My Defensive Rankings

[tm1119]

These are my rankings based on who I’ve had a chance to watch some of and mostly who I think will be drafted in the first 5 rounds. Feel free to let me know how dumb I am and how much you disagree...o the player(s) I undoubtably forget. But seriously, I’m always open to discussion so if I didn’t list a player you like please share.

The spaces are meant to represent tiers

FS:

1. Moehrig, TCU

1. Holland, Oregon
2. Johnson, Indiana
3. Grant, UCF

1. Cisco, Syracuse
2. Sterns, Texas
3. Wiggins, Cinci

SS:

1. Deablo, Va Tech
2. Nasirildeen, FSU

1. Uphoff, Illinois St
2. Hufanga, USC

1. Sherwood, Auburn
2. Blakenship, Mid Ten St

CB:

1. Surtain, Bama

1. Horn, S Car
2. Stokes, Georgia
3. Newsome, TCU

1. Farley, Va TEch
2. Melifonwu, Syracuse
3. Adebo, Stanford

1. Joseph, Kentucky
2. T. Williams, Syracuse
3. St Juste, Minnesota
4. Campbell, Georgia
5. Rochell, C Arkansas

Nickle:

1. Molden, Wash
2. Samuel Jr, FSU

1. Robinson, UCF

1. Vincent Jr, LSU
2. Tre Brown, Oklahoma

LB:

1. Parsons, Penn St
2. JOK, ND

1. Davis, Kentucky
2. Collins, Tulsa

1. Browning, Ohio St
2. Cox, LSU
3. Bolton, Mizzu
4. Moses, Bama

1. Werner, Ohio St
2. McGrone, Micj
3. Barnes, Purdue
4. B. Johnson, Texas A&M
5. McDuffie, Boston College
6. Surratt, NC
7. Niemann, Iowa

Edge Rusher:

1. Phillips, Miami
2. Ojulari, Georgia

1. Rousseau, Miami
2. Oweh, Penn St
3. Tryon, Wash

1. Ossai, Texas
2. Perkins, Oklahoma

1. Elerson Smith, N Iowa
2. Rumph, Duke
3. Koonce, Buffalo

DE:

1. Paye, Mich

1. Basham, Wake
2. Turner, Houston

1. J. Smith, UAB
2. Odeyingbo, Vandy

1. Sample, Tulane
2. J. Robinson, FSU
3. P. Jones, Pitt
4. C. Golston, Iowa
5. T. Jackson, C Carolina

DT:

1. Barmore, Bama

1. Nixon, Iowa
2. Onwuzurike, Wash

1. McNeil, NC State
2. M. Williams, La Tech
3. Togiai, Ohio St
4. Tufele, TCU

1. Tuipulotu, USC
2. Shelvin, LSU
3. Odighizuwa, UCLA

1. Wilson, FSU
2. B. Brown, Texas A&M
3. Tonga, BYU
4. Slaton, Florida
5. Twyman, Pitt

1. Stills, West Virginia
2. M. Johnson, Colorado

 

[JBS]

Can you explain these rankings? Why do multiple guys in different groups have 1s and 2s etc

 

[tm1119]

Can you explain these rankings? Why do multiple guys in different groups have 1s and 2s etc

The auto #’ing on this board’s format kinda screwed it up...or possible that I don’t know what I’m doing.

But it’s meant to be tiers. So where’s there’s a space and a new #1 it’s the next tier (or level of talent) of that position.

 

[sjmike]

Can you explain these rankings? Why do multiple guys in different groups have 1s and 2s etc

I think it' their number in that tier

 

[America's Cowboy]

The auto #’ing on this board’s format kinda screwed it up...or possible that I don’t know what I’m doing.

But it’s meant to be tiers. So where’s there’s a space and a new #1 it’s the next tier (or level of talent) of that position.

Tiers? Do you mean as in each tier is a Round?

 

[tm1119]

Tiers? Do you mean as in each tier is a Round?

