Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Defensive Ends (with a nod to a few tweener prospects)
If you thought last year’s crop was full of prospects worth watching, the 07 class is just as deep if not deeper. Plenty of quick “undersized” guys again, but a few have the functional strength to survive in run support on the weak side, which is a recipe for IDP stardom. Tackles follow the ends later in the post.
I loosely put these guys into tiers for the sake of some organization, but there’s been too many Mathias Kiwanukas in recent seasons to make an early call on value.
Undersized edge rushers who might struggle as legitimate two way ends:
Gaines Adams, Clemson (6’4”, 260)
Athletic edge rusher and pursuer who may struggle to stack against the run. Impact potential in any scheme in sack leagues, but may struggle to rack up tackles in run support.
Comparison: Adewale Ogunleye
Jarvis Moss, Florida (6’6”, 250) // ‘tweener potential
Big wingspan with good growth potential. Quick and athletic off the edge but will struggle in run defense as an end. May not have the coverage skill to translate well to a 3-4 but has rush LB potential as a tweener.
Comparison: Trent Cole
Quentin Moses, Georgia (6’5”, 260) // ‘tweener potential
Talented edge rusher but was inconsistent against top college talent. Being looked at as a tweener, but doesn’t have the all-around skill set to be an impact player at LB.
Comparison: Bobby McCray
Potential stud two way end prospects
Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas (6’5”, 285)
Long 285 pounder who retains a lot of the athleticism from his earlier WR days. Already solid against the run with the potential to be great. Very high character.
Comparison: Michael Strahan
Charles Johnson, Georgia (6’2”, 270)
Stocky and plays with excellent leverage but has the quickness to rush from the edge. Smart and instinctive.
Comparison: Charles Grant
Tim Crowder, Texas (6’4”, 270)
Interesting guy that may be getting lost in the wash. Consistently low in the scouting report rankings despite text that praises him as an excellent two-way end prospect with a history of making big plays. I know CC likes him, but it’s been pretty quiet in most other circles.
Comparison: Jared Allen
Adam Carriker, Nebraska (6’6”, 295)
Total package. Not an elite edge rusher, but has a combination of speed and power pass rush moves. Excellent against the run. At 295 lbs, he’s being looked at by a number of 3-4 teams. That will hinder his production but he’s very similar to a Luis Castillo, who’s been no slouch in the boxscores in a slanted 3-4 scheme in San Diego.
Comparison: Luis Castillo
Anthony Spencer, Purdue (6’3”, 260) // ‘tweener potential
Relentless and athletic. Plays bigger than his size and is solid in run support. Also getting looks as a 3-4 OLB prospect, but would fit well as a 4-3 end.
Comparison: A quicker Tamba Hali or a raw Jason Gildon 3-4 type
Grab-bag – Athletes, raw potential, ‘tweeners
Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame (6’4”, 270)
Hyped early in the off-season as a top athletic specimen, scouts have concerns that his measurables won’t translate as well in the NFL as they did in college. Could be a solid two way end or a disappointment in both phases of the game.
Comparison: Andre Carter
Lamarr Woodley, Michigan (6’2”, 265) // ‘tweener potential
Solid, active pass rusher who may not have the size to succeed at end. Decent in run support as a stand up backer in the past and may fit best in a tweener role.
Comparison: Rosevelt Colvin
Ray McDonald, Florida (6’3”, 285)
Versatile, quick and powerful two way prospect who most scouts project to see some time as a DT on passing downs. IDP value to be dependent on how he’s used. Looks like either a Charles Grant or Cory Redding type.
Comparison: Cory Redding
Ikaika Alama-Francis (6’5”, 280)
Edge rusher with size. Raw technique but has the functional strength and athleticism to become a solid two-way end. High ceiling player if he can put it together.
Comparison: Osi Umenyiora
There are some other interesting names to follow (Dan Bazuin, CJ Ah You, Chase Pittman) but there’s so many top level potential here that keeping a close eye on the waiver wire will be key, even in the deepest leagues.
Defensive Tackles
Mostly profile one gap types here for the IDP value in standard leagues, but gave a nod to a two gap type here and there for “name” purposes and DT leagues.
Alan Branch, Michigan (6’6”, 325)
Projects to a NT type role but is quick and explosive enough to make an impact in the boxscore in the tackle column. More valuable in IDP value to the LBs behind him in DL leagues, but could have Vince Wilfork type value in DT leagues in the right situation.
Comparison: Albert Haynesworth
Amobi Okoye, Louisville (6’2”, 300)
19 yo with room to grow in every facet (size, frame, skillset) but already a freakishly disruptive talent in the middle. Potential IDP stud as a 3-technique.
Comparison: Tommie Harris
Tank Tyler, North Carolina State (6’2”, 320)
Quick, versatile space eater who could play end in a 3-4 but probably projects best to a two gap tackle role.
Comparison: Casey Hampton
Justin Harrell, Tennessee (6’4”, 300)
Quick, penetrating tackle who could be a solid IDP value as a 3-technique tackle. Stock going back up after some injury and inconsistency concerns.
Comparison: Cornelius Griffin
Marcus Thomas, Florida (6’2”, 300)
Boom-bust pick. Explosive penetrating one gap prospect with many on and off field questions. Could be Kevin Williams or Anttaj Hawthorne.
Comparison: Kevin Williams
Brandon Mebane, Cal (6’1”, 305), Kareem Brown, Miami (6’4”, 300) and Ryan McBean, Oklahoma State (6’5”, 285) are other one gap prospects. Each have blemishes and may end up as rotational guys but all are worth watching.
