That's not the case when defensive players are examined. Most of the really productive players in this year's draft are from the stop side of the line -- seven of the top 10 overall in our rankings are defensive players, led by overall number one Bradley Chubb. There are a ton of defensive line prospects, and some game-changing players on the back end, too. Teams won't be falling all over themselves to get these players, which means that some of them will turn out to be a tremendous value.
Here are defensive positional rankings for the 2018 NFL Draft, with draft round grades in parentheses. The grade is not where we believe the player will be chosen, but rather their level of talent. Some may be good right away while others take a bit of time to get up to speed. These rankings are long-term career forecasts.
 |
| Bradley Chubb (Getty Images) |
1 Bradley Chubb/NC State (1)
Strengths: Versatile, can play in both odd and even fronts. Great motor. excellent athleticism. Excellent upfield drive to disrupt plays. Can make tackles downfield, doesn't stop at line of scrimmage. Solid drop, above average in coverage. Looks to actively strip the football. Has a variety of ways to get to the passer, has acceleration to get around the corner.
Weaknesses: Sometimes plays off balance and out of control. Will lose sight of ballcarrier after initial contact. Pad level not always consistent, affects balance through contact.
2 Marcus Davenport/UTSA (1)
Strengths: Has added size since early college career, has frame to put on even more pounds. Aggressive mindset, really comes through in his hitting. Good natural ability as pass rusher, has high ceiling with additional coaching. Wins battles on the edge with tight ends.
Weaknesses: Pad level is often too high. Change of direction in space is inconsistent. Allows blockers to get to his frame. Still raw, loses the ball on play action. Has not been asked to cover, could be a liability.
3 Harold Landry/Boston College (1-2)
Strengths: Can get around the edge thanks to great combination of size, speed and dip and rip ability. Elite pass rusher. Excellent burst off the snap. Has long arms, can bat down passes and create strip sacks. Has good pursuit against the run. Has played as a stand up end, so knows how to drop into coverage. Good change of direction.
Weaknesses: Could be a situational player early in his career. Has not developed a solid repertoire of moves. Long-armed tackles have given him problems. Doesn't always disengage quickly at point of attack. Effort level was up and down in 2017.
4 Ogbonnia Okoronwko/Oklahoma (1-2)
Strengths: High motor, makes up for some lacking traits. Flashes explosiveness and a willing worker. Gets off the ball quickly. Has natural pass rush instincts. Variety of moves, including hesitation and change of pace. Disengages from initial block.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have desired length or size teams look for in edge rusher. Struggled against talented run blockers. Must get better with technique. Was not asked to do much in coverage, can get lost in that area.
5 Hercules Mata'afa/Washington State (2)
Strengths: Very quick, won battles playing inside against bigger blockers. High motor. Explosive off the snap, has good anticipation. Good lateral quickness. Burning desire to get to the football. Excellent hitter.
Weaknesses: Played more inside in college, not experienced on the edge. May lack athleticism to be true force outside. Lacks edge rush burst. More quick than fast.
6 Arden Key/LSU (2)
7 Duke Ejiofor/Wake Forest (2)
8 Jalyn Holmes/Ohio State (2-3)
9 Sam Hubbard/Ohio State (2-3)
10 Josh Sweat/Florida State (3)
11 Jeff Holland/Auburn (3)
12 Chad Thomas/Miami Fla (3-4)
13 Lorenzo Carter/Georgia (3-4)
14 Justin Lawler/Southern Miss (4)
15 Da'Shawn Hand/Alabama (4)
16 Kylie Fitts/Utah (4)
17 Andrew Brown/Virginia (4-5)
18 Breeland Speaks/Ole Miss (4-5)
19 Tyquan Lewis/Ohio State (4-5)
20 Trevon Young/Louisville (5)
21 Dorance Armstrong Jr/Kansas (5)
22 Ja'Von Rolland-Jones/Arkansas State (5)
23 Ade Aruna/Tulane (5-6)
24 Olasunkanmi Adenyi/Toledo (5-6)
25 Joe Ostman/Central Michigan (6)
26 Jojo Wicker/Arizona State (6)
27 John Franklin/Stephen F Austin (6-7)
28 Anthony Winbush/Ball State (7)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
 |
| Maurice Hurst (USAToday) |
1 Maurice Hurst/Michigan (1)
Strengths: Gets out of the blocks in a hurry and with bad intentions. Stays low, difficult to get leverage on him. Too quick for reach blockers. Very light feet for a big man, bounces into gaps.
