Evaluating defensive line prospects may involve more projecting than any other defense. Is a prospect X a defensive end in 3-4, or is he better suited to play inside for a 4-3? Is prospect Y a defensive end, or should he play standing up at the next level?
Comparing these defensive linemen to players already in the NFL can help with those projections. What positions will this class of defensive linemen be playing in the NFL?
DE Bjoern Werner
Once considered to be a lock in the top ten of this draft, Bjoern Werner has seen his stock dip (at least in the media's eyes) since his combine workout confirmed that was wasn't a particularly elite athlete. However, he had an extremely productive career playing against a high level of competition, and there have been plenty of defensive linemen that didn't have elite measurable that went on to have successful NFL careers.
Like Werner, Osi Umenyoira entered the league with the knock of being a little too undersized and lacking too much athleticism to make an impact when battling NFL offensive lines. However, Umenyoira went on to have a great career with the Giants and it's very likely that Werner will do the same. Both are natural football players whose instincts more than make up for a lack of athleticism, and it's why Werner should still be considered a lock in the top ten of this draft.
DT Sheldon Richardson
You'd have a tough time finding a better 4-3 defensive tackle in the NFL right now than Geno Atkins. As one of the only defensive tackles in the game who can make the same sort of impact that some of the best defensive ends make on a game, he's become one of the Bengals most valuable players.
The one defensive tackle who displays that same sort of ability in this class is Sheldon Richardson. He's great at getting penetration, and with outstanding quickness he could potentially even play some defensive end in a 4-3 defense. If he keeps his head in the game, he should be able to thrive where ever he lands this weekend.
DE Quanterus Smith
As a small school player that is trying to recover from an ACL injury, Quanterus Smith has yet to receive the pre-draft publicity that many of his fellow defensive ends have. Fortunately for Smith, the ACL injury is the only trouble he's had with any injuries up to this point, so for teams willing to wait on him to fully recover he could prove to be a great value.
What sort of player will his new team be getting? While many have compared Smith to DeMarcus Ware, due to their productivity playing at smaller schools, Justin Tuck may be a more apt comparison. Like Tuck, Smith displays a fundamentally sound style of play – one that you wouldn't expect from a smaller school product like Smith. Both are best against the pass and serviceable against the run, and both have the work ethic that results in sustained improvement of the first several years of their NFL careers.
DT Sylvester Williams
Sylvester Williams may not be a name that many casual followers of the draft are familiar with now, but as a player who has quietly risen up many draft boards it's likely he'll hear his name called earlier than many expect this weekend.
The North Carolina product has great potential and a ceiling that would make him similar to Jonathan Babineaux. When he's playing at his best, Williams is a good 4-3 nose tackle that can get after the quarterback. But thus far in his career he's been far too inconsistent, and he'll need to develop a motor that runs closer to 100% of the time before he can reach that potential.
DE Ziggy Ansah
Now on an almost yearly basis, we see players that are both exceptionally inexperienced and exceptionally gifted entering the draft, providing teams with a high risk high reward opportunity. For the 2013 draft, that player is Ziggy Ansah. With an incredibly high ceiling and one of the lowest floors in the class, Ansah will certainly be one of the most controversial selections of Thursday night.
Much like Ansah, Jason Pierre Paul didn't have much experience or production in college but was selected in the first round thanks to his great potential. Thus far in his career Pierre Paul has proven to be a wise investment – will Ansah prove to be a similar player, or will he instead be one of the biggest disappointments of his class?
DT Star Lotulelei
It's rare to see a big body such as Star Lotulelei's also display such agility, balance, and a great motor to go along with it. When those prospects make their way to the NFL, they're almost destined to become elite 3-4 nose tackles.
A difference maker at that position drastically increases the effectiveness of a 3-4 defense as a whole, and it's why Lotulelei will be selected early in the draft. With a level of talent and style of play that compares favorably to Haloti Ngata, nearly every 3-4 defense will have some interest in the defensive tackle.
DE Tank Carradine
He may not have the same floor as his Bjoern Werner, but Tank Carradine may have a higher ceiling than his teammate at Florida State. Carradine is a natural pass rusher that should an impact quickly at the next level, assuming he's healthy enough to play.
There are still some questions about his health as he's coming off an ACL injury, but his great potential should still result in his being a first round draft pick. He should grow into a 4-3 defensive end like Chris Long – a three down end that is there primarily to rush the quarterback but can make plays in all phases of the game.
DT Sharrif Floyd
Sharrif Floyd has had success just about every time he's stepped onto a football field. In high school he ended up being the top defensive tackle in his class, then he earned 2010 All Freshman SEC honors, and has since cemented himself as a player who will likely hear his name called fairly early on Thursday.
Floyd will get attention from teams that play 4-3 and 3-4 defenses, but much like Fletcher Cox, he's most likely best suited to play in a 4-3 system. Both players are mismatches against most offensive guards and use their explosiveness and size to create nightmares on the interior of opposing offensive lines.
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