Former Illinois DL with high-end pedigree, but limited on-field college production
Alaeze arrived at Illinois as a physically gifted defensive lineman with strong recruiting buzz and prototype size for the edge, but his college impact appears limited in the available records, with ESPN showing just 1 solo tackle and no sacks. His appeal is less about box-score production and more about upside: he was viewed as a strong-side defensive end and brought the frame and power teams want in a disruptive DL. However, his Illinois tenure also included time missed early on, so the fit question centers on whether a staff can develop his raw traits into reliable weekly impact.
