2008 NFL Draft Position
Rankings
The Defensive Ends
Rankings & Breakdowns
Top 50 Players - 1 to
25 |
Top 50 Players - 26 to 50
|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
|
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Tackles
Offensive Guards |
Centers
|
Defensive Ends
|
Defensive Tackles
Linebackers |
Safeties
|
Cornerbacks
|
Punters & Kickers
By
Pete Fiutak
The Class
Is ... Tremendous. Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, Phillip
Merling and Derrick Harvey are just a few that could be really
special, and there's a load of good prospects able to work with.
There's a lot to be excited about.
The Best Value Pick Will Be ... Lawrence Jackson, USC
Most Underrated ... Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan
Most Overrated ... Derrick Harvey, Florida
The Deep, Deep Sleeper Is .. Marcus Dixon, Hampton |
THE FRANCHISE
1.
Vernon Gholston, DE Ohio State
It's all about the motor. If Gholston has the fire lit under him
and goes full-tilt all the time, he's the best defensive player in
the draft and he could be the best overall talent available. The
question will be his game-in-game-out consistency. Oh sure, when
it's Monday Night Football and the spotlight is on, he'll blow up
and come up with the game needed to make a big splash and create a
Pro Bowl buzz, but will he show up for that non-descript 1:00 early
November game against Buffalo? Versatile enough to be used as an
outside linebacker and more than strong enough to be an every down
end, he can do it all for a defense and when he's on, he'll be
unstoppable. He has safety athleticism and proved at the Combine
he's as strong as any offensive lineman. While he's not the sure
thing Chris Long is, there's a much, much bigger upside.
CFN Projection: Top Ten Overall
2. Chris Long, DE Virginia
Motor, motor, motor, motor, motor. A natural pass rusher, Long is a
tremendous all-around end who can get into the backfield any time he
wants to and is a playmaker against the run. Even when nothing seems to
be happening, he finds a way to make a play on sheer drive and desire.
He got stuffed in the Gator Bowl loss to Texas Tech and there's a
question about just how good he'll be against the elite tackles. He'll
dominate from time to time at the NFL level when going against average
linemen, but he'll likely be erased by the top OTs. There's no real
downside; he'll be a sure-thing starter for the next ten years, but is
there any upside? Unlike Vernon Gholston, Phillip Merling or Calais
Campbell, what you see with Long might be exactly what you get. That's
not necessarily a bad thing.
CFN Projection: Top Ten Overall
3.
Phillip Merling, DE Clemson
The upside is
limitless if a coaching staff is willing to be patient and will work
with him on becoming a more refined pass rusher. He's great at getting
to the quarterback and creating pressure, but he needs to become a
better closer, which likely would've happened if he had stayed for his
senior season. With excellent size, he can be a near-perfect end in a
4-3 and has the quickness to grow into a top pass rusher in a 3-4.
Always working and always on, he never dogs a play and is always going
full-tilt. While he was hurt and wasn't able to work out as expected
this off-season,
that only got some teams excited about the possibility to get him on the
cheap. There's no real downside, and he could become special in a few
years.
CFN Projection: First Round
POTENTIAL NFL STARTERS
4. Derrick Harvey, DE Florida
While he looks like a pass rusher and has the athleticism and ability to
become a top end, he still has to tap into his talent. Very strong and
good against the run, he's not going to get moved around by the stronger
tackles. The problem is his résumé. While he was good at Florida, he
wasn't as dominant as he should've been and was far more hype than
production when it was time to become the main man. While he was a good
college player, there's a chance he could be much better pro talent
after a little more coaching and a little more time in the weight room.
There's an upside to him, but it's not quite as limitless as Phillip
Merling or Vernon Gholston.
CFN Projection: First Round
5. Calais Campbell, DE Miami
Potentially the boom or bust pick in the draft, Campbell has
freakish size at close to 6-8 and 290 pounds. While he's not fast, he's
a good athlete who has functional football speed with the ability to
chase down ball-carriers. Ultra-productive, did it all his sophomore
year with a whopping 84 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss, and while his
numbers dipped a bit last year, he still had a nice season. However,
he's raw. He disappeared at times against the better tackles and he has
to learn how to play like the biggest, baddest end around. Don't expect
a Pro Bowl rookie season, but by year three he could end up being the
best defensive lineman in this draft.
CFN Projection: Late First Round To Early Second Round
6.
Lawrence Jackson, DE USC
In this
draft, Jackson is a poor man's Vernon Gholston. A little bit bigger than
the former Ohio State star but not quite as fast, he's a versatile
defender who could project as an outside linebacker in the right system.