Maybe where I would draft them, but more talent separation within the position. Where’s there’s a space I think there’s a drop off in the talent

 

[timb2]

I would add

DE
William Bradley- King from Baylor
Issiah Chambers from McNeese State


DT
Johnathan Marshall from Arkansas
Issiah Loudermilk from Wiscinsin
Mike Boykin from North Alabama


LB
Milo Eifler from Illinois
Calvin Bundace from Oklahoma State


Edge Rusher
Darius Hodge from Marshall
Sam Williams from Mississippi
Daelyn Mayes from Notre Dame
Chris Garrett from Concordia St. Paul
Shaka Toney from Penn State


CB
Marco Wilson from Florida
Nate Hobbs from Illinois
KJ Sails from South Florida
Damarion William's from Houston
Ambry Thomas from Michigan
Rodarius Williams from Oklahoma State
Nick McCloud from Notre Dame
Tay Gowan from Central Florida
Thomas Graham from Oregon
Chris Wilcox from BYU
Darren Hall from San Diego State


Nickel
DiCaprio Bootle from Nebraska
Issiah Dunn from Oregon State
Decommadore Lenoir from Oregon
Kiondre Thomas from Kansas State
Brandin Echols from Kentucky


FS
Darrick Forrest from Cincinnati
Tyler Coyle from Purdue
Jacoby Stevens from LSU

SS
Brady Breeze from Oregon

 

[Kolemmitt]

I like it! Thanks for posting!
I like Holland too. Based on your ratings I Would not at all mind Surtain at 10 and Holland at 44, followed by LB and DT in the 3rd

 

[cheyennes]

Keith Taylor CB Washington
Anthony Hines III LB TEXAS A&M

 

[tm1119]

Wanted to add on to this and do overall tier rankings for our 1st 4 picks (10, 44, 75, 99)...which I realize is mostly for myself. Adding OT and OC rankings to the mix because I think we can use those positions and any other offensive position drafted would be somewhat of a disappoint to me (unless a crazy value presents itself)

OT
Penei Sewell

Rashawn Slater
Christian Darrisaw

Tevin Jenkins
Alijiah Vera-Tucker

Sam Cosmi
Alex Leatherwood
Liam Eichenberg

Dillon Radunz
Walker Little
Brady Christensen

Spencer Brown
Stone Forsythe
Jaylon Moore
James Hudson
Deante Smith
Josh Ball

OC
Landon Dickerson
Creed Humprhies

Quinn Meinerz
Josh Myers

Michal Menet


Top 10
Surtain, Bama
Sewell, Oregon

Top 20
Horn, SC
Parsons, Penn St
Slater, TCU
Darrisaw, SC
Barmore, Bama
Phillips (Provided medicals are OK), Miami

1st round
JOK, ND
Ojulari, Georgia
Newsome, TCU
Stokes, Georgia
Paye, Michigan
Jenkins, OK St

32-44
Moehrig, TCU
Vera-Tucker, USC
Davis, Kentucky
Collins, Tulsa
Molden, Wash
Farley, Va Tech (provided medicals don't present long term concern)
Nixon, Iowa
Rousseau, Miami
Oweh, Penn St
Basham, Wake
Cosmi, Texas


45-75
Dickerson, Bama
Humphries, Oklahoma
Samuel Jr, FSU
Holland, Oregon
Johnson, Indiana
Grant, UCF
Leatherwood, Bama
Echeinberg, ND
Turner, Houston
Melifonwu, Syracuse
Adebo, Stanford
Joseph, Kentucky
Robinson, UCF
Ossai, Texas
Perkins, Oklahoma
Tryon, Wash
Onwuzurike, Wash
McNeil, NC State
Browning, Ohio St
Cox, LSU
Bolton, Mizzu

76-99
Moses, Bama
M. Williams, La Tech
Togiai, Ohio St
Tufele, USC
Nasirildeen, FSU
Deablo, Va Tech
Radunz, N Dakota St
Little, Stanford
Christensen, BYU
Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
J. Smith, UAB

*note that the rankings within the tiers are not exact

 

[xwalker]

Wanted to add on to this and do overall tier rankings for our 1st 4 picks (10, 44, 75, 99)...which I realize is mostly for myself. Adding OT and OC rankings to the mix because I think we can use those positions and any other offensive position drafted would be somewhat of a disappoint to me (unless a crazy value presents itself)

OT
Penei Sewell

Rashawn Slater
Christian Darrisaw

Tevin Jenkins
Alijiah Vera-Tucker

Sam Cosmi
Alex Leatherwood
Liam Eichenberg

Dillon Radunz
Walker Little
Brady Christensen

Spencer Brown
Stone Forsythe
Jaylon Moore
James Hudson
Deante Smith
Josh Ball

OC
Landon Dickerson
Creed Humprhies

Quinn Meinerz
Josh Myers

Michal Menet


Top 10
Surtain, Bama
Sewell, Oregon

Top 20
Horn, SC
Parsons, Penn St
Slater, TCU
Darrisaw, SC
Barmore, Bama
Phillips (Provided medicals are OK), Miami