Weaknesses: A tad small for an interior player, lacks desired thick frame. Upper body strength is lacking. Slow to shed blocks. Could be a medical concern after a combine EKG showed irregularities.
2 Vita Vea/Washington (1)
Strengths: Great size, quick feet. Can play inside on the nose or as a run defender on the end in a 3-4. Powerful upper body. Locates the ball. Surprisingly quick in pursuit. Able to shed blockers and squeeze running lanes. Very raw, has the talent to be elite.
Weaknesses: Is on the ground too often. Sometimes plays too high. Does not anticipate second blocks and struggles to disengage. Doesn't have edge quickness you'd like to see. Sometimes reverts back to power over solid technique.
3 Harrison Phillips/Stanford (1)
Strengths: Has leverage and power to succeed against the run. Not afraid to scramble to find the football. Playmaking skills win out over average athleticism. Wrestling background, understands leverage and hip power. Ability to drive upfield. Excellent arm over move.
Weaknesses: Is built higher than most interior rushers. Sometimes plays without requisite knee-bend. Lateral movement is very average. Does not have a plan as a pass rusher.
4 Taven Bryan/Florida (1-2)
Strengths: Elite athletic ability. Has a big upfield burst off the snap. Very good lateral quickness. Rare to see his level of pursuit ability from interior player. Has the ability to play inside or outside. A true disruptive force.
Weaknesses: Atypical body type for interior lineman, rangy rather than thick. Doesn't always disengage quickly. Below average power. Lack of instincts and awareness. Production didn't match ability.
5 Da'Ron Payne/Alabama (1-2)
Strengths: Elite combation of size and athleticism. Premier run-stuffer. Naturally strong, difficult to move at point of contact. Does not go to the ground very often. Technically sound. Eats up blocks and allows linebackers to get to the ball. Showed sneaky skills as a pocket disruptor, could blossom in that area.
Weaknesses: Average get off on the snap. Even with athleticism tends to stay in the box rather than play all the way down the line. Change of direction is nothing special. Can by stymied as pass rusher by denying first move.
6 RJ McIntosh/Miami Fla (2)
7 Tim Settle/Virginia Tech (2)
8 BJ Hill/NC State (2)
9 Nathan Shephard/Fort Hays State (2-3)
10 Derrick Nnadi/Florida State (2-3)
11 Poona Ford/Texas (2-3)
12 Kendrick Norton/Miami Fla (3)
13 Deadrick Senat/South Florida (3)
14 Rasheem Green/USC (3)
15 Will Geary/Kansas State (3-4)
16 Trenton Thompson/Georgia (4)
17 Kentavius Street/NC State (4)
18 Folorunso Fatukasi/UConn (4-5)
19 Justin Jones/NC State (4-5)
20 Reginald McKenzie Jr/Tennessee (5)
21 Mike Ramsay/Duke (5)
22 Lowell Lotulelei/Utah (5-6)
23 Zaycoven Henderson/Texas A&M (5-6)
24 John Atkins/Georgia (6)
25 Dequinton Osborne/Oklahoma State (6)
26 Steven Richardson/Minnesota (6-7)
27 Taylor Stallworth/South Carolina (6-7)
28 Bilal Nichols/Delaware (6-7)
29 James Looney/California (7)
30 Joshua Frazier/Alabama (7)
 |
| Dorian O'Daniel (Rubbing The Rock.com) |
1 Dorian O'Daniel/Clemson (2)
Strengths: Very productive and consistent as a collegian. Technically sound as a tackler. Excellent agility, can move laterally. Was able to cover slot receivers and played near the line quite a bit. Good with the ball in his hands, had two INT returns for scores. Special teams demon.
