Being strong in the middle, up front on a defense is essential to a team’s overall success on that side of the football. Being stout vs the run, but also being able to push the middle of the pocket on pass plays is a must. Here are my top prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft.
1. DL Leonard Williams 6’5 300 lbs Jr. USC (#1 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 4.97 10 yard: 1.72 Vertical: 29.5′ Broad Jump: 8’10 Short Shuttle: 4.53 3 Cone: 7.59
Career Stats: 39 Games 218 Tackles 36.5 TFL 21 Sacks 5 FF
Strengths: Has played as a base LDE in the 4-3, at a 3 tech DT and as a 5 tech in the 3-4. Williams is arguably the most scheme diverse player in the draft and the most talented. Tremendous power and explosion in his upper body. Uses his long arms to stack OL and get rid of them to make tackles in the run game. Also showed the ability to take on blockers, hold the point, allowing his LB’s to flow downhill to the football. Wins inside as a pass rusher with power, good hand usage, and quickness. Has the ability to be an impact player day one in the NFL.
Weaknesses: At times will disappear, just out there going through the motions. Has to be on go at all times at the next level.
2. DT Eddie Goldman 6’4 336 lbs Jr. Florida St. (#21 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round Grade
40 Time: 5.27 Vertical: 26′ Short Shuttle: 4.87 3 Cone: 7.62
Career Stats: 36 Games 62 Tackles 12 TFL 6 Sacks
Strengths: Very strong at the point of attack, uses his long arms and powerful upper body to take on blockers, shed them and make plays. He’s 2 gapped as a 5 technique in the 3-4, taking on double teams, allowing LB’s to flow downhill and make plays. He’s also played the 3 technique in the 4-3, flashing the ability to get in the gaps and be disruptive in the backfield. He’s also big and strong enough to play NT as well. Showed some ability to rush the passer as a junior, winning mostly with power.
Weaknesses: Has to work on conditioning, loses pad level when tired. Has to get in better shape to have the chance to be a three down DL at the next level.
3. DT Malcom Brown 6’2 319 lbs Jr. Texas (#23 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 5.05 10 Yard: 1.75 Bench Press: 26 reps Broad Jump: 8’2 Vertical: 29.5′ 3 Cone: 7.84 Short Shuttle: 4.59
Strengths: Very quick off of the football, gets into the gaps quickly, vs the run and as a pass rusher. Uses hands well, stacks, sheds, and makes tackles in the run game. Shows the ability to get in the backfield and cause disruption. Has a low center of gravity, thick strong legs. Fits in well as a 3 tech in the 4-3 defense. Good closing speed for a big man, chases down RB’s and QB’s in the backfield.Has a good bull rush and a quick swim move as a pass rusher.
Weaknesses: Has to maintain low pad level when taking on double teams at the point of attack. Has to use his hands and arms on a consistent basis, allows OL to get into his chest, must shoot his hands and lock out his arms.
4. DT Jordan Phillips 6’5 329 lbs rSo. Oklahoma (#25 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 5.17 10 yard: 1.84 Bench Press: 28 reps Vertical: 30′ Broad Jump: 8’9 3 Cone: 7.88 Short Shuttle: 4.68
Career Stats: 28 Games(17 Starts) 58 Tackles 9 TFL 3.5 Sacks
Strengths: Big Body. long arms, has very good movement for a man his size. Uses his strength, length and big, wide body to his advantage. Just lifts the center off of his feet and drives him into the QB’s lap. Perfect fit as a NT in the 3-4 or as a 1 technique in the 4-3 under/over.Just eats up blockers, handles the C-G double team at the point of attack very well. Has tree trunks for legs, chases the football up and down the line of scrimmage. Legit run stuffer.
Weaknesses: Talented, but raw, only 17 starts in his career. Missed all but 4 games in 2013 due to a back injury. Limited pass rusher.
5. DT Danny Shelton 6’2 343 lbs Sr. Washington (#26 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
40 Time: 5.64 10 yard: 1.88 Bench Press: 34 reps Vertical: 30.5′ Broad Jump: 7’11 3 Cone: 7.99 Short Shuttle: 4.65
Career Stats: 53 Games 208 Tackles 24 TFL 11.5 Sacks
Strengths: Classic 0+1 technique NT prospect with surprising athletic ability and short area quickness. Hard to move when he anchors that huge lower body down. Handles the C-G double team at the point of attack very well. Surprising ability to make plays in the backfield a mammoth man. Stacks and sheds OL well. Improved as a pass rusher in 2014, finishing the season with 9 sacks. Uses a bull rush to cave in the pocket on passing downs.
Weaknesses: Has short arms, allows OL to lock out, get into his chest plate, has difficulty getting off of those blocks at times. Loses pad level when he gets tired, played a lot of snaps for a man his size, but it wouldn’t hurt him to lose some weight, get his stamina better.
6. DL Arik Armstead 6’7 292 lbs Jr. Oregon (#34 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
40 Time: 5.10 10 yard: 1.76 Vertical: 34′ Bench Press: 24 reps Broad Jump: 9’9 3 Cone: 7.57 Short Shuttle: 4.53
Career Stats: 39 Games 87 Tackles 10 TFL 4 Sacks
Strengths: Former basketball player, very tall, long and thick. Really improved his pad level at the point of attack in 2014. Very strong, can bull rush a G or T right into the QB’s lap. Uses his long arms and strong hands to hold off OL at the point of attack. He’s the perfect fit as a 2 gap 5 technique in the 3-4. Strong enough to handle double teams and allow LB’s to flow freely to the football.
