Defensive Tackles - Grade: B

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1 By Frank Coyle & Pro Scouting Staff of Draft Insiders' Digest - 24th Season Defensive Tackles - Grade: B Positional Traits Best Athlete - Leonard Williams Best Pass Rusher - Leonard Williams Best Run Stuffer - Danny Shelton Pursuit - Eddie Goldman Shed Blocks - Leonard Williams Recognition - Michael Bennett Best Intangibles - Danny Shelton Ball Instincts - Malcom Brown Strongest - Jordan Phillips Toughest - Danny Shelton Most Developed - Leonard Williams NFL Premier Player Nda Suh/Haloti Ngata Blue Chip - Leonard Williams Blue Chip - Danny Shelton Rising - Malcom Brown Falling - Joey Mbu Underrated - Kaleb Eulls Overrated - Gabe Wright Sleeper - Deon Simon Boom/Bust - Carl Davis Ready to Play - Eddie Goldman Hidden Gem - Tyeler Davison Overdrafted - Jordan Phillips NFL Teams in need: 1. Cowboys 5. Lions 2. Bears 6. Eagles 3. Colts 7. Raiders 4. Ravens 8. Dolphins Positional Overview: This year's tackle class is a strong group at the very top where the four highest rated prospects could be among the first 20 players chosen in this draft and another two or three defenders later in the top 50 overall selections. Leonard Williams and Danny Shelton rank among the best overall prospects with Williams the best player in this draft class and should be a top 2 selection. Shelton figures in the top picks. Tackles expected to go off board in the mid to late first round area are Brown, Goldman and Phillips with Davis and Bennett soon afterwards on the 2nd day. This is a deep and talented class that should see as many as 8-10 prospects chosen in the top 100 overall picks. Tackles Cooper, Top DT Prospects 1. * Leonard Williams - Southern Cal 2. Danny Shelton - Washington 3. * Malcom Brown - Texas 4. * Eddie Goldman - Florida St 5 * Jordan Phillips - Oklahoma 6. Carl Davis - Iowa 7. Michael Bennett - Ohio State 8. * Xavier Cooper - Washington St 9. Tyeler Davison - Fresno St 10. Gabe Wright - Auburn 11. Grady Jarrett - Clemson 12. Joey Mbu - Houston 13. Deon Simon - NW St. 14. Leterrius Walton - Central Michigan 15. * Christian Covington - Rice 16. Derrick Lott - Chattanooga 17. Marcus Hardison - Arizona St 18. Kaleb Eulls - Mississippi State 19. Xavier Williams - Northern Iowa 20. James Castleman - Oklahoma St 21. Travis Raciti - San Jose St 22. * Ellis McCarthy - UCLA 23. J.T. Surratt - South Carolina 24. David Parry - Stanford 25. * Rakeem Nunez-Roches - S. Miss Davison, Wright and Jarrett are highly rated defenders who carry starting grades. This is an excellent group of small college tackles with Deon Simon, Derrick Lott and Xavier Williams capable of playing and probably starting. DTs Marcus Hardison and Kaleb Eulls are two of our underrated defenders and capable of playing both inside and outside in either pro scheme. The NT spot will be in demand with half the clubs playing the 3-4 front. Expect as many as DTs chosen over the 7 rounds. 1. * Leonard Williams #94 - Southern California - 6-5, Sp Rating 95 Dynamic junior end/tackle tweener is the highest rated player on our draft board. Leonard would be a fine fit at either the 5-technique in a 3-4 front or at a 3-technique in a 4-3 defense. He is nicknamed 'The Big Cat' and possesses an ideal combination of flexibility, athleticism, movement skills and strength at the point of attack. He appears to be a plug and play rookie in either scheme and is a very safe Athletic Ability Speed Quickness Strength Run Defense Pass Rushing Intangibles Instincts Recognition pick. He has a powerful long frame with great overall size and athleticism Richard Seymour to create matchup problems, lining up Draft Insiders Digest / 1

2 anywhere along a front. He wins with both power and quickness consistently and has dominated since his true freshman season. He had an outstanding final season that culminated a terrific career where he improved annually and developed a full array of techniques. Started all three seasons earning 1st team Pac 12 honors during his final campaign. Shows dominant talent consistently that ranks him the top prospect in this class. His combination of long arms, raw power and the agility to make plays along the line. He has big play ability using his power and quickness to win early and late on the play. In the standard 4-3 defense, he plays tackle, though he can also play base end, in addition to end in the 3-4 front. Very good athlete for the inside with fine lateral quickness and speed to close on the runner outside the box. As a pass rusher, he has the power to push the pocket and get pressure on the passer, relying on brute strength and quickness to defeat blockers. When he lines up in the gaps, he forces the double team block, which opens up lanes for other defenders. As a pass rusher, he uses his strong hands, long arms and quick feet to keep blockers at bay with the burst to wreak havoc regularly. He has a full array of moves to counter and win late on the down. As a senior, he faced the double team often and learned to counter better and how to get good use of his huge wingspan. He shows very good ball awareness and overall football instincts to pick up schemes to read and react to blocking angles. His big strong frame and base can hold the POA despite double team blocking. He shows excellent functional strength especially on the lower unit to hold the point vs. the inside run game. He has incredible weight room strength that translates very well to the field. His strong hand punch shocks an opponent and allows him to work counter moves and use a powerful bull rush to pressure. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 5 and 302 lbs. with 34 5/8 arms and big (10 5/8 ) hands. He ran a 4.97 time and did not lift. He added a 29.5 VL and 8 10 BJ with 7.59 shuttle drill. As a junior, he started all 13 games and recorded 80 tackles with 9.5 TFL, 3 FF and 7 sacks, earning Pac 12 first team honors. In 2013, he started 13 of 14 games and had 74 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 2 FF and 6 sacks. He is similar to Pro Bowler Richard Seymour as an inside/outside defender in body type, AA and positional fits. Also similar to Gerald McCoy as an interior defender. Moves very well and is capable of being an every down defender in either scheme with rare diversity. As a tackler, he is a sound and wraps up very decisively with the power to bury ball carriers. He can start at any position on either front, though he projects best at two spots, inside in the 4-3 front and the 3-4 end in the five technique. His rare skill set of athleticism including length, girth and agility to be a rookie every down defender. He is an explosive bull-like tackle who combines dominant skills to be a major difference maker. He is a naturally powerful athlete to hold the POA and consistently rush the passer. He has rare interior burst to the QB that NFL clubs pay a premium to land. Blue chip versatile prospect with imposing size/power/speed