Weaknesses: Has more of a safety frame. Needs time to get to top speed. Was neutralized by slot players vs the spread run. Plays too upright.
2 Darius Leonard/South Carolina State (2)
Strengths: Long, athletic, great straight line speed. Excellent reaction. Can elude second level blockers and seal off cutback lanes. Doesn't play out of control. Excellent closing speed and sideline-to-sideline range. Very good in coverage, had six career interceptions.
Weaknesses: Lacks desired play strength. Sometimes takes poor angles in pursuit. Instincts need work. Not as aggressive as you would like to see in a linebacker.
3 Malik Jefferson/Texas (2-3)
Strengths: Athletically gifted, excellent frame for a linebacker. Can run all over the field. Has another gear when he commits to pursuit. Great agility and recovery speed. Can cover in man. Better when just allowed to play.
Weaknesses: Wasn't nearly as productive as his athletic gifts would dictate. Lacking in instincts. Plays too upright. Does not take on blocks with aplomb. Questions about his aggressiveness. Not the best defender in zone packages.
4 Skai Moore/South Carolina (3)
Strengths: Great instincts, high football IQ. Very consistent in production. Very good at identifying screens and flowing to the ball. Had 14 interceptions in college. Eyes play past blockers in front of him.
Weaknesses: Undersized for the position. Limited athletically. Change of direction limited by heavy legs. Pad level too high, especially against second level blockers. Neck injury robbed him of a lot of playing time.
5 Kemoko Turay/Rutgers (3)
Strengths: Explosive off the edge. Has the ability to chase and tackle. Excellent lateral quickness. Does not miss many tackles. Looks effortless in pursuit and flow to the football. Good in coverage.
Weaknesses: Doesn't always get low enough at top of pass rush. Needs more variety, hands have to improve. Missed two seasons with shoulder injuries. Doesn't always hold up against initial contact.
6 Shaquem Griffin/UCF (3-4)
7 Tegray Scales/Indiana (3-4)
8 Uchenna Nwosu/USC (4)
9 Fred Warner/BYU (4)
10 Genard Avery/Memphis (4-5)
11 Jerome Baker/Ohio State (4-5)
12 Marquis Haynes/Ole Miss (5)
13 Travin Howard/TCU (5)
14 Davin Bellamy/Georgia (5-6)
15 Matthew Thomas/Florida State (5-6)
16 Tre' Williams/Auburn (6)
17 Da'Sean Downey/UMass (6)
18 Peter Kalambayi/Stanford (6-7)
19 James Hearns/Louisville (6-7)
20 Garrett Dooley/Wisconsin (7)
21 Chris Worley/Ohio State (7)
22 Mike McCray/Michigan (7)
INSIDE LINEBACKER
 |
| Roquan Smith (USAToday) |
1 Roquan Smith/Georgia (1)
Strengths: Supremely athletic, excellent instincts and intelligence. Explosive in space. Always touted as a top notch leader. Seldom plays out of control. Elite change of direction talent. Can cover running backs in the flat. Can find receivers in zone schemes.
Weaknesses: Might be a bit undersized for the position. Can be overwhelmed by bulky blockers. Sometimes forgets to break down in space. Has problems against second level traffic and doesn't always take the most direct path to the ball.
2 Leighton Vander Esch/Boise State (1)
Strengths: Excellent instincts, loose hips allow for change of direction. Plays well vs run and pass. Long frame, athletic. Agile, excellent lateral burst. Excellent sideline-to-sideline range. Avoids traffic. Finishes tackles with solid technique. Good in coverage, smooth in drops. Has versatility to line up as edge rusher on occasion.
Weaknesses: Play strength must improve. Sometimes takes himself out of tackle opportunities with overpursuit. Tries to play too fast at times. Not the most effective at taking on blocks.
