Defensive Ends
1. Randy Gregory — Nebraska — 6’5 – 240 lbs — Has some off the field issues but if it wasn’t for those issues he’d be a top five pick. He’ll probably fall out of the top ten as well but he should be the first defensive end taken. Has a lot of similarities to Ezekiel Ansah and could be a difference maker for a struggling defense for years to come. Teams won’t turn away from his 37 inch-vertical and 4.64 forty-yard-dash time.
2. Alvin “Bud” Dupree — Kentucky — 6’4 – 270 lbs. — When you look at the numbers, this kid ranks among the best of them. He posted a 42 inch-vertical at the combine with a 4.56 forty-yard-dash time as well. His tape isn’t as impressive as some players but throughout his career at Kentucky he tallied up 23.5 sacks and was one of the best players on their defense. He lacks ideal strength of someone his size but he has the potential to slip into the top 10 for a team like Atlanta who is looking for a young pass rusher. Comparable to Brian Orakpo.
3. Shane Ray — Missiouri — 6’3 – 245 lbs. — I’m not as sold on this kid as everyone else is. He’s on my list for ‘bust’ potential and the reason I say that is because he’s not as strong as you’d like for him to be to play defensive end and he’s not as fast as you’d like him to be at a 3-4 DE/OLB position. His pass rush moves are slim to none and he’s very basic when coming out of his stance. Once he gets locked at the line of scrimmage, he gets blown out of the play and big runs are created for the offense. Now on the contrary, he’s great at pursuing to the football and his swim move over the top is excellent. He has the ability to turn into a good player but i see a lot of similarities to Larry English from Northern Illinois a few years back.
4. Danielle Hunter — LSU — 6’5 – 250 lbs. — Here’s a player who is climbing on my big board and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sneaks into the first round somewhere. He’s got an excellent frame and is potentially one of the stronger defensive ends in this draft class. He’s incredibly quick despite not having a great first step off the ball. He had 73 tackles last year for LSU and has the ability to become a sleeper within this draft. Many believe he’s a 2nd or 3rd round pick but maybe they should rewind some of his game film. Compares to Greg Hardy, minus the domestic violence.
5. Owamagbe Odighizuwa — UCLA — 6’3 – 265 lbs. — Might need to spell check his name but you won’t need to double check any of his tape. This kids tape speaks for itself and he has the ability to be a game changer for a defense on the first day. I think he’ll come in slow and take his time but he has the ability to really change the forefront of a defense. He’s got great balance and long arms which has allowed him to burst outside and spin back inside to have a productive career as a Bruin. He had two surgeries on his hip in 2013 and that’s caused some red flags but he’s expected to be a first round pick and shows some flashes to Jason Pierre-Paul but I see more of a Datone Jones type of mold as well.
Defensive Tackles
1. Leonard Williams — USC — 6’5 – 300 lbs. — Quite possibly the best defensive tackle we’ve seen since Ndamukong Suh. If it wasn’t for Gerald McCoy and the glaring need at quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then this kid would be going number one. He should be the number two pick and the reason for it is because he has speed, strength and power. He might not be as consistent as you might like but with time he’ll only get better. He’s very comparable to Gerald McCoy.
2. Danny Shelton — Washington — 6’2 — 390 lbs. — If you need a nose tackle then look no further. He claims he’s the best defensive tackle in the draft and I wouldn’t go that far but he’s put on quite a show this spring. Might not be as fast as you would like him to be but he’s a strong and has unreal power. His only real flaw is that he’s not a pure pass rusher but it’s hard to be chasing the quarterback when you’re touching 400 pounds. This kid will go in the top ten and will draw comparisons to Vince Wilfork.
3. Malcolm Brown — Texas — 6’2 – 320 lbs — Before Danny Shelton emerged as a powerhouse, Malcolm Brown was drawing a lot of interest as the second best defensive tackle. A lot of reason for that is because he’s already married with kids and is seen more of an adult/professional. It’s expected of him to not be out on the town and being late to practice. On the field though, he has quick feet and makes it look easy moving in space with his size. He has the ability to fight through blocks but he lacks ideal power for someone his size. He at times doesn’t always drag down ball carriers so there are some questions about his strength/hands. Overall, he’s a first round pick and should be a starter for any defense out there. Compares to Nick Fairley.
4. Arik Armstead — Oregon — 6’7 – 290 lbs. — You can go ahead and put this kids name on the list of ‘bust’ potential. I understand his size is unreal and he’s got really good strength to blow up blockers but he’s often the last lineman off the ball and doesn’t possess good chase down speed on ball carriers on the outside. He’s still developing and will more than likely be a first round pick but I don’t think he’s going to be as good as some claim him to be. I can’t find a comparison I really like that fits Armstead. I’ve heard a lot of comparisons to Calais Campbell but I don’t think he’ll be that good. It’s hard to find a comparison for someone of his size and he wasn’t as productive at Oregon as you’d like.
