2016 Edge Rusher Rankings

By Justin Rasile

*Note: Due to how many pass rushers there are, we decided to split them. I posted defensive ends a couple days ago and these are guys we feel are a good fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4*

1)     Leonard Floyd, Georgia Bulldogs

Career Stats: 182 Total Tackles, 26.5 TFL, 17 Sacks

Height: 6’6              Weight: 244

Forty: 4.6

Arm Length: 33 & 1/8”

Floyd is quite an interesting prospect, and one that is flying up draft boards.  Of the film that I have watched, I don’t see him as that great of a linebacker but what I do see is Bruce Irvin.  Irvin was not that polished of a linebacker but he excelled at shooting the gap and turning the corner and getting to the quarterback.  Floyd’s meteoric rise is also consistent with how Irvin’s draft upsurge was, eventually going to the Seahawks with the 15^th overall pick.  I wish he bulked up more and put his hand in the dirt on every play in college.  I think he would have excelled even more than occasionally blitzing from the linebacker position.  He is a quick twitched athlete that needs to be running downhill to show off where he can become such a special player.  I love the way that he weaves through traffic to attack the ball carrier and then he closes in on a quarterback in a hurry.  Once he gets to the quarterback, he then viciously mauls them and inflicts as much damage as possible while driving their body into the ground.  You have to love a player like that on your team.  Floyd plays with great energy and looks as though he truly loves the game of football.  While he does need to get bigger and stronger to be able to deal with the grind of going up against mammoth sized offensive linemen, I think he will be fast enough to thrive in his early years with his speed and great hand usage.  I do not think he will be a great linebacker though if that is how a team intends to use him.  While he does okay dropping back into coverage, the former Bulldog needs to be moving forward to show his true strengths as a pass rusher.  I think if he was used as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker or in a Leo position, you will be able to spotlight his athletic ability and put him in situations to succeed.  Pass rushers are a premium and Floyd might become the best in this class.

2)     Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Career Stats: 125 Total Tackles, 37.5 TFL, 20 Sacks

Height: 6’2              Weight: 251

Forty: 4.8

Arm Length: 33”

 At what point does immaturity turn to stupidity.  Noah Spence has all the talent in the world but when you keep constantly making mistakes (a la Johnny Manziel), you are eventually deemed not worthy enough to keep around.   Spence was kicked off the Ohio State program and out of the BIG 10 because of multiple failed drug tests from when he was taking the drug molly.  Molly is an extremely addictive drug because of the high that it creates so hopefully Spence has learned his lesson of following the rules or else you will realize that you are disposable.  Hopefully he isn’t idiotic enough to do anymore drugs as he can make a lot of money playing a game.  I do like that he sent out his past twenty drug tests to every single NFL team.  It shows that he has most likely turned a new leaf and has grown up.  Spence has natural pass rush ability and while he doesn’t have the speed and quickness as per the combine (4.8 forty-yard dash) he does find ways to get to the quarterback.  Spence has the innate ability to dip his shoulder and turn the corner passed left tackles.  Hand usage is a fantastic quality for edge rushers to have and this kid has it. He will engage with the offensive lineman and then disengage after he reads the running back or quarterback’s eyes.  The other pass rush moves he is above average at is his bull rush and he has a good swim move.  While playing at Eastern Kentucky and Ohio State, he surprisingly was not double teamed a lot.  He and Joey Bosa wreaked havoc off the edge as a tandem so I believe that if Spence can be paired with another pass rusher, I think he will have a much better chance at excelling in his first few years.  I just hope his lack of maturity is in the past.

3)     Kevin Dodd, Clemson Tigers

Career Stats: 82 Total Tackles, 26.5 TFL, 12.5 Sacks

Height: 6’5                    Weight: 277

Forty: 4.86

Arm Length: 34”

When you are scouting players, you want to see what their ceiling could be because that is a good example of what they could become.  When you watch Dodd in the National Championship Game against Alabama, you see that he could be a special player in the big leagues.  He dominated the line of scrimmage against a very good Crimson Tide offensive line.  He finished the year with sacks in five consecutive games and topped that off with a three sack performance against Alabama.  This kid had 24 tackles for a loss in his one year as a starter.  Although that is one big knock on him is that he has one year of production so is he a one-year wonder?  I don’t think so.  He did play behind some very good players though (Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson).  He is of a prototypical size for a DE but could be moved all over the place on a defense to get him in different winnable situations to get into the backfield.  He has a relentless motor and is constant competitor and this bodes well for him since as a defensive end, he can get you those late game sacks that can make or break a win for you.  Dodd shoots through gaps well and fights off offensive tackles with good hand usage to get to the ball carrier.  He may not possess the natural bend that you want to see in pass rushers but he has ways of getting it done by being quick off the ball and using his pass rush skills.  On the flip side, Dodd did not see a lot of double teams as his teammate Shaq Lawson was the high profile player on the defense and he did get quite a few of his sacks that way.  But if that Alabama game is an indicator of how good he could become, then Dodd could become a special player.

 4)     Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Spartans

Career Stats: 131 Total Tackles, 44 TFL, 27 Sacks

Height: 6’4                    Weight: 251

Forty: 4.82

Arm Length: 34 & 1/4”

Calhoun is an intriguing prospect to me.  His athleticism is fantastic but he plays as though he is afraid to get hit.  He can get to a quarterback in a hurry and can pummel them but it looks like he is playing patty cake with the offensive lineman to try and get around him.  It’s not very often that you see a player get a sack without having to touch another player.  He tries to dance around offensive linemen instead of getting inside their shoulder pads and looking into the backfield.  Him shying away from contact could be the basketball player in himself (contact sport my ass).  Calhoun needs to be able to get down and dirty if he wants to survive in the NFL.  I do find it quite interesting that after battling Jack Conklin during his college tenure that he didn’t become a more physical player.  He is the perfect example of having boom or bust potential.  The former Spartan can either become a very good 10 sack a year player or be out of the league in a few years because he can’t develop a nasty streak and will be mauled by physical offensive linemen.  Calhoun does have a string of great production at Michigan State though.  His 44 tackles for a loss are something to marvel at so at least he could survive in this league as a pass rush specialist.  Instincts are another skill that all football players must have and Calhoun is still learning them for his position.  There are some instances when he looks completely lost on the field or loses the ball carrier and guesses to where he may go.  Offensive coordinators will pick up on this and will attack him in his first few years in the league.  Shilique is an intriguing prospect with an incredible ceiling if he puts his mind to it but he is very much a project.