3 Tremaine Edmunds/Virginia Tech (1-2)
Strengths: Athletic gifts are off the charts. Long arms, frame to carry extra weight without a decline in play. Very good lateral quickness. Can make plays from unconventional angles. Very good tackler/finisher. Can play as an edge rusher. Good in coverage.
Weaknesses: Lacks natural instincts, can be had by misdirection. Lacks patience, tries to force the action. Needs more strength. Takes too long to process moving pieces, plays catch up too often.
4 Rashaan Evans/Alabama (1-2)
Strengths: Excellent sideline to sideline range. Has rush potential, though more at home inside. Elite speed, desired body type. Good at diagnosing plays. Tough to fool on misdirection. Has enough upfield burst to threaten the edge. Difficult to handle on delayed blitzes.
Weaknesses: Started just one year, lacks instincts of more experienced LBs. Sometimes plays too fast, allowing cutbacks. Will he be as successful without mammoth defensive line in front of him? Has an injury history.
5 Josey Jewell/Iowa (2-3)
Strengths: Highly instinctive, makes up for lack of straight ahead speed. Relentless motor, very physical. Excellent at diagnosing play and getting to the ball. Always plays downhill. Very disciplined, seldom misses or fails to finish tackles. Takes on blocks with great hand work. Can sniff out screen passes. Good in coverage (24 passes defended over three seasons).
Weaknesses: Lacking in top-end NFL speed. Won't wow anyone with change of direction. Short area quickness isn't great. Big blockers can take him away too easily. Tends to take on blockers rather than evading them. Has to pick his blitz spots.
6 Micah Kiser/Virginia (2-3)
7 Oren Burks/Vanderbilt (3)
8 Shaun Dion Hamilton/Alabama (3)
9 Christian Sam/Arizona State (3-4)
10 Jason Cabinda/Penn State (4)
11 Jack Cichy/Wisconsin (4)
12 Joel Iyiegbuniwe/Western Kentucky (4-5)
13 Nick DeLuca/North Dakota State (4-5)
14 Kenny Young/UCLA (5)
15 Trent Tanking/Kansas State (5)
16 Ja'Whaun Bentley/Purdue (5-6)
17 Andre Smith/North Carolina (5-6)
18 Keishawn Bierria/Washington (6)
19 Brett Taylor/Western Illinois (6-7)
20 Anthony Johnson/Texas Southern (7)
 |
| Denzel Ward (Eleven Warriors) |
1 Denzel Ward/Ohio State (1)
Strengths: Has great route feel and can maintain tight coverage thanks to superior technique. Elite athlete. Plays patient in press coverage. Pedal and mirror is excellent, doesn't open hips. Very good burst aids in recovery. Can read the slant. Knows how to find the football. Allowed just over 32 percent completions over last two seasons.
Weaknesses: Thin frame. Lacking in play strength. Not a great disruptor off the line. Occasionally struggles against bigger, physical receivers. Willing tackler, but not great explosion with his pads.
2 Josh Jackson/Iowa (1)
Strengths: Long arms, understands how to use his length to disrupt the passing game. Has good route anticipation and should be right at home in press coverage. Had 27 passes defended in 2017. Very good instincts. Strong work ethic.
Weaknesses: Opens up early off of press coverage. Lacks experience. Gets turned around by precise route runners. Inconsistent tackler. Falls too often for double moves.
3 Isaiah Oliver/Colorado (1-2)
Strengths: Excellent combination of speed and length. Good in bump and run. Has excellent deep speed. Isn't afraid to challenge routes underneath from off coverage. Excellent leaper on contested throws.
Weaknesses: Stays too tall in his backpedal. Plays every play in top speed, which can be an issue on comebacks and outs. Doesn't redirect immediately. Needs to get better in run support.