ratio with rare short area quickness to make big plays. Natural talent to be among the best in the game within a short time. Intriguing upside potential with Pro Bowler skills to warrant the top 2 selections. Titans and Jaguars interested. Best prospect in draft. Draft Projection: 1st Round - Top 2 Prospect 2. Danny Shelton #55 - Washington - 6-2, Sp. 5.6 Rating 92 Massive, powerful mobile senior has been a mainstay on the Huskies' front, starting for three seasons and playing in a total of 53 games in four seasons in the program. Really came on like gangbusters as a senior though. Provided big play ability both vs the run and as a pass rusher over his career. Extremely stout and nearly impossible to move on running plays, even when double-teamed. Naturally wide bodied as is typical of many Samoan linemen. Despite his square, blocky frame, he is a highly effective penetrator and disruptive force, able to impose his will and split double-teams frequently to cause chaos in the backfield. He had some success as a kick blocker, with three over his career. Powerful with his bull-rush and able to walk centers back into the QB's face. On running plays, he disengages from blocks seemingly at will to grab the ball carrier as they pass by. Surprisingly light on his feet and displays fine effort in pursuit. Able to make tackles at the sidelines and also hustles well down the field on both run and pass plays. Locates the football quickly with a fine short-area closing burst. Knee bender more than waist bender, despite his girth, and is able to play with natural leverage. Played a high % of Washington's defensive snaps, and was able to maintain his stamina while racking up an impressive 93 tackles in An almost unheard of total for an interior defensive lineman and indicative of the way he hustles in pursuit. Good awareness as a pass rusher. Often leaps in an attempt to bat down passes at the line when unable to reach the QB. Tallied three PBUs during his career with the Huskies. State champion in the shot put as a HS senior with a best of 60'1". Played in every game of his Draft Insiders Digest / 2 Athletic Ability 8 Speed 7 Quickness 9 Strength 9 Run Defense 9 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 9 Instincts 9 Recognition 9 Vince Wilfork

3 college career and has been extremely durable with no known injury issues. Serious about his academics. Named an Academic All-American in 2014, Washington's first since Also named to the Academic Pac-12 squad as a junior. He's not the diverse pass rusher his senior sack numbers would suggest. Seldom shows anything other than his powerful bull rush. Needs to develop additional methods like swim and spin moves to have consistent success in the NFL. Washington didn't have the depth to allow Shelton to rotate so he often wore down late in games and would have to take a few plays off. Being in a good three man tackle rotation in the NFL should help his impact and productivity. Most his playing time was in a 3-4 set, but he can line up at the three technique spot. Over his career, he showed heavy hands and the ability to win with both power and quickness that forces blockers to give him special attention. In 2014, he started 13 games and had 93 tackles, 16.5 TFLs and 9 sacks, earning 1 st team Pac 12 honors. During his junior year, he totaled 59 tackles 3.5 TLF, 3 FF and 2 sacks despite facing constant double team blocking. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 2 and 339 lbs. with 32 arms. He ran a 5.64 time with 34 reps and added a 30.5 VL and a 7 11 BJ. His great size and strength will allow him to play inside as a NT, but his quickness, technique and strength are excellent fits for the 4-3 set. He needs to get off blockers better and react quicker and not get washed out at times at the point of attack. He has had some weight problems and needs to max out at lbs. Must be technically sound consistently to compensate for his height and play with sound pad level to utilize his power and bulk. Battle-tested prospect in the Pac 12 with the upside potential to start in the right setting. He is similar to B.J. Raji and Vince Wilfork in size, power, quickness and overall skill set. Early starting tackle with the ability to provide a boost to a front. Mobile wide body with fine physical skills but must prove in top condition. Top 20 prospect with high LOD to start early. Saints, Dolphins, Bears and Browns very interested. Draft Projection: 1st Round - Top * Malcom Brown #90 - Texas - 6-2, Sp. 5.0 Rating 90 Big stout durable true junior has been a rising performer for the Longhorns in Played in all 39 possible games during his three years in Austin, starting the last 26 in a row. Possesses a big beefy frame and carries his weight well. Usually the quickest off the snap of the Texas linemen and able to penetrate well when he gets on the edge of the blocker. Stands up well to double-teams and holds his ground. Often impossible for two blockers to drive him back off the line. Developing into a solid interior pass rusher, evidenced by his 6.5 sacks in Able to bull rush very well, discard the blocker Athletic Ability 8 Speed 8 Quickness 9 Strength 8 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 8 Intangibles 8 Instincts 8 Recognition 8 Star Lotulelei and make a play. Gets under a blockers pads and can walk back to the QB and collapse the pocket. Good vision, finds the ball quickly at the snap and works relentlessly to get to it. Hands are good sized, very strong and quick. His hand usage is very well developed. Once he grabs hold of a blocker, he's able to control him, impose his will, and react to the play. Never quits and redirects well. Once clear of the blocker, he shows good acceleration to close on the ball in a hurry. On outside runs, he's able to move well laterally down the line and often get involved in the play, even when near the sidelines. Quick, active feet and he diagnoses plays very well. Too much strength and athleticism for single blockers to handle well with any consistency. Lacks a vast array of pass rush moves, and usually succeeds by overpowering the blocker with his strength, tenacious effort, and quickness. During the 2014 season, he started all 13 games and made 72 tackles, 15 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF and 8 QB hurries in a dominant overall performance that earned him Big 12 first team honors. As a sophomore, he made 68 tackles with 12 TFL and 2 sacks while starting 13 games. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 2 and 319 lbs. with 32 1/2 arms. He ran a 5.05 time and did 26 reps, 29.5 VJ, an 8 2 BJ and a 7.84 three cone in a good effort. Similar to former top pick Star Lotulelei in size, quickness, AA and scheme fit as a three technique one-gap defender. Displays well developed AA with an explosive burst and keen instincts to make plays. Needs to use his arms well to stay clean to finish late. He will most likely come off the board in the mid-late 1st round and is a top 15 prospect. Needs the right set and best suited to play 3 technique though he has the versatility to fill other schemes. Fast rising intriguing prospect with the skills, production and experience to be a playmaker. Durable warrior and early starter with the nice combination of athleticism and intangibles. Top prospect with impact talent and best suited for the 4-3 front. Falcons, Giants and Browns interested. Draft Projection: 1st Round Draft Insiders Digest / 3

