Defensive Ends
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DT | ILB | OLB | CB | S
Defensive Ends
1. Brian Orakpo – Texas
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 263 | 40 Time: 4.70 | Bench: 31 reps | Projected: Top-10
Upside: Orakpo is a freakish athlete who possesses amazing strength and great anticipation. This kid is a total gym rat and it shows, as he has very little body fat. He can make tackles in space and shows the ability to chase plays down.
Downside: He is still a very raw player who has unrefined moves as a pass rusher and can be held in check at times. Has not proven to be durable, as he’s missed time with injury. Does not have elite speed to be an everydown pass rusher right now.
Bottom Line: Right now, Orakpo is a better athlete than a football player but he’s as solid a bet as anybody to make it at the next level. With his athleticism and instincts, Orakpo should find himself making big plays on Sunday.
2. Everette Brown – Florida State
Height: 6′4″ | Weight: 250 | 40 Time: 4.73 | Bench: 26 reps | Projected: Top-15
Upside: Brown has tremendous hands and uses a variety of pass rushing moves to put pressure on the quarterback. He has a nice frame and great motor to be a presence in a 3-4 system as an OLB but Brown also has big enough frame to survive as a base 4-3 End.
Downside: If he goes to a 4-3 team, Brown might be limited to 2nd and 3rd downs early on, as he gets accustomed to more physical tackles. Brown sometimes struggles to recognize and sniff out the pass vs run.
Bottom Line: Brown should be a dynamite pass rusher from day one and he would fit best as a “DeMarcus Ware” type in a 3-4. He basically lives in the backfield of the opposition and has a great motor, combined with a variety of pass-rushing moves. Brown needs to add some bulk but should be a fixture for the NFL franchise that drafts him.
3. Aaron Maybin – Penn State
Height: 6′4″ | Weight: 253 | 40 Time: 4.89 | Bench: 22 reps | Projected: Top-15
Upside: Maybin is a freakish athlete and has a great first step. He is a natural tackler and he can anticipate the snap count. Maybin has a great frame to add even more muscle.
Downside: Mr Maybin only has one proven year of starting at the Big-10 Level and he will be only 20 years old entering the 2009 season. Maturity is a question mark and he can struggle to break out of blocks.
Bottom Line: Maybin has an elite first step and great range. He will survive in any system and would do well to bulk up in a base 4-3 defense. It might take a year or two, as Maybin is a youngster but he has all the tools to be a very special player.
(Apologies about the video but Maybin is #59)
4. Tyson Jackson – Louisiana State
Height: 6′4″ | Weight: 295 | 40 Time: 5.00 | Bench: NA | Projected: Top-25
Upside: Tyson Jackson has tremendous size and a great motor. He has a ton of value for 3-4 teams in need of a legit 5-technique. Jackson has been very durable in his college career and he squares up against the run very well.
Downside: Does not change directions well. Has limitations rushing the passer on the edge and does not have a great first step, taking longer to build up speed.
Bottom Line: Jackson is a very solid defensive line prospect who is a Marcus Spears type and would be welcomed on any team that runs a 3-4. He will eat up a ton of blockers on every play he’s in on.
5. Michael Johnson – Georgia Tech
Height: 6′7″ | Weight: 266 | 40 Time: 4.75 | Bench: 28 reps | Projected: Top-30
Upside: He has a great frame and freakish athletic ability. He can dominate a game rushing the passer and will be a perfect fit for a base 4-3 defense.
Downside: Is still immature. Has had trouble adding weight to his frame and will struggle against the run at the next level. Too one-dimensional and needs to be coached up.
Bottom Line: Johnson has the potential to be very disruptive at the next level but he really needs to bulk up and show a better anchor against the run. Johnson’s tremendous leaping ability a great range of movement will likely get him drafted at the end of the first round.
6. Larry English – Northern Illinois
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 254 | 40 Time: 4.88 | Bench: 24 reps | Projected: Top-30
Upside: Has a high motor and recognizes the run and pass very quickly. Great first step, plays intelligent, and does not bite on the play fake.
Downside: English lacks ideal size and can get engulfed by bigger lineman. Level of competition is a concern and durability has been an issue at times in his college career.
Bottom Line: Larry English shows a competitive streak on tape and plays to the whistle. He will fit in a 3-4 defense well but might need half a season to adjust to the speed of the pro game. A lot of upside here.
7. Robert Ayers – Tennessee
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 272 | 40 Time: 4.90 | Bench: 18 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Blew Up his Senior Year with 15.5 Tackles For Loss. Ayers has great size and excellent bull rushing ability. He can play inside or out and brings a ton of value with his versatility.
Downside: Ayers is only a one-year starter and has been very inconsistent. He has some red flags with character and needs to mature. He’ll also need to add more bulk to his frame.
Bottom Line: Ayers’ versatility, strength, and high motor only showed out when his NFL career was on the line. He has maturity issues and needs to be drafted by a team that has some experienced players at his position to show him the way. Ayers could be a poor man’s Justin Tuck.
8. Paul Kruger – Utah
Height: 6′4″ | Weight: 263 | 40 Time: 5.00 | Bench: 24 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Kruger has a high motor and plays faster than his 40 time. He sheds blocks well against the run and reacts well to the pass, as he is a smart player.
Downside: Very tightly wound and struggles to change direction at times. Kruger lacks top end explosion on the edge to rush the passer.
Bottom Line: Kruger holds the point extremely well and he has great size. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and he’s a natural leader. Could fit in any system and shows the ability to drop back into coverage when needed. Great player value here for a team in the 2nd round.
9. Conner Barwin – Cincinnati
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 256 | 40 Time: 4.66 | Bench: 21 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Relentless pass rusher with a great first step. A very natural athlete with tremendous range, as he played the Tightend position up until last season.
Downside: Very raw player who will need a lot of personal attention and coaching. Barwin is a good athlete but his stamina and strength have to be questioned as he has only one year of defensive end/linebacker under his belt.
Bottom Line: Developmental prospect who is getting a ton of looks as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He’s similar to Shaun Phillips of the Chargers.
10. Lawrence Sidbury – Richmond
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 266 | 40 Time: 4.64 | Bench: 28 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: High Motor Small School player who hustles all the time. Sidbury has excellent speed and great range rushing the passer.
Downside: Has faced marginal competition and might struggle against the run. Sidbury does not use his hands efficiently and gets hung up on blocks at times.
Bottom Line: Sidbury is another project but he’s not that far off and his best shot will likely come on a team that runs the 4-3 and needs a situational pass rusher, while he learns his craft. Could be special.