4 Jaire Alexander/Louisville (1-2)
Strengths: Excellent instincts, anticipate routes and has quickness to close on the ball. Can be a playmaker. Moves smoothly, can get to top speed in a hurry. Stays connected to routes. Can climb on top of receivers and able to knock ball away. Solid against the deep ball.
Weaknesses: Slender frame. Wasn't healthy for much of 2017, so teams may wonder what they are getting. Not terribly aggressive. Doesn't seek out contact vs run. Has a tendency to grab in man coverage. Doesn't always get head around quickly.
5 Greg Stroman/Virginia Tech (1-2)
Strengths: Natural athlete, very technically sound. Feet can transition smoothly with route breaks. Stays sticky in man coverage. Has a nose for the football. Very good closing burst. Good at undercutting routes. Allowed 25.6 percent completions as a senior. Special teams standout.
Weaknesses: Thin frame, very skinny legs. Big receivers could cause problems. Below average play strength. Has trouble getting off blocks in the run game.
6 Donte Jackson/LSU (2)
7 Mike Hughes/UCF (2)
8 Parry Nickerson/Tulane (2-3)
9 Nick Nelson/Wisconsin (2-3)
10 Carlton Davis/Auburn (2-3)
11 Darius Phillips/Western Michigan (2-3)
12 MJ Stewart/North Carolina (3)
13 Darious Williams/UAB (3)
14 Holton Hill/Texas (3)
15 Kameron Kelly/San Diego State (3)
16 Quenton Meeks/Stanford (3-4)
17 DJ Reed/Kansas State (3-4)
18 Levi Wallace/Alabama (4)
19 Rashaan Gaulden/Tennessee (4)
20 Arrion Springs/Oregon (4)
21 Duke Dawson/Florida (4-5)
22 Christian Campbell/Penn State (4-5)
23 Tarvarus McFadden/Florida State (4-5)
24 Jalen Davis/Utah State (5)
25 Isaac Yiadom/Boston College (5)
26 Dane Cruikshank/Arizona (5)
27 Anthony Averett/Alabama (5-6)
28 Taron Johnson/Weber State (5-6)
29 Brandon Facyson/Virginia Tech (6)
30 Ryan Carter/Clemson (6)
31 Kevin Toliver II/LSU (6-7)
32 Avonte Maddox/Pittsburgh (6-7)
33 Michael Joseph/Dubuque (7)
34 Rashard Fant/Indiana (7)
35 Grant Haley/Penn State (7)
36 Danny Johnson/Southern (7)
STRONG SAFETY
 |
| Minkah Fitzpatrick (SaturdayDownSouth) |
1 Minkah Fitzpatrick/Alabama (1)
Strengths: Captain of the nation's best defense. Can play anywhere, really lacking a position. Super intense, understands the entire defense. Plays biggest in the biggest games. Can cover slot, play high safety or nickel responsibilities. Good footwork. Plays downhill and explodes through tackles. Effective as a blitzer. Special teams demon.
Weaknesses: Lacks lateral agility in coverage. Allows some separation out of breaks. Needs more patience, must resist urge to do it all. Sometimes runs himself out of position as a tackler.
2 Derwin James/Florida State (1)
Strengths: Excellent mental makeup, tone-setter. Best suited for attacking role. Excellent in run support and good as a blitzer. Has prototype size for his position. Has the range to get to the ball from the deep middle. Equally comfortable as a stand up defender against the run or peeling off to cover tight ends. Very good tackler.
Weaknesses: Slow reactions. Could use better anticipation in coverage. Doesn't always attack ballcarriers, allows them to get to him too often. Injuries cost him a decent chunk of his college career.
3 Ronnie Harrison/Alabama (2)
Strengths: Fluid athlete, can play in just about any scheme. Physical, loves to help out against the run. Can play high or low safety. Good at reading quarterback's eyes. Good route anticipation. Is an effective blitzer.
Weaknesses: Isn't always patient, especially in open field. Has difficulty against complex routes. Tends to hit with his shoulder, which has to change. Frame is a bit lean for the position.
