2018 NFL Draft Defensive Rankings

Interior Defensive Line

3-Tech

1. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
2. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
3. Taven Bryan, Florida
4. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
5. Vita Vea, Washington
6. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
7. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
8. Andrew Brown, Virginia
9. Foley Fatukasi, Uconn
10. Trent Thompson, Georgia
11. Kendric Norton, Miami
12. Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
13. P.J. Hall, Sam Hosuton State
14. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
15. Justin Jones, N.C. State

Nose Tackle

1. Vita Vea, Washington
2. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
3. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
4. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
5. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
6. Taven Bryan, Florida
7. Deadrin Senat, USF
8. B.J. Hill, N.C. State
9. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
10. Foley Fatukasi, Uconn
11. Andrew Brown, Virginia
12. Trent Thomson, Georgia
13. Harrison Phillips, Stanford
14. Poona Ford, Texas
15. Tim Settle, Virginia Tech

3-4 Defensive End

1. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
2. Taven Bryan, Florida
3. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
4. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
5. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
6. Vita Vea, Washington
7. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
8. Kentavius Street, N.C. State
9. Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama
10. Trent Thompson, Georgia
11. Kendric Norton, Miami
12. Justin Jones, N.C. State
13. B.J. Hill, N.C. State
14. P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State
15. Tim Settle, Virginia Tech

Like interior offensive line, there’s a lot of talent to be picked at the interior defensive line positions. Like I did with wide receivers, I’ve divided up most of the defensive positions into lists a little more specialized because, again, that’s what we’re seeing more of in the NFL, so it doesn’t make sense to line prospects up who won’t play the same position with different traits to boast.

The money-makers on the inside are usually your 3-tech defensive tackles. These are the guys who line up – you guessed it – at the 3-technique position, which is on the guard’s outside shoulder. This position allows for the most one-on-one opportunities and generally lets talent win out (that’s why you put your best there). These are the Aaron Donalds, the Gerald McCoys and the Geno Atkins. Burst, strength, and both power and finesse moves are needed here. These are your one-gap sack guys (in theory).

Nose tackles are your dirty work players. These guys line up right in front of or right next to the center, usually positioning themselves to take double teams in order to give the 3-tech and edge players one-one-ones — do the math with only five offensive linemen. Nose tackles don’t have to be a certain size like 3-techs or 3-4 defensive ends do. Nose tackles just need to know how to use leverage and most importantly know how to anchor and not get blown up by double teams. These players have to have a lot of lower body strength to stand their ground in the run game and hold the point of attack. These players also generally carry more weight due to the need to not be moved (and the fact that they likely don’t have to do much moving themselves).

For 3-4 defensive ends, length is key. With more focus on the edge players and the linebackers behind them, 3-4 end players have to be able to take up space and also sometimes take up double teams at any spot. These guys will do some pass rushing, but are also called on to hold points of attack, depending on the scheme. You’re looking for long arms and big bodies here to take up space with only three down linemen.

If you follow me on Twitter – why wouldn’t you? – it’s no secret that Shepherd is my top interior defensive linemen. Though he’ll be 24-25 years old in his rookie year, Shepherd dominates like you would want someone that age to dominate. He’s as strong as a bull, has violent, fast hands, can rip and swim move on the interior and knows how to anchor as well. He can move like a linebacker in a body of a 6-foot-3, 315-pound man.

After him it really becomes a pick-your-preference, as I’ve shown with the varying rankings. Hurst is likely the next best pass rushing interior defensive lineman, though his short frame doesn’t make him as versatile as others. Bryan is big, long and freakishly athletic for his size which means he could play 3-tech or 3-4 defensive end, though he’s still raw. Payne and Vea are stout run defenders and nose tackles at heart, but do move well and can bring some pass rush from that spot.

Nnadi is the next best run defender in the class. He’s an ideal nose tackle. Hubbard has the size and some athleticism to really play all three spots; he did so at Ohio State. And speaking of the Buckeyes, a guy I seem to be higher on than most is Holmes, who bends well and played all of these spots at Ohio State the last two years. At 6-5, 281 pounds, he can really rush the passer for a big man. It would not surprise me to see him succeed in a defensive line rotation.

