The position was designed for two things to seal the edge and to sack the quarterback. This draft supposedly has the most talented defensive end of our lifetime but I firmly disagree on Clowney. Sure he may become a talented player in the NFL but will he become better than my biggest steal of a draft Gregg Hardy is far from certain.
1. Jadeveon Clowney – 6’6” 266 Ilbs. 4.53 40 – South Carolina – 6.8 - A junior with phenomenal size and speed for his position. Although he is a three year starter who is only a junior and had 21 sacks and over 30 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at South Carolina that does not tell his whole story. I watched James Hurst from North Carolina shut him down last season. Sure Clowney can say he let his foot off of the throttle last season but what does that say about the potential number one pick in the draft. What happens if the team that picks him starts out 0 and 4 will he give up on personal success for a whole season once again. I’m sorry but any player that says he did not give it his all last season in fear that he will be injured would NEVER be my first player taken off of my board. Based off of his lack of production and pre Madonna attitude he is a stretch in the top ten and can EASILY BUST. When you get SHUTDOWN by left tackles like James Hurst what will happen when he is asked to rush against the elite left tackles in the NFL???
2. Stephon Tuitt – 6’5” 304 Ilbs. N/A 40 – Notre Dame – 6.2 – A three year starter who is a junior that has great size and unknown speed. With over 20 sacks in his college career Stephon has shown his ability to get to the quarterback. Tuitt also has over 30 tackles for loss over the past three season. He is no doubt the ideal 3-4 defensive end that teams covet. He may have to move inside if drafted by a 4-3 team and if he does not switch positions he will be forced to play strong side DE. Tuitt should be a first round pick and if he slips to the end of the second round he could turn into a steal.
3. Kony Ealy – 6’4” 273 Ilbs. 4.92 40 – Missouri – 6.0 - Continuing the trend of junior defensive ends coming out this year Ealy has the size however lacks the speed and burst to play defensive end in the NFL. Last season was his best season with eight sacks and 14 tackles for loss however some say that he was double teamed a lot which opened up the other side. Ealy has average pass rush ability and can see the run coming his way easily. Any team who drafts him must have patience and must allow him to develop his pass rushing ability. Kony looks the part and has 4 forced fumbles to his name.
4. Demarcus Lawrence – 6’3” 244 Ilbs. 4.8 40 – Boise State – 5.9 – Lawrence has a nice size/speed combination and is only a junior. As a pass rusher he has 19 sacks of his two years of starting experience. Against the run Demarcus has 34 tackles for loss over the past two seasons along with seven forced fumbles. He can play DE in the 4-3 or a rushing backer in the 3-4. Lawrence is not at his best against double teams, controlling tight ends during their initial pass route and he could benefit from adding more bulk to his frame. Should be a 2nd round pick and if he slips into the 3rd round he is considered a steal.
5. Kareem Martin – 6’6” 272 Ilbs. 4.72 40 – North Carolina – 5.8 – A three year starter who has amazing height/speed combination. With 19.5 sacks to his credit in college Martin is an accomplished pass rusher with room to grow. Martin continued to get better throughout his career last season he had 21.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles along with 11.5 sacks and another 14 quarter back rushes. In a conference where Clowney recorded a measly three sacks this kid out produced Clowney in every aspect of football. Martin has the ability to play in the 4-3 or the 3-4 and should be a second round pick.
6. Scott Crichton – 6’3” 273 Ilbs. 4.84 40 – Oregon State – 5.75 – A three year starter who is opting to come out as a junior and has a good blend of size and athleticism. With 22.5 sacks during his career Scott has good pass rushing ability and proved it in one of the more competitive conferences. With over 50 tackles for loss Crichton shows a serious knack for disrupting play in the backfield, he has 10 forced fumbles as well. Although he is not well polished and has a number of fundamentals to work on to be successful at the next level he has the ability to turn into a playmaker in the NFL. More than likely a third round pick if he falls out of that round snag him real quick.
7. Dee Ford – 6’2” 252 Ilbs. N/A 40 – Auburn – 5.5 – Dee is a two year starter that had 16.5 sacks the past two seasons. He is a little short for the position and does not show blistering speed off of the edge. Over 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles during his two seasons starting. Ford struggles when blockers get their hands on him and he has to add bulk in order to survive in the NFL. He has some injury concern being awarded a medical redshirt three seasons ago and in return is a fifth year senior. He is a pass rush specialist that will have his stock hurt by more than one issue.
8. Marcus Smith – 6’3” 253 Ilbs. 4.68 40 – Louisville – 5.35 - A two year starter with a good blend of size and speed. Marcus has only been playing defensive end for two seasons and last year he had 14.5 sacks along with 18.5 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles. Smith is raw at the position with plenty of schemes and techniques to learn as a defensive end. With plenty of room to grow and the production already accounted for Marcus can become a steal so long as he finds a team that will groom his as a 4-3 end or 3-4 linebacker. He used to play quarterback which will benefit him in pass coverage so long as he learns how to play in reverse. If he slips out of the 4th round take him.
9. Dominique Easley – 6’2” 288 Ilbs. N/A 40 – Florida – 5.2 – An undersized defensive tackle that may be best as a 3-4 end, Easley has two years of starting experience however he missed the majority of last season with a knee injury. Dominique does not have much to show in terms of stats however he does look good on film. Showing the relentless ability I like to see on the defensive line and he uses his hands well. The biggest concern are his lack of size, ACL surgeries on both knees, and lack of performance. Seems to be overrated and could easily be drafted too high for some reason.