5. Carl Davis — Iowa — 6’5 – 320 lbs. — One of the young rising players on my big board and he has been for a little while now. He’s got an impressive tape and his numbers at his pro day and combine back it up. He’s got a great blend of speed, strength and size while he’s able to use his power to control blocks and make big plays. He often times has average body control and plays too small but he’s got first round talent and could be someone he slips into the first round as a productive player down the road. Compares to Cam Thomas.
Inside Linebackers
1. Benardrick McKinney — Mississippi State — 6’4 – 250 lbs. — A very raw athlete who can play all over at the linebacker position. He is very physical with his long arms and has good lateral agility. Despite having good intelligence on the field, McKinney ends up being one of the last players to the ball at times. He’ll be a good plug-in linebacker as he tries to develop into being an every down player. Compares to Brandon Spikes.
2. Eric Kendricks — UCLA — 6’1 – 235 lbs. — Has impressive numbers in gym shorts but he lacks ideal length and isn’t as strong as you’d like him to be as an ILB. He’s often too small for strong defensive fronts but he’s good awareness in coverage with ideal speed for a player his size. He’s more quick than strong and his agility is his true asset. Compares to Preston Brown.
3. Stephone Anthony — Clemson — 6’3 – 245 lbs. — If theres a linebacker that’s climbing in this draft then this is the guy. He’s a sleeper for sure and that’s because of his natural ability to pick apart offensives with his thick frame and explosive downhill running ability. He’s an excellent tackler and has really good technique between the tackles. He’ll get beat going sideline to sideline while also being relatively weak when having to stop the run first and then flip into pass coverage. Overall, he should be a second round pick and draws comparisons to David Harris.
4. Paul Dawson — TCU — 6’1 – 235 lbs. — Slipping down a lot of draft boards, including mine. Reason being is that he’s not as fast as you’d want him to be and his flashes of quickness just aren’t enough for me to be convinced that he’s a fluid enough athlete to be a good linebacker at the pro level. He’s also got some question marks regarding size and strength. One thing I do like is his ball skills and tackling ability. He’s got that going for him and that’s something you can’t really coach. He won’t be a first round pick and might even slip out of the 2nd round. Compares to Mason Foster.
5. Bryce Hager — Baylor — 6’1 – 235 lbs. — Slowly rising up some boards and could slip into the 3rd round for some teams. I’ve heard that a lot of teams like his work ethic and the numbers he’s posted this spring. He had 26 reps on the 225 bench press while posting an impressive 4.60 forty-yard-dash time. He’s an instinctive player who’s greatly disciplined with natural leadership. He doesn’t have the advantage on big blockers and at times he takes poor angles to the ball carrier. Should easily be a 3rd round pick for a team in need of some depth at ILB, compares to Bobby Wagner.
Outside Linebackers
1. Dante Fowler Jr. — Florida — 6’3 – 260 lbs. — I would be completely shocked if the Jaguars passed on this kid with the third pick in the draft. He is going to be a lights-out player for many years to come and his versatility is what I like the most about him. The Gators defense is something I’ve paid close attention to and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen from a variety of guys, especially this kid. He needs to get stronger but his explosiveness is one of his best assets and he should be an instant starter for the Jaguars for many years. Compares to Terrell Suggs.
2. Vic Beasley — Clemson — 6’3 – 245 lbs. — A few months back you could have told me that Vic Beasley was going to be a top ten pick and I would have said ‘yeah, right.’ But theres a lot about this kid that has grown on me and I’ve enjoyed his tape and his spring workouts. He should be a top ten pick with guys like Shane Ray and Randy Gregory slipping down some on draft boards everywhere. Beasley is most comparable to Von Miller with his ability to come off the edge so quickly and his knack for getting after the football.
3. Shaq Thompson — Washington — 6’0 – 230 lbs. — I’ll be the first to say that I’m not the biggest fan of this kid because he lacks the size you’d like to see out of an edge rushing linebacker and I think he has very average pass coverage skills. At Washington he was limited in rushing the passer and overall I think he’s a limited player at the next level. Compares to Aaron Maybin.
4. Kwon Alexander — LSU — 6’1 – 230 lbs. — An immediate contributor for a special teams unit with above average speed and decent strength. Has quick feet and is better at blitzing than those give him credit for. A little undersized but has the ability to become a decent starter in this league. More than likely will be a mid 3rd round pick but could sneak into the late 2nd round. Most comparable to Justin Durant.