1st round
JOK, ND
Ojulari, Georgia
Newsome, TCU
Stokes, Georgia
Paye, Michigan
Jenkins, OK St

32-44
Moehrig, TCU
Vera-Tucker, USC
Davis, Kentucky
Collins, Tulsa
Molden, Wash
Farley, Va Tech (provided medicals don't present long term concern)
Nixon, Iowa
Rousseau, Miami
Oweh, Penn St
Basham, Wake
Cosmi, Texas


45-75
Dickerson, Bama
Humphries, Oklahoma
Samuel Jr, FSU
Holland, Oregon
Johnson, Indiana
Grant, UCF
Leatherwood, Bama
Echeinberg, ND
Turner, Houston
Melifonwu, Syracuse
Adebo, Stanford
Joseph, Kentucky
Robinson, UCF
Ossai, Texas
Perkins, Oklahoma
Tryon, Wash
Onwuzurike, Wash
McNeil, NC State
Browning, Ohio St
Cox, LSU
Bolton, Mizzu

76-99
Moses, Bama
M. Williams, La Tech
Togiai, Ohio St
Tufele, USC
Nasirildeen, FSU
Deablo, Va Tech
Radunz, N Dakota St
Little, Stanford
Christensen, BYU
Meinerz, Wisconsin-Whitewater
J. Smith, UAB

*note that the rankings within the tiers are not exact

Horn might be better than Surtain.

Fairly is the best but injured.

Pitts?

OT Jenkins underrated. Can likely play 4 positions.

JOK is a high risk pick. Can he hold up physically playing LB. Is he an SS or LB? It would be nice to have that type of player on the team but top 20 is a big risk.

Collins late 1st. Maybe Davis also.

I don't trust the Cowboys to draft Safeties early. Maybe Quinn helps but the Cowboys seem better at evaluating some positions than others. Safety is determined more by mental makeup than physical ability, IMO.

 

[tm1119]

Horn might be better than Surtain. Maybe, but I disagree

Fairly is the best but injured - Arguable, I like him more than Horn if healthy

Pitts? Didn’t rank any skill position players. Love the talent of Pitts, but I don’t think adding him makes the cowboys significantly better given they already have great weapons. Trade Gallup for a starting D player or a top 80 pick and maybe the discussion is different...

OT Jenkins underrated. Can likely play 4 positions. I like him. Won’t shock me if he goes top 20 if Darrisaw and Slater go top 15

JOK is a high risk pick. Can he hold up physically playing LB. Is he an SS or LB? It would be nice to have that type of player on the team but top 20 is a big risk. I personally think the need to have big LB’s that can take on o-lineman every player is becoming more obsolete by the day. Guys like Darius Leonard and Deion Jones and playing the position at an extremely high level at only a few lbs heavier

Collins late 1st. Maybe Davis also. I can see collins going late 1st, although I think the hype of him possibly going top 20 is a little crazy. The lack of experience is the only thing holding Davis back, I actually think he’s more athletic and naturally talented than Collins.

I don't trust the Cowboys to draft Safeties early. Maybe Quinn helps but the Cowboys seem better at evaluating some positions than others. Safety is determined more by mental makeup than physical ability, IMO. I personally would draft Moehrig at 44...but that’s it. Grant, Holland, and Johnson are all pretty similar and would be fine with waiting to see who falls to 75, or beyond.

 

[xwalker]

Horn might be better than Surtain. Maybe, but I disagree
Surtain can't be as physical in coverage in the NFL as he was in college.
Horn is extremely physical up near the line but does not appear to be dependent on physicality in coverage.
Neither are the extreme athletes that we've seen at in many drafts at that position.
I'm not certain that either is better than Diggs.

Fairly is the best but injured - Arguable, I like him more than Horn if healthy
It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted. The injury does not seem to be major but any back injury is a big concern.

Pitts? Didn’t rank any skill position players. Love the talent of Pitts, but I don’t think adding him makes the cowboys significantly better given they already have great weapons. Trade Gallup for a starting D player or a top 80 pick and maybe the discussion is different...
Teams never regret drafting players that turn into super stars regardless of position/need.

OT Jenkins underrated. Can likely play 4 positions. I like him. Won’t shock me if he goes top 20 if Darrisaw and Slater go top 15
I assume that the fact the played RT in college has pushed him down a bit in the OT rankings.
Tyron also played RT in college...