4 4. * Eddie Goldman #90 - Florida St - 6-4, Sp. 5.2 Rating 90 Explosive junior tackle completed an outstanding campaign while earning 1st team All-American and 1 st team All-ACC honors as the 'Noles run for back to back titles fell just a little short. Carries his 330+ lbs. well, displaying broad shoulders, nice bubble butt, and thick well developed arms and legs. Eddie is very quick at the snap, extends his arms well to keep blockers off his body, and shows a quick lateral step and swim move to get through the line and into the backfield. Natural knee bender who does a fine job of holding the point of attack while seldom getting driven off the line. Shows fine balance and lateral quickness working down the line and helping to string plays wide. Started at defensive end as a sophomore and did well, but really began to come on when he moved inside to his more natural defensive tackle role as a junior in Possesses the length and strength to set the edge when playing 5-technique. Also has the leg drive to bull rush interior linemen back into the QB's lap where he shows unexpected quickness and ability to close. Displays good vision and awareness to locate the ball quickly at the snap. Does a good job of discarding a blocker and using his reach to secure the running back as they attempt to get through the line with the strength to finish. Scheme diverse and can be effective playing two gap or one gap. Relatively young player who is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Despite his deceptive short-area quickness, he is not a consistent pass rush threat. Because of his wide-bodied build it's not easy for him to shoot through gaps with any consistency. Would work well as a nose tackle in a 3-4 front and shows more playmaking ability than a typical space eater. He is able to toss blockers aside and make plays rather than just create a road jam for the backers to clean up. As a junior, he made 14 starts and posted 35 tackles with 8 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 FF and 1QB hurry, earning 1st team ACC honors. As a sophomore, he made 19 tackles with 3 TFL and 2 sacks while starting 13 games. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 4, 336 lbs. and 33 1/8 arms. He did not workout. At his pro day, he ran a 5.27 time with a 26 VL, 4.87 shuttle and 7.62 three cone. He is similar to Marcell Dareus in size, AA and scheme diversity, in addition to their rare combination of quickness and power. He responded with a big final season that influenced him to declare and established him as a blue chip NFL prospect. Young defender continues to improve and capable of being a difference maker with the skill set to become a rookie starter after showing dominance late in his career. Top 25 value with nice upside. Clubs like the Saints, Eagles, Ravens and Lions are highly interested. Fast improving athletic defender with impact ability and possible future Pro Bowl player. Player on the come. Draft Projection: 1st Round - Top 20 Pick 5. * Jordan Phillips #80 - Oklahoma - 6-5, Sp. 5.2 Rating 88 Massive surprisingly athletic barrel chested tackle had a fine junior season, after being held back by injuries and inconsistencies earlier in his career. Naturally big with well distributed weight. Shows good height, a wide frame and long arms (34¾ ). Big bubble butt and thick throughout the lower unit. Considering his size, he displays good athleticism with fine initial get off, decent lateral quickness and good closing speed. Flashes fine explosiveness at times where he is able to get through the line and shut down a play before it has a chance to get going. Shows very quick hands to keep blockers from latching on and tying him up. He has a surprisingly good swim move that he'll use to disengage from blockers sometimes. Effective playing the nose in a two-gap defense where he can eat up blockers and keep his linebackers free to clean up. Surprisingly light afoot for a man his size, with the straight line speed to pursue well out to the flanks. Able to use his initial surge to rock centers back on their heels and collapse the pocket. Uses his size and strength to be an effective anchor and shows good short-area quickness to pursue within the tackle box. At times, he can be inconsistent in his read and react where he'll lock on to a blocker and wait to see the play start to develop, rather than penetrating and disrupting. Underwent back surgery in October 2013 in an attempt to correct issues that had bothered him for a few years. Head coach Bob Stoops said at the time of Phillips' surgery, the procedure was not due to "one specific injury." Jordan has only one full season (2014) of starting experience at the collegiate level. Considered a flash player, who may make an eye popping play, and then disappear for stretches. Needs to consistently bend his knees and use leverage. Usually ineffective as a pass rusher. Stops his push early and looks to get his hands up in the passing lane. With his size, and natural raw power, he should be a more consistent bull rusher. Motor does not run consistently at full throttle. Tends to be hot and cold in his effort. With his uncommon Draft Insiders Digest / 4 Athletic Ability 8 Speed 8 Quickness 8 Strength 8 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 8 Instincts 7 Recognition 8 Marcell Dareus Athletic Ability 8 Speed 8 Quickness 7 Strength 8 Run Defense 9 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 8 Instincts 8 Recognition 7 Phil Taylor