5. Eli Harold — Virginia — 6’3 — 245 lbs. — Extremely raw football player with a quick first step but his lean and lanky build forces offensive lineman to maintain control on him. He needs to do a better job of sealing the edge and doesn’t drop into coverage quick enough. He does his best when he’s able to use his athleticism against the run as he’s able to play low and make good open-field tackles. Overall, his numbers are impressive but I don’t think his tape is that impressive with how stiff he plays at times and his ability to get out of position quickly. Probably will be a 2nd round pick but I wouldn’t be surprised if he slipped into the 3rd round. Compares to Nick Perry.
Cornerbacks
1. Trae Waynes — Michigan State — 6’0 – 185 lbs. — Unbelievable spring this kid has had and he’s proved me wrong. I thought after a poor performance against Baylor, he was going to start slipping down draft boards. He proved me wrong and has completely owned the top spot as the best cornerback in this draft. He’s got great length for the position and he’s one of the better defensive backs in recent memory to gain inside leverage almost every time he drops back into coverage. Wouldn’t be surprised if he slipped into the top ten but for now, I say he ends up somewhere within the top-15, respectively. Compares to Aqib Talib.
2. Jalen Collins — LSU — 6’1 – 200 lbs. — Not as fluid as you want to see in his backpedal and almost seems stiff when turning his hips but his size and length are out of this world. Especially, when you’re watching him on film. His athletic ability is really surprising for a guy of his size and he’s an extremely physical player, which is what I like most about him. Should be a day-one pick as he draws comparison to Vontae Davis.
3. Marcus Peters — Washington — 6’0 – 200 lbs. — Glaring off the field issues but his ability on the field is remarkable. Physical player who uses his athleticism against bigger wideouts. Many question marks regarding his man coverage ability as he gets a little too physical off the field but I look forward to seeing him matchup against guys like AJ Green and Julio Jones (if he’s not on the same team of course). Most comparable to Brent Grimes.
4. Kevin Johnson — Wake Forest — 6’0 – 190 lbs. — An experienced defensive back (41 starts at Wake Forest) who has excellent quickness and hand eye coordination. A very productive player who rarely was on the sidelines. Speedy receivers will have their way with him but overall he could come in and be a good nickle-back for a team who needs secondary help. Compares to Tramon Williams.
5. Ronald Darby — Florida State — 5’11 – 195 lbs. — Doesn’t look as big as the numbers say but he certainly plays like it. Not as physical as you’d want him to be at times but he’s a track athlete who shouldn’t have a problem against speedy wideouts. Could potentially get into the first round but is a solid second round pick for a team who is looking to upgrade their secondary. Compares to R.W McQuarters.
Safeties
1. Landon Collins — Alabama — 6’0 – 230 lbs. — Many will disagree with me but I think this kid could become a top ten pick. With the need at safety for teams like Atlanta and the New York Giants, there wouldn’t be any issue of them taking him. He’s got great size and quick feet to allow himself to change direction in one fluid motion. That’s a constant struggle for many young safeties but he’s way ahead of the pack. He’s not the best pass coverage player in the draft but he’s great in open space and doesn’t stop until the play is finished. Most comparable to T.J Ward.
2. Jaquiski Tartt — Samford — 6’1 — 220 lbs. — Don’t come across the middle with this kid running at you or you will get messed up. An explosive tackler and who is extremely aggressive. Not as good in the backpedal as you’d like due to his habit of playing high but he’s got decent speed and strength who should be a contributor as a starter in about a year. Compares to James Ihedigbo.
3. Damarious Randall — Arizona State — 5’11 – 195 lbs. — One of the fastest players at his position and he plays at an extremely high level. Has excellent ball skills and makes plays happen before they’re even developing. Many consider him a sleeper and I would have to agree. I don’t think as many teams are going to bite on him early like some would suggest but whoever gets this kid, watch out. He’s a sleeper. Compares to Tyrann Mathieu.
4. Cody Prewitt — Ole Miss — 6’2 – 210 lbs. — Not as sold on this kid as much as other draft experts but I believe he has potential. The reason I think this is because he’s a good athlete who plays really well when going downhill but he’s at time too stiff and only has average speed. He doesn’t get enough depth in coverage to be considered any kind of force and with those kinds of missteps, he’s meant to get burned at the next level. Compares to Will Allen (safety).
5. James Sample — Louisville — 6’2 — 210 lbs. — Plays extremely tight at times but he looks like the part of most NFL safeties. Has decent hands for the position but he’s a catchy tackler due to his habit of being out of position. Should be a 3rd round pick but has a bright future for an older secondary. Compares to Bernard Pollard.
