFL Combine.
- Is an elite pass rusher with a great array of counter moves.
- Has an excellent feel against and countering blocks.
- Is a high-motor player and an excellent pass rusher with elite quickness.
Weaknesses
- He often misses tackles due to over-pursuit.
- Needs to improve his hand placement and technique.
- Tends to play too upright and struggles at times with leverage.
- He struggles at the point of attack against double-teams.
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Mid-Round 3
Ideal Landing Spot: Philadelphia Eagles
Fiske was originally a Day 3 pick in my rankings but now finds himself pushing closer to Round 1 by the day. I made a conservative projection here and put him in Round 3, but he could easily move a round or two higher in the draft.
The Eagles saw their defense in shambles in the second half of 2023 and will need to revamp the entire defensive side of the ball. If Fiske does manage to survive until the second or third round, he could be yet another defensive steal for the Eagles.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 2.39 to the Los Angeles Rams
Fiske