5 athleticism for such a big man, considering his body type and length, he has the tools to be a dominating nose tackle in the NFL, if he wants it bad enough. The tools are there. Struggles when he does not maintain leverage. He must show the ability to get off solo blocks consistently and use his combination of power and agility better. He can be very active within the tackle box with enough speed to make tackles outside. His strength provides an excellent anchor on the nose for the 3-4 where he fits best in a one gap scheme, though he also projects to a 4-3 front. As a junior, he started all 13 games and posted 39 tackles with 7 TFL, 1 FR and 2 sacks. As a sophomore, he started only 4 of 4 games due to back problems and posted just 7 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 sacks. The majority of his big plays came over his final season. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 5 and 329 lbs. with 34 3/4 arms. He did 28 reps and ran a 5.17 time with good 30 VL and an 8 9 BJ. He is similar to Phil Taylor in body type, athleticism and toughness. Very physical defender with consistency and durability issues. Mobility to make plays outside the tackle box and capable of playing both nose tackle and three technique spot. Prospect with good makeup for the nose with starting AA and toughness at a high level of development. He will warrant a top selection with clubs like the Saints, Steelers, Texans and Patriots interested. Space eater with the mentality to do the grunt work on the nose in a 3-4 front and capable of being an early starter in the right setting. Nice combination of size, mobility and power to start in both pro fronts and scheme diverse, though mainly as a two down defender with only marginal pass rushing development. Probable late 1st or early 2nd round pick. Boom or bust prospect with conditioning and technique concerns. Draft Projection: 1st-2nd Round 6. Carl Davis #71- Iowa - 6-5, Sp Rating 87 Strong physical senior tackle completed a good final season in the Big Ten, providing big plays from the inside. He has started the past two seasons, earning 2nd team conference honors each season after being a valuable reserve earlier. Fixture in the middle with the Athletic Ability 8 versatility to line up both inside and also occasionally outside. Earned invitations to both the Speed 7 Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. He has a very strong wide frame and some mobility and Quickness 8 good power that translate well to the field. He has explosive lower body power with the Strength 8 adequate footwork to gain consistent penetration in the gaps. He uses his hands better to Run Defense 8 create an early advantage on the down. His punch needs further development to take Pass Rushing 7 advantage of his power and leverage. His initial explosiveness allows him to penetrate the Intangibles 7 backfield and forces the double team often. He holds the point well vs the double team in all Instincts 8 the interior techniques. He is a good leverage defender who fills the hole well vs the run, Recognition 8 relying on his long arms to keep blockers off his body. He has a stocky frame with a good combination of power, agility, technique and LOD. Fine natural movement skills to rank him Kawann Short among the upper echelon of prospects with the skill set to become an early NFL starter. He could also be tested as a five or zero technique end in a 3-4 set and may project to a two gap scheme. He has learned to use his strong hands early to keep clean, though he needs critical work on his technique to separate and shed blockers to stay alive later on the play. He needs to use his powerful hand punch to strike an opponent quickly with more consistency to be effective. When he comes off the ball with good leverage and speed, he can be very productive between the tackles. As a pass rusher, he shows good initial hand use, though fails to put moves together and stops his feet too often with marginal ability to shed. As a pass rusher, he has limited development and production with only 4 career sacks, despite showing the power to push the pocket. Though he makes plays in the tackle box consistently, he struggles to get outside and make stops. Displays very good functional strength, flexibility and balance with the ability to play on his feet and get to the ball with a burst within a limited area. He has only adequate COD skills and can struggle if his initial move is controlled. His good short area speed can gain penetration, but he gets wired to blockers often and needs additional moves. At times, he plays tall, exposing himself to blocks. Over the course of the game, he disappears for stretches with conditioning, effort and technique concerns. Over his final season, he improved reading plays with good reaction and vision to recognize run and react to the pass. He is similar to Kawann Short in size, power and initial quickness and also in inconsistency issues. As a senior, he started 13 games and made 36 tackles with 9 TFL and 2 sacks while earning 2nd team Big Ten honors. As a junior, he played in 13 games and recorded 42 tackles, 4 TFL and 1.5 sacks. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 5 and 320 lbs. with 34 5/8 arms and 11 hands. He ran a 5.07 time, did not lift and did 33 VL, 8 7 BJ, 4.47 shuttle and 7.91 three cone drill. At his pro day, he did 28 reps. Performed well at a high level of competition and should be able to step in and contribute as a rookie and possibly start with progress in camp. At the Senior Bowl week, he showed dominant physical skills with the ability to hold the point and penetrate. That effort may earn him a 1st round pick despite 3rd round production. Developing talented pass rusher to improve further in that area. Physically prospect with raw skill set to start with work, though initially only on early downs. Rising top 40 and quality addition with early starting potential. Could be a late 1st round/early 2nd day addition with an expected huge run at tackle in the top 100 selections. Type to become a fixture in either pro front with upside if he commits to the program. Draft Projection: 1st-2nd Round Draft Insiders Digest / 5

6 7. Michael Bennett #63 - Ohio State - 6-2, Sp. 4.9 Rating 85 Quick senior tackle has been a key performer on the Buckeyes front four, starting his final two seasons and earning Big Ten honors. He is a well-built athlete with fine mobility and natural athleticism and agility. He has the athletic package that NFL scouts seek in an interior three technique lineman. Combines very quick hands and footwork with the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. Flashed big play ability vs NFL caliber linemen, relying on his explosive initial quickness to win vs both the run and pass. Shows the burst to gain penetration and beat blockers early on the down. Active defender and strikes with fast hands to get past defenders and foot speed to close on the ball. He can counter with an array of maneuvers to overcome his smallish size. Moves well with the ability to stay clean and make plays outside the box. He has an average frame and bulk with minimal growth potential that hinders him to stack at the POA. At times, he can struggle to anchor on the inside and gets engulfed by bigger interior blockers, especially vs the double team. On the snap, he often defeats blockers and is able to play with fine leverage, balance to gain penetration into the backfield with a very good short area burst. He has fine COD skills to pursue down the line and make tackles outside. His speed allows him to work in space and avoid the double team. As a pass rusher, he wins on quickness, but must rely on active hands to rip and stay clean inside. He needs development to bull rush better and use his lower body to push the pocket and more hand usage to separate. Over the game, he can wear down vs big linemen, though he gives a good consistent effort. He plays with sound pad level to get good use of his functional strength to play the run. He is a very good three-technique tackle where his speed, strength and initial charge put him in a position to make plays. His level of development combined with his agility and good functional power should allow him early to be a factor in a line rotation. During the 2014 season, he started 15 games and totaled 41 tackles with 14 TFL, 7 sacks, 3 FF and 3 QB hurries that earned 1st team Big Ten honors. During the 2013 season, he started 13 games and posted 42 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 3 FF and 7 sacks, earning 2nd team Big Ten. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 2 and 293 lbs. with 33 5/8 arm length. He did not workout. At his pro day, he ran 4.98 time and 35.5 VL for good effort. He is similar to Mike Patterson in size, AA and explosiveness. He can explode off the ball and displays the ability to use a punch, in addition to quick feet. He needs technique development to take his game up a level and commit to an overall strength program. He has the body type and AA to man the three technique spot in the 4-3 scheme and a good fit for the Bears, Cowboys, Giants and Lions defense. Falling top 75 prospect off size and scheme concerns, though he has an NFL starting grade. Prospect with talent but must prove he can overcome size issues. Draft Projection: 2nd-3rd Round 8. * Xavier Cooper #96 - Washington St - 6-3, Sp Rating 82 Versatile undersized, athletic junior has been a disruptive playmaker during his three years as a mainstay on the Cougars' front wall. Pullman, Washington has not been a place where scouts have looked for DT help for many years, but this year is an exception. The last time a WSU DT has been drafted was 12 years ago. Coop is certain to break that streak. Despite the fact that their scheme was not best suited to utilize his talents, he had a strong final two seasons. Would be best suited as a 3-technique DT in a 4-3, but played DE in a 3-4 in 2014, where he was expected to read more rather than get explosive penetration at the snap. Possesses fine overall athleticism for a man his size, evidenced by having the best 40 time, best three-cone, and 2nd best short shuttle of the DTs at the NFL Combine. Naturally large and carries his proportioned weight very well. Displays fine initial quickness off the snap and the ability to penetrate. He has the acceleration and balance of a much smaller man. High motor player who pursues consistently, both laterally or well downfield. Displayed strength improvement in 2014, with better ability to stun and shed blockers. Despite not being one of the bigger tackles in this class, he shows the ability to hold up at the point of attack pretty well, mainly due to his quick active hands, which helps him to shed blockers. Fine work ethic. After struggling with academics early on, he was able to leave school early, with his degree already in hand, which is also a tribute to his maturity and drive to succeed. While quite effective as an inside pass rusher with 13 sacks in three seasons, he does need to improve at getting his hands up in the passing lanes and deflecting some passes. He totaled only 1 deflection during his three seasons at Wazzou. Would be best suited playing in an attacking front to minimize his middling length and accentuate his very good athleticism. Coop has the look of a solid 2nd day selection with nice upside in a three technique role. As a junior, he started 12 games and registered 37 tackles with 9.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 FF, 4 QB hurries and 3 PBU. As a sophomore, he started 13 games and posted 50 tackles with 13.5 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR and 5 sacks. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 3 and 293 lbs. with 31 1/2 arms. He did 29 reps and ran a 4.86 time with a 29 VJ and a 9 2 BJ. He is similar to Jared Odrick in size, AA and scheme Draft Insiders Digest / 6 Athletic Ability 8 Speed 8 Quickness 8 Strength 7 Run Defense 7 Pass Rushing 8 Intangibles 7 Instincts 8 Recognition 7 Mike Patterson Athletic Ability 8 Speed 8 Quickness 8 Strength 8 Run Defense 7 Pass Rushing 8 Intangibles 7 Instincts 7 Recognition 8 Jared Odrick

7 versatility as an inside/outside lineman. He needs to settle into a scheme that utilizes his fine AA and mobility. Defender with versatility and skill set that a DC will love to work with and mold in a team s line rotation. He has the upside to be a surprise and one of this class s middle round gems. Talent to be a good starter with further pass rushing impact after refinement. Marginal top 100 prospect. Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round 9. Tyeler Davison #92 - Fresno State - 6-2, Sp Rating 80 Powerful quick senior tackle was a solid performer on the Bulldogs front line since early in his career, starting 38 games as a three time MWC performer. Known as Rhino for his rare brute strength that allowed him to also be a quality wrestler. He is a quick powerful low Athletic Ability 7 based tackle with the agility and technique to eventually start and be an early key part of a Speed 7 line rotation. He has a strong frame and nice mobility to play inside in a three technique spot Quickness 8 after playing mainly nose tackle and five technique as a collegian. He is best suited for the Strength scheme, though he gained extensive time in a 3-4 set. He wins on quickness and active Run Defense 8 hands to shoot gaps and gain penetration. Displays excellent functional strength that allows Pass Rushing 7 him to hold the point even vs combo blocks. Needs development on his ability to separate Intangibles 8 once engaged and gets engulfed at times inside. Very good short area burst that gives him Instincts 8 a quick advantage to split gaps and get into the backfield. Moves well within the tackle box Recognition 7 and gives top effort in pursuit with the speed to make tackles on the perimeter. His skill set allows him to fill holes and occupy interior blockers with developed play recognition skills Corey Luiget and overall instincts. He flashes a quick hand punch that gains a fast advantage that must be used more consistently. He can anchor well at the point of attack to stack and shed, though gets wired too often to make the play himself. As a pass rusher, he is a good leverage defender who can push the pocket, but must show additional moves to separate and counter more to get to the passer. In a three technique role, he showed a burst to penetrate and make sacks. As a senior, he started 14 games and recorded 61 tackles with 13 TFL, 2 FF and 8.5 sacks. As a junior, he started all 13 games and recorded 41 tackles with 7.5 TFL, 2 FF and 2 sacks. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 2 and 316 lbs. with 34 arms and 10 3/4 hands. He ran a 5.18 time, did 32 reps and added a 33 VJ, 8 9 BJ and a 7.53 three cone. Similar to Corey Luiget in size, agility versatility and explosiveness. At the East-West week, he had a strong effort where he showed a fine combination of power and quickness inside. As a pro, he needs to get off blockers better and react quicker to combo blocks to not get washed out at the point of attack. He needs to be technically sound to compensate for average height. His good hand usage and technique is essential to create better separation. Savvy defender with starting potential in the right setting and a quality early backup for rotation with the ability to fill three technique role and provide depth in either scheme. One of the most underrated prospects in this entire class with the skills and intangibles to shock as a pro. Outstanding addition with the skill set to continue to improve and one of the steals on this class considering he probably goes on the 3rd day. Marginal top 125 prospect. 10. Gabe Wright #90 - Auburn - 6-3, Sp Rating 80 Quick, active, penetrating type of senior tackle has been a valued part of the Auburn front wall, especially over the last two seasons. Four-year veteran at the collegiate level. Very durable with 52 games and 32 starts under his belt. Relatively undersized and his game is based mainly on quickness and penetration. Somewhat similar in type to Dominique Easley, but far more durable. Possesses a trim, muscular physique with no extra weight about the midsection. Perhaps his best aspect is his exceptional initial get-off, where he can shoot through gaps almost before the offensive linemen are out of their stances. Hands are active and strong. Shows a pretty good swim move to get past the guards/center and into the face of the QB. Can be very effective on stunts and twists, where he can use his impressive lateral quickness and above average straight-line speed to get into the backfield and wreak havoc. Fine acceleration with the flexibility and alertness to avoid cut blocks and close to the ball. He has a fine motor, showing the willingness and ability to pursue out to the flanks or well downfield to bring down the ball carrier. Not quite as passionate a run defender as he is versus the pass. Can be a little inconsistent with his effort at times. Also, he is so consumed Athletic Ability 7 Speed 7 Quickness 8 Strength 8 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 7 Instincts 7 Recognition 7 Brodrick Bunkley with getting to the passer, it leaves him susceptible to draws. He can get depth into the backfield too quickly at times and allows the runner to get past him and up the field. Needs to work on improving his redirect. Linemen with his athleticism should be more consistent and effective in this regard. Also, not as flexible in his change-of-direction as one would expect either. While he is weight room strong, it doesn't always translate to the field, as he can be engulfed and driven back at the point of attack sometimes. Lacks the sand in his pants to consistently hold his ground against the powerful road grader types of guards. Needs to depend on his quickness to consistently defeat the phone booth hogs. Draft Insiders Digest / 7

8 Overall though, athletic productive quick defensive tackles like Gabe are not the norm and he would be a fine fit in a line rotation, especially if combined with one or two more massive space eaters. As a senior, he started 13 games and totaled 24 tackles with 4.5 TFL and 1 sack. As a junior, he started 11 of 14 games and posted 31 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 1 FR and 3 sacks. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 3 and 300 lbs. with 32 5/8 arm length. He ran a 5.07 time and did 34 reps in the lifting. He ended his workout with a 26.5 VL and 8 4 BJ. He is similar to Brodrick Bunkley in size, AA, explosiveness and LOD. This is a prospect with big game experience and production to become a good starter. He can explode off the ball and displays the ability to use a punch and quick feet, though his inconsistencies limit his final grade. He needs technique development to take his game up a level and commit to an overall weight and strength program. Body type and AA to man the three technique spot in the 4-3 scheme and a good fit for the Falcons, Dolphins and Giants defense. Top 100 prospect with an NFL starting grade and high ceiling, though his inconsistencies are disturbing. Probably goes in the 3rd round and is a boom or bust prospect with talent to be a good addition and nice fit for the 4-3 line rotation. Risk/reward prospect with top talent, but needs the refinement to realize his potential. Draft Projection: 3rd Round 11. Grady Jarrett #50 - Clemson - 6-1, Sp Rating 78 Athletic mobile compact interior disruptive force for the Tigers over his four seasons in the Clemson program. Grady brings a lot of talent and some unique skills to the table. While highly regarded teammate Vic Beasley attained most of the notoriety, Grady was the most productive member of the Clemson defensive front. Despite his sawed off and short armed build, he was one of the most active tackles in college the past few seasons. In 2012, his first season as a starter, he was named the co-defensive Player of the Year by Clemson coaches, and has been voted All-ACC each of the past three seasons. He's been a tackling machine with a staggering total of 177 tackles over that time. Uses his lack of height to his advantage with his natural leverage. In football, the low man wins, and that is usually Grady. Shaped like a huge bowling ball, he uses his awesome initial quickness to threaten gap penetration almost instantly. This is a very strong and powerful man. He's able to push back Athletic Ability Speed Quickness Strength Run Defense Pass Rushing Intangibles Instincts Recognition bigger blockers with his initial thrust. Very reliable wrap up tackler who is capable of exploding into the ball carrier. Displays fine flexibility and the ability to stay low, use leverage Geno Atkins and drive his opponent off the line. Understands hand usage and is usually able to control his man with sound inside placement. Very quick, with light feet and is able to adjust his charge and redirect with fine burst for his size. Displays plus range to both sides despite his lack of ideal length. Very alert and aware for draws and screens. Regularly peels off blocks to wrap up running backs. Displays serious desire when pursuing laterally or down field. HS school shot put champion with a best of 50'6". Very durable and reliable. Going all the way back to his HS days, he's never missed a game because of an injury. Lack of height can be a disadvantage in some situations, as well as his fairly short arms. Dependent upon his initial quickness and natural leverage to defeat blocks, but can also be overwhelmed by sheer mass and power at times when a blocker gets locked on. Works hard to rush the passer, but seldom closes the deal. Too short to be effective deflecting passes at the line. Goes 100% all the time and will wear down by the 4th quarter unless he's in a