If you thought last year’s crop was full of prospects worth watching, the 07 class is just as deep if not deeper. Plenty of quick “undersized” guys again, but a few have the functional strength to survive in run support on the weak side, which is a recipe for IDP stardom. Tackles follow the ends later in the post.
I loosely put these guys into tiers for the sake of some organization, but there’s been too many Mathias Kiwanukas in recent seasons to make an early call on value.
Undersized edge rushers who might struggle as legitimate two way ends:
Gaines Adams, Clemson (6’4”, 260)
Athletic edge rusher and pursuer who may struggle to stack against the run. Impact potential in any scheme in sack leagues, but may struggle to rack up tackles in run support.
Comparison: Adewale Ogunleye
Jarvis Moss, Florida (6’6”, 250) // ‘tweener potential
Big wingspan with good growth potential. Quick and athletic off the edge but will struggle in run defense as an end. May not have the coverage skill to translate well to a 3-4 but has rush LB potential as a tweener.
Comparison: Trent Cole
Quentin Moses, Georgia (6’5”, 260) // ‘tweener potential
Talented edge rusher but was inconsistent against top college talent. Being looked at as a tweener, but doesn’t have the all-around skill set to be an impact player at LB.
Comparison: Bobby McCray
Potential stud two way end prospects
Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas (6’5”, 285)
Long 285 pounder who retains a lot of the athleticism from his earlier WR days. Already solid against the run with the potential to be great. Very high character.
Comparison: Michael Strahan
Charles Johnson, Georgia (6’2”, 270)
Stocky and plays with excellent leverage but has the quickness to rush from the edge. Smart and instinctive.
Comparison: Charles Grant
Tim Crowder, Texas (6’4”, 270)
Interesting guy that may be getting lost in the wash. Consistently low in the scouting report rankings despite text that praises him as an excellent two-way end prospect with a history of making big plays. I know CC likes him, but it’s been pretty quiet in most other circles.
Comparison: Jared Allen
Adam Carriker, Nebraska (6’6”, 295)
Total package. Not an elite edge rusher, but has a combination of speed and power pass rush moves. Excellent against the run. At 295 lbs, he’s being looked at by a number of 3-4 teams. That will hinder his production but he’s very similar to a Luis Castillo, who’s been no slouch in the boxscores in a slanted 3-4 scheme in San Diego.
Comparison: Luis Castillo
Anthony Spencer, Purdue (6’3”, 260) // ‘tweener potential
Relentless and athletic. Plays bigger than his size and is solid in run support. Also getting looks as a 3-4 OLB prospect, but would fit well as a 4-3 end.
Comparison: A quicker Tamba Hali or a raw Jason Gildon 3-4 type
Grab-bag – Athletes, raw potential, ‘tweeners
Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame (6’4”, 270)
Hyped early in the off-season as a top athletic specimen, scouts have concerns that his measurables won’t translate as well in the NFL as they did in college. Could be a solid two way end or a disappointment in both phases of the game.
Comparison: Andre Carter
Lamarr Woodley, Michigan (6’2”, 265) // ‘tweener potential
Solid, active pass rusher who may not have the size to succeed at end. Decent in run support as a stand up backer in the past and may fit best in a tweener role.
Comparison: Rosevelt Colvin
Ray McDonald, Florida (6’3”, 285)
Versatile, quick and powerful two way prospect who most scouts project to see some time as a DT on passing downs. IDP value to be dependent on how he’s used. Looks like either a Charles Grant or Cory Redding type.
Comparison: Cory Redding
Ikaika Alama-Francis (6’5”, 280)
Edge rusher with size. Raw technique but has the functional strength and athleticism to become a solid two-way end. High ceiling player if he can put it together.
Comparison: Osi Umenyiora
There are some other interesting names to follow (Dan Bazuin, CJ Ah You, Chase Pittman) but there’s so many top level potential here that keeping a close eye on the waiver wire will be key, even in the deepest leagues.
Defensive Tackles
Mostly profile one gap types here for the IDP value in standard leagues, but gave a nod to a two gap type here and there for “name” purposes and DT leagues.
Alan Branch, Michigan (6’6”, 325)
Projects to a NT type role but is quick and explosive enough to make an impact in the boxscore in the tackle column. More valuable in IDP value to the LBs behind him in DL leagues, but could have Vince Wilfork type value in DT leagues in the right situation.
Comparison: Albert Haynesworth
Amobi Okoye, Louisville (6’2”, 300)
19 yo with room to grow in every facet (size, frame, skillset) but already a freakishly disruptive talent in the middle. Potential IDP stud as a 3-technique.
Comparison: Tommie Harris
Tank Tyler, North Carolina State (6’2”, 320)
Quick, versatile space eater who could play end in a 3-4 but probably projects best to a two gap tackle role.
Comparison: Casey Hampton
Justin Harrell, Tennessee (6’4”, 300)
Quick, penetrating tackle who could be a solid IDP value as a 3-technique tackle. Stock going back up after some injury and inconsistency concerns.
Comparison: Cornelius Griffin
Marcus Thomas, Florida (6’2”, 300)
Boom-bust pick. Explosive penetrating one gap prospect with many on and off field questions. Could be Kevin Williams or Anttaj Hawthorne.
Comparison: Kevin Williams
Brandon Mebane, Cal (6’1”, 305), Kareem Brown, Miami (6’4”, 300) and Ryan McBean, Oklahoma State (6’5”, 285) are other one gap prospects. Each have blemishes and may end up as rotational guys but all are worth watching.
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