SI 300 Rankings: DEF
NFL offenses are scoring more than ever. These guys want to tilt the trend WITH 2014 STATS
LINEMEN
1 LEONARD WILLIAMS, DT
USC (6'5", 302 lbs.)
48 tackles / 7 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Plays at an almost unfair speed given his size. If he gets his hands into a blocker early, it's all but over.
CONS
Suspect technique.
NFL COMP
Gerald McCoy
13 DANNY SHELTON, DT
Washington (6'2", 339 lbs.)
53 tackles / 9 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Speed and agility in short spaces—he'll break off a block at line and tear after a RB, meet him at sideline.
CONS
Weight has been a point of concern.
NFL COMP
Vince Wilfork
18 SHANE RAY, DE
Missouri (6'3", 245 lbs.)
47 tackles / 14½ sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Freakish athlete. Moves pocket quickly with dynamic first step, excellent burst.
CONS
Gets too high in stance and loses leverage.
NFL COMP
Bruce Irvin
25 MALCOM BROWN, DT
Texas (6'2", 319 lbs.)
39 tackles / 6½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Shoots gaps well for player of his size. Good laterally; keeps feet moving.
CONS
Needs to work on Plans B and C in penetrating line.
NFL COMP
Terrance Knighton
31 MICHAEL BENNETT, DT
Ohio State (6'2", 293 lbs.)
24 tackles / 7 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Explodes off line with energy to cause problems. Tracks ball, improvises well.
CONS
Undersized; unable to hold line if double-teamed.
NFL COMP
Henry Melton
32 ARIK ARMSTEAD, DE
Oregon (6'7", 292 lbs.)
25 tackles / 2½ sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Body type--athleticism combo has teams drooling. Upside is astronomical.
CONS
Raw traits? Yes. Instant impact? Maybe not.
NFL COMP
Calais Campbell
35 EDDIE GOLDMAN, DT
Florida State (6'4", 336 lbs.)
19 tackles / 4 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Swim move could be devastating if developed. Bull rush is highly effective.
CONS
Tends to spar/wrestle, not move in/dominate.
NFL COMP
Shaun Rodgers
44 OWAMAGBE ODIGHIZUWA, DE
UCLA (6'3", 267 lbs.)
41 tackles / 6 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Should help against run immediately. Built as if he's been in an NFL lifting program for years.
CONS
Injury woes will drop him.
NFL COMP
Everson Griffen
46 CARL DAVIS, DT
Iowa (6'5", 320 lbs.)
14 tackles / 2 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Can be as disruptive as any DT. Extremely long arms (345/8), big hands (11").
CONS
Just 3½ career sacks. Why didn't he dominate?
NFL COMP
Linval Joseph
50 PRESTON SMITH, DE
Miss. State (6'5", 271 Lbs.)
22 tackles / 9 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Excellent wrap-up tackler; experience rushing passer from both inside and outside.
CONS
Questionable first step.
NFL COMP
Antonio Smith
52 JORDAN PHILLIPS, DT
Oklahoma (6'5", 329 lbs.)
20 tackles / 2 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Simply a large human being. Staggers interior OL when he drives forward.
CONS
Pass rush hasn't caught up to run-stuffing abilities.
NFL COMP
Haloti Ngata
56 NATE ORCHARD, DE
Utah (6'3", 250 lbs.)
54 tackles / 18½ sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Impressively quick off edge. Could be special if technique improves.
CONS
Tends to react instead of bowling through to pocket.
NFL COMP
Aaron Maybin
61 GRADY JARRETT, DT
Clemson (6'1", 304 lbs.)
26 tackles / 1½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Great first-step quickness; uncanny ability to time his burst to the snap.
CONS
Struggles to beat opponents with power.
NFL COMP
Kelly Gregg
63 HENRY ANDERSON, DE
Stanford (6'6", 294 lbs.)
40 tackles / 8½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Can line up all over. Good speed off snap; moves through traffic quickly.
CONS
Too much of a tweener: not great at any one thing.
NFL COMP
Tyson Jackson
68 DANIELLE HUNTER, DE
LSU (6'5", 252 lbs.)
30 tackles / 1½ sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Rare athleticism for his height; impressive speed in every direction.
CONS
Limited in his technique.
NFL COMP
Bruce Irvin
74 MARIO EDWARDS JR., DE
Florida State (6'3", 279 lbs.)
25 tackles / 3 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Good feel for gaps; speed to run through openings and disrupt.
CONS
No explosion at the snap.
