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Sebastian Cheeks’ breakout game against USC has put the Wisconsin edge rusher squarely on national radars. Prominent draft evaluators now list him as a legitimate 2027 prospect, raising questions about where he might land on draft day.
Why Mel Kiper Jr. is paying attention
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently flagged Cheeks among the 2027 prospects worth watching and projects him as a potential third- or fourth-round pick. Kiper’s praise focused less on a single box score and more on the traits that project to the next level.
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Kiper highlighted Cheeks’ sudden burst, his comfort rushing both from the inside and outside, and a varied pass-rush toolbox rather than reliance on one go-to move. He also noted the defender’s physicality at 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, saying Cheeks can threaten tackles with a bull rush.
At the same time, Kiper pointed out clear areas for development, specifically adding mass to better handle run fits — a detail NFL teams will watch closely as evaluation ramps up.
USC outing was a confirmation
Cheeks finished with five tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in Wisconsin’s 24-7 victory over No. 16 USC, a performance that earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. He accounted for half of the Badgers’ five sacks in that game, which saw USC limited to 239 total yards and minus-18 rushing yards.
That effort didn’t arrive in isolation. According to Pro Football Focus, Cheeks has totaled 34 pressures this season, the most in the Big Ten. Earlier in the year he led the country with 27 pressures through five games, showing consistent ability to reach the backfield.
For evaluators, the USC game mattered because it translated pressure into finished plays — sacks rather than near-misses — reinforcing the idea that production is sustainable, not accidental.
Rising on draft boards
CBS Sports draft analyst Mike Renner currently lists Cheeks at No. 48 overall on his 2027 big board. Renner praises Cheeks’ knack for working around offensive tackles but also flags a limitation: he doesn’t possess the ideal arm length scouts often prefer at the position.
That mixed profile — clear on-field productivity paired with some measurable shortcomings — helps explain why Cheeks is drawing mid-round projections rather than early-round buzz.
Background and what’s next
Cheeks began his collegiate career at North Carolina before transferring to Wisconsin. His production has climbed each year: 12 tackles and two sacks in 2024, then 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last season.
This season has offered him more snaps and more opportunities, and evaluators are taking notice. There is still much football left to be played and room for Cheeks’ draft stock to move, but with Kiper mentioning Day 2 and another analyst slotting him inside his top 50, Cheeks is increasingly viewed as more than just one of the Badgers’ best defenders — he’s starting to look like a legitimate NFL prospect.
