Defensive Tackles
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Defensive Tackles
1. B.J. Raji – Boston College
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 337 | 40 Time: 5.23 | Bench: 33 reps | Projected: Top-10
Upside: Has an undeniable will against his opponent. Amazing motor with great explosion when he rushes the passer. Has an excellent hand punch and can drive his man wherever he wants.
Downside: Was academically ineligible for the 2007 season but came back to redeem himself in ‘08. Was rumored to have tested positive for marijuana at the combine but reports showed those rumors to be false.
Bottom Line: Raji had a tremendous senior season, an amazing Senior Bowl weekend, and a solid combine. He is one of the more solid selections in this draft, as he is a very disruptive interior lineman with a great anchor against the run.
2. Peria Jerry – Mississippi
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 290 | 40 Time: 4.98 | Bench: 28 reps | Projected: 1st Round
Upside: Very disruptive player who has a high motor. Jerry can attack the gap and put pressure on the passer with his suddenness. Very mature, as he’s already married with two kids.
Downside: Was academically ineligible in ‘04 so he’ll be a 25 year old rookie. Has a sloppy build and will be an injury concern.
Bottom Line: Jerry has great explosion off of the snap and he’s one of the best one-gap penetrators available this year. He will fit best in a 4-3 front but he should be ready to play now considering his age.
3. Evander Hood – Missouri
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 298 | 40 Time: 4.97 | Bench: 34 reps | Projected: 1st Round
Upside: Great Size and frame for the pro level. Hood has shown a variety of pass rush moves and has the strength to stuff the run.
Downside: Lacks consistency and has struggled to beat the double team. Plays too upright and disappears at times.
Bottom Line: Hood’s stock is rising after a solid combine and the fact that he’s a disruptive 300 pounder with some attitude. He’s not a game-changer but he’ll do his part to make sure the opposition is slowed down.
4. Ron Brace – Boston College
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 337 | 40 Time: 5.50 | Bench: 32 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Big Wide-Body that will eat up plenty of space on the field. Brace has excellent strength to crush the pocket and clog running lanes.
Downside: Does not have lateral quickness to stunt or rush the passer. Stamina is also question mark, as he has a tendency to wear down towards the end of games.
Bottom Line: Brace is a classic space eater that will allow his linebackers to get a clean release to the tackle. Will need to be in a rotation as he’s not ready for all 3 downs just yet.
5. Jarron Gilbert – SanJose State
Height: 6′5″ | Weight: 288 | 40 Time: 4.87 | Bench: 28 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Gilbert is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to dominate a game. He’s also the infamous “Kid jumping out of the Pool” in the youtube video.
Downside: Small School prospect that faced marginal competition. Inconsistent effort and has shut down in some games.
Bottom Line: Gilbert had a great combine and his stock has continued to rise. He is a hard charging down hill player who has shown a lot of versatility and will be highly sought after by the 3-4 teams in the league.
6. Fili Moala – Southern California
Height: 6′4″ | Weight: 305 | 40 Time: 5.16 | Bench: 25 reps | Projected: 2nd Round
Upside: Cousin is Baltimore DT Haloti Ngata. Moala has nice size and good range with the ability to stuff the run.
Downside: Has had trouble staying in school for academic and legal reasons. Moala does not use his hands well to escape blockers and his passion for the game has been questioned.
Bottom Line: He can be disruptive on the field but he’s one of the more inconsistent players in this draft. It’s mostly a question of “if” the light will ever turn on and not “when” it will at this point.
7. Sen’Derrick Marks – Auburn
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 306 | 40 Time: 5.08 | Bench: 16 reps | Projected: 3rd Round
Upside: Has a wide frame and a great motor. Plays with leverage and understands gap assignments. Natural athlete.
Downside: Sloppy build and lacks upper body strength. Struggles to hold the point at times and lacks pass rushing moves.
Bottom Line: Marks is a developmental prospect but a very gifted athlete, as the 300 pounder can easily dunk a basketball. He needs a good year of coaching and some added bulk to be solid contributor.
8. Corey Irvin – Georgia
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 301 | 40 Time: 5.03 | Bench: 24 reps | Projected: 4th Round
Upside: Has a long wing span, 34 inch arms, and great athletic ability. Great coordination and footwork for a 300 pounder. Irvin finishes plays with hard hits.
Downside: Irvin struggles to get through a lot of traffic and can get hung up by the double team. Needs to improve his hand use and technique.
Bottom Line: JUCO transfer is a hard worker who has a passion for the game. Irvin is still raw as far as football IQ goes but he has tremendous upside as a future starter in this league.
9. Chris Baker – Hampton
Height: 6′2″ | Weight: 326 | 40 Time: 5.02 | Bench: 24 reps | Projected: 4th Round
Upside: Baker’s stock is rising like it’s got yeast in it. The kid showed up to the combine and ran a 5.02 Forty and jumped a 35.5 inch vertical.
Downside: Character Question Marks for this guy, as he was dismissed from the Penn State team after being arrested twice in 2007. Baker also has stamina concerns and questionable motivation.
Bottom Line: Baker has Boom or Bust written all over him. His football career was looking extremely promising until he had those problems. The end result is that he tested off the charts for a 325 pounder and he had a great season in his attempts to rebound from his past transgressions.
10. Alex Magee – Purdue
Height: 6′3″ | Weight: 298 | 40 Time: 5.09 | Bench: 30 reps | Projected: 4th Round
Upside: A natural athlete who brings a ton of versatility with the ability to play outside and inside. Has good speed for his body size.
Downside: Doesn’t use his hands well. Has disappeared at times and was dominated by better competition. Durability is a concern as well.
Bottom Line: Magee is going to draw a lot of interest from 3-4 teams who want a versatile big man but he may be over drafted because he’s got a lot of studying up to do. A better athlete than a football player right now.
