Who will the Saints pick with the 24th choice overall? Yesterday I posted a number of mock drafts that had the Saints picking various players, most of which either played defensive end, or defensive tackle. I figured I’d head over to NFL.com and post the write ups on each prospect most likely to end up with the Saints at #24. Here’s some interesting wite ups on each potential Saint, all coming directly from NFL.com:
Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple:
Overview: “Wilkerson is an elite 3-4 defensive end prospect with idea size, excellent shedding ability and the athleticism to pursue from the backside and rush the passer. Jolts offensive lineman at the point of attack, can beat the double team, finds the football and makes plays against the run. Does not have rare first-step quickness but can take a direct line through blockers to pressure the quarterback and has range against the run. Despite size, is a three-down guy who plays with a high effort level for four quarters. Wilkerson’s stock has risen quickly and he could come off the board in the middle of round one.”
Strengths: “Wilkerson’s a prototypical blend of height, bulk and speed for a defensive tackle or five-technique. Dominant against the run. Has great get off, holds up at the point of attack, shows outstanding ability to shed, and very good closing burst to the ball. Very effective power bull rusher. Has good hands. Good stamina.”
Weaknesses: “Hard to point out weaknesses in his game. Does not possess elite initial quickness off the ball as a pass rusher or penetrating against the run but still good in this area. Shows some nastiness on occasion but would like to see him play with a more consistent mean streak.”
Overview: “Kerrigan is a beast of a football player that has the ability to be a difference maker at the next level. He appears to be versatile enough to play defensive end in a 4-3 and outside linebacker in a 3-4. He has the lower body strength to hold his ground in the running game and is a relentless pass rusher. He is a strip sacks specialist who became the Big Ten’s all time leader in forced fumbles as a senior. There are questions whether he can play on his feet in space in the NFL, but Kerrigan is a likely a mid-first round pick.”
Strengths: “Kerrigan has good size and speed. Explodes off the line and plays with sound leverage to get under offensive tackles. Persistent pass rusher with great closing burst that has a knack for making strip sacks. Reads quickly and has a strong lower half which makes him stout against the run. Very productive.”
Weaknesses: “Lacks the elite burst and speed to consistently get around the edge. Does not show an adequate repertoire of pass rushing counter moves. Struggles at times to make plays in space. Lacks experience on his feet as an outside linebacker.”
Overview: “Clayborn has the ability to be a very good starting defensive end in a 3-4 or 4-3 front and can play some defensive tackle in passing situations. Smart, instinctual player, especially against the run. Doesn’t stay blocked long and can stop the running game right at him. Uses his hands and power to take a direct route to the quarterback. Doesn’t possess elite quickness or top-end speed which limits his big play ability rushing the passer, away from him in the running game, and in space. Clayborn could draw interest from several clubs due to his versatility. Probable first round pick.”
Strengths: “Clayborn has good size. Uses a variety of power moves to jolt offensive lineman and get to the quarterback. Holds his ground well, gets off blocks and is a sure tackler when run at. Can play strong side end in a 4-3, the 5-technique in a 3-4, or move inside on passing downs. Great football IQ.”
Weaknesses: “Lacks elite initial burst to consistently beat NFL tackles and get the corner. Overall athleticism and fluidity is just adequate. Not overly comfortable tackling in space or dropping into coverage. Won’t consistently make plays chasing from the backside. Has some off-the-field issues.”
Overview: “Taylor possesses the rare size and natural brute strength NFL front offices are looking for in a potential 3-4 nose tackle or two-gaper. Can anchor against the run, fight through double teams, uses his hands well, and doesn’t necessarily need to come off the field on third down with his adequate pass rushing ability and good feet. A tendency to play high, limited range, in-game durability and some off-the-field red flags do hurt his stock. However, prospects with Taylor’s size and ability don’t grow on trees, so he shouldn’t last past the middle rounds.”
Strengths: “Taylor possesses rare size, has impressive strength, and good speed considering his weight. Very effective anchor at the point of the attack against the run and can take on the double team. Can be effective using the bull rush, coming off the ball and displays a jarring initial hand punch.”
Weaknesses: “Can play high at times. Won’t chase down many plays or make many tackles outside the box. Doesn’t have the first-stop quickness to consistently penetrate. Stamina is a concern. Has he has a tendency to wear down late in games and during long drives. Has some off-the-field issues and was dismissed from Penn State.”
Cam Heyward, DE, Ohio St. (pictured):
Overview: “Heyward is big versatile defensive end that can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 at the next level. He is a powerful athlete at the point of attack that can eat up blocks in the running game and uses heavy active hands to shed quickly. He possesses a less than ideal burst, but is a relentless pass rusher that gets more sacks than he should. His greatest asset is his versatility, as he can control blockers to be effective in a two-gap scheme, but also could have an impact as a traditional defensive end in a 4-3. Heyward will likely not last past the first round.”
Strengths: “Heyward is very strong with a great frame. Quick off the ball, delivers a violent punch to jar offensive lineman and shows good hand technique to slip blocks. Plays with sound leverage and anchors effectively in the running game. Versatile athlete that can play multiple positions along the defensive line. Four-year starter and very durable.”
Weaknesses: “Does not have the burst to consistently get after the quarterback or make plays from the backside. Plays with a narrow base at times and can be pushed out of the play. Takes too long to recognize screens and draws and gets caught upfield too often. A bit inconsistent with his play.”
Overview: “Liuget belongs in the discussion with the other elite defensive tackles in this class. Arguably this year’s most productive DT against the run and also very active rushing the passer. Fires off the ball, maintains sound positioning, has hands that never stop moving, gets off blocks quickly, and closes on ball-carriers and quarterbacks with speed and power. Has the size and strength to move offensive lineman into the backfield. Also comfortable tackling in space and has the awareness to diagnose screens and draws and bat down balls at the line. Liuget has skyrocketed up draft boards this season and should be gone by the mid first.”
Strengths: “Liuget has a big, sturdy build and outstanding speed. Blessed with tremendous get off. Sheds in a hurry, finds the football and closes violently against the run. Does a great job pushing the pocket with a powerful bull rush. Never stops working. Tackles well in the open field and pursues from the backside. Great Football IQ.”
Weaknesses: “Must nit-pick to find weaknesses in this kid’s game. Does not possess ideal h
eight but still active batting down passes. Lacks elite fluidity when getting to the quarterback but still a feared pass rusher.”
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