 5)     Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland Terrapins

Career Stats: 83 Total Tackles, 32 TFL, 21 Sacks

Height: 6’2                    Weight: 252

Forty: 4.75

Arm Length: 32 & 1/2”

Ngakoue is the perfect example of entering the draft when your stock is high but he is a player that clearly could have used another year in college.  He definitely needed that extra year because Ngakoue is a few years away from reaching what his potential could be.  As for the time being, he will be a pass rush specialist with enormous upside.  For somebody of his height and weight combination his spin move is something of beauty. Even though he may attempt to overuse it, it is damn effective.  His combine was great for his draft stock.   He bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times and had a very effective forty-yard dash, along with showing off his athleticism through his 34.5 inch vertical and 118 inch broad jump.  The former Terrapin shows very good strength and burst off the line and the fact that he moved all over the line shows his ability to rush from anywhere.  He shows the ability to be an extremely effective edge rusher but then he has some lapses where he doesn’t have the constant motor you would like to see out of a player that hasn’t reached their full potential.  I feel like if he can go somewhere where a veteran player and a coach can get on him, he will show what he can really do.  But for the time being, he will be a late drafted player with loads of upside and intrigue.  If only he stayed another year.

2016 Inside Lineback Rankings

By Justin Rasile

1)     Reggie Ragland, Alabama Crimson Tide

Career Stats: 220 Total Tackles, 4 FF, 17.5 TFL

Height: 6’1                    Weight: 247

Forty: 4.72

Three Cone Drill: 7.55

Another big Alabama prospect hits the top of this scouting report.  Reggie Ragland, a beast among men has been exciting to watch during his college career.  He is a hardnosed and old school linebacker that drives through the ball carrier, thus forcing them into the dirt with great force.  He brings his feet with him and is a sure tackler, something that is a must for today’s linebackers that may be considered a little “heavy in the feet”.  Ragland brings a swagger about himself that rallies his teammates around and brings out the best in everybody.  A lot has been said about his coverage skills but I see a middle linebacker that can hold his own on obvious passing downs.  He sure does a hell of a job being quick twitched enough to tackle ball carriers in space, so why can’t he cover tight ends and some running backs out of the backfield?  Also, if you know your middle linebacker is vulnerable in coverage, then something may be wrong with your defense or somebody blew a coverage because there are ways around the situation of them dropping into coverage.  I personally don’t think Ragland is that bad in coverage.  Nick Saban knows how to coach a defense and Ragland was always in the center of everything and a player that no player wants to see in the hole.  An imposing force, he can patrol the middle of the field looking to murder somebody.  Something that many “experts” are overlooking about Ragland is the obvious drop off after him at middle linebacker.  At least he can drop back into some type of coverage and not be an immediate liability.  Clearly his best qualities are when he is running downhill towards the line of scrimmage and taking a running back off his feet with a crushing blow but some people just don’t see middle linebackers as worthy of a first round pick.  I do.

2)     Scooby Wright III, Arizona Wildcats

Career Stats: 270 Total Tackles, 5 FF, 43.5 TFL

Height: 6’0                    Weight: 239

Forty: 4.90

Three Cone Drill: 7.25

  

Production. Check.  Athleticism. Check.  Pass rushing moves. Check.  Time and time again, Scooby found a way to get to the ball.  He may not be the biggest or fastest but he makes it work.  Every time you watch that Arizona defense, you always had to keep an eye on big number 33 and account for him.  He flies all over the field despite not having enough “quickness” but he makes up for that by being a smart and gritty player.  His relentless motor is something that I have come to fall in love with, especially when you combine his incredible instincts.  But how can you not love a player that gives 100% all the time.  When his knee was injured, he came back way before anybody expected but he needed better advice as he came back too quick and a sprained foot shortened his season.  As a linebacker, you have to be smart about tackling and Scooby knows how to do that.  The former Wildcat knows when to go for the ball and try to rip it out of the ball carrier’s hands or to just wrap up and make the sure tackle.  As a strongside linebacker in a 4-3 or one of the inside linebackers in a 3-4, I think he would excel at either position as noted by his 17 career of sacks and his ability to mold to what the team needs.  If you want to see what this Wildcat is capable of, check out his Sophomore year in 2014.  His statistics are astonishing: 164 total tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, AND 15 effing sacks.  The kid was a production monster that year.  If Scooby was even remotely close with his stats this past year, we would be talking about him going much higher in the draft.  He has the potential to put up somewhat comparable stats in the NFL.  Scooby said this, “Put me in sweats and ask me to run around cones, and I’ll do an okay job.  But put me in pads and ask me to lead your defense, and there’s a lot of evidence that I can help you win”.  The combine isn’t everything and definitely should not have that much emphasis on a player’s draft stock but all you need is one team to fall in love with you.  Plus, Scooby is an awesome nickname. 

3)     Joshua Perry, Ohio State Buckeyes

Career Stats: 296 Total Tackles, 1 FF, 18 TFL

Height: 6’4                    Weight: 254

Forty: 4.68

Three Cone Drill: 7.24

Another piece of one of the most talented defenses college football has ever seen, Perry is that big and daunting linebacker standing at 6’4 and 254 pounds.  He also moves incredibly well for a larger human being.  Being big, strong, and deceptively fast can only take you so far though.  You need to have the instincts to coincide.  Perry has this issue of guessing where the ball carrier is going to go instead of using his eyes to determine where he can meet him for the tackle.  This leads to him shooting the wrong gap and can leave the defense vulnerable to a big offensive gain.  When he does finally get within closing distance of the offensive player, he can lay down a crushing blow with pretty good technique.  There are some instances on tape when he uses his overpowering size to make the tackle instead of wrapping up and driving the carrier back. This obviously won’t work every time in the NFL as every player is big and strong but it is a slight adjustment that he can make.  I love that he pursues plays down the field.  Those are the types of plays that can save a game or a season and will get your teammates to fall in love with you.  I believe that Perry has the ability to play a 4-3 strongside linebacker or an inside backer in a 3-4 so with that said, most teams will be looking at him.  And with a player this big, it is hard pressed to look around him.

