If you’ve read any of my stuff either
last daft or headed into the college season then you know that I’m completely
behind splitting front 7 defenders into three groups: interior linemen, edge
rushers, and off-ball linebackers. This piece is going to focus on the first
two. A refresher if your new, or forgot, interior refers to players that will
play nose tackle (0 or 1i technique), tackle (1-3 tech), or 3-4 end (5 tech).
These players use a similar skill set to one another that isn’t completely
reliant on athleticism. Although, being athletic is a plus. Edge players cover
4-3 ends (5 -9 tech) and 3-4 OLBs, in other terms pass rushers. There has been
a lot of good work on pass rushers in recent years, especially Justis
Mosqueda’s (@JuMosq) force players which draws a very convincing link between
athleticism and pass rush success.
Interior
Linemen
1)
Jonathan Allen, Sr, Alabama, 6’ 2 5/8” 286 lbs –
Starter (7.5)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 26.5, 40: 5.03, 3-Cone: 7.49, Short Shuttle: 4.50, Broad Jump: 9’
0”
Allen was a beast at Alabama but his fit
at the next level is a bit up in the air. I’ve put him here because in a base
front for either a 3-4 or a 4-3 team I think he plays either the 5 or the 3.
Allen will probably play some edge in passing downs but I think his best fit is
at the 3.
2)
Chris Wormley, Sr, 6’ 5” 298 lbs, Sr, Michigan –
Starter (7.2)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 14, 40: 4.86, 3-Cone: 7.08, Short Shuttle: 4.59, Broad Jump: 9’
2”
You can make the case that Wormley is a
prototypical 4-3 end, and I wouldn’t put up too much of a fuss. I settle here
because of his size and his lack of production on the outside at Michigan. His
three cone is insane for his size and that suggests he’s going to be able to be
a disruptive force at the next level.
3)
Jeremiah Ledbetter, Sr, Arkansas, 6’ 3 1/8” 280
lbs – Starter (7.1)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 13, 40: 4.80, 3-Cone: 7.55, Short Shuttle: 4.56, Broad Jump: 10’
8”
Lebetter was fairly productive at
Arkansas but where he excelled was in his explosion testing. With a broad of 10’
8” and a vert of 33.5” at 280 he’s certainly explosive. His agility testing was
fine, but not exceptional but in a weak class I’ll take a player who’s elite in
a specific area.
4)
Malik McDowell, Jr, Michigan State, 6’ 6
1/4" 295 lbs – Expected Starter (7.0)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 8.5, 40: 4.85, 3-Cone: 7.69, Short Shuttle: 4.53, Broad Jump: 9’
4”
This is a ranking based on faith in
talent and talent evaluators that I trust. Everyone I follow and trust for
D-line evaluation loves McDowell and as soon as you turn on the Wisconsin tape
it becomes immediately clear why. He’s explosive, disruptive, and plays all
over the field. He was inconsistent last year on a team that fell completely
off the deep end and due to an ankle injury. There are questions on McDowell for
sure, but in a relatively weak class I’ll bet on talent.
5)
Montravius Adams, Sr, Auburn, 6’ 3 5/8” 304 lbs
– Expected Starter (6.9)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 13, 40: 4.86, 3-Cone: 7.62, Short Shuttle: 4.89, Broad Jump: 9’
0”
Adams was productive but inconsistent at
Auburn, but he performed well at the Senior Bowl and aside from his shuttle
time he did what he needed to at the combine. He’s an enigmatic player with
weaknesses, but overall in this class he’s above average player.
6)
Tanoh Kpassagnon, Sr, Villanova, 6’ 7” 289 lbs –
Expected Starter (6.9)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 32.5, 40: 4.83, 3-Cone: 7.46, Short Shuttle: 4.62, Broad Jump:
10’ 8”
Tanoh is another in a series of guys that
are inside/outside tweeners. Tanoh is my 80% of Allen player. He has enough
bend and athleticism to make a difference on the edge is spots and to be a
nightmare for guards on standard downs. If you’re a predominantly 3-4 he plays
the 5 and kicks to end when you’re in dime.