10. Jackson Jeffcoat – 6’3” 247 Ilbs. 4.63 40 – Texas – 5.2 – Jackson is a three year starter with a good size/speed blend for the position. He has 25 sacks over the past three seasons which demonstrates he is effective as a pass rusher although most of his sacks come from off the edge and can get swallowed up inside by bigger blockers. 44.5 tackles for loss show that he has a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage. He has NFL bloodlines and he is an intriguing prospect that will need a year or two to develop however I see him starting in the NFL at some point.
11. Jeoffrey Pagan – 6’3” 310 Ilbs. N/A 40 – Alabama – 5.15 – Pagan is a two year starter who is only a junior and has great size for either defensive tackle in a 4-3 or a 3-4 end. Limited stats are a concern he is definitely a space taker than a playmaker. In the right system he can have a successful career in the NFL however he needs a ton of work if he will ever be considered a great defensive lineman.
12. James Gayle – 6’4” 259 Ilbs. 4.7 40 – Virginia Tech – 5.10 - A three year starter with a very good blend of size and speed. With 22 sacks in his career James is an accomplished pass rusher who is at his best when rushing around the edge. He averaged 10 tackles for loss over the past three seasons as well he does have a knack for making plays behind the line but typically it is off of the edge after he has beat the offensive tackle. He is athletic enough to learn some pass coverage if a team wants him to play in the 3-4 as a linebacker. Gayle is capable of producing right away with his rushing ability however he would be best suited with two years of situation play while learning the rest of the game, along with learning how to get the most out of his athleticism.
13. Carl Bradford – 6’1” 250 Ilbs. 4.76 40 – Arizona State – 5.05 – A two year starter who can play defensive end or outside linebacker at the next level, he also has a decent blend of size and speed. With 20 sacks the past two seasons Carl can rush the passer at a competitive level. He also had 40.5 tackles and 6 forced fumbles over the past two seasons. His only knock is that he is he has a compact build which makes him vulnerable when blockers get their hands on him and that he lacks a second move once he is engaged in a block. Carl has a great motor and often makes plays on the other side of the field, or chasing down the play from behind. If he finds the right team later than the 4th round he could make someone look very smart in their organization. Probably best at linebacker at the next level where he will not have to deal with offensive lineman as much.
14. Morgan Breslin – 6’1” 240 Ilbs. 4.69 40 – USC – 5.04 – A two year starter who was injured his senior year and missed half of the games, he also has a decent blend of size and speed. Morgan played OLB in college and is probably better suited at OLB. A junior college transfer had his best season as a junior when he recorded 62 tackles 19.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. So long as he can recover from hip surgery and return to his junior year form he can be a huge steal. More than likely he will go in the later rounds and has proven that he has a better motor and playmaking skills than others rated ahead of him.
15. Chris Smith – 6’1” 266 Ilbs. 4.71 40 – Arkansas – 5.0 - A two year starter who is a little short but has good size and speed. Smith has 19 sacks over the past two seasons which shows that he can disrupt the pass (18 QB hurries). 24.5 tackles for loss shows he can make plays against the run but needs to recognize inside runs and runs to the other side of the field quicker. He did great at the combine and is a player the coaches will love, if he is not taken in the 4th round another steal that could one day turn into a starter and show his ability to make plays in the NFL.
16. Aaron Lynch – 6’5” 249 Ilbs. 4.65 40 – South Florida – 4.9 – A two year starter who did not play two seasons ago with a great blend of size and speed. Only had 10.5 sacks in 2013 and 2011 season which shows average at best pass rush ability. He does not show the motor you would like to see from a prospect and does not pick up run plays quick enough. Whoever signs or drafts him will have to be patient and learn which scheme he can thrive in. Aaron is a long shot to ever become more than a roster spot.
17. William Clarke – 6’6” 271 Ilbs. 4.77 40 – West Virginia – 4.81 – A three year starter with a good blend of size and speed for the position. He only had 10 sacks over the past three seasons. Needs to learn how to use his size better and can be best used in a 3-4 where he is protected from direct contact. Stands up at the point of attack although he did have 17 tackles for loss usually these plays he was untouched before making the play. Clarke needs a lot of work to become anything more than a practice squad player. He should be a priority free agent unless a team uses a late draft pick on him.
18. Ed Stinson – 6’3” 287 Ilbs. 5.00 40 – Alabama – 4.8 - A two year starter at the best program in college football he has decent size and below average speed. Stinson is a classic 3-4 end or 4-3 run stopper although he is a little undersized for the 3-4 DE position. Ed is at his best when asked to make sure that certain gaps are clogged and to make sure the 3-4 linebackers are free from to make plays. He did not impress much on film and should not be drafted higher that the 5th round.
19. Michael Sam – 6’2” 261 Ilbs. 4.91 40 – Missouri – 4.75 – A two year starter with good size and below average speed. With 16 sacks over the past two seasons shows that Sam can rush the passer decently. His best season was his senior year with 11.5 sacks 19 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles. Michael might go undrafted and if he does he will be signed the first day. Sam has shown true class coming out as the first gay football player and after his announcement he has sat back and let nature play its course. I wish him the best of luck in the NFL and he deserves to be drafted at least in the 7th round.
20. Chaz Sutton – 6’3” 245 Ilbs. 4.66 40 – South Carolina – 4.7 – A two year starter that has a good blend of size and speed. He was regarded higher at the beginning of the season and slipped pretty far after a mediocre season. He might be drafted but will have to work harder than ever to make a practice squad next season, then make a roster in 2015 and then perhaps become a back up situation player in 2016.