JOK is a high risk pick. Can he hold up physically playing LB. Is he an SS or LB? It would be nice to have that type of player on the team but top 20 is a big risk. I personally think the need to have big LB’s that can take on o-lineman every player is becoming more obsolete by the day. Guys like Darius Leonard and Deion Jones and playing the position at an extremely high level at only a few lbs heavier
Leonard is 6-2, 230+
JOK is 6-1 and weighed in at 221 but played at a lighter weight.
Obviously it can work with players like Deon Jones, but off-ball LB is already one of the top positions impacted by injury.

Collins late 1st. Maybe Davis also. I can see collins going late 1st, although I think the hype of him possibly going top 20 is a little crazy. The lack of experience is the only thing holding Davis back, I actually think he’s more athletic and naturally talented than Collins.
Yes, Davis has terrific athletic ability. It's hard to compare because they're completely different style players.
Collins was 259 and ran a 4.67. He could likely play at 250 and run a sub 4.6 forty.

I don't trust the Cowboys to draft Safeties early. Maybe Quinn helps but the Cowboys seem better at evaluating some positions than others. Safety is determined more by mental makeup than physical ability, IMO. I personally would draft Moehrig at 44...but that’s it. Grant, Holland, and Johnson are all pretty similar and would be fine with waiting to see who falls to 75, or beyond.
Other than QB, I find Safety to be the most difficult position to evaluate. The dependency on instincts and scheme/coaching make it very hard to predict success.
The Legion of Boom defense was geared to free up the FS to make plays because the CBs had responsibility for the area along the sidelines.
- The CBs would align inside the WR and force him to commit inside/outside. If outside they played man, if inside they dropped into zone. Either way they coverage the sideline area.
- I'm sure that Earl Thomas would have been good in other schemes but maybe not nearly as good as he was in the Legion of Boom coverage.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Can you explain these rankings? Why do multiple guys in different groups have 1s and 2s etc

Do you really need it explained?

 

[darthseinfeld]

These are my rankings based on who I’ve had a chance to watch some of and mostly who I think will be drafted in the first 5 rounds. Feel free to let me know how dumb I am and how much you disagree...o the player(s) I undoubtably forget. But seriously, I’m always open to discussion so if I didn’t list a player you like please share.

The spaces are meant to represent tiers

FS:

1. Moehrig, TCU

1. Holland, Oregon
2. Johnson, Indiana
3. Grant, UCF

1. Cisco, Syracuse
2. Sterns, Texas
3. Wiggins, Cinci

SS:

1. Deablo, Va Tech
2. Nasirildeen, FSU

1. Uphoff, Illinois St
2. Hufanga, USC

1. Sherwood, Auburn
2. Blakenship, Mid Ten St

CB:

1. Surtain, Bama

1. Horn, S Car
2. Stokes, Georgia
3. Newsome, TCU

1. Farley, Va TEch
2. Melifonwu, Syracuse
3. Adebo, Stanford

1. Joseph, Kentucky
2. T. Williams, Syracuse
3. St Juste, Minnesota
4. Campbell, Georgia
5. Rochell, C Arkansas

Nickle:

1. Molden, Wash
2. Samuel Jr, FSU

1. Robinson, UCF

1. Vincent Jr, LSU
2. Tre Brown, Oklahoma

LB:

1. Parsons, Penn St
2. JOK, ND

1. Davis, Kentucky
2. Collins, Tulsa

1. Browning, Ohio St
2. Cox, LSU
3. Bolton, Mizzu
4. Moses, Bama

1. Werner, Ohio St
2. McGrone, Micj
3. Barnes, Purdue
4. B. Johnson, Texas A&M
5. McDuffie, Boston College
6. Surratt, NC
7. Niemann, Iowa

Edge Rusher:

1. Phillips, Miami
2. Ojulari, Georgia

1. Rousseau, Miami
2. Oweh, Penn St
3. Tryon, Wash

1. Ossai, Texas
2. Perkins, Oklahoma

1. Elerson Smith, N Iowa
2. Rumph, Duke
3. Koonce, Buffalo

DE:

1. Paye, Mich

1. Basham, Wake
2. Turner, Houston

1. J. Smith, UAB
2. Odeyingbo, Vandy

1. Sample, Tulane
2. J. Robinson, FSU
3. P. Jones, Pitt
4. C. Golston, Iowa
5. T. Jackson, C Carolina

DT:

1. Barmore, Bama

1. Nixon, Iowa
2. Onwuzurike, Wash

1. McNeil, NC State
2. M. Williams, La Tech
3. Togiai, Ohio St
4. Tufele, TCU

1. Tuipulotu, USC
2. Shelvin, LSU
3. Odighizuwa, UCLA

1. Wilson, FSU
2. B. Brown, Texas A&M
3. Tonga, BYU
4. Slaton, Florida
5. Twyman, Pitt

1. Stills, West Virginia
2. M. Johnson, Colorado

Molden has gotten some talk as a potential FS. What are your thoughts on that?