7)
Larry Ogunjobi, Sr, Charlotte, 6’ 2 5/8” 305 lbs
– Expected Starter (6.7)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 16.5, 40: 4.97, 3-Cone: 7.55, Short Shuttle: 4.75, Broad Jump: 9’
8”
Ogunjobi was productive enough at
Charlotte, a new comer to FBS football, where he was by far their best player.
Ogunjobi is freaky for a 305 pounder with a great 3-cone and the ability to
jump out of the building.
8)
Eddie Vanderdoss, Jr, UCLA, 6’ 3 1/8” 305 lbs –
Expected Starter (6.6)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 3, 40: 4.99, 3-Cone: 7.69, Short Shuttle: 4.39, Broad Jump: 9’ 3”
Eddie would be a top 5 interior lineman
in this class had he been healthy and I initially had him too low in this
class. Vanderdoss crushed his testing, in particular his shuttle of 4.39 is the
third lowest of anyone in the class and in the 88th percentile all
time. If healthy he has the chance to be an excellent player for a long time.
9)
Dalvin Tomlinson, Sr, Alabama, 6’ 2 7/8” 310 lbs
– Expected Starter (6.5)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 8.5, 40: 5.19, 3-Cone: 7.68, Short Shuttle: 4.58, Broad Jump: 9’
2”
10) Jaleel
Johnson, Sr, Iowa, 6’ 3” 316 lbs – Expected Starter (6.5)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 17.5, 40: 5.25, 3-Cone: 7.64, Short Shuttle: 4.62, Broad Jump: 8’
5”
I’m going to combine Tomlinson and
Johnson because they are nearly identical prospects. Johnson had the better
production, although Tomlinson was in the deepest rotation of talent in the
nation as a member of the Crimson Tide d-line. Johnson is a slightly worse
athlete, but both he and Tomlinson will be where they need to be and are
athletic enough to scare offensive coordinators.
11) Carlos
Watkins, Sr, Clemson, 6’ 3” 309 lbs – Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 24, 40: 5.01, 3-Cone: 7.97, Short Shuttle: 4.88, Broad Jump: 9’ 0”
Watkins was extremely productive for a
defense that returned to their second national championship game in as many
years. He isn’t the most athletic player in this draft, in face he and Johnson
later are the poorest athletes in my top 20, but they’re productive and solid
players in a weak class and that makes them the guy the female lead ends up
with at the end of a rom-com.
12) Vincent
Taylor, Jr, Oklahoma State, 6’ 2 5/8” 304 lbs – Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 20, 40: 5.07, 3-Cone: 7.58, Short Shuttle: 4.72, Broad Jump: 9’ 0”
Taylor like Watkins above was very
productive power 5 defensive tackle, with good athletic testing. My main qualm
with Taylor is merely that he’s a big interior lineman who played against Big
XII lines that were better against the pass than against the run.
13) D.J.
Jones, Sr, Ole Miss, 6’ 0 5/8” 319 lbs – Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 5, 40: 5.04, 3-Cone: 7.73, Short Shuttle: 4.65, Broad Jump: 9’ 0”
Jones another in a long line of enigmas
in this class that make you want to pull out your hair and never think deeply
about how players transition from college to the pros. Jones was undeniably
unproductive at Ole Miss and undeniably freaky athletically.
14) Tueni
Lupeamanu, Sr, Idaho, 6’ 0” 282 lbs – Expected Starter (6.2)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 13, 40: 4.99, 3-Cone: 7.37, Short Shuttle: 4.49, Broad Jump: 9’ 1”
Lupeamanu is my personal favorite player
in this group. He’s an athletic freak from Idaho. Although there was no draft
breakdown, breakdowns of him, there are team highlights and I don’t know why I
hadn’t heard of him. Even if he needs some time to develop more, he has all the
tools to be impactful at the NFL level.
