2013 NFL Draft Top 5 Defensive Tackle/End Prospects
- Damontre Moore DE TA&M – Moore is still a bit under sized for a 4-3 end spot but his speed and motor are what make him exceptional. This past season was his first at DE and he led the team in tackles with 85. Like Von Miller before him, Moore is an exceptional pass rusher that shows a variety of moves to confuse offensive tackles. If he adds 15-20 lbs of muscle to his frame over the next few seasons he can be a perennial all-pro at end. His ability to stay healthy for an entire season is his only question mark.
- Ezekiel Ansah DE BYU – Ansah’s comparisons to Giants’ All-Pro Jason Pierre-Paul are warranted. A hyper-athletic end that shows the ability to dominate in one-on-one drills, but the production on the field never equaled that talent. He is the most raw player in this draft class but his upside is as good as current NFL D-ends Pierre-Paul and Chandler Jones. He must get into the right system and be allowed to learn the intricacies of the NFL before he can truly be judged.
- Bjoern Werner DE FSU – Werner seems a lot like Chris Long in my opinion. HE exhibits the strength many people would expect from an end his size but his athleticism allows him to be a 4-3 defensive end, as opposed to the bigger J.J. Watt/Justin Smith type of ends. Werner was the heart of the Florida State defense and is an immediate boost to the attitude of any defense.
- Barkevious Mingo DE LSU- Mingo has been touted as an elite level prospect since his first spring game at LSU. An athlete that could play both end spots and stand up as a pass rusher when needed. Mingo was very productive during his career at LSU but this past season teams really isolated him as the weak link in the running game. His inability to split tackle/tight end double teams during the Bama game put LSU’s defense at a disadvantage. Mingo must show that he has the strength to play at the next level and that he is worth a top 10 draft pick.
- Dion Jordan DE ORE – Jordan’s raw athleticism puts him at #5 on this list. His ability to play both DE and OLB at any time makes him a commodity in today’s NFL. He needs to add a lot of weight if he hopes to be an every down player and he boast a number of health concerns entering this weekends combine. If everything checks out in Jordan’s favor this could be one of the fastest rising prospects in the draft.
- Star Lotulelei DT UTAH - Star draws the obvious comparison to fellow Polynesian, Haloti Ngata. A flattering comparison I’m sure, but Star is more of a traditional 4-3 penetrating defensive tackle. His ability to get in the backfield and disrupt running plays are second to none in this draft. Star faced double teams on nearly every play and most Pac-12 teams shifted line assignments to account for him. When he wasn’t double teamed Star harassed backfields, totaling 5 sacks & 10 TFLs. Those numbers don’t even account for the plays that he set his teammates up for and the sacks others tallied because of his pressure up the middle. Star is a top 3 talent in this draft and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team like the Giants or Panthers trade up for him in April.
- Johnathon Hankins DT OSU – Hankins moves well for a man that is 6’4″ 335 lbs. His ability to shoot his gap, recognize the ball carrier, and pursue the play makes him a first round talent. He couldn’t maintain his dominant early season numbers, which leads to questions about his conditioning and durability but when he is playing at full strength he can be an everyday DT in the NFL.
- Johnathon Jenkins DT UGA – Jenkins is the best nose guard in this draft and the best to come out of college in at least 5 years, yes ahead of Phil Taylor. Jenkins was the man who allowed all of the athletes on the Georgia defense to roam free. His ability to play 2 gaps and often 3 freed up his linebackers and safeties to make plays. Nose guard is a difficult position to fill in the NFL, ask the Chiefs, and it will make Jenkins a hot commodity in April’s draft.
- Sheldon Richardson DT MIZZ – Richardson was all over the field this past season for the Tigers defense and it was apparent that he was the best player on either side of the ball. Even in SEC play Richardson seemed comfortable and was never over matched by the opposition. Against RT prospect DJ Fluker he had 14 tackles and 1 sack. Richardson has a non-stop motor and can easily be the steal of the 1st round if he is drafted by the right team.
- Sharrif Floyd DT FLA -Floyd took awhile to get going this season but he ended 2012 with a bang. He dominated the interior lines of every team that he faced down the stretch. Floyd was one of the reasons that Louisville threw so much in their bowl game against Florida; Teddy Bridgewater’s cannon arm & precision being the other. Floyd will be a great pick up for a team in the early to mid-second round.
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