| Authored by Jeff Risdon - 20th April, 2009 - 11:44 am
 Probably the deepest overall position in this draft, the defensive end class features many players who will make the transition to the NFL at outside linebacker.
Statistics show that rookie pass rushers often fail to have the desired impact (Jamal Anderson, Vernon Gholston, Derrick Harvey), so all-around ability (DeMarcus Ware, Gaines Adams, Philip Merling) is important and shapes these rankings.
I'm not sold on Brian Orakpo being better than Everette Brown; consider them more 1a and 1b than 1-2. Jackson is the best "traditional" DE candidate, and certainly the best LDE prospect, a position that requires more stoutness and beef against the run.
1. Brian Orakpo, Texas. 6"3", 263.
Positives: Exceptional athlete with an amazing physique. Explodes off the snap with a sudden but controlled burst. Very long-limbed but coordinated, and has great strength in his extremities. Has the speed to get around the outside but can quickly turn it inside with a strong shoulder. Uses his hands pretty well to keep blockers off him. Holds his ground and sets the edge against the run well. Can get off the block and slide inside or out to make the tackle. Alert to screens and backside action, generally keeps his back side responsibilities. Closes quickly on the play. Has dominated for long stretches (see: 2007 bowl against ASU). Intelligent and poised with a desire to keep improving. Quietly confident and mature, well-respected by his teammates and opponents.
Negatives: Not as fiery a competitor as some teams like. Had a lot of talent around him that gave him freer rein to do his thing. Very weight-room ripped but has suffered some injuries that raise flags about durability and if he's too rocked up and tight. Needs to develop better inside moves; his work inside the tackles seems more deliberate and not as explosive. Will stop moving his feet when engaged and just use his arms to try and get free. Not a thumping hitter, which comes into play more for teams that want him to play OLB in a 3-4, and he has little experience dropping into coverage despite playing some 3-front at Texas.
Forecast: Orakpo took advantage of his increased playing time with a dynamic senior season and is only getting better. Has the athleticism and size to play either end or OLB and be more than just a pass-rushing OLB. Top 10 overall pick, could go as high as #2.
2. Everette Brown, Florida State. 6'1', 252.
Positives: Lightning-quick speed rusher who can get around the tackle in a blur. Very quick off the snap. Sets up his moves well with quick feet. Hits full speed right away and can maintain his burst. Plays bigger than his size, very physically strong in the lower body and torso. Has a barrage of moves and sets them up well. Reacts quickly to the ball and stays at home for cutbacks. Does a good job disengaging from blocks for his size. Looks more comfortable in space than most ends, which bodes well for a transition to OLB. Has played some 6-technique while standing up and dropping in coverage at times. Plays with an edge and has some nastiness. Opposing coaches rave about his motor. Sound tackler, wraps and drives well. Solid citizen who will be an asset in the community and locker room, which is not an insignificant trait.
Negatives: Short, and he looks shorter in person than 6'1". Lacks real thump in his hits, though he rarely misses a tackle. Doesn't always feel the snap count very well. Has long arms for his body, which is normally a positive but he doesn't have the shoulder or hand strength to use it real well. Will get caught unaware of cut blocks. Commits more penalties than he should. Seminole pass rushers have a fairly inglorious history transitioning to the NFL.
Forecast: Top half of the 1st round, almost certainly as a pass rushing 3-4 OLB.
3. Tyson Jackson, LSU. 6'4", 296.
Positives: Versatile, well-rounded prospect that can play any gap technique from 1-4. Has a great blend of power and quickness. Very strong at the point of attack, and Jackson uses his hands and anchor strength very adeptly. Consistently gets upfield with surprising quickness for his size. Very good at shading off the blocker's shoulder, coming off and finishing the play. Very innate pocket collapse skills. Decent lateral quickness. Very difficult to block or seal. Doesn't quit on plays, even when blocked -- set an SEC record for passes batted down at the line. Sacrificed personal stats for the betterment of the team, allowing his one-dimensional teammates to get the glory while he did all the dirty work as a senior. Can move inside as a nickel-package rusher.