15) Tanzel
Smart, Sr, Tulane, 6’ 2 5/8” 296 lbs – Potential Starter (6.0)
Stats
– Sacks+TFLs: 24, 40: 5.22, 3-Cone: 7.53, Short Shuttle: 4.57, Broad Jump: 8’ 9”
Smart is here because of a good agility
times, and being the best producer left who wasn’t just an average athlete.
He’s a good player and should stick in the league and that’s about it.
Edge
Rushers
1)
Myles Garrett, Jr, Texas A&M, 6’ 4 4/8” 272
lbs – Starter (7.6)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 23.5, 40: 4.64, 3-Cone: N/a, Short Shuttle: N/a, Broad Jump: 10’ 7”
The hypes real, there are slight
concerns, but we’ve heard the takes plays off complaint about every single highly
rated defensive lineman since the dawn of fucking time. He went 4.64 on the 40,
41 inches on the vert, and 10’ 7” on the broad at 272. I mean, shit if that’s
not explosiveness then… shit.
2)
Solomon Thomas, Jr, Stanford, 6’ 2 5/8” 273 lbs
– Starter (7.4)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 23, 40: 4.69, 3-Cone: 6.95, Short Shuttle: 4.28, Broad Jump: 10’ 6”
Thomas
is a bit of a devisive player in this year’s draft. I’m clearly on team
Thomas and think the best thing for him will be the move to Edge instead of being
stuck at the 3 where he often got abused in the power game. Thomas is an
undeniable athlete, who showed it on the field, and that’s worth the type of
investment it will take to acquire him.
3)
Jordan Willis, Sr, Kansas State, 6’ 3 3/4” 255
lbs – Starter (7.3)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 29, 40: 4.53, 3-Cone: 6.85, Short Shuttle: 4.28, Broad Jump: 10’ 5”
Willis blew up the combine and to be
honest I hadn’t heard much about him before that. That being said he had the
best combine behind the two ahead of him, and produced plenty in the pass heavy
Big XII to warrant this ranking.
4)
Carl Lawson, Jr, Auburn, 6’ 1 3/4” 261 lbs –
Starter (7.2)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 22.5, 40: 4.67, 3-Cone: 7.46, Short Shuttle: 4.19, Broad Jump: 9’
6”
The oft-injured Lawson flashed
consistently at Auburn when he was on the field. The three cone is worrisome,
but his shuttle and 10-yard split (1.61) provide plenty of twitch for me.
5)
Derek Rivers, Sr, Youngstown State, 6’ 3 5/8”
248 lbs – Starter (7.2)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 44.5, 40: 4.61, 3-Cone: 6.94, Sh. Shuttle: 4.40, Broad Jump: 10’ 7”
Rivers dominated at Youngstown State
under Bo Pelini and broke the sacks record at Youngstown State which is
impressive. He also showed out at the Senior Bowl against top level competition
and once again at the combine where he tested like an elite athlete. He’s small
school but he’s worth it.
6)
Derek Barnett, Jr, Tennessee, 6’ 3” 259 lbs –
Expected Starter (7.0)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 32, 40: 4.88, 3-Cone: 6.96, Short Shuttle: 4.44, Broad Jump: 9’ 9”
Barnett was a beast in the SEC, but that
doesn’t necessarily translate. His athletic testing was nothing to write home
about but it was fine. The biggest question is whether he’ll be able to produce
at the NFL where it’s much more difficult to anticipate and jump the snap. In a
class with a bunch of questions I’m willing to bank on elite college production
but there are worries here that keep Barnett from being ranked in the starter
tier.
7)
Ejuan Price, Sr, Pittsburgh, 5’ 11 3/8” 241 lbs
– Expected Starter (6.7)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 36, 40: 4.75, 3-Cone: 6.98, Short Shuttle: 4.34, Broad Jump: 10’ 2”
Price is uber-productive, undersized, and
injury prone. And I’d draft him on day 2 every time.