Brown, Fatukasi and Thomson are all lumped together for me after that. Brown wins with an elite first step, but doesn’t do much after that consistently. Fatukasi moves well for a big man but is very raw as a player, and Thompson showed good all-around game as a nose tackle but didn’t show many flashes of brilliance.

The two N.C. State guys, Hill and Jones, both can play in limited roles, Hill more nose tackle and Jones more 3-tech. And two guys I don’t get the hype for are Hall and Settle. Hall will need a lot of training in the NFL, and Settle’s body type hurts him with balance. He’s always playing on the ground, which is bad.

EDGE Player

4-3 Defensive End

1. Bradley Chubb, N.C. State
2. Harold Landry, Boston College
3. Josh Sweat, Florida State
4. Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest
5. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
6. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
7. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
8. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
9. Kentavius Street, N.C. State
10. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
11. Chad Thomas, Miami
12. Arken Key, LSU
13. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
14. Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama
15. Hercules Mata’afa, Washington State

3-4 Outside Linebacker

1. Harold Landry, Boston College
2. Bradley Chubb, N.C. State
3. Josh Sweat, Florida State
4. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
5. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
6. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
7. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
8. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
9. Genard Avery, Memphis
10. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
11. Shaquem Griffin, UCF
12. Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss
13. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
14. Arden Key, LSU
15. Dorance Armstrong, Kansas

Since the resurgence of the 3-4 defense in the late 2000s, the term “edge” has become common when describing pass rushers. Sometimes they can come from a more traditional 4-3 and other times it can be from new age 3-4 formations. At their primary goal, edge players of both formations are asked to be edge defenders first (hence the name). It’s their job to contain the final line of the trenches in the run game but also pin their ears back as pass rushers on longer down and distances. Sometimes, though, these edge players, like receivers and defensive tackles, can be specialized.

With 4-3 defensive ends, you’re looking for big, strong players who can defend the run but also pass rusher with both speed and power from a 3-point or 4-point stance (either with one hand or both hands in the ground). With 3-4 outside backers, you’re looking for speed, finesse moves, converting speed to power and also some dropping back into coverage, all from a 2-point stance (no hands in the ground, just standing up at the line of scrimmage). If you’re talented enough, a lot of those tasks can be performed by a single player and can be interchangeable, but the reason we split edge players into two groups is because more and more we’re seeing teams specialize their edge presence into what their specific scheme calls for.

If we’re talking about a 4-3 defensive end, Chubb is your guy. Big, strong, aggressive, can hold the line and rip off blocks, all from a natural hand-down position. If you want the best 3-4 outside edge player, look no further than Landry. Landry’s 2016 tape was incredible. He has great bend and burst and can get to the quarterback in a variety of ways. Both are Top 10 players in the class.

After that I think there are three “freaks” in this class who all have the chance to pay off big time with elite athleticism. The first is Sweat. Sweat didn’t have a lot of pass rushing production at Florida State but that’s because they misused him terribly, primarily as a run defender. I don’t think Edmunds is an edge player right now, but as good as he is with the long frame he has at just 19 years old, he can become one. And finally, everyone talked about Sweat’s crazy Combine numbers, but Carter’s were almost just as good. Those guys can be nightmares with speed on the outside.

On the 4-3 side, I think Ejiofor is one of the most overlooked prospects in this class. He needs to be more consistent, but he had plenty of flashes on tape to show he can be a pass rusher in the NFL. He can speed rush and shed blocks. Hubbard’s not the athlete we hoped he was as a former safety, but he’s a strong edge player who can bring enough pass rush to hold a starting role somewhere in the NFL, at some point.

The best of the rest starts with Turay, who has a thick lower body and fast hips, which is rare. He can anchor well and change direction well. Most of his tape comes from a stand-up position. I’m not a big Davenport guy, but I get why people think he has a lot of potential. His long frame and athletic profile make him alluring, but he definitely hasn’t put it all together (the Senior Bowl showed that). Avery and Okoronkwo are two guys who will find a pass rushing home somewhere; Avery with power and Okoronkwo with speed. I’ll hard pass on both Key and Mata’afa, though. Too many red flags; off the field for Key and on the field with Mata’afa (no true position).