Unlike Gholston, there's room to beef up with another ten pounds of
muscle. A decent pass rusher, but not an elite one quite yet, he needs a
fire lit under him to become a top-shelf closer. He was good at USC and
was certainly a good producer for four years, but he didn't blossom into
the superstar All-American that he should've.
CFN Projection: Second Round
7. Jeremy Thompson, DE/LB Wake Forest
One of the faster ends in the draft, the 6-4, 265-pound former Demon
Deacon has the athleticism and the potential to blossom in the right
system. He's not going to be a top-shelf pass rusher and there's a big,
screaming question mark about his durability, he has shown enough of a
flash to project as a nice starter who does well as a cog in the system.
He'll never be a star, but he should be a productive starter as long as
he can stay healthy.
CFN Projection: Late Second Round To Early Third Round
BEST OF THE REST
8. Chris
Ellis, DE Virginia Tech
Potentially a good No. 3 end
who shines in a rotation, Ellis has good strength against the run and
nice speed. However, he has major character issues and he'll need to be
taken under the wing of a mentor right away. He has the potential to
grow into a creative pass rusher who can fit into any system, but he'll
have to fight through what seems to be an ongoing shoulder issue and he
has to have the right attitude from day one.
CFN Projection: Third Round
9. Shawn Crable, DE/LB Michigan
An ultra-productive
linebacker last year with 90 tackles and 7.5 sacks, he's a hybrid
outside linebacker/defensive end as a pro. Undersized for a lineman at
around 6-5 and 245 pounds, he makes up for it with tremendous
athleticism and good strength for his size. His money will be made in
the weight-room. With room on his frame for another 15 pounds of muscle,
he could bulk up and grow into a pass rushing end and could become a
poor man's Terrell Suggs.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
10. Jason Jones, DE/DT Eastern Michigan
An interesting prospect who
could pay off big with a little time, Jones was a quick, undersized
tackle at EMU who was great at getting into the backfield. He's actually
more of an oversized end at 6-5 and 275 pounds with excellent speed and
versatility. If he wants it and will work for it, he'll have the chance
to grow into a steady starter.
CFN Projection: Late Third Round To Early Fourth Round
11.
Ken Iwebema, DE Iowa
Iwebema was on the fast track to becoming an All-American and a top
pro prospect after a promising sophomore season, but he got hurt and
never lived up to his potential. While he has decent size at 6-4 and 274
pounds, he doesn't have an NFL burst and he didn't progress enough as a
sacker to offer much hope that he'll grow into one as a pro. He's strong
and he'll do a lot of things that don't show up on a stat sheet, but he
has work to do to become a regular starter.
CFN Projection: Third Round
12. Darrell Robertson, DE/LB Georgia Tech
A much of a linebacker
prospect as an end, the 255-pound Yellow Jacket
is a good athlete who could bulk up a bit and become a specialist. He
plays faster than he actually is has enough potential to be used in a
variety of ways. He needs to be more physical and he has to get bigger,
but there's plenty of upside.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
13. Chris Harrington, DE Texas A&M
A baller. Tough against the
run, productive throughout his Aggie career, and a strong all-around
player, Harrington was a good leader who always has his motor running
and is always going to give 100%. He simply doesn't have NFL pass
rushing skills and is too small to be worked into a tackle. He'll work
his way on to a roster, but he's not going to be a regular starter.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
14. Louis Holmes, DE Arizona
At 6-3 and 265 pounds,
Holmes is a good-sized end with nice speed and excellent toughness. He's
not a natural pass rusher and is way too inconsistent. While he's a
willing tackler, he's just not very good at it. He's a bit of a project
who has to work hard on doing the little things right and has to be
willing to work to make himself a player.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
15. Chase Ortiz, DE TCU
A terrific college player
who did a little bit of everything for the Horned Frog front, he's going
to have a hard time finding a spot in the pros. He works hard and
doesn't take a play off, but he's only 6-2 and 249 pounds and isn't
athletic enough to grow into a reliable outside linebacker. He'll have
to grow into a dependable backup.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
16. Kendall Langford, DE/DT Hampton
An oversized end at 287
pounds, he could end up sitting inside or playing in a 4-3 scheme.