Weaknesses: Not explosive off of the ball. Limited pass rush ability at this point. He has to work on adding pass rush moves to his arsenal.
7. DT Grady Jarrett 6’1 304 lbs Sr. Clemson (#59 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 5.06 10 yard: 1.69 Bench Press: 30 reps Vertical: 31 reps Broad Jump: 9’4 3 Cone: 7.37 Short Shuttle: 4.56
Career Stats: 46 Games 144 Tackles 29.5 TFL 5 Sacks
Strengths: Very quick and agile, plays with a great pad level and leverage. Stronger at the point of attack then his size would suggest. Played as a 3 and 1 technique. Has thick, tree trunk legs, has a low center of gravity. Flashes a nice swim move as a pass rusher. Disruptive player, gets in the backfield a lot. Reminds me of former Eagles DT Hollis Thomas, except his arms are shorter. Perfect fit in a 4-3 scheme, especially the Tampa 2 scheme.
Weaknesses: Short arms, doesn’t always shoot them, lock out. Gets eaten up by by taller, longer OL, has difficulty getting off of blocks at times. Has issues taking on double teams at times.
8. DT Carl Davis 6’5 320 lbs rSr. Iowa (#62 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd
40 Time: 5.07 10 Yard: 1.73 Bench Press: 28 reps Vertical: 33′ Broad Jump: 8’7 3 Cone: 7.91 Short Shuttle: 4.47
Career Stats: 43 Games 94 Tackles 14.5 TFL 3.5 Sacks
Strengths: Played as a 1 and 3 technique in the 4-3. Strong at the point of attack, run stuffer. Handles the C-G double team very well when he’s playing with proper pad level. Was asked to eat up blocks, allowing his LB’s to make plays. Has the size, strength and ability to play in any scheme, 3-4 or 4-3. Can play 0, 1, 3 and 5 techniques. Surprised scouts at the Senior Bowl with his ability to get penetration and get in the backfield.
Weaknesses: Gives you little as a pass rusher. Lacks great quickness and explosion to make an consistent impact getting pressure on the QB. Was taken off of the field often in college on passing downs.
9. DT Michael Bennett 6’2 297 lbs Sr. Ohio St. (#68 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
40 Time: 4.98 Vertical: 35.5′
Career Stats: 49 Games 111 Tackles 31.5 TFL 18 Sacks
Strengths: Quick interior lineman that wins with very good burst off of the line of scrimmage. Gets into the gaps very well. Uses a nice swim move as a pass rusher. Built low to the ground and has an advantage when he shoots his hands, uses his long arms and plays with good pad level at the point of attack. Flashes stack and shed ability vs the run. Takes advantage of slow footed interior OL with his quickness. Perfect fit in the Tampa 2 scheme.
Weaknesses: Small, can be overpowered by big, powerful OL at the point of attack. Gets uprooted and wiped out when facing the C-G double team. Needs to add weight and strength to his frame to hold up vs the power run teams.
10. DT Tyeler Davidson 6’2 316 lbs rSr. Fresno St. (#98 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
40 Time: 5.14 10 Yard: 1.82 Bench Press: 32 reps Broad Jump: 8’9 Short Shuttle: 4.46 3 Cone: 7.53
Career Stats: 53 Games 161 Tackles 28.5 TFL 14.5 Sacks
Strengths: Played as a 0 and 1 technique NT during his college career. Sturdily built, has a thick lower body and strong upper body. Uses his lack of height to his advantage, plays with good leverage at the point of attack. Had a breakout year as a pass rusher in 2014, using a bull rush, swim move and just effort to get in the backfield. Chases the football up and down the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t possess great burst and quickness off of the ball. Not the classic, typical NT size, can be moved off of the ball vs double teams at times.
Other Prospects with draft worthy grades:
11. DL Henry Anderson 6’6 294 lbs rSr. Stanford (#100 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
12. DL Marcus Hardison 6’3 307 lbs Sr. Arizona St.(#107 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
13. DT Gabe Wright 6’3 300 lbs Sr. Auburn (#116 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
14. DL Mario Edwards 6’3 279 lbs Jr. Florida St. (#121 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
15. DT Christian Covington 6’2 289 lbs rJr. Rice (#125 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
16. DT Xavier Cooper 6’3 293 lbs rJr. Washington St. (#133 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
17. DL Corey Crawford 6’5 299 lbs rSr. Clemson (#147 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
18. DT Leterrius Walton 6’5 319 lbs rSr Central Mich (#209 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
19. DT Terry Williams 6’1 353 lbs rSr East Carolina (#215 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
20. DT Darius Kilgo 6’4 320 lbs rSr. Maryland (#219 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
21. DT Louis Trinca-Pasat 6’1 290 lbs rSr. Iowa (#221 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
22. DL Ray Drew 6’4 285 lbs Sr. Georgia (#224 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
23. DT Xavier Williams 6’2 325 lbs rSr. Northern Iowa (#227 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
24. DT Bobby Richardson 6’3 283 lbs Sr. Indiana (#234 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
25. DT Joey Mbu 6’3 313 lbs Sr. Houston (#246 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
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