After profiling some of the lightning rod prospects on offense earlier this week, we continue to round up some of the top NFL Draft analysts and focus on the defensive side of the ball this time. Which players should you keep a close eye on when the Combine begins next week? Read on to find out ...
Defensive End (Scott Wright – Draft Countdown):
One defensive end who is generating a lot of buzz right now is Southern Cal's Nick Perry, who may ultimately wind up playing outside linebacker in an odd front at the next level. In a class that is somewhat lacking when it comes to dynamic edge pass rushers, Perry, 6-3, 250, stands out for his athleticism, speed, explosiveness and ability to run the arc coming off the edge. Don't be surprised if Perry is selected much earlier than most expect, perhaps as early as the Top 20 overall selections. A guy to keep an eye on in the mid-to-late rounds is Tyrone Crawford of Boise State, who is a pretty good athlete with impressive size (6-4, 285) and considerable upside. Crawford was one of the standouts during the week of practice and on gameday at the Shrine Game, and cemented himself as one of the better defensive ends available in this class with his performance.
Our Take:Explosive pass rushers off the edge always find a home in the first round, despite not always having the production on the field to back it up. I think Perry is a high-potential prospect who should thrive in drills at the Scouting Combine, and he will likely hear his name called on the first day when it's all said and done. Crawford was a pleasant surprise in St. Petersburg at the Shrine Game, and his versatility warrants a mid-round selection at least.
Defensive Tackle (Matt Miller – Bleacher Report):
The defensive tackle position lacks the elite prospects of years past such as Ndamukong Suh, Marcell Dareus, Gerald McCoy and Nick Fairley, but there is plenty of depth in the first three rounds. The one interior lineman that is generating major buzz is LSU redshirt sophomore Michael Brockers. Brockers, 6-6, 295, has the agility to play in a three-technique position as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 scheme, but is strong enough at the point of attack to line-up as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 alignment. His scheme-versatility, upside, and physical tools will be on display at the Combine next week, and will surely put him on the map as a sure-fire first-round selection.
Our Take:Brockers' physical stature drew the eyes of this writer any time the "Bayou Bengals" took the field this fall, and his ability to be an impact performer on special teams blocking kicks only furthers his value.
Linebacker (Dan Shonka – Ourlads):
Sometimes the term tackling machine can be overstated, but not in the case of Luke Kuechly. He made 191 tackles in 2011 averaging 15.9 tackles per game. The former team captain at Boston College is an intense, focused, and instinctive player at the position, and is clearly one of the top linebackers in this draft class. Nebraska outside linebacker Lavonte David had a productive year in 2011 with 122 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. David, 6-1, 225, followed up that performance with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, where he displayed great athleticism in coverage and a tenacity in 9-on-7 drills throughout the week.
Our Take:Kuechly is no secret to Eagles fans, as he is one of the more common names connected to Philadelphia in mock drafts at this time. It's needless to say his overall athleticism will be put under the microscope in Indianapolis. One player who isn't lacking in the athleticism department is David, who had a great week in Mobile and is almost certain to hear his name called in the second or third round.
Defensive Back (Lance Zierlein – The Sideline View):
If you are looking for a cornerback who will go much higher than the draft pundits have him rated currently, it would be Trumaine Johnson from Montana. Johnson is a big cornerback at 6-2, 205, and has excelled as a press corner. Not only is he able to impose his will on wide receivers at the line, he's also an excellent playmaker who is always looking to make a play on the ball. Johnson's size, talent and instincts are traits that excite personnel men around the league. While Trumaine Johnson will be looked at primarily as a press corner, there will be other teams who see his ball skills, instincts and length as an invitation to try him out at safety. While Johnson isn't an elite tackler for his size, he's good enough and would add a potential play-maker to the back-end of a defense looking to get more out of their free safety.
Our Take:In a class that sports a slew of small-school stars in the secondary, Johnson is one of the true standouts. While he didn't participate in any of the postseason All-Star games this winter, he is sure to further pique the interest of NFL brass in Indianapolis at the Combine next week.