NFL COMP
Robert Ayers
78 MARKUS GOLDEN, DE
Missouri (6'2", 260 lbs.)
35 tackles / 10 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
One of draft's most consistent high-effort guys. Popular in locker room.
CONS
Size could be an issue.
NFL COMP
Jeremy Mincey
83 TREY FLOWERS, DE
Arkansas (6'2", 266 lbs.)
34 tackles / 6 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Great field speed for his size. Moves into short/intermediate coverage well.
CONS
Reactive, not proactive.
NFL COMP
Björn Werner
84 XAVIER COOPER, DT
Wash. State (6'3", 293 lbs.)
17 tackles / 5 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Wreaks havoc with his jump off the line. Uses quickness to find gaps.
CONS
Lacks great size.
NFL COMP
Antonio Smith
85 GABE WRIGHT, DT
Auburn (6'3", 300 lbs.)
10 tackles / 1 sack / 0 FF
PROS
Quick off the ball. Relentless effort as a pass rusher. Nice motor downfield.
CONS
Plays too high.
NFL COMP
Jordan Hill
96 TYELER DAVISON, DT
Fresno State (6'2", 316 lbs.)
35 tackles / 8½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Big boy chews up multiple blockers on run downs. Underrated set of moves.
CONS
Content holding the line.
NFL COMP
Johnathan Hankins
126 TRAVIS RACITI, DT
San Jose State (6'5", 285 lbs.)
39 tackles / 3 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Employs great height to locate ball. Controls blockers with long arms.
CONS
Not a great first step.
NFL COMP
Beau Allen
130 MARCUS HARDISON, DT
Arizona State (6'3", 307 lbs.)
31 tackles / 10 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
One of quickest DTs in draft: 4.91 40 at his pro day. Knows how to get to QB.
CONS
Lower-body strength could be an issue in NFL.
NFL COMP
Earl Mitchell
137 CHRISTIAN COVINGTON, DT
Rice (6'2", 289 lbs.)
14 tackles / 2½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Jolts O-linemen off the snap and backs his initial surge with power.
CONS
May struggle to get any bigger than he is now.
NFL COMP
Earl Mitchell
148 ELLIS MCCARTHY, DT
UCLA (6'5", 338 lbs.)
12 tackles / 3 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Lightning-quick ability to shoot gaps, wreck blocking schemes.
CONS
Prone to disappear.
NFL COMP
Grady Jackson
159 ZA'DARIUS SMITH, DE
KENTUCKY (6'4", 274 LBS.)
26 tackles / 4½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Powerful hands, arms enable him to shed blocks and get into the backfield. Never gives up pursuit.
CONS
Starts to play high as he gets tired; practically stands up late in games.
NFL COMP
Mike Montgomery
172 CEDRIC REED, DE
Texas (6'5", 269 lbs.)
40 tackles / 5½ sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Speed to pursue QB; good burst off snap; nose for the ball. Long frame.
CONS
Poor at shedding blocks.
NFL COMP
Tony Jerod-Eddie
173 LETERRIUS WALTON, DT
Central Michigan (6'5", 319 lbs.)
19 tackles / 2 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Imposing, physical interior presence. Effective redirecting foes one-on-one.
CONS
Trouble disengaging.
NFL COMP
Red Bryant
184 COREY CRAWFORD, DE
Clemson (6'5", 283 lbs.)
18 tackles / 2 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Has NFL size, length. Anticipates run well; good ability to change direction.
CONS
Questionable toughness.
NFL COMP
Bruce Gaston
188 DERRICK LOTT, DT
Chattanooga (6'4", 314 lbs.)
23 tackles / 6 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Light on his feet for a 300-plus DT. Long arms; solid sense of his position.
CONS
Weak college schedule.
NFL COMP
Fletcher Cox
190 ANTHONY CHICKILLO, DE
Miami (6'3", 267 lbs.)
20 tackles / 3 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Lined up all over Miami's front. Good leverage and can anchor despite his size.
CONS
Few hand-fighting moves.
NFL COMP
Kroy Biermann
202 LOUIS TRINCA-PASAT, DT
Iowa (6'1", 290 lbs.)
29 tackles / 6½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Tenacious, competitive. Not big, but makes up for it with hard work. Willing to let teammates stand out.
CONS
Short arms. Will struggle to get off blocks.
NFL COMP
Mike Daniels
219 JOEY MBU, DT
HOUSTON (6'3", 313 LBS)
17 tackles / 2½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Very good hands and awareness against the pass. Knows who he is (run stopper) and isn't (pass rusher).
CONS
Can be reckless getting upfield, leaving large holes for RBs.