Off-Ball Linebacker

1. Roquan Smith, Georgia
2. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. Shaquem Griffin, UCF
5. Fred Warner, BYU
6. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
7. Genard Avery, Memphis
8. Malik Jefferson, Texas
9. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
10. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
11. Kenny Young, UCLA
12. Jack Cichy, Wisconsin
13. Jerome Baker, Ohio State
14. Matthew Thomas, Florida State
15. Josey Jewell, Iowa

For those not familiar with the term, “off-ball” simply means that this is a linebacker whose primary role isn’t as an edge player. This could be a 4-3 outside linebacker or any kind of inside linebacker. I could have been even more specific with certain roles like playing in space as a WILL (weakside) linebacker or taking on blocks like a SAM (strongside) linebacker, but the fact or the matter is that if you’re a linebacker in the NFL you’re likely going to be asked to do all three, at some point, so if you’re an off-ball linebacker, you better be able to do it all.

Smith is the top guy this year in a very talented linebacker class. He’s so good, y’all; he’s so, so good. He’s a little short and stocky for the position, but who gives a damn. Smith has the speed to get to the sideline, the tackling skills to wrap up or lay the boom, the ability to blitz and change direction, but most importantly, the instincts and awareness to anticipate where the ball is going and where a play is developing.

Edmunds comes after Smith. Edmunds’ length and talent at just 19 years old is very rare. He doesn’t have the awareness Smith does quite yet, but he can get there. He’s a smart, athletic linebacker with better than ideal length. Usually it’s just those two talked about at the top, but I wanted to make sure I mentioned Evans in there with them as a Big 3, because it really is. Don’t get Alabama linebacker fatigue; Evans deserves your attention, even if you’re sick of Alabama linebackers. He plays at a million miles an hour, can blitz the pocket and drop back into coverage.

Griffin is my LB4 and he deserves every bit of it. He’s a hyper athletic player who is more than just an inspirational story. He’ll be a perfect WILL linebacker for a team that allows their WILL LBs to blitz, too. Warner and Vander Esch are two very solid linebacker prospects after Griffin. This class is deep with talent.

Down the line two guys I like more than most are Dion Hamilton and Young. Dion Hamilton would have progressed well had he not been hurt, and I was impressed with Young at the East-West Shrine practices enough to notice his upside and an athletic linebacker with ideal size – just not as instinctual as the other guys.

Cornerback

Outside (Boundary/Field)

1. Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. Jaire Alexander, Louisville
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
4. Josh Jackson, Iowa
5. Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
6. Mike Hughes, UCF
7. Quenton Meeks, Stanford
8. Carlton Davis, Auburn
9. M.J. Stewart, UNC
10. Donte Jackson, LSU
11. J.C. Jackson, Maryland
12. Holton Hill, Texas
13. Isaac Yiadom, Boston College
14. Tavarus McFadden, Florida State
15. Greg Stroman, Virginia Tech

Inside (Nickel/Sub)

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. Jaire Alexander, Lousiville
3. Derwin James, Florida State
4. Donte Jackson LSU
5. Duke Dawson, Florida
6. Avonte Maddox, Pittsburgh
7. Rashaan Gaulden, Tennessee
8. Tony Brown, Alabama
9. Deatrick Nichols, USF
10. Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma

Though cornerbacks are divided up into two separate categories here, they are likely the most interchangeable, or at least the most linear — if you can’t make it as an outside cornerback due to lack of size, you still might be able to have value as a slot player, which is still important in today’s age.

Ward is CB1, but Jaire Alexander is not far behind. Both of these players are smaller, Ward especially, but both play bigger than their measurables suggest — in style and strength. Both of these players ran sub 4.4 40-yard dashes, so they have the speed to play against the best wide receivers in the league.  Both can play close or off coverage, but Ward is predominantly a man coverage, close coverage cornerback. If your defense doesn’t play that style, taking him would be wasting what he does best. The best part about these two is they both bring a much needed attitude of confidence to the position – when you play cornerback, you have to believe you’re the best player on the field.

