NFL Draft Prospect Comparisons: Defensive Tackles

The reason that teams are concerned or excited about a prospect is because there has usually been some ground work and evidence to suggest one of those outcomes. That evidence is looking at former and current players’ successes and failures and comparing them to this year’s crop of franchise changers or busts.

So, by taking a look at which of this year’s top defensive tackles remind of current NFL players, we can possibly get a good indication and projection of their potential of NFL success.

Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska – Kris Jenkins/Haloti Ngata
It really is tough to find a player to compare Suh to because he’s such a rare prospect in himself, which is why he’s so highly rated.

Suh is a bit lighter than the two guys I’m comparing him to and maybe doesn’t have there level of strength, but he could end up dominating like both depending on the system.

He has the leverage and tenacity to be a nose tackle like Kris Jenkins that is so rare for a nose tackle in a 3-4 or a 4-3. Also, he has the quickness and combination of size and athletic ability to play a 3 technique or 5 technique in the pros and be a rusher as well, like Ngata is for the Ravens.

Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma – Tommie Harris
As far as what to expect of Gerald McCoy and where he will fit in the pros, he should become the usual staple in a 4-3 Cover 2 defense.

One of, if not the, most important position in the defense for that system is the 3 technique tackle, with guys such as Kevin Williams, Warren Sapp, and in this case Tommie Harris being guys that McCoy could wind up being.

Dan Williams, Tennessee – Jay Ratliff
A guy who has been soaring up boards during the season and leading up until draft day, Williams is a great athlete with the hunger and ability to be a disrupting and consistent nose tackle in the pros.

While Ratliff is one of the better nose tackles in the league, he’s not a perennial Pro Bowler type of talent and I don’t believe Williams will be either. I think he maxes out as Ratliff in the pros and best case scenario he ends up being a consistent nose tackle in a 3-4 or 4-3 for many years with a team.

Terrence Cody, Alabama – Jamal Williams
Finding a big bodied nose tackle that fits systems where the nose tackle needs to take up lots of space isn’t very easy to find.

Players that are 325+ that can still move and be somewhat productive are very hard to find, which is why there is a premium in the NFL for nose tackles.

I’m not sure Cody can stay on the field for the whole game, which is why he’s not likely a 1st rounder, but he can be a dominating force that alters offenses game plans similar to how Jamal Williams of the Chargers has done for many years.

Arthur Jones, Syracuse – Ryan Pickett
A bit of a lesser known prospect, Jones is a guy who I think will have a quietly productive career thanks to his quick first step and his versatility.

I think he is a lesser version of Ndamukong Suh in the sense that he can play in almost every scheme and has value as a 5 technique end in power systems, 3 technique tackle in some 4-3 defenses, and play nose tackle in a quick 3-4 or a Cover 2 defense, similar to how Ryan Pickett has filled those roles with St. Louis and now with Green Bay.

Jared Odrick, Penn State – Antonio Smith
While a lot of respected NFL and non-NFL people really think Odrick can be a star and potential top ten prospect, I think he maxes out somewhere around the talent level of Antonio Smith.

Smith, the former 5 technique defensive end of the Steelers and now a defensive end with the Texans, isn’t as good of an athlete as Odrick and Odrick could have a more productive career. However, when it comes to playing style, both are longer defensive lineman that cause trouble for offenses seemingly because of their length and football IQ.

Jeff Owens, Georgia – Sedrick Ellis
One of my favorites in this draft class because he has the potential to be among the best defensive tackles and can be found in the middle rounds, in most other years Owens would be a 1st round lock.

He missed the 2008 season with an injury and was projected as one of the top defensive tackles going into that season. Owens fits the 4-3 nose tackle role perfectly and has the body control and strength to develop into one of the games best, similar to what the former USC Trojan defensive tackle is doing with New Orleans.

Brian Price, UCLA – Marcus Spears
Some are very high on Price because he has flashes of greatness, Price will only be successful if he has great players around him.

Until the Cowboy defense really mature around him, Spears never really lived up to his 1st round hype. But with great pass rushers on both sides and a productive nose tackle, Spears was able to thrive in the 5-technique, a role that I think fits Price well.