rotation. Ideally suited to play a shade nose 1-technique in a 4-3 front that focuses on playing one-gap and penetrating. Poor man's Aaron Donald. As a senior, he started all 13 games and had 45 tackles with 10 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR and 12 QB hurries that earned ACC honors. As a junior, he registered 83 tackles along with 11 TFL, 2 sacks and 3 QB hurries. At the NFL Combine, he came in at lbs. with 32 3/8 arms. He ran a 5.06 time with a 31 VJ. 9 4 BJ and did 30 reps. It was a very good workout that elevated his status. He is similar to Geno Atkins in size, AA and quickness to play tackle in a 4-3 scheme. He progressed nicely in his learning curve related to this position and shows the AA and aptitude to play there in the NFL. He probably can contribute in a club s line rotation and be a very serviceable lineman with pro tools. Good middle round pick with upside and fine versatile prospect to surprise and be a quality defender. Draft Projection: 3rd-4th Round 12. Joey Mbu #92 - Houston - 6-3, Sp. 5.2 Rating 75 Instinctive, hard working senior has been a valuable part of the Cougars' defense, especially over the last two seasons when he was a full-time starter. Joey is not an athletic workout warrior at all. His performance at the NFL Combine was as unimpressive as any DT in attendance. Posted the 2nd worst 40 times, the worst vertical by four inches, as well as being 2nd worst on the broad jump, short shuttle and 3-cone. Based on workout numbers alone, he would be a reject. However, the game isn't play in gym shorts and t-shirts. Joey did the grunt work for the defense, holding up in the middle against frequent double-teams, and allowing his defensive mates to get the notoriety. While not a quick-twitch penetrating type, he does a fine job as an inside run stuffer, displaying the awareness, size and functional football strength that teams covet. Brings an ideal frame for his role as a run stuffer with broad shoulders, unusually long 35 Draft Insiders Digest / 8

9 arms, a well-developed bubble butt and massive thighs. Possesses fine functional lateral movement skills and is able to work well down the line and force plays wide. Shows a good swim move to penetrate as a pass rusher as well as surprising phone booth quickness. Very alert and instinctive, able to diagnose plays as well as any DT in this class. Shows good timing and effectiveness vs the pass with his ability to get his long arms up and knock down passes at the line. He has eight career PBUs and two interceptions. Seldom ever fooled by screen passes. Sees the play developing quickly and will peel off from his pass rush and hunt down the potential receiver consistently. Football and personal character with this player are through the roof. The Houston coaches cannot praise him enough for his leadership qualities, and just what a fine person he is. None of the tackles in this draft will outwork this kid, but the question is whether or not that effort can offset his lack of athleticism and inability to be a dominating inside presence. As a senior, he started 13 games and posted 32 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 FF and 2.5 sacks. In 2013, he started 13 games and posted 29 tackles with 3.5 TFL and 1 sack. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 3, Athletic Ability 7 Speed 7 Quickness 8 Strength 8 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 8 Instincts 7 Recognition 7 Domata Peko 313 lbs. with 35 arms. He ran a 5.52 time but did not lift. He added poor 22.5 VL and an 8 1 BJ. His massive size creates problems inside and is an anchor who is very difficult to uproot even vs multiple blockers. His combination of power and agility will give him a chance to make it as a quality starter in either set, though best as a nose tackle. This is a prospect with developing skills as a run stuffer to give a defense a space eater, though little pass rushing talent. He needs to improve in several areas to compete for playing time in the NFL. His raw technique needs work to improve his production, though he probably will always be a phone booth defender with little use as a pass rusher other than as a bull rush. Currently, he fits the two down run stuffer role and goal line defender. In a 3-4 scheme, he is capable of being a top backup early with the potential of winning a starting NT job if he refines his game. Good 3rd day gamble with the tools to make it. Marginal top 150 prospect with clubs like the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots in the hunt. 13. Deon Simon #99 - Northwestern St (La) - 6-4, Sp Rating 75 Mammoth nose tackle has been a top run stuffer and unheralded performer from the lower level. He has started since late in his sophomore season, earning Southland honors his final two years. Big D is a massive interior tackle who commands double team blocking often. He controls the line with the ability to stack even vs combo blocks and clog the inside. Incredible bulk and a good fit for a two-gap scheme and ideal for the nose spot in the 3-4 front. He is a naturally stout athlete with massive thighs, wide base and long arms (33 ). He has the agility to be effective within the tackle box and shows a powerful hand punch when he uses it. He is a very thick powerful tackle and fits well in a zero or one-technique role with above average mobility for his size. He can plug the middle, though at times will struggle with the double-team blocks and needs consistent hand technique to separate effectively. At times, he will take plays off and conditioning and endurance are concerns. He can be heavy-legged and slow to react to fakes and counters. He is an in the box defender with the ability to be a quality run plugger, but can struggle making plays outside. He gets a powerful push in the middle that forces teams to double team him when he plays with a low Athletic Ability 8 Speed 7 Quickness 8 Strength 8 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 7 Intangibles 8 Instincts 8 Recognition 7 Terrance Knighton pad level. He can play high and rise on the snap which negates his power to gain penetration. He can push the pocket, though he has a limited array of moves and gets wired too often to blockers. He is strictly an interior defender who is capable of being a space eater to clog the inside that allows backers to run to the ball. He can anchor well with good balance and stays on his feet with the ability to move down the line, stay alive and make tackles. As a senior, he made 26 tackles with 5.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF and 5 QB hurries, starting 7 of 12 games while earning Southland honors for the 2nd time. He battled double-team blocks each week. His performance against Big 12 Conference champion and #10- ranked Baylor sold scouts on his NFL potential. He made five tackles and forced a fumble as the Demons stopped the Bears' prolific running game. As a junior, he made 42 tackles with 7 TFL, 1.5 sacks and 2 FF, starting all 12 games. Over his career, he collected 93 tackles, 42 solo stops, 14.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks and 3 PBU. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 4 and 321 lbs. with 33 arms. He did 35 reps and ran a 5.12 time with a 29.5 VJ and a 9 9. It was an excellent workout showing rare explosiveness for a 320 lb. athlete. He can be a solid inside run defender with value in short yardage as well as backup nose tackle initially. He may be more effective if he could lose a few pounds and needs to work on improving his pass rush and overall technique. Fine late addition capable of filling a role in a line rotation and surprise in time to claim a starting NT job. Former knee injury is a concern. Defender with the physical skills to make it and provide a reliable backup. Top 200 prospect with NFL tools and starting potential. Draft Insiders Digest / 9

