Skip to main content

Raider Nation: The Draft Rankings (Defense)

Here is the defense:

DE:
1a. Chris Long - Everydown DE. Limited upside at OLB IMO, but probably will be a very good DE. May not be able to live up to his hype in the NFL, but he has the tools that he could
1b. Vernon Gholston - Physical tools unreal, will be a pass rushing force at DE, I see great upside at 3-4 OLB as well.
3. Phillip Merling - Size and speed combo could make a him an every down DE in this league. One of the under appreciated DE in this draft.
4. Derrick Harvey - Could be a good pass rusher, but he may not have the size to be a good DE and play all the snaps. I could see him being a very nice OLB in a 3-4.
5. Calais Campbell - Lacks the speed to be a great pass rusher, but has the size to be an every down guy if he can at least get some pressure occasionally, boom or bust type.

DT: (This is the hardest position for me)
1. Dorsey - I have serious questions about his injury, but until I find out how they might effect him he remains a DT who can do it all and if he was injured was pretty productive and he played, that means he is a tough guy.
2. Sedrick Ellis - I think he might be limited in his ability to stop the run. I think he might best be used along with a larger run stuffer. Should be a great pass rushing DT, which is sometimes a hard thing to find.
3. Kentwan Balmer - If he is healthy, I think Blamer is not far behind Dorsey and I'd consider him along the lines of Ellis. He is quick and dominating with good size and speed. Wont be a run stuffer, but isn't a push over and can rush the passer. Might be a stud 3-4 DE as well.
4. Trevor Laws - Motor and strength top notch. His height like Ellis gives him the ability to get under blockers and get penetration. He might struggle shedding blocks due to his poor lateral ability.
5. Frank Okam - I took him over Dre Moore because of his upside. He is very inconsistant, but he can either be a force or a non-factor. Every couple years there is one of these guys that busts, and one that turns into a solid NFL player. Either way, He has nice ability for a DT.

ILB:
1. Dan Connor - Far and away the best ILB prospect in this draft. Very productive smart player. Has some trouble shedding blocks, but he is a smart enough to learn. Not elite athleticism but adequate to be a very solid ILB.
2. Jerod Mayo - Could also play WLB. Has nice speed and he is athletic. Reminds me a little of Thomas Howard. Very productive but will have to work on his game.
3. Philip Wheeler - He needs to work on technique and playing smarter. Is athletic, but not real agile. May also project to WLB with his size and strength limitations.
4. Johnathan Goff - Not a great athlete, but is a football player. Also a leader and can shed blockers, good tackler. Not flashy, but will get the job done. Smart guy as well. Coverage ability limited.
5. Curtis Lofton - Not a great athlete, but is a football player. Also a leader and can shed blockers, good tackler. Not flashy, but will get the job done. Smart guy as well. Coverage ability limited. (Did I just type the same thing twice...nah cut and paste...these guys are similar, very much so)

OLB:
1. Keith Rivers - Another guy that kind of reminds me of Thomas Howard. Maybe a bigger hitter than Howard, but not quite as athletic. Will have the same problems as Howard with shedding blockers and being run at. WLB prospect.
2. Cliff Avril - Good 34 OLB. Can pass rush, shed blocks and has a good "motor". May have trouble against the run. Came from a good program.
3. Tavares Gooden - Productive and athletic, but a bit small. He is a good tackler so if he can add some pounds he could be a very solid LB
4. Xavier Adibi - Needs to add size, but is very athletic and a good tackler. Good pass rusher and sheds blocks well for a smaller guy. Mostly because of his size he isn't very good against the run, but he has a frame to add pounds.
5. Ali Highsmith - Athletic, good tackler lacks size and strength and doesn't shed blocks well. A project, but he can rush the passer and play special teams until he is ready.

CB:
1. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - Not a physical guy, but should be an excellent cover corner with excellent agility, size, athleticism and speed. Is still raw, but he should develop rapidly in an NFL system.
2. Leodis McKelvin - Has all the tools you look for in a cover corner. Isn't one of the taller "Super Corners" the NFL has fallen in love with. Also isn't too physical. Seems to break late on passes and lacks recognition skills.
3. Aqib Talib - Has the physical tools, but is extremely raw. Gets beat when he shouldn't because he uses bad technique and footwork. Good size.
4. Mike Jenkins - S/CB guy. I think he could play both. Needs work on technique, but other than that has natural cover skills and recognitions skills are a plus. Lacks ideal height.
5. Antoine Cason - Good size and decent speed. Natural athlete and good instincts. Needs to get stronger and learn to turn his hips better, gets beat because he doesn't do this well.
5b. Patrick Lee - I wanted to include him because I think he will develop in time to a very good CB. He needs time to learn the pro game because he didn't play that much in college. Has all the other things you look for. Not great hands, but that is to be expected from some CBs. (Surprise no Brandon Flowers, although some teams may have him as their #3 CB)

S:
1. Kenny Phillips - Size, strength, speed, awareness, top notch. Strong enough, hitter and does good in run support. Had a down year, kind of an anomaly. Will need to refine his game in the pros.
1b. DeJuan Morgan - Great size, speed, good instincts, physical. Some have said he is more of a hitter than tackler, but I think he just has trouble tackling guys at 205, needs to add some pounds. Special teams stud along the lines of Jarrod Cooper, but with potential to be a good safety as well.
3. Tyrell Johnson - Speedy, athletic and physical. Good tackler, smart and good special teamer as well. Could be a lot better than we think. Kind of an unknown, but has everything you look for including leadership qualities.
4. Josh Barrett - Excellent size and speed, good tackler and hitter, Team Leader and good instincts. Technique needs work, but NFL coaches should help.
5. Thomas DeCoud - Athletic and fluid, fantastic tackler and hitter. Good against the run. Lacks cover speed and may be one dimensional, below average instincts, but is getting better and was very productive.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea

The Raiders aren't who we thought they were....they're better

The Oakland Raiders are tired of being the team that will be good in a year or two. The team expects to win now and it is winning now. We thought the Raiders needed more talent. We thought that being in the playoff hunt was a year away for this team, but we were wrong. This isn't the team we thought they were, they're better. On Sunday, they moved to 3-3 on Sunday with a 37-29 win over the San Diego Chargers that wasn't close until the final minute. It was also the Raiders second road win of the season. The last time the Raiders had two road wins by their sixth game was 2011. Before that, a five-year streak from 1998-2002. The Raiders went 8-8 in 1998, 1999 and 2011 and narrowly missed the playoffs each year.  They made the playoffs in 2000, 2001 and 2002. They didn't have a losing record in any of those seasons because teams that can win on the road are usually pretty good. As the season matures, there is more and more evidence that some of the "best-case scenario

Looking Forward: Raiders 2012 Free Agents

Khalif Barnes - Weakest link on the offensive line with youth behind him. Raiders will look for for other options. It's not as if there aren't a dozen Khalif's on the street each year. Darryl Blackstock - Was a Chuck Bresnahan guy, but found a home on special teams. Would have to make the team as a reserve LB and special teams guy next training camp. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back as a camp body or gone entirely. Kyle Boller - Hue didn't have enough confidence to turn to Boller. Expect the Raiders to look elsewhere for a backup to Carson Palmer. Jerome Boyd - Was nothing more than a reserve and special teams player. Some good moments and some very bad ones. Camp body again and fate will depend on the defensive coordinator. Tyvon Branch - About the only consistent producer in the secondary. Raiders will want to bring him back. Desmond Bryant - He's been great in limited action and can play inside and out. Key reserve. Michael Bush - He'll find a home a