8)
Charles Harris, Jr, Missouri, 6’ 2 3/4” 253 lbs
– Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 31, 40: 4.82, 3-Cone: 7.35, Short Shuttle: 4.40, Broad Jump: 9’ 10”
If
Charles is taking over the mantle from previous stud Missouri pass rushers then
I am too low. If his athletic profile keeps him as a good not superlative
pass rusher then I’m about right for his placement in this class.
9)
Takkarist McKinley, Sr, UCLA, 6’ 2” 250 lbs –
Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 28, 40: 4.59, 3-Cone: 7.48, Short Shuttle: 4.62, Broad Jump: 10’ 2”
I think Takk got lost on his 3-Cone
because I don’t understand what happened on either agility test. It’s very worrying
but I loved what I saw from him at UCLA and his production was amongst the best
in the class.
10) Tarell
Basham, Sr, Ohio, 6’ 3 3/4" 269 lbs – Expected Starter (6.4)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 25.5, 40: 4.70, 3-Cone: 7.27, Sh. Shuttle: 4.35, Broad Jump: 9’ 11”
Basham could be a bright spot in this
year’s class. He’s a MAC product, but his athleticism + his motor means I
wouldn’t bet against him making an impact at the NFL level.
11) Daeshon
Hall, Sr, Texas A&M, 6’ 5 1/4" 266 lbs – Expected Starter (6.3)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 17.5, 40: 4.76, 3-Cone: 7.03, Sh. Shuttle: 4.38, Broad Jump: 10’ 3”
Hall got lost on the opposite side of the
line from Garrett at times, but he’s a very good prospect in his own right. Hall
flashes even when you’re watching Garrett and he caught eyes again when he
stomped the agility drills at the timeline. Hall isgoing to need some refinement
in his pass rush game but he won’t be a liability in any area.
12) Trey
Hendrickson, Sr, FAU, 6’ 4” 266 lbs – Expected Starter (6.2)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 24.5, 40: 4.65, 3-Cone: 7.03, Sh. Shuttle: 4.20, Broad Jump: 10’ 2”
13) Tim
Williams, Sr, Alabama, 6’ 2 7/8” 244 lbs – Potential Starter (6.2)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 25, 40: 4.68, 3-Cone: 7.36, Short Shuttle: 4.57, Broad Jump: 10’ 4”
I’m combining these two because they present
an interesting dichotomy. Hendrickson has all the athleticism in the world but
didn’t show up in the box score or on film as much as you’d like a man with his
profile to show up. Williams on the other hand was one of the most
disappointing prospect in Indy with a three cone and shuttle that are horror
movie scary. Williams on film is one of the most disruptive linemen in the
draft, despite playing limited time in Alabama’s d-line rotation he exceeded
Hendrickson’s production.
14) Tyus
Bowser, Sr, Houston, 6’ 3” 247 lbs – Potential Starter (6.0)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 20.5, 40: 4.65, 3-Cone: 6.75, Sh. Shuttle: 4.34, Broad Jump: 10’ 7”
Bowser played as an off the ball
linebacker at Houston and in my opinion out of position. His agility drills are
elite, his broad shows power and the time he’s allowed to edge rush at Houston
show a promising prospect played out of position.
15) DeMarcus
Walker, Sr, Florida State, 6’ 4” 280 lbs – Potential Starter (5.9)
Stats
– Sack+TFL: 36.5, 40: 4.88, 3-Cone: 7.91, Short Shuttle: 4.71, Broad Jump: 9’
7”
Walker has the highest production grade
of this class for me. He also has the 2nd worst athleticism score
behind Williams. Unlike Williams, however, Walker’s tape confirms what we see
in the testing. I’ll take a chance on the production, but I don’t see the
ability to bend that you see even with a Barnett who tested poorly as well.
There are things to like in both classes and
the Edge players are deeper than their interior counterparts, but overall it’s
a weak class for both positions. Inside you’re going to have to bank on
athleticism, and on the outside the players with production are your safest options.
These positions will be the most interesting for me over the three days, but
much more will happen on days two & three.
No comments:
Post a Comment