Who is the best front 7 run defender in this year's class?

[Cowboyny]

Brugler says he'll be a top 12 pick

Dane had him at 15 in his last mock. Did get a chance to watch him, think he is more of a top 20 player, but is behind the likes of Pearce/Green for me.

 

[gtb1943]

Dane had him at 15 in his last mock. Did get a chance to watch him, think he is more of a top 20 player, but is behind the likes of Pearce/Green for me.

There is a difference between a big board and a mock. Big Board is supposed to be all about talent; and a mock is your best guess at who picks what and when

 

[gtb1943]

I am not as high on Hunter as many are; I think he could be excellent at CB and about as good at WR but not a real blue chip at one or the other. Carter is to me about the most sure thing. Graham I think has the highest floor. But really that is it. Those three and honestly none of them to me say can't miss.

 

[morasp]

I took a look at the DTs from last years draft. Fiske was pretty good and Sweat did pretty well also. In one game I watched they were saying the Rams were having a hard time getting pressure because Fiske was injured so he was definitely making a difference as a rookie. Newton and Jenkins weren't too bad either, we get a lot of Bengals games and Jenkins sat out for a thumb injury early on but played well when he got in the game later on.

Name Pick G GS TKL Solo SCK TFL QBHits
Byron Murphy II 16 14 9 36 12 0.5 2 1
T'Vondre Sweat 38 17 16 51 22 1 4 3
Jer'Zhan Newton 36 16 11 44 19 2 6 7
Braden Fiske 39 17 8 44 20 8.5 10 10
Kris Jenkins 49 15 9 31 10 3 3 5

 

[Proof]

Harmon is more balanced and could play either spot, but the Michigan boys are on another level as run defenders. Ohio State tried to run right at them and couldn't run the football what so ever.

but there's also the context of them playing together, right?

 

[Proof]

He had some off the field issues, but you’re right…I think hes going to win a few all pros. Freaking monster.

i was so angry watching his slide.

 

[Cowboyny]

but there's also the context of them playing together, right?

Yes, who you play next to matters.

 

[cowboyec]

kenneth grant,dt-michigan.

 

[Creeper]

First rd DTs USUALLY DO MAKE AN IMPACT. This is the kind of BS that Jethro and company spread

Since 2015 there have been 24 DTs drafted in the first round. I am not sure how "making an impact" is measured.

Is it sacks? The highest total of sack as a rookie goes to Jalen Carter drafted in 2023. He had 6 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. 5 other DTs had 4 or more sacks their rookie season.

Is it tackles for loss? The most TFL goes to Calijah Kancey with 10. 4 others had 7 or 8. 3 had 5 or 6.

Is it tackles? Daron Payne had 56 his rookie year, so did Christian Wilkins. Ed Oliver had 43, Dexter Lawrence had 38, Jalen Carter had 33, and Byron Murphy II had 36 this year. A few others had 30 or more total tackles.

It seems to me the majority of first round DTs did not make a significant impact their rookie seasons. A few did.

It is interesting that Kenny Clark who was drafted by the Packers in 2016 had similar rookie stats to Mazi Smith. Clark and Mazi had 13 tackles and 1 for a loss. Mazi had a sack his rookie season. Clark had 0 sacks. Clark is a stud DT today.

another interesting fact I found, in 2019 6 DTs were drafted in the first round. Quinnen Williams, Ed Olliver, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Jeffery Simmons, and Jerry Tillery. That is some class of DTs. The Cowboys did not have a first round pick that year. In 2017 and 2021, no DTs were drafted in the first round.

Of the 24 DTs taken in the first round, I could safely opine that Mazi Smith is 1 of 2 most disappointing. Maybe Robert Nkemdiche taken by the Cards in 2016 was more disappointing.

 

[gtb1943]

Since 2015 there have been 24 DTs drafted in the first round. I am not sure how "making an impact" is measured.

Is it sacks? The highest total of sack as a rookie goes to Jalen Carter drafted in 2023. He had 6 sacks and 8 tackles for loss. 5 other DTs had 4 or more sacks their rookie season.

Is it tackles for loss? The most TFL goes to Calijah Kancey with 10. 4 others had 7 or 8. 3 had 5 or 6.

Is it tackles? Daron Payne had 56 his rookie year, so did Christian Wilkins. Ed Oliver had 43, Dexter Lawrence had 38, Jalen Carter had 33, and