4)      Antonio Morrison, Florida Gators

Career Stats: 287 Total Tackles, 3 FF, 20 TFL

Height: 6’1                                Weight: 232

Forty: 5.1

Three Cone Drill: 7.69

A very integral part of a vaunted Florida Gators defense, Morrison was the outright leader and a big time play maker that always found his way around the ball.  He brings a lot to the table but above all, he is a good and strong linebacker.  Morrison is one of those players that the angrier he becomes, the better he plays.  As a Gators fan that was obvious to me.  He plays with reckless care for human life but that’s what you get with an old school linebacker.  He flies around the field looking to decapitate a ball carrier but, at the same time, he is smart about it.  He didn’t get penalized a whole lot in college, so at least he can play with a good head on his shoulders.  He can play either middle linebacker or outside linebacker with an ability to blitz (4.5 career sacks).  In college he had to deal with a lot of run/pass option plays and he played those very well.  Always attacking the right player, depending on his outside coverage.  This will help his transition from college as that part of offenses are becoming more and more involved in offensive coordinators playbooks with these mobile quarterbacks.  My favorite part about Morrison’s game is that he actually drives through the ball carrier when he makes a tackle.  Whether it be head on or coming from the side, he wraps up the carrier with great technique and plants the player into the dirt.  Muddy lines of scrimmage are common and this kid can wade through the traffic well to make a play on the ball.  His pass coverage skills are not that great but they can be approved upon.  More than likely he will need to come off the field on obvious passing downs since he can be a liability and is not the fastest of players.  He is a good example that you can hide lack of speed in a 3-4 defense as an inside linebacker though.  His toughness, grit and leadership will help lead him to a long NFL career.

5)      Kentrell Brothers, Missouri Tigers

Career Stats: 357 Total Tackles, 4 FF, 23.5 TFL

Height: 6’0                    Weight: 245

Forty: 4.82

Three Cone Drill: 6.99

Brothers is that breed of old school inside linebackers that teams are not falling in love with.  But that is okay because he can play football.  He can shed the blocker and make the tackle at the line of scrimmage, which is a lot of what linebackers have to do.  His tackling skills are above average and he shoots his hips and wrap up to finish off a ball carrier.  While his forty-yard dash may not have been the prettiest sight to see (4.82 seconds), his three cone drill (6.99 seconds) and twenty-yard shuttle (4.11 seconds) were exceptional for a man of his weight.  Both of these drills were better than the far “superior” athlete that is Darron Lee, who ran a 7.12 second three cone drill and a 4.20 twenty-yard shuttle at nearly fifteen pounds lighter.  So all you size and speed combo draftniks can shove it.  A football player is a football player, no matter how they get the job done as long as they get it done.  Brothers has fantastic instincts and can read and develop plays quickly and constantly hustles to the ball.  This hustle allows him to always be around the ball and make plays when other players would give up.  He also has three blocked kicks on special teams.  Team player.  A few knacks on him are that he is a little slow at times but as mentioned above, his hustle makes up for that, and he is quicker than he looks.  Sometimes he can make bone headed tackles out of bounds and penalize his team but those are probably just isolated incidents.  If I were a 3-4 team, I wouldn’t hesitate to take a stab at this kid in the third or fourth round.  Old school players can play on my team any day.

2016 Outside Linebacker Rankings

By Justin Rasile

1)     Myles Jack, UCLA Bruins

Career Stats: 179 Total Tackles, 1 sack, 15 TFL

Height: 6’1                    Weight: 245

Bench: 19 Reps

Forty: We can only dream

Far and away the most athletic player in this year’s draft.  At 6’1 and 245 pounds, we can only imagine what his 40-yard dash would be.  I would speculate that it would be in the low 4.4s but let’s not get caught up in that.  Jack is a football player.  His speed, athleticism, and ability to translate that quickness into strength are matched by few prospects over the past few years.  If it weren’t for his meniscus tear and potential lingering knee problems, we would be talking about him as one of the top two players in this year’s draft.  Jack can meet a running back in the hole and drive him back for that tackle for loss and then on the next play he can cover a slot receiver or tight end and run with them, literally being their shadow.  If he wanted to, he could have been a first round running back as he scored eleven offensive touchdowns and looked fully competent in doing so.  That over-usage at UCLA could potentially be part of his troubling knee issues but in the NFL teams will simplify what he needs to do to prolong his longevity.  The former UCLA Bruin is the prototypical linebacker that coaches are looking for in this day and age.  He will be that three down linebacker that won’t ever come off the field and can even play a hybrid safety role that can cover up for some slower middle linebackers that should come off the field.  It may not look like Jack has the most eye popping stats (the injury his final year played a hand in that) but he did have 4 interceptions and 19 passes deflected and if you put on his game film, he immediately pops off the screen.  He can be molded into whatever your team needs and that is a special attribute.  He can blitz off the edge and has some very nice natural bend and amazing quickness or he can drop back and cover up for the lack of secondary talent you may have.  The knee can be an issue and if these diagnoses are true, he may have some rough years ahead of him.  But as long as the knee checks out, no team should be worried about this future All Pro linebacker.

2)     Darron Lee, Ohio State Buckeyes

Career Stats: 146 Total Tackles, 11 Sacks, 27 TFL

Height: 6’1                    Weight: 232

Bench: 17 Reps

Forty: 4.47

Following that trend of athletic linebackers is just that, a trend and trends can have a history of playing themselves out (the Broncos won the Super Bowl with a dismal passing performance).  Although we are seeing quarterbacks throw the ball at ridiculous rates you can’t be just a good cover linebacker.   You need to be able to get down and dirty and deal with the mass of human bodies floating around at the line of scrimmage if you want to be successful at that position.  This is where my second ranked outside linebacker slides in.  Darron Lee was a high school quarterback and made his transition to linebacker only a few years ago.  I have my doubts as to whether he will be able to hold up in a man’s game.  His cover skills are fantastic and correlate to when he played cornerback in high school so that is only another plus for him.  But he is on the smaller side for linebacker, especially without containing a mean streak in his game, and it still remains to be seen if this newfound athletic linebacker will pan out.  Lee played the majority of his snaps outside of the tackle box and I worry about his instincts.  The great characteristic about Lee is that he a freak athlete.  His 4.47 forty-yard dash was phenomenal and better than a decent amount of corners that declared for this year’s draft.  He did also have 11 sacks and 27 tackles for a loss so he has that ability to rush the passer if that is something that your team needs.  I have faith that Lee can become an excellent linebacker/ safety hybrid.  He just needs to be coached very well and needs to play more pissed off because when he is running downhill around full speed, this kid can knock somebody’s head off.  I just want to see him stand up with a grin on his face after he lays down an earth shattering hit.  Then I will know that he belongs in this league.