Negatives: Not real fast or blessed with quick feet. Once he gets going he struggles to stop or change direction. Failed to finish sacks -- generated loads of QB hurries but only notched 8 sacks his last two seasons. Doesn't consistently establish leverage, will pop up high out of his stance at times. Often the last lineman to react to the snap. Not great at wrapping his tackles. Might not be agile enough to handle what many teams ask of their ends, particularly in 4-3 fronts. Some worry about his drive and motor.
Forecast: 1st round, likely in the top 15. Far and away the best of the non OLB/DE hybrids.
4. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati. 6'3.5", 256.
Positives: Freakishly athletic and versatile -- played TE his first few seasons and Cincy and also played on the Bearcats basketball team. Has a 41" vertical jump and was among the Combine leaders in most every positional drill. Proved a quick study at end, was consistently in the backfield wreaking havoc in just his first year at the position. Very good with his hands. Knows how to use his strength and speed. Reacts quickly and closes on the ball under control but with great speed. Great lateral agility, and he is comfortable playing in space. Outstanding special teams play brings added value, as does his ability to contribute as a red zone TE. Very coachable and positive with natural leadership skills.
Negatives: Still very raw as a defender. Plays very tall. Needs lots of work on playing the run, does almost everything on pure instinct and athletic ability. Lacks anchor strength and bulk. Has done very little inside the tackle box.
Forecast: Almost certainly a 3-4 OLB, but one with very intriguing potential. His versatility and athleticism will likely get him drafted in the top 40 overall picks, though he could slide a little based on his inexperience.
5. Robert Ayers, Tennessee. 6'3", 272.
Positives: Highly-touted HS recruit who struggled until his senior year, when he clearly matured mentally and dedicated himself. Powerfully built with a big frame, looks bigger than he measures. Uses a variety of pass rush moves and he sets them up well with consistent footwork, never tipping his hand early. Real strong hands and uses an effective swat to keep off blockers. Has flashed speed to go around the edge. Hits with pop and downward force. Exhibited a good motor in his final year and at Senior Bowl week. Has played all over the DL and has the strength to move inside as a nickel rusher. Has handled his disappointing past quite maturely and positively in interviews.
Negatives: The epitome of a one-year wonder; wasn't in the top 50 senior ends in preseason scouting reports. More quick than fast, lacks the consistent edge speed. Tends to fire upward from his stance, not forward. Some scouts see an undersized 3-technique tackle more than an end, but Ayers has not shown reliable stoutness against the run. Loses leverage too easily, and he stops moving his feet when engaged inside. Can be slow to locate the ball, but showed improvement in that area.
Forecast: Ayers the Senior is a mid-1st round prospect just beginning to blossom with newfound maturity. Ayers the Underclassmen was an undraftable disappointment. History tells us at least a handful of teams are willing to ignore the early years and go with the 1st round potential, and his postseason lowers a lot of the flags. Extremely high-risk/reward pick in the 18-35 range.
6. Larry English, Northern Illinois. 6'2", 255.
Summary: English played DE in college but will almost certainly be a 3-4 OLB in the NFL. Physically similar to LaMarr Woodley, who made the same transition -- strongly built torso and upper body with long arms for his height, nimble feet, relatively skinny calves. Violent tackler with sound technique. Moves comfortably in space, looked very natural in postseason drills dropping back and starting from a 2-point stance. Does a good job setting the edge and keeping backside containment. Has enough speed to get around the edge, but relies more on quick feet and great timing to catch the tackle off-balance and exploit it. Did not put up huge numbers in the MAC, not exactly prime competition. Moving to OLB mitigates his lack of lower-body strength and run anchor ability, but English must prove he can attack the run from further back and outside. Not as fast as most who make the move. Has had some soft tissue injury problems (torn pec, torn ACL).
Forecast: Strong workouts and athletic potential drives his stock into the 20-40 overall range. Will have to show he can handle the speed at OLB or else he could quickly bust, as he is too small to play 4-3 DE.
7. Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond. 6'3", 266.
Summary: Extremely athletic prospect from a championship FCS program and elite FCS conference. Very quick and light on his feet, exceptional short-area burst and quickness. Long-armed and strong in the shoulders and hands. Has some inside moves and experience running twists and stunts. Very confident. Can quickly change directions and shows good balance and body control in space. Lacks lower-body strength, and teams had some success running right at him. Tends to take poor pursuit angles and run around blocks instead of trying to fight through. Abandons backside containment too readily (see JMU and UMass games). Did have a good Senior Bowl week and Eugene Monroe (my top-rated OT) called him the toughest player he had to block.
Forecast: 2nd round 4-3 RDE who compares to Derrick Burgess. Has drawn some interest as a 3-4 OLB, which would require some patience but could be a better long-term fit if he is done growing.
8. Paul Kruger, Utah. 6'4", 263.
Summary: High-effort hybrid DE/OLB. High football IQ. Has experience playing from a 2-point stance and covering in space. Very active ballhawk with strong instincts and textbook technique -- knee bend, on his toes, wraps his tackles with his head up. Good speed around the edge, uses an effective speed-change move. Has shown he can cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield. Excellent closing burst. Dominated Alabama in their bowl game, and also played very well against BYU. Has overcome a lot and exudes maturity, a function of his age. Lacks lower body strength. Can get engulfed by tackles when he ventures inside. Struggles to slow his momentum and change direction. Hits without much pop or force, has to double-tackle bigger backs. Has some major medical flags -- just one kidney, no spleen, and parts of his stomach and intestines have been removed. Has probably maxed his potential already.
Forecast: His tweener build and medical past water down his draft position to the 2nd/early 3rd round, but his hustle and intangibles make him a safer pick than most players of his type.
9. Aaron Maybin, Penn State. 6'3", 249.
Summary: I don't do this often, but I'm going to quote an AFC Head Coach from the Combine on Maybin: "He isn't one half the player (Vernon) Gholston was coming out and look how bad (Gholston) was. Can he cover? Can he tackle? Can he do anything except run real fast around the outside shoulder of the tackle? Hell if I know, but I'm not going to be the sucker who wastes a first round pick on a guy who can't help me for 3 years." My thoughts exactly, though some team desperate for a freakishly fast 3-4 OLB most certainly will gamble a mid-1st round pick on him. Completely one-dimensional, underweight (he played at under 230) outside speed rusher who made his name playing 5/6-technique around plodding Big 10 behemoth tackles.
Forecast: Will go in the top 30 based entirely on athletic potential. Caveat drafter.
10. David Veikune, Hawaii. 6'2", 256.
Summary: Undersized power rusher who plays big. Has a nonstop motor and plays with a ferocious tenacity and competitiveness. Good instincts, and he stays at home for backside containment. Has a variety of pass rush moves. Very weight-room strong. Good strength in his hands and shoulders, though he doesn't extend his arms consistently. Much of his success came from out-hustling and outworking the opponent. Struggles to get off blocks or generate much upfield surge against aggressive blockers. Lacks flexibility, tightly built. Has short-area quickness but lacks foot speed and cannot sustain his burst. Built like an outside rusher but has the game of a base end.
Forecast: High-effort tweener who impressed in interviews, Veikune has enough momentum to crack the bottom of the 2nd round, though the 3rd is more likely.
11. Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech. 6'6.5", 266.
Summary: Pure edge speed rusher with a great first step. Explodes off the snap and gets upfield in a real hurry. Has very long arms which he uses to keep the blocker off him. Closes around the corner quickly and violently. Does a good job of getting his hands up and using his height to disrupt passing lanes when he is blocked. Sound tackler when he happens upon the ballcarrier. A real liability against the run; looks to sack the QB by rushing hard outside the tackle on every single snap, even on obvious run plays. Does not disengage when blocked or seem real interested in doing so. Is completely unaware of backside containment. Easily neutralized when he ventures inside, gets very upright and surrenders leverage too readily.