NFL COMP
Lawrence Guy
221 KALEB EULLS, DT
Mississippi State (6'3", 305 lbs.)
10 tackles / 3 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Good burst off snap. Chases hard down the line. Uses angles to get free.
CONS
Heavy-footed. Struggles to push pocket.
NFL COMP
Corey Peters
225 RAKEEM NUNEZ-ROCHES, DT
Southern Miss. (6'2", 307 lbs.)
32 tackles / 3 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
High-motor guy; plays through the whistle.
CONS
Suspect awareness. Struggles with double teams.
NFL COMP
Clinton McDonald
228 XAVIER WILLIAMS, DT
Northern Iowa (6'2", 325 lbs.)
38 tackles / 8 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Flashes violent punch. Can push the pocket up the middle. Times the snap well.
CONS
Hands must improve. Struggled against elite teams.
NFL COMP
Colin Cole
232 SHAQUILLE RIDDICK, DE
West Virginia (6'6", 242 lbs.)
24 tackles / 7 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Gets upfield quickly; shows consistent fight. Great pro-day numbers.
CONS
Tweener who doesn't fully fit DE or DT role.
NFL COMP
Manny Lawson
243 ZACK WAGENMANN, DE
Montana (6'3", 247 lbs.)
34 tackles / 17½ sacks / 6 FF
PROS
Gets in backfield relatively consistently. Excellent backside pursuit.
CONS
Strength is a concern.
NFL COMP
Kroy Biermann
267 FRANK CLARK, DE
Michigan (6'3", 271 lbs.)
29 tackles / 4½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Explosive rusher—especially with bull rush.
CONS
Needs more moves.
NFL COMP
Derek Wolfe
280 J.T. SURRATT, DT
South Carolina (6'1", 304 lbs.)
20 tackles / 1 sack / 0 FF
PROS
NFL size will help him anchor against the run.
CONS
Doesn't offer much as a pass-rusher.
NFL COMP
Dwan Edwards
284 BOBBY RICHARDSON, DT
Indiana (6'3", 283 lbs.)
24 tackles / 5½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Quick feet. Inside pass-rush move slays slow foes.
CONS
If initial move fails, he's easily taken out of the play.
NFL COMP
Kendall Reyes
287 MARTIN IFEDI, DE
Memphis (6'3", 275 lbs.)
26 tackles / 2½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Has size to be a 4--3 DE, length to make it as a 3--4 DE.
CONS
Needs more burst to be an effective NFL edge rusher.
NFL COMP
Jarius Wynn
LINEBACKERS
3 RANDY GREGORY, DE/OLB
Nebraska (6'5", 235 lbs.)
23 tackles / 7 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Athletic freak with 34" reach, 4.64 40 time. Flies after the football.
CONS
Tested positive for marijuana at combine.
NFL COMP
Clay Matthews Jr.
5 DANTE FOWLER JR., DE/OLB
Florida (6'3", 261 lbs.)
29 tackles / 8½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Plays low to the ground; makes life hard for taller OTs. Wears down his foes.
CONS
Relies on speed, motor.
NFL COMP
Justin Houston
10 VIC BEASLEY, OLB
Clemson (6'3", 246 lbs.)
28 tackles / 12 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Appears as if he knows QB's count. Shoots out of a cannon at the snap.
CONS
Not reliable against run. Lacks bag of tricks.
NFL COMP
Von Miller
14 SHAQ THOMPSON, OLB
Washington (6'0", 228 lbs.)
52 tackles / 1 sack / 3 FF
PROS
Dual RB/OLB at UW has natural elusiveness to get around protection.
CONS
Not big enough to deal with second-level blockers.
NFL COMP
DeAndre Levy
28 BENARDRICK MCKINNEY, ILB
Mississippi State (6'4", 246 lbs.)
35 tackles / 3 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Imposing; tough to deal with coming downhill. Throws power into collisions.
CONS
So-so footwork.
NFL COMP
Brandon Spikes
29 ERIC KENDRICKS, ILB
UCLA (6'0", 232 lbs.)
101 tackles / 4 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Phenomenal instincts, especially against run. Rarely caught out of position.
CONS
Arguably plays too fast.
NFL COMP
Sean Lee
34 DENZEL PERRYMAN, ILB
Miami (5'11", 236 lbs.)
79 tackles / 2 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Highlight-reel tackler. Stays square; storms downhill with intensity.
CONS
Will play a two-down role on most NFL teams.
NFL COMP
Brandon Spikes
36 BUD DUPREE, DE/OLB
Kentucky (6'4", 269 lbs.)