3)     Su’a Cravens, USC Trojans

Career Stats: 207 Total Tackles, 10.5 Sacks, 34.5 TFL

Height: 6’1                    Weight: 226

Bench: 16 Reps

Forty: 4.69

Mr. Su’a Cravens.  This former USC Trojan was somebody who caught my eye last year while watching last year’s stud defensive tackle Leonard Williams.  He was flying around and sticking his nose into everything while he was playing safety.  This past year he played a bit of a hybrid safety/ linebacker role which I believe will only help him down the road, especially if he continues this transition to linebacker.  He would be an above average coverage linebacker instead of a mediocre safety.  Players that aim to decapitate a ball carrier will always be favorites of mine and Cravens satisfies that fill for me.  He is a tough nosed player that wants to be involved in every tackle.  His best year was in 2014 mainly because his 2015 tape was full of playing alongside freshmen defenders, including 7 at one time.  The Trojans were a young team and Cravens took on a leadership role but I also believe he was trying to do a little too much to cover for his inexperienced teammates.  This is not an excuse in the least but rather me trying to justify his sometimes poor play last year.  There are things he does need to get better at, mainly getting off blocks.  Cravens would engage the blocker and then either wait too long to shed the block or he can’t disengage quick enough and this caused him to miss a decent amount of tackles.  This is ability to engage and disengage is such an underrated part of playing a defensive position but one that is crucial for a player learning a new position.  A good coach will be able to help the Trojan with this little blocking issue though.  Oh and he definitely does remind me of another Trojan great, Troy Polamalu, in his style of play.  Hopefully Su’a has Troy’s phone number so that he can learn from a perennial pro bowler.

4)     Tyler Matakevich, Temple Owls

Career Stats: 493 Total Tackles, 7 Sacks, 40.5 TFL

Height: 6’0                                Weight: 238

Bench: 22 Reps

Forty: 4.81

Each and every year there are some small school kids that you fall in love with and Matakevich is one of those guys for me.  The 2015 All American attended a small school in Temple but helped lead the team to a magnificent season and a bowl game against Toledo.  Production is something that he can hang his hat on as he had almost 500 tackles in his very distinguished four-year career.  Yes, he may be a bit slow and small but he is a physical player nonetheless and that is necessary for a linebacker.  He drives his feet when wrapping up and is very technically sound in doing so.  The nastiness that he has makes you want him on your team as he can strike fear into the eyes of offensive players when laying booming tackles on offensive players.  His athleticism is underrated as he can chase down opponents and drop into coverage and not look lost or like a liability.  Coming from a small school with small size will knock his draft process a little bit but he is a football player and that’s more than needs to be said for me.  My favorite quote from him in an interview was “Nobody will outwork me in the film room”.  Seems like he has the right mentality going to play in the big leagues.  Matakevich understands that he has an uphill climb if he wants to make an impact in the NFL but if he has the right mentality and an above average intelligence that I believe he possesses; he can make his dreams come true.

5)     Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Career Stats: 284 Total Tackles, 4.5 Sacks, 23.5 TFL

Height: 6’2                                Weight: 223

Bench: DNP

Forty: DNP

The more we hear about Jaylon Smith’s knee, the more we hear how bad it is.  The possibility of nerve damage immediately raises red flags and should make teams extremely worried.  If it weren’t for that injury, he and Myles Jack would be duking it out for the top linebacker spot but it is something that has to be considered now.  In my opinion, Smith is the second best linebacker in the 2016 NFL Draft.  He shares that rare blend of size and speed that coaches are drooling over and offensive coordinators have nightmares about.  Jaylon Smith shows that he can rush the passer as well as stuff running backs in the hole.  Granted, if he were actually going through the draft process I believe teams would find some more holes in his game.  One that I’ve noticed is that he played at a pretty low weight, 223 pounds, and with him not being able to fully workout he is going to continue to lose more weight.  By the time he can actually start working out again, I think he is going to need at least two years to get back to where he was.  Will a team give him enough time to fully recover (if he ever does)?  Besides the physical part of recovering from his injury, he needs to be fully okay mentally by the time he steps back onto the gridiron.  The knee worries me though, as well as it should worry everybody.  If he falls to the third round Smith would be an absolute steal if he comes back fully healthy.  All of the interviews that I’ve seen with him and hearing everything that I’ve heard, he sounds like such a genuine and nice human being so this makes his injury one that is even tougher to swallow.  Time will only tell for this prospect but we all have our fingers crossed for you Jaylon!

2016 Quarterback Rankings

1) Jared Goff, California Golden Bears
Career Stats: 12,195 Yards, 62.3% Completion, 96 TDs, 30 INTs
Height: 6'4          Weight: 214
Hand Size: 9 Inches

In my opinion, the quarterback discussion for this year isn't as difficult as many have made it out to be. I would take Goff over Wentz if I were drafting for almost any team out there. A three year starter at Cal, Goff significantly improved as a passer in each of his years. This is important and is also a huge reason why I like Goff more. He got to Cal and started right away on a team that ended up going 1-11. Goff played on some truly terrible teams and was one of, if not the only, bright spots. Starting with some of his more positive physical and mechanical traits, Goff has a very compact release that is similar to that of Mariota's from last year. This was huge in his development as he was able to get the ball out of his hands before some major blitzes came his way. This will also be a great trait early in his career as the Rams (who are likely taking him) don't have the best pass protection in the league. Goff is an accurate passer who also shows some very good ball placement. I really like his ability to hit a man in stride to allow them to pick up additional yards. There were multiple times in college where he was able to make tight window passes a fraction of a second before the corner got to the spot of the ball. Goff also shows very good accuracy on the short to intermediate passes of the field. He is practically money on any pass that is within 25 yards of the line of scrimmage. But even more impressive is his touch on downfield passes, something that has been called into question at times due to his lack of elite arm strength. But what stands out to Goff to me the most is how he feels standing in the pocket. He is a true pocket passer who didn't scramble unless it was an absolute last resort move. He shows an advanced understanding of recognizing coverages before the snap and is equally effective once the ball is snapped. Goff is comfortable going through his reads while standing tall, but does get a bit jittery in the face of pressure. Goff also needs to feel pressure better in the NFL. He had a tendency in college to hang on too long and not get the ball out and take some bad sacks. Goff will also need to work on stepping into his throws more. Too often he kind of just plants in throws rather than getting all of his weight into the throw. With his arm strength already being called into question, this could be crucial to his success at the next level.