Forecast: His outstanding athletic ability will attract interest as high as the late 1st round, but Johnson plays just like Kabeer Gjaba-Biamila -- a completely one-dimensional, 5- and 6-technique speed rusher who can get you 8-12 sacks but give up double that many big runs. I wouldn't touch him before the 3rd round.
12. Michael Bennett, Texas A&M. 6'4", 277.
Summary: Martellus' (Cowboys TE) "little" brother is a very athletic, rangy player who has flashed greatness. Very powerfully built for his height and he understands how to use his power. Loves contact and aggressively attacks the blocks. Good finisher. Extremely streaky with a questionable motor. Lacks football IQ. Too eager to just fight the blocker and not make plays. Prickly, cocky persona that can rub coaches and teammates the wrong way. Had a great East-West week and seemed thrilled by the difference in coaching style, which makes his physical potential more attractive.
Forecast: 4th-5th round with the potential to blossom, or to be cut by August.
13. Brandon Williams, Texas Tech. 6'3", 254.
Summary: Good-sized edge pass rush specialist. Still growing into his long frame, but has very explosive quickness and short-area burst. Needs more physical maturity. Offers very little other than rushing with speed around the edge. Not athletic enough or technically sound to play 3-4 OLB, and he lacks the physical strength to hold up as more than a nickel package rusher for his first couple of seasons. Has real good upside if he physically matures and learns to play the run -- big ifs. 4th round.
Others:
Stryker Sulak, Missouri
Despite a productive college career, Sulak was an afterthought until his stunning Combine. Now teams are thinking that all those plays he made in the backfield aren't as fluky as they first seemed. Straight-line, hyper-aggressive, quicker-than-fast edge rusher that's kind of a DE/OLB tweener. I give him a 5th round grade, but I temper that by knowing how many of my respected colleagues think he's not going to survive the first camp cuts.
Rulon Davis, California
Iraqi war vet with freakishly long arms and very rocked-up body. Has a long history of knee injuries, and he plays with wild abandon. Over-aged and raw, not a good combo, but his attitude and athletic potential merit a 4th-5th round pick.
Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin
Tweener-sized, high-motor end who lacks upper body strength. Did not impress in interviews, and has some injury flags. 6th round.
Kyle Moore, USC
Could be one of those underrated collegians that winds up blossoming away from his more high-profile Trojan mates. Gaining momentum as the draft approaches, with some merit. 5th-6th rounder worth watching.
Jameson Hartke, Ohio University
Obviously earning his Academic All-America status by his exceptional choice in schools, Hartke is a high-motor athlete with quick hands and sound technique. Lacks the bulk and quick feet to get drafted, but he'll wind up in a camp and be hard for a coach to cut.
Will Davis, Illinois
A converted WR/TE with developmental upside as a 4-3 RDE, but it's a couple of years away if it ever comes. 5th-6th round.
Orion Martin, Virginia Tech
A high-effort DE/OLB tweener with limited athleticism, bulk, and speed. His special teams ability and effort make him worth a 7th round pick.
Tim Jamison, Michigan
A powerfully built LDE prospect with sound instincts and technique, but he's not quick or fast and has maxed his potential already. 6th-7th round.
Everette Pedescleaux, Northern Iowa
Real big (6'6", 308) but very light on his feet and productive in a good FCS conference. Good late-round sleeper 3-4 DE prospect who also played basketball.
Pierre Walters, Eastern Illinois
He showed good 3-4 RDE potential at the Texas/USA game, and has legit size and strength. Made a lot of plays at his level, but lacks quickness and agility. 6th-7th rounder.
Pannel Egboh, Stanford
Very tall, very raw 3-4 RDE developmental prospect. He is the type of player that would greatly benefit from a developmental league, but because there isn't one, he's likely to just fade away. Could get drafted in the 7th round on athletic potential.
Jeremy Navarre, Maryland
Bulky 3-4 LDE prospect who offers little pass rush but can consistently hold the edge. Will get a long look from a team like MIA or NE.
--Jeff Risdon is RealGM's senior football writer and draft expert. He may be reached at Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com |