45 tackles / 7½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Can mirror TEs and slot men; could be used very creatively.
CONS
Lacks raw strength.
NFL COMP
Akeem Ayers
39 PAUL DAWSON, ILB
TCU (6'0", 235 lbs.)
81 tackles / 6 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Tracks ball adeptly from sideline to sideline; lateral speed to close on WRs.
CONS
Not equipped to deal with large, powerful blockers.
NFL COMP
Pat Angerer
58 ELI HAROLD, DE/OLB
Virginia (6'3", 247 lbs.)
29 tackles / 7 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Gets off snap, into OL's body in a hurry. Bull rush moves men 50 lbs. heavier.
CONS
Few hand moves to speak of—no rip or swim.
NFL COMP
Chad Greenway
82 STEPHONE ANTHONY, ILB
Clemson (6'3", 243 lbs.)
45 tackles / 2½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Quick to diagnose runs between tackles. Explodes into gaps but stays in control.
CONS
Loses the leverage game far too often.
NFL COMP
Rolando McClain
86 HAU'OLI KIKAHA, OLB
Washington (6'2", 253 lbs.)
53 tackles / 19 sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Jaw-dropping production past two years: at least one sack in each of UW's 14 games in '14.
CONS
Tackling and run stopping are lacking.
NFL COMP
Damontre Moore
98 LORENZO MAULDIN, OLB
Louisville (6'4", 259 lbs.)
36 tackles / 6½ sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Nice speed-strength combo; comes off snap quickly. Patient tackler.
CONS
Gets washed out by blockers too often.
NFL COMP
Jackson Jeffcoat
100 ZACK HODGES, OLB
Harvard (6'2", 250 lbs.)
12 tackles / 8½ sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Comes off ball low, quickly. Uses hands well.
CONS
Limited array of pass-rushing techniques.
NFL COMP
Scott Crichton
111 RAMIK WILSON, ILB
Georgia (6'2", 237 lbs.)
56 tackles / 2 sacks / 1 FF
PROS
Quick to the ball on runs. Explodes through RBs.
CONS
Takes too many false steps. Fooled by misdirection.
NFL COMP
Justin Durant
116 KWON ALEXANDER, OLB
LSU (6'1", 227 lbs.)
40 tackles / 1½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Has range, athleticism to pursue ballcarriers sideline to sideline.
CONS
Field awareness is low.
NFL COMP
Mike Peterson
117 GENEO GRISSOM, DE/OLB
Oklahoma (6'3", 262 lbs.)
27 tackles / 3½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Raw, versatile athlete. (Took TE snaps at pro day.)Willing to chase down RBs.
CONS
Pass-rush moves lack creativity.
NFL COMP
Shea McClellin
124 JORDAN HICKS, OLB
Texas (6'1", 236 lbs.)
75 tackles / 3½ sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Impressive physique. Effective open-field tackler.
CONS
Not enough explosive plays. Questionable durability.
NFL COMP
Vontaze Burfict
135 LYNDEN TRAIL, DE/OLB
Norfolk State (6'6", 260 lbs.)
32 tackles / 5 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Rare versatility for size. Advanced hand technique.
CONS
Lacks high-level NCAA reps at any one position.
NFL COMP
Carlos Dunlap
138 BEN HEENEY, ILB
Kansas (6'0", 231 lbs.)
88 tackles / 1½ sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Relentless; good lateral quickness. Athleticism to cover RBs in pass game.
CONS
Lacks ideal size.
NFL COMP
Jerrell Freeman
151 TAIWAN JONES, ILB
Michigan State (6'3", 245 lbs.)
31 tackles / 4 sacks / 0 FF
PROS
Comes downhill with ferocity. Good instincts.
CONS
Slow to drop in coverage. Stiff in his hips.
NFL COMP
Christian Jones
155 JAKE RYAN, OLB
Michigan (6'2", 240 lbs.)
67 tackles / 2 sacks / 2 FF
PROS
Has size, length to take on blockers at line; speed to make tackles in space.
CONS
Overwhelmed at times after moving to ILB in '14.
NFL COMP
Sean Weatherspoon
160 KYLE EMANUEL, DE/OLB
N. Dakota State (6'3", 255 lbs.)
50 tackles / 19½ sacks / 3 FF
PROS
Good leverage; rushes with low center of gravity.
CONS
Average burst; 31" arms may be an issue against long NFL blockers.
NFL COMP
Shea McClellin
163 MIKE HULL, ILB
Penn State (6'0", 237 lbs.)