2) Carson Wentz, North Dakota State Bison
Career Stats: 5,115 Yards, 64.1% Completion, 45 TDs, 14 INTs
Height: 6'5          Weight: 232
Hand Size: 10 Inches

An intriguing prospect due to his size and tangibles, Wentz has been shooting up draft boards in the recent months leading up to the draft. It wasn't long ago that he was a prospect that the Cardinals or Broncos should be looking into to groom over the next few seasons. But Wentz is now the odds on favorite to be taken second overall by the Eagles. When you first look at Wentz, the physical measurements check off every box that you would ideally like to see in a franchise quarterback. Tall and sturdy with a very powerful arm, Wentz has been compared to everyone from Cam Newton to Blake Bortles. Yet despite these physical traits, I don't see Wentz always taking advantage of them. His downfield accuracy is rather poor for someone who should be able to push the ball to his target on any and all deep passes. Additionally, Wentz had a rather unusual number of passes knocked down for how big he is. While he should be able to make any throw over his line, he didn't always find the best passing lane. He should be able to correct these errors as he has great athleticism that can be tapped by his next offensive coordinator. He was the same kind of runner as Cam Newton, but he carried the ball a decent amount on designed runs and was pretty damn effective at it. While he is a pocket passer, it is always good to have a quarterback who can pick up yards with his feet when necessary. He is very good at either picking up the short yards or getting some longer runs with uncanny elusiveness. While Wentz will likely need to sit for at least a year due to coming from the FCS level, it is somewhat encouraging that he comes from a system that utilized a lot of pro concepts, including drop back passes and timing routes. He also showed a lot of comfort in going through progressions to find an open man in coverage. However, Wentz will need to work on speeding up his process, especially when it comes time to pull the trigger. At first I thought I was imagining this, but Wentz really does hesitate just the tiniest bit before actually pulling the trigger on his pass. This is something he is going to need to fix in a hurry or else he is going to throw a ton of picks throughout his career. While I have my serious doubts about his ability to transition from a perennial powerhouse at the FCS level to the NFL, Wentz does bring some intrigue. Whoever drafts him just better surround him with the proper talent and get a good quarterback coach to help his development.

3) Connor Cook, Michigan State Spartans
Career Stats: 9,194 Yards, 57.5% Completion, 71 TDs, 22 INTs
Height: 6'4          Weight: 217
Hand Size: 9 & 3/4 Inches

After Goff and Wentz, there is a good amount of debate as to who the next top quarterback available is. Lynch seems to be the most popular selection, but for my money I would take Connor Cook first. The most decorated quarterback in Spartans history, Cook certainly has his detractors, and those criticisms against him to in fact have merit. As you can see from his completion percentage, Cook is an extremely streaky passer. I don't think I have ever seen someone who is able to drop a forty yard pass on a dime one pass and then miss a wide open receiver on a slant on the next pass. It really is not an exaggeration. It really does not change simply from opponent to opponent or quarter to quarter; it can happen pass to pass. On top of that, his ball placement can be rather streaky. Cook didn't have any marquee wide receivers to throw to and the ones he did have tended to drop a lot of balls, but the fact is that Cook didn't always put the ball in the best place for his man to get it. You saw a lot of cases where he was throwing into the dirt or throwing the ball behind his man. These are the kinds of details that have moved him down a lot of draft boards. However, there is a good amount to like to his game. As mentioned, Cook can make some truly stellar throws. While he didn't have a lot vertical threats at Michigan State, he made some great deep passes. And when he is in a rhythm, he can make some unbelievable tight window throws. Cook may not have amazing arm strength, but it is enough to get by with some of the tougher throws he will be asked to make. He can get the ball outside of the numbers and can get the ball downfield. But equally as impressive is his ability to change the velocity of his passes based on where the ball is heading. He can rifle the ball on throws that warrant it but will also show a lighter touch when he has a man wide open and just needs to get it to him. While he has all the advantages of a three year starter operating in a pro system, teams are going to rightfully worry about his lack of feel for the rush and his tendency to lock onto the first read. For someone who is experienced in a system that allowed him to go through multiple reads and find who he felt was open, he too often locked on and pre-determined his throws which stagnated the offense at time. Far from a finished product, Cook would be an interesting pick as a project for a team like the Cardinals late in the first round, but really belongs in the second.

4) Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes
Career Stats: 2,322 Yards, 61.7% Completion, 15 TDs, 7 INTs
Height: 6'5          Weight: 253
Hand Size: 9& 3/4 Inches

After embarking on a legendary run to the first college playoff title, the sky seemed like the limit for Cardale. But rather than capitalizing on his short burst of success, Cardale came back to school with the intent of improving his draft stock and repeating as national champions. Neither of those happened this year and he has been criticized since the Hawaii game for choosing to go back to school instead of taking a chance and likely landing late in the first round. His offensive coordinator didn't help him this year, but it wasn't completely Tom Herman's fault that Jones got benched midway through the season. While he does possess the best arm in the draft, Cardale can have a tendency to rely too much on it. This is a common problem from guys who come from spread offenses and who have cannons for an arm. Instead of trying to perfect his mechanics, Jones often just lets the ball fly and hopes that works. This leads to him overthrowing a lot of passes or putting the ball just out of reach for a wide open receiver. It wasn't uncommon to see an OSU receiver make a spectacular catch only to realize it shouldn't have even been that difficult to make. But despite these issues in his mechanics, there is a lot to like about Cardale that makes him one of the more intriguing prospects. As mentioned, his arm talent is absolutely insane. But even better than just having the ability to get the ball downfield is his ability to do it accurately. His precision and touch on deep passes is very impressive for his limited game reps. This also allows him to fit the ball into narrow windows, something that will be huge for his transition to a pro quarterback. And while he was asked to run a bit in college, Cardale didn't live off of it. He isn't very fast or very elusive and I think that he knew that. From the games that he started between 2014 and 2015, it looked like he actually wanted to be a pocket passer. He feels comfortable in the pocket in the face of pressure also looked comfortable going through reads, not just relying on the quick and short completion. This did back fire on him at times as he will try to do too much and not get rid of the ball, resulting on critical sacks. But when he does take off running, good luck tackling him. Cardale is tremendously difficult to bring down and shows Roethlisburger type improv skills in the pocket. I strongly doubt he gets taken in the first round, but there is so much untapped potential with Cardale he could be a target for teams in the second round who have an aging franchise quarterback starting the next couple of years.