10 14. Leterrius Walton #58 - Central Michigan - 6-5, Sp Rating 75 Big powerful physical three-year starting defensive tackle has been an anchor in the middle of the Chippewas' defense. Late-bloomer initially signed with Chippewas as an offensive lineman, but switched to the defensive side of the ball while redshirting in While his stats may appear fairly average, he was constantly facing double-teams as the offenses focused on neutralizing his impact. He possesses some interesting traits, including surprisingly light feet, considering his frame and massive. Flashes the ability to penetrate and can beat blockers using his explosive get-off. Good athleticism for a big inside lineman. Moves well laterally, showing the effort to pursue versus the run. Despite already being good sized, it appears his frame is capable of packing on even more muscle mass. Will sometimes surprise an opponent with his initial burst, showing quickness to shoot gaps and the flexibility and balance to re-direct laterally in pursuit. Able to sometimes use his power to stack and shed at the line. Three-sport athlete in HS who also excelled at basketball and baseball, which shows currently in his all-around athleticism. Needs to add more upper body strength and mass. At times will play with high pad level. hurting his ability to hold up well against double teams. Limited as a pass rusher with inability to consistently push the pocket and finish. Inconsistent getting off blocks to make tackles at this time. Needs to improve hand usage and arm extension to control the line of scrimmage and play up to his size. Shows a high-motor consistently. Could play the five-technique in a 3-4 defense with some development. Shows the potential to be an above-average player run stuffer and should be effective in either an odd or even front. He has the athleticism and drive to succeed that he may become one of the pleasant surprises from this class. At the East-West week, he displayed interesting skills with versatility and physical talent to intrigue scouts. As a senior, he started 13 games and posted 33 tackles, 3.5 TFL and 2 sacks. In 2013, he started 12 games and posted 34 tackles with 9.5 TFL, 1 FF and 1 sack. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6 5, 319 lbs. with 32 1/4 arms and ran a 5.25 time. He did 25 reps with a 27 VL and an 8 7 BJ. His massive size creates problems in the middle and he is an anchor who is very difficult to uproot even with multiple blockers on him. His combination of power and agility will give him a chance to make it as a quality starter in either set, though best as a nose tackle. This is a prospect with developing skills as a run stuffer to give a defense an anchor in the middle, though little pass rushing talent. Very raw in his technique and provides little as a pass rusher other than with a bull rush. Fits the two down run stuffer role and goal line defender. Capable of being a backup early with the potential of developing quickly to realize his natural talent. Good later round gamble with the skills to improve and make it. Marginal top 200 prospect with some upside. 15. * Christian Covington #1 - Rice - 6-2, Sp. 5.2 Rating 75 Quick, undersized, rotational 3-technique tackle was a key ingredient in the Owls' defensive front for 2.5 years before dislocating his left kneecap vs Florida International on Nov. 1, Hales from Canada, where he was a dominating prep athlete at Vancouver College His father, Grover, is a member of the CFL Hall of Fame, after a standout career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from Christian has an undersized, squatty physique and a low center of gravity that helps him play with natural leverage. For his height, has long arms and good sized hands. Fires off at the snap very quickly, showing good pad level and a good deal of natural power. Displays sound hand usage and the ability to split gaps. Shows good alertness and is quick to find the football. Seldom fooled by draws or screens, and when he cannot get to the passer is able to get his hands up in the passing lanes. When single blocked, he can prove to be a tough chore for college guards to handle, and is often able to bull rush them back into the backfield. Displays very good core and lower unit strength. Smooth coordinated movement skills when in space. Surprising early entry into the NFL draft, considering his late season knee injury in 2014 and could have probably helped his draft status by returning to Rice for his final year of eligibility. As it is now, where or if he'll be drafted at all is a big question mark until the knee is checked out. May have to spend in 2015 on some team's NFI or PUP list. Played part of 2013 with a heavy cast on right hand after suffering thumb injury at North Texas. Very active hustler in pursuit, whether out to the flanks, or downfield, evidenced by his above average tackle totals in both his full seasons, with 43 in 12 games and 59 in 14 games. Possesses below average DT size for the NFL, and appears to not have the frame to carry much additional weight. Flashed the quickness and shows the natural strength to perhaps succeed in the NFL despite being undersized, especially in a rotational situation as a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3 front whose primary game plan is penetrating and disrupting. He needs improved hand technique and extra moves to counter once his initial move is controlled, though he developed a good strong punch. He can be a disruptive presence in the middle and developed nice swim and rip moves. With special attention late in his career, he improved footwork to counter and worked stunts well along the front. As a senior, he started the first 7 games before the injury that ended his season. He made 20 Draft Insiders Digest / 10 Athletic Ability 7 Speed 7 Quickness 7 Strength 7 Run Defense 8 Pass Rushing 6 Intangibles 8 Instincts 7 Recognition 7 Linval Joseph Athletic Ability 7 Speed 7 Quickness 7 Strength 7 Run Defense 7 Pass Rushing 8 Intangibles 8 Instincts 8 Recognition 7 Brandon Mebane