 

[tm1119]

Horn might be better than Surtain. Maybe, but I disagree
Surtain can't be as physical in coverage in the NFL as he was in college.
Horn is extremely physical up near the line but does not appear to be dependent on physicality in coverage.
Neither are the extreme athletes that we've seen at in many drafts at that position.
I'm not certain that either is better than Diggs.

Fairly is the best but injured - Arguable, I like him more than Horn if healthy
It will be interesting to see where he gets drafted. The injury does not seem to be major but any back injury is a big concern.

Pitts? Didn’t rank any skill position players. Love the talent of Pitts, but I don’t think adding him makes the cowboys significantly better given they already have great weapons. Trade Gallup for a starting D player or a top 80 pick and maybe the discussion is different...
Teams never regret drafting players that turn into super stars regardless of position/need.

OT Jenkins underrated. Can likely play 4 positions. I like him. Won’t shock me if he goes top 20 if Darrisaw and Slater go top 15
I assume that the fact the played RT in college has pushed him down a bit in the OT rankings.
Tyron also played RT in college...

JOK is a high risk pick. Can he hold up physically playing LB. Is he an SS or LB? It would be nice to have that type of player on the team but top 20 is a big risk. I personally think the need to have big LB’s that can take on o-lineman every player is becoming more obsolete by the day. Guys like Darius Leonard and Deion Jones and playing the position at an extremely high level at only a few lbs heavier
Leonard is 6-2, 230+
JOK is 6-1 and weighed in at 221 but played at a lighter weight.
Obviously it can work with players like Deon Jones, but off-ball LB is already one of the top positions impacted by injury.

Collins late 1st. Maybe Davis also. I can see collins going late 1st, although I think the hype of him possibly going top 20 is a little crazy. The lack of experience is the only thing holding Davis back, I actually think he’s more athletic and naturally talented than Collins.
Yes, Davis has terrific athletic ability. It's hard to compare because they're completely different style players.
Collins was 259 and ran a 4.67. He could likely play at 250 and run a sub 4.6 forty.

I don't trust the Cowboys to draft Safeties early. Maybe Quinn helps but the Cowboys seem better at evaluating some positions than others. Safety is determined more by mental makeup than physical ability, IMO. I personally would draft Moehrig at 44...but that’s it. Grant, Holland, and Johnson are all pretty similar and would be fine with waiting to see who falls to 75, or beyond.
Other than QB, I find Safety to be the most difficult position to evaluate. The dependency on instincts and scheme/coaching make it very hard to predict success.
The Legion of Boom defense was geared to free up the FS to make plays because the CBs had responsibility for the area along the sidelines.
- The CBs would align inside the WR and force him to commit inside/outside. If outside they played man, if inside they dropped into zone. Either way they coverage the sideline area.
- I'm sure that Earl Thomas would have been good in other schemes but maybe not nearly as good as he was in the Legion of Boom coverage.

As far as Leonard, that was his combine weight. He’s publicly talked about how he felt like he actually needed to lose weight to excel in the NFL.
https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/s/amp.indystar.com/amp/3483284002


And I think it’s possible that Collins is just a big dude and doesn’t need to lose weight and wouldn’t get much faster. LVE is also a 6’4 LB and weighed 256 and ran a 4.65. Not going to pretend to have watched LVE Boise St film recently, but I felt he was faster than Collins is. Wouldn’t surprise me if that Collins 4.67 pro day time would have been in the 4.7’s at the official combine.

But I do agree on safety. The best way to evaluate that positions is probably to actually talk to the player and see how much football knowledge they truely have. There’s been athletic freaks that have failed as a FS because instincts and recognition are more important....that and you really need all 22 film to properly evaluate the position that just isn’t available on YouTube

 

[tm1119]

Molden has gotten some talk as a potential FS. What are your thoughts on that?

Yes, for sure. Big fan of Molden. His instincts and football IQ are the 1st things most evaluators rave about and that will play great with him able to sit in a zone in the middle of the field in Quinn’s zone scheme. Obviously it would help if he was 1.5” taller and 10 lbs heavier, but I think he’s going to be at least a starting level player whether it’s as a full time nickel, FS, or a combination