4 DeShon Elliott/Texas (2-3)
Strengths: Good size and aggressiveness. Best suited to play near the line as he is limited athletically. High football IQ. Plays downhill. Loves physical play, sometimes mistaken for a linebacker. Tallied six interceptions in 2017.
Weaknesses: Short strides, hard to recover. Doesn't do well in change of direction. Struggles to maintain contract with route breaks in man coverage.
5 Kyzir White/West Virginia (2-3)
Strengths: Team leader. Physical player. Good length. Could end up in a hybrid role with more weight on his frame. Excellent in run support. Good at diagnosing play-action and dropping into coverage. Can cover tight ends.
Weaknesses: Play speed is just average. Limitations in man coverage. Is not great at change of direction. Lacks explosiveness. Not always the best open-field tackler.
6 Tray Matthews/Auburn (3)
7 Damon Webb/Ohio State (3)
8 Jordan Whitehead/Pittsburgh (3)
9 Tre Flowers/Oklahoma State (4)
10 Troy Apke/Penn State (5)
11 Marcell Harris/Florida (5-6)
12 Siran Neal/Jacksonville State (5-6)
13 Tracy Walker/Louisiana (7)
14 Davontae Harris/Illinois State (7)
 |
| Quin Blanding (Virginia Sports) |
1 Quin Blanding/Virginia (2)
Strengths: Excellent size and productivity. Plays with good balance. Solid pursuit angles. Played in 98 percent of defensive snaps in Virginia career. Not fooled by quarterback eye movement. Very good against downfield throws.
Weaknesses: Limited quickness. Not great transitioning from backpedal. Doesn't have great range. Can sometimes take poor angles to the football.
2 Justin Reid/Stanford (2-3)
Strengths: Good athletic ability, can play man coverage. Excellent ball skills on deep throws. Technically sound, rarely out of position. Can play near the box. Excellent recognition and reaction. Can avoid blockers in space. Very good tackler.
Weaknesses: Not great against slot receivers. Has a tendency to use hands too much at the top of route. Susceptible to play fakes. Balance not always great when coming in for tackle.
3 Tarvarius Moore/Southern Miss (3)
Strengths: Has excellent speed and explosiveness. Solid in run support and able to handle coverage responsibilities. Long arms. Fluid in backpedal. Good recognition tracking the football.
Weaknesses: Needs to add size. Only started for one season, a bit raw. Allows ball to get to his frame on deep throws. Ducks his head too often as a tackler.
4 Jessie Bates III/Wake Forest (3-4)
Strengths: Solid athletic ability, good instincts and ability to handle coverage duties. Plays with aggressiveness. Good pattern recognition. Doesn't hesistate when driving toward receiver. Playmaker with the ball in his hands. Can be used in variety of coverages.
Weaknesses: Occasionally gets off balance with tackling angles. Must increase his mass. Sometimes allows routes to get behind him on misdirection. Overpursues, allowing cutback runs.
5 Armani Watts/Texas A&M (3-4)
Strengths: Smooth, excellent athletic ability. One of the better coverage safeties in the draft. Has excellent instincts and range. Plays downhill, good vs screen game.
Weaknesses: Doesn't have ideal size. Inconsistent vs the run. Overruns too many plays. Doesn't always produce max effort in tackling. Not a consistent finisher. Guesses too much in coverage.
6 Van Smith/Clemson (4)
7 Marcus Allen/Penn State (4)
8 Godwin Igwebuike/Northwestern (4-5)
9 Jeremy Reaves/South Alabama (4-5)
10 Terrell Edmunds/Virginia Tech (4-5)
11 Natrell Jamerson/Wisconsin (5)
12 Stephen Roberts/Auburn (5-6)
13 Sean Chandler/Temple (5-6)
14 Max Redfield/Indiana Pa. (6)
15 Dominick Sanders/Georgia (6-7)
16 Mason McKenrick/John Carroll (7)
Tuesday: Overall Top 100
No comments:
Post a Comment