5) Paxton Lynch, Memphis Tigers
Career Stats: 8,865 Yards, 62.9% Completion, 59 TDs, 23 INTs
Height: 6'6          Weight: 244 
Hand Size: 10 & 1/4 Inches

To be completely honest, I don't understand how Lynch is garnering so much first round hype. I don't want to start off sounding like I have a vendetta against the kid, so I'll go through the positives first. Lynch has prototypical size for an NFL quarterback and has very good arm strength. I don't think it is quite as good as Cardale's or Hackenberg's, but he isn't lacking by any means. He can really drive the ball down the field and is able to push the ball outside of the numbers. I'd say his arm strength is on par with Wentz's and is easily better than Goff's. On top of that, Lynch is a great athlete who was asked to do a lot on the run under Justin Fuente. Throwing on roll outs seems to come very naturally to him and he is able to hit targets at every level when he is on the move. It isn't often that you see this, but he never looked uncomfortable running to his left either which is something a lot of quarterbacks, even pros, can struggle with. Lynch has a very nice burst when he takes off running which really seems to throw defenders off as they don't expect a man his size to move that quickly. He can pick up yards with speed, power, and elusiveness. But what I really liked is how he keeps his eyes down field when the play breaks down. Running isn't necessarily a last resort for him, but he understands that when a play breaks down is when receivers get free and when he can strike for a huge gain. Lynch also shows very nice tough on all of his passes and has a high volume of completions in the short to intermediate parts of the field. He wasn't asked to throw deep a lot, but showed accuracy on those passes as well when called upon. So why did I sound so negative at the beginning? I worry quite a bit about the system that he cam from and how it will affect his development. Memphis ran a lot of quick passes and screens while Lynch was the starter, and a fair amount of his numbers can be attributed to his receivers and running backs doing most of the work on different screens. With such an emphasis on quick passes, Lynch was asked to pre-determine a lot of reads and as such isn't quite as good going through his progressions as others in this draft. You see this a lot on his film as his field vision was pretty terrible against better opponents and he threw a lot of balls into traffic. I think that just like Wentz and Cardale, Lynch is a project that is going to need to sit for a few years before he is ready to come in. I think any team that goes in with the expectations of making him a Day 1 starter is in for a very rude awakening.

2016 Defensive End Rankings

1) Joey Bosa, Ohio State Buckeyes
Career Stats: 148 Total Tackles, 51 TFL, 26 Sacks, 1 INT, 5 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'5          Weight: 269 lbs.
Arm Length: 34 Inches
Bench Press: 24 Reps

Once thought to be a lock for the first overall pick, Bosa has been grounded a bit during the Combine where he has been dinged for not having elite athleticism like Jalen Ramsey or Laremy Tunsil. However, there is a consensus that he is still a top five pick due to his combination of strength, athleticism, and technique. As good as he is as a pass rusher, Bosa is even better as a run defender. He regularly shows tremendous power to knock his man back and not get pushed back on first contact. Winning at that initial punch is so important as it sets up the success for the rest of the play. He has very violent hands that continuously keep his man off balance. This helps as much against the pass as it does in the run as it keeps him man from being able to square up and block. He also does not give up on the run. While he sheds blocks better than almost every other defensive line prospect in this draft, he is relentless in pursuit. Plays that seem to have gone by him or that end up on the other side of the field often have him performing clean up duty. All of these features make him a nightmare against the run and someone that you have to scheme away from. As a sophomore and junior, he was practically living behind the line of scrimmage racking up tackles for loss. As a pass rusher, Bosa succeeds for a lot of the same reasons that were mentioned above playing against the run. His initial burst, strength, and use of hands makes him a nightmare for offensive tackles to deal with. When he beats his man, he has the ideal speed needed to close the gap on the quarterback and end the play with a sack. On top of that, teams are going to fall in love with his versatility. Bosa was lined up at defensive tackle numerous times per game to take advantage of mismatches along the line. Some believe that he could even add some weight and play end in a 3-4 or lose some weight and play outside linebacker in the same system. So why is he not the consensus overall pick? Well, there are questions about whether or not Bosa has peaked at this point in his career. As mentioned, Bosa doesn't have the elite athleticism like Clowney or Myles Garrett at Texas A&M. Because he is already so technically sound, people have been wondering just how much better he can get. While it is possible that he won't be a truly elite talent, I think that Bosa is a guy who can consistently get a team 10-12 sacks a year, which I also think practically any team would gladly take.

2) Shaq Lawson, Clemson Tigers
Career Stats: 123 Total Tackles, 45 TFL, 20 Sacks, 0 INT, 1 Forced Fumble
Height: 6'2          Weight: 269 lbs.
Arm Length: 32 & 3/4 Inches
Bench Press: DNP


After Bosa, there seems to be a bit of debate as to who the next best defensive end is. Some really like Deforest Buckner because of his ideal length, but I think that Lawson is the better player with just as much athletic upside. Out of all the defensive ends, Lawson had the fastest release off of the line and has some blazing speed around the corner. Coupled with his ability to bend, Lawson can regularly get the drop on an offensive tackle using just speed. Finding an edge rusher with that kind of speed is huge in today's NFL where tackles are becoming leaner and faster with each passing year. On top of his speed, Lawson has some of the best rushing moves in this draft. His favorite move his to get his man moving backwards before hitting a spin to the inside. He has shown a penchant for hitting this move often with some devastating results. More than just being able to execute the move, Lawson sets up his man very well so that they are in the most inopportune position to be able to counter it. Lawson also possesses natural athleticism that defensive coordinators will love to take advantage of. Clemson's defensive coordinator brought Lawson in as a pass rusher on a variety of stunts and would also drop him into coverage on early downs. When he is able to get a clear line of sight of the quarterback, he has a great closing speed to finish the play. It wouldn't surprise me to see a team draft him with the intent of the playing outside linebacker. But while he is a very good pass rusher, Lawson will need to work on defending the run. Too often he was taken out of a lot of plays where he got engaged and wasn't able to shed the block or set the edge. This carries over into pass rushing as bigger tackles who were able to get him locked in were usually able to win most of the battles. Lawson will need to add some strength to truly break through at the next level. However, right now he is one of the top pass rushers in the draft and that is pushing him into top ten consideration.

3) DeForest Buckner, Oregon Ducks
Career Stats: 232 Total Tackles, 36 TFL, 18 Sacks, 0 INT, 2 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'7          Weight: 291 lbs.
Arm Length: 34 & 3/8 Inches
Bench Press: DNP

One of the more intriguing prospects in the draft, there is a decent chance that a team falls in love with Buckner and takes him in the top five or so picks. Buckner has a very intriguing size and skill set. He is one of the tallest defensive ends in the draft and his natural size and length will make him too good to pass up. Having the arm length and height that he possesses allows him to initiate contact with the tackle and keep them off balance. You are not going to find a lot of offensive tackles in the NFL who will be able to match up with his sheer size. Buckner doesn't just have wiry length but has some good strength that makes him a real asset defending the run. He is incredibly tough to move off of the line and showed that he can take on double teams and still set the edge. Buckner has also played all over the defensive line, sometimes lining up at tackle to create mismatches. Buckner causes a lot more disruption behind the line than his numbers show for. While he doesn't have a whole lot of pass rushing moves, he rushes the passer playing with good leverage and utilizing all of his strength. Some areas that Buckner will need to improve is adding some pass rushing moves and developing more consistency. In same games, he looks like a different player from quarter to quarter. And just being able to bull rush won't be quite as effective in the NFL. Buckner should also work on his quickness off of the line. Out of the rest of the defensive ends on this list, his burst is not the most impressive. Being able to improve on just that aspect could be huge in his development if he can couple that with his strength while adding some pass rushing moves. He may not be the most polished end in this draft, but his upside would be too much to pass up if he starts falling into the teens.

4) Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State Cowboys
Career Stats: 133 Total Tackles, 35.5 TFL, 26.5 Sacks, 0 INT, 5 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'4          Weight: 273 lbs.
Arm Length: 35 & 1/2 Inches
Bench Press: 20 Reps


Ogbah made himself some pretty good money at the Combine by having an outstanding work out that showed off his raw athleticism. I don't put a lot of stock into the forty for defensive lineman, but his was one of the fastest while also testing well in the vertical and broad jump. Ogbah is very quick off of the line and shows a lot of natural bend to get around the edge. Ogbah racked up sacks this past year making a living on beat tackles around the corner. He also sets up his man well before making a quick burst to the inside. As mentioned, his speed is rather impressive for a man his size. I really like his ability to get around his man and close the gap to the quarterback. In a league where passes are coming out of the quarterback's hands quicker and quicker, it simply isn't enough to be able to beat the tackle. Closing the gap quick enough to either sack the quarterback or make them hurry their throw is just as important. Ogbah hits a second gear when he gets his sight on the quarterback. Although his bench press total wasn't overly impressive, Ogbah has also shown a good ability to set the edge against the run and force the backs to the inside. However, his lack of strength does become a problem at times in the run game. He doesn't show that he can consistently shed blocks and come off his man to make the tackle. This also does become a problem when rushing the quarterback as he can be taken out of plays if he gets engaged by a more powerful tackle. Ogbah also doesn't really use his hands as well as he should. When you see watch someone like Bosa, you see a man who knows how to use his hands to keep their opponent off balance. Ogbah looks content to just jam his hands into his man's chest and try to drive back rather than use his long arms to his full advantage. Ogbah also doesn't have a ton of pass rushing moves outside of a rip. While he did have success with it in college, he should continue to develop in order to maximize his potential in the pros. It is also possible that Ogbah can stand up and play outside linebacker in a 3-4 front. His speed would make him so dangerous, and coaches will fall in love with his knack to create big plays (five forced fumbles in college). With the premium put on pass rushers, expect Ogbah to go in the late teens or early twenties.

5) Kevin Dodd, Clemson Tigers
Career Stats: 82 Total Tackles, 26.5 TFL, 12.5 Sacks, 0 INT, 1 Forced Fumble
Height: 6'5          Weight: 277
Arm Length: 34 Inches
Bench Press: DNP

Picking the last defensive end was not an easy selection as I really rotated between Dodd, Calhoun from Michigan State, and Johnathon Bullard out of Florida. Ultimately, I went with Dodd due to his final season performance at Clemson. During that time, However, teams will have to be wary to see if he is a one hit wonder. Dodd recorded all of his sacks and 24 of his 26.5 tackles for loss in his redshirt junior season. Prior to that, he did not see the field that often. The ACC is also the weakest of the power five conferences, so it isn't like Dodd went up against the best week in and week out. However, I have seen some mocks out there that have Dodd projected above Lawson. Dodd has the ideal length and size to play a defensive end. He is also incredibly light on his feet and shows the ability to bend around the edge to beat his man. Speed rushers who can get by the far shoulder of a tackle are always going to find a place in the NFL. Dodd's speed translates to a nice burst off of the line of scrimmage as well. Although he wasn't a multi-year starter for Clemson, he regularly showed an thorough understanding of the offensive line's blocking schemes and used that to his advantage. He shot through gaps all the time and was reflected in his numbers as he averaged two tackles for a loss a game. Dodd also shows some intriguing athleticism as he was used in a very similar way to Lawson by Brent Venables. Dodd was frequently asked to drop into coverage and to come in on delayed blitzes, showing that he was capable of doing both. He may be a tad oversized for an outside linebacker, but it is something that a good defensive coordinator will have to look into. In terms of other areas that he can improve, it would be mostly just adding strength and power. Like Lawson, Dodd can be taken out of run plays by more powerful offensive tackles who are able to lock him in. He also can get knocked off balance quite a bit. While there has been debate over where he goes, a team drafting in the early second round would be thrilled for him to fall to them.

2016 Defensive Tackle Rankings

1) A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Career Stats: 133 Total Tackles, 22 TFL, 9 Sacks, 0 INT, 1 Forced Fumble
Height: 6'3          Weight: 307 lbs.
Bench: 22 Reps

Yes, that is a 300 pound lineman hurdling to block a FG.

An absolute monster in the middle, Robinson's inconsistent play cost him a chance of being a top five pick. Looking just at his size and how he is put together, it is hard to not be reminded a little bit of Ndamukong Suh. Suh is much more of a pass rushing threat in the middle of the defense, but I think they grade out rather similarly when it comes to stuffing the run. His presence and ability made him a significant contributor to the Tide as a true freshman, a rare feat on a team loaded with NFL talent along the line. Robinson is capable of playing nearly any spot on the line in most defensive formations. He can line up directly over the center, on the inside or outside shoulder of the guard, and even as a five-technique on a three man front. He shows a great burst off of the ball and plays with excellent pad level to push his man back. He is nearly impossible to move in the run game and his immense bull rush can collapse the pocket from the middle and force quarterbacks to throw off their axis. For a man his size, he also moves very well on his feet which allows him to keep his balance when multiple blockers come at him. Eating up multiple blockers is a huge reason why the Tide had one of their best pass rushing units under Nick Saban this year. His presence in the middle is often too much for one man to handle. But as mentioned, he can be rather inconsistent at times. On one play he will force the quarterback out of the pocket, but on the next play he will look content to just engage his man. Additionally, Robinson isn't a true pass rusher like some of the other guys on this list. After recording five as a freshman, he logged only four total over this last two years. This is due to a combination of inconsistency and not developing other pass rushing moves besides a bull rush. If he can improve in these two areas, Robinson could be a dominant force in the middle.


2) Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss Rebels
Career Stats: 81 Total Tackles, 16 TFL, 6 Sacks, 0 INT, 0 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'3          Weight: 293 lbs.
Bench: 28 Reps

As Justin put it, have we seen wasted talent or simply untapped talent? The top rated player at any position coming out of high school, Nkemdiche has the athletic talent to be the first overall pick. When you first start watching him, what immediately stands out is his lightning quickness. He has one of the best bursts off the line I have ever seen. No one his size should be able to move that quickly. Having a first step like that gives him the edge over practically every offensive lineman he faced in college and will serve well in the pros. When he shoots the gap, he is able to close in on quarterbacks or running backs before they even know what hit them. Too often would a guard go to engage Nkemdiche only to find that he is already past him. He doesn't just show great speed however. He has natural power and also translates his speed into power incredibly well. It is rare that you are going to see him get completely dominated in the run game. However, one thing that I have noticed is that he does not follow the runs very well. You will see him looking around wildly as the running back goes right past him. This happens more than you really want to see, but when he does follow it he shows a natural ability to shed blocks and make the tackles. Nkemdiche has the potential to be a top tier interior pass rusher. He has a lightning quick swim move that he sets up well which allows him to invade the backfield. He also has a spin move isn't quite as developed but which he can still hit on. So why isn't he ranked first? Well as I mentioned earlier in the paragraph, there are some serious red flags attached to his resume. Looking just at the numbers, you can see he clearly hasn't been as productive as some of his classmates. Even though he is a disruptive force, he doesn't finish the play nearly enough. He also looks really disinterested in playing at times. I don't know if that is because he just wasn't challenged or what, but he will need to find a coach who can properly motivate him. On top of that, he has been suspended multiple times for a variety of stupid reasons, mostly for getting caught smoking pot. The truest definition of high risk/high reward, Nkemdiche could either rewrite the record books or be out of the league in a matter of years.

3) Sheldon Rankins, Louisville Cardinals
Career Stats: 133 Total Tackles, 31.5 TFL, 18 Sacks, 2 INT, 2 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'1          Weight: 299 lbs.
Bench: 28 Reps

Rankins has been climbing his way up everyone's big boards after people really began to take a look at his tape. It is not hard to see why teams are now high on him, especially when you look at the numbers he put up by invading opponent's backfield. Rankins has by far the best numbers of any of the interior lineman in this class (unless you want to count Buckner as an interior lineman). He shows a good burst off of the line which he is able to generate into power as well as anyone in the class. Even when his initial momentum gets stopped, he still possesses natural strength that allows him to continue to work towards the play. Rankins wasn't just used as a defensive tackle. He was moved around quite a bit and was even asked to rush as a five technique. He showed enough athleticism to be able to bend around the edge but also could stand up and come in through the middle on stunts. This kind of athleticism and versatility could push up into the early teens depending on how the top ten shakes out. Rankins isn't just an interior pass rusher. He is a very good defender against the run with is ability to shed tackles and wrap up the running back. You don't see a lot of smaller defensive tackles who are able to disengage and make a tackle due to them being overwhelmed by the guards. If there are any weaknesses to his game, they are not anything that is too drastic that will cause teams to really pass on him. One is that is doesn't always use his hands as well as he should. Despite his good numbers, they could easily be higher if he was more consistent and relentless. And despite his ability to pressure and get to the quarterback, he didn't really do that by using a lot of moves. However, these are two things that can be fixed through coaching. Being able to grab a guy who can pass rush from the interior is crucial in today's game.


4) Andrew Billings, Baylor Bears
Career Stats: 107 Total Tacks, 30 TFL, 8 Sacks, 0 INT, 2 Forced Fumbles
Height: 6'0          Weight: 311 lbs.
Bench: 31 Reps

Another mammoth in the middle, Billings is arguably the top run stuffer in this draft class. Watching guards and centers trying to push him back against the run is an exercise in futility. Although a bit on the short side, Billings uses every inch of his body and his powerful base to hold his position at the line of scrimmage. One of the most powerful draft prospects out of any position, Billings is simply a massive presence on the interior of a defensive line. Offensive coordinators often had to scheme away from running directly at him. He has the ability to take on multiple blockers at the line of scrimmage and plug up running lanes. His strength allows him to stand his ground no matter where the blockers are coming from. On top of that, Billings is able to work off of blockers in order to make the tackle on the running back. He is obviously less so effective in doing this against the double team, but when he is going one on one he is going to make the tackle more often than not. Despite being a massive interior presence, Billings doesn't have the look of a mere two down player. He isn't the greatest pass rusher on the planet, but I think that he is better than he is typically getting credit for. He isn't going to blow past people with speed or show a lot in the way of actual pass rushing moves, but his tremendous power and leverage allow him push the pocket from the interior. In terms of weaknesses, Billings isn't exactly the quickest defensive lineman in the draft. He doesn't have a great burst of the snap and can be beat by quicker guards (you saw a good amount of this in the Oklahoma game). This could hamper his ability to become a more effective pass rusher in the NFL and would force him to become a two down player. Additionally, Billings can look awkward on his feet at times. It sometimes looks like he isn't used to carrying around all of the weight. This can cause him to get out of position when he isn't able to beat his man to the spot. All in all, I think that Billings is an intriguing prospect who would be a perfect fit for a team looking for a nose tackle (Green Bay stands out the most).

5) Vernon Butler, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Career Stats: 168 Total Tackles, 28.5 TFL, 5 Sacks, 0 INT, 1 Forced Fumble
Height: 6'3          Weight: 323 lbs.
Bench: 26 Reps

One of the more intriguing defensive line prospects in this draft, there doesn't really seem to be a consensus on where Butler will be going in the draft. I've seen him going as high as the mid teens and going as low as the middle of the second round. Butler is a massive human being who possesses rare quickness for someone his size. He actually kind of reminds me of a heavier Gerald McCoy from Tampa Bay. He has a tremendous burst off of the line, possibly second best in this group just after Nkemdiche. His burst helps him get the advantage over his man right away. When combined with his impressive and violent use of hands, Butler is a difficult assignment for any offensive lineman. Butler shows the ability to really dig his hands into the chest pads of his man and drive them back. When he is playing with the right leverage, he will consistently keep his man backpedaling all game long. But here in lies part of the problem to Butler's game. He is too inconsistent with playing with the proper pad level. When he gets too high on his stance, it opens him up getting beat. This is why he struggled playing the run against better competition in college. A lot of times he got too high and lost the advantage on his man and wasn't able to recover. Despite this weakness, I think that this is something that can be corrected with proper coaching which is something you hope that a player gets from professional coaches. There is no denying that when he maintains leverage, he can be a devastating force along the line. Butler also is incredibly light on his feet for someone who is north of 320 pounds. Watching some of his games, it wasn't uncommon to see him push at the line and then drop into coverage or line up on the edge only to come back around to the middle on a stunt. He moves like a guy who was sixty or seventy pounds less than him. Despite these abilities, it is kind of strange that he doesn't have a higher sack total (although his tackles for loss are impressive). He doesn't always finish the play after penetrating through the line. I honestly have no idea how to explain it, but it is likely a good reason why mocks have him all over the place.