Really strong and really tough, he does a little of everything and can
be molded into whatever defense he plays in. However, he needs a lot of
work and a lot of time. There almost no refined technique whatsoever and
he'll need a ton of coaching and a lot of time. With his tools, the
potential is there for big things if given the chance.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
17. Bryan Smith, DE/LB McNeese State
Extremely athletic and a
terrific pass rusher at the lower level, Smith cranked out 24 sacks in
the last two years
and is great at making every tackle. He's not really a linebacker, but
at only 6-2 and 231 pounds, he's not an end. Despite his lack of size,
he'll be a fun toy for a defensive coordinator to play with.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
18. Wallace Gilberry, DE Alabama
While he has good size for en end, he's not quick enough to be a
consistent pass rusher and is way too small to work on the inside. He
wasn't nearly as productive as he should've been, even though he has
good work habits and tried hard from day one. Unable to get into the
backfield often enough, he'll have problems finding an NFL role.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
19. Marcus Dixon, DE/DT Hampton
Very big and very tough, the
294-pounder could be a quick tackle or a huge end in a 4-3. Off some
draft boards because of time spent in jail from a highly publicized rape
case, character isn't the problem it's being made out to be. He was
stuck in an ugly, politicized court case that tried to make him out to
be a monster he most certainly isn't. On the field, he originally signed
with Vanderbilt before the problems, and he turned out to be a great
player at Hampton. He needs time in the weight-room, but at his size he
could become a tremendous all-around lineman if given time.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
20. Adamm Oliver, DE Georgia Tech
The effort is there, but the
NFL talent and the pro body aren't. Even so, he was a productive player
for Georgia Tech who would be a much better prospect if he wasn't coming
off a torn ACL. All-around quickness and athleticism was a question to
begin with, and the knee injury isn't going to help. He has a high-motor
and is tough enough to battle back, but it'll be hard to find a niche.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
21. Trevor Scott, DE Buffalo
The former tight end is
making himself into a good end. At close to 6-5 and 256 pounds, he has a
frame that could support a lot more weight, and he's just scratching the
surface on what he can become. He tries his tail off and is more than
happy to work on becoming as good as he can possibly become, but he's
far from being an NFL defensive end. He needs to get a lot stronger and
a little bigger.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
22. Martail Burnett, DE Utah
A tremendous athlete who
started out his career as a safety before beefing up and turning into a
nice end. At 6-2 and 257 pounds, he's not big and he doesn't have much
room to get bigger. He needs a lot of work on his technique and he has
to get stronger and even more refined, but there's a huge upside if
someone gives him time to develop.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round To Seventh Round
23. Alex Hall, DE St. Augustine's
The former tight end has a
ton of potential if he gets into an NFL weight-room and if he has a
coach looking to spend the time to work on the basic skills. At 6-5 and
219 pounds, he has a lot of room to get bigger and stronger, but he's a
very quick producer, at least at the lower level, who has to turn
himself into a harder worker. Basically, he has to become a gym rat.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
24. Dorian Smith, DE Oregon State
Smith produced well over the
last two years for the Beavers after coming in from the JUCO ranks, but
he's very short , not consistent, and has a hard time staying healthy.
He's not an every-down player and will have to carve out a niche for
himself as a pass rushing specialist. The problem is that he's not a
special pass rusher; he doesn't do any one thing really well.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
25.
Tommy Blake, DE TCU
Considered a sure-thing
first round pick, and possibly even a top ten caliber player, before a
tragic set of circumstances from a bout with anxiety and depression.
he's trying to regain his reputation and his talent. When he was fine,
he was a breathtaking blend of speed, size, and ability. He was a
superstar in the making and is worth a flier, but he needs to lose a lot
of weight, has to get into shape, and has to show that he's really able
to be a player again.
CFN Projection:
Sixth Round
26. Johnny Dingle, DE West Virginia
For some reason, height
seems to matter to NFL types when it comes to ends. Dingle is under 6-2,
but he's 265 pounds with good speed and excellent quickness. He's just
not fast enough to become a pro pass rusher and he's too small to be a
decent tackle. Old, at 25 when he comes to camp, and after a few lousy
off-season workouts including a disastrous Combine, he needs to work
hard to make a team.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
ON
THE RADAR
27. Bryan Mattison, DE Iowa
28. Hilee Taylor, DE/LB North Carolina
29. Brandon Miller, DE Georgia
30. Joe Clermond, DE Pitt
31. Andy Studebaker, DE Wheaton
32. Rob Jackson, DE Kansas State
33. Jeremy Geathers, DE UNLV
34. Casper Brinkley, DE/LB South Carolina
35. Angelo Craig, DE Cincinnati