Fitzpatrick comes after that, which might be unique to these rankings because I do believe Fitzpatrick can play as an outside cornerback and play it well in the NFL. Jackson is CB4. He’s an excellent off coverage cornerback, probably the best in this draft at that, but you don’t want him playing close man coverage very much. It’s just not natural for him. Oliver and Hughes are both raw as cornerbacks, but both have had some really nice plays over the years and are physical and athletic enough to play on the outside with success with the right coaching an refinement. Oliver wins with his freakishly long wingspan and Hughes wins with his annoyance (yes, that’s a trait and a good trait).

I think Meeks is a hidden gem in this cornerback class. He’s a smart player with ideal size at 6-foot-1 and over 200 pounds. Jackson is a speed demon who has great straight-line and recovery speed, but lacks the size to play on the outside against too many match-ups. Jackson is a wild card to me because he has the size and the athleticism to be a starting cornerback in the NFL, but he looks slow to react too often. If he can anticipate better, he can find some starting time.

For “sleeper” slot guys, Dawson and Maddox fit the nickel bill perfectly, if you ask me. Both are short-area players, not long, downfield players.

Safety

Free (Deep) 

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. Derwin James, Florida State
3. Justin Reid, Stanford
4. Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
5. Kyzir White, WVU
6. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
7. Jordan Whitehead, Pittsburgh
8. DeShon Elliott, Texas
9. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
10. Damon Webb, Ohio State
11. Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern
12. Marcell Harris, Florida
13. Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
14. Marcus Allen, Penn State
15. Quin Blanding, Virgnia

Strong (Box)

1. Derwin James, Florida State
2. Minkah Fitzaptrick, Alabama
3. Justin Reid, Stanford
4. Kyzir White, WVU
5. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
6. DeShon Elliott, Texas
7. Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
8. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
9. Jordan Whitehead, Pittsburgh
10. Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern
11. Marcell Harris, Florida
12. Damon Webb, Ohio State
13. Marcus Allen, Penn State
14. Quin Blanding, Virginia
15. Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech

Initially I only thought there would be three or four safeties that I was going to like from this class but it ended up being a handful of players.

At the top, of course, we have James and Fitzpatrick. Both of these players have been making their mark on the football world since their true freshman seasons, and being high picks in the draft was in their destiny. James and Fitzpatrick can both roam the trenches and blitz off the edge. James can also play linebacker roles where Fitzpatrick can play corner roles. Both of these players have the size and abilityt to do it all, but I give James the slight edge because he’s a little bigger and a little more athletic. Can’t go wrong with either.

After that, Reid is also a first round safety. Reid pride’s himself on being that general of the defense and because of it he knows every player’s assignment in every defensive formation — he’s played all five defensive back spots over his three years, too. He has talent, size and awareness to succeed in any scheme.

At free safety, I like Bates from Wake Forest. He showed good range and good recognition. He’s a natural playmaker, though small. And as a wildcard free safety, Whitehead from Pittsburgh is very interesting to me. He played both sides of the ball for Pittsburgh as a safety and running back. He’s extremely fast and has good range in coverage because of it. He really could be a starting safety in the NFL if thing align for him devoting all his time to being a safety with good coaching.

At strong safety, White is a guy you want on your team. He showed good recognition in a lot of his tape, coming up with big hits and tackles for loss, and he was also asked to play some free safety and freelance at the Senior Bowl and did well, so you know he’s a natural. Elliot is another interesting player at strong safety. He’s a textbook tackler who has good speed, but he’s just a little stiff when changing directions. He still has the makeup of a nice strong safety player.

Watts and Harrison are two loose cannons in this class. Both are all athlete first, but both lack the frame to make the big hits their speed warrants. I’m worried about durability in the NFL with both of those guys, but if they can be less reckless with their style, they can make some eye-popping plays.