I just don't understand all the hype over Marcell Dareus, yes he is more versatile than Fairley, but you can't ignore what the Auburn defensive tackle did last season when he got the more sacks in one season than Dareus got in his two starting seasons. Fairley showed the ability to be an absolutely dominant defensive tackle and could make the same impact as Ndmukong Suh in the league. Many just flick him off as a one year wonder and question his work ethic. But when you look at what he did on the field, I had no questions about how hard he was working and he looked to me like a guy that had been dominating for years. With 84 tackles, 13 sacks and 1 interception as career stats for a supposed one year wonder, that must have been a heck of a year.
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| Nick Fairley is my top DT prospect in this years draft. |
2. Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
Eventhough I clearly rate Fairley over him, there is no questioning Dareus' ability and versatility as a football player. He would be able to line up in a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive line and contribute well in either system. Another plus point with Dareus is that you know you are going to get a solid player with him, he is the safe pick in the top 10 this year, which is probably why so many 'experts' have him at the top of their rankings. A safe pick is not always a good pick though and that could push his value down somewhat. He has had pretty solid production for Alabama in the past two seasons with 6.5 sacks in '09 and 4.5 sacks in '10 respectively and has been coached by Nick Saban so you know you are going to get a hard worker with a good attitude to the game. I think at his current weight, which is over 300lbs, Dareus would best suite a 3-4 team playing the 5 technique or a 4-3 team playing the 3 technique.
3. Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor
I am a big fan of the big man Taylor from Baylor. Most think he will play as a NT in the NFL which is highly likely, but I think he could also contribute in a 4-3 defense taking up the double teams and stopping the run. There is some risk in drafting Taylor, as his career in college shows he could be a boom or bust prospect in the NFL but i'm personally believe the theory that he will be a boom prospect. For starters, the guy is huge at 6'3 and 335lbs which would definately drag some double teams in the NFL. He can be unblockable on 1-on-1 situations and plays with a violent attitude. He has completed a pretty solid college career where he has managed to total over 100 combined tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He is definately one to watch going early in the draft and is a strong possibility for the Texans as a NT. If he drops look for someone like the Chiefs or Jets to grab him.
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| The big man from Baylor, Phil Taylor, is one of my favourite prospects. |
4. Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
Corey Liuget (pronounced legit), is definately a legitimate prospect. He is another safe and solid pick in the draft with good schematic versatility as he would be able to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He has very few concerns about his play although there were some weight issues early in his career. But overall as a prospect he's as solid as they come in the middle of the first round. He enjoyed solid production at Illinois totalling 125 combined tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in his college career. He can also be unblockable in some 1-on-1 situations although I don't think this will translate as well for him in the NFL because of his size being around the 300lbs mark. He showed violent hands and a good ability to shred blocks in his college career and went for the strip which is what a lot of NFL scouts like to see, with 3 forced fumbles in his career. He would be a solid pick for a team looking to improve in the trenches in the middle of the first round.
5. Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple
Wilkerson is an interesting defensive tackle prospect coming out of Temple. He has a very high upside and solid tape in college. He is huge, standing at around 6'5 and 315lbs and has the numbers to go along with this size totalling 17 sacks and 22 tackles for loss during his college career. These numbers will light up a teams eyes in the middle of the first round and so they should. Wilkerson has very little concerns as a player, he put up good numbers in college, showed up well at the combine and impresses with his size. He would definately be a pretty safe pick in the draft with numbers like he did coming out and the great tape he possesses of a quick, aware, hard hitting and powerful football player, some team is going to be very lucky. But the only reason he is pushed down to fifth in my rankings is the low competition he faced in the MAC.
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| Wilkerson could be a star at the next level. |
So those are my top five defensive tackles in this years draft, give me your views and opinions and hopefully I may be able to do my 6-10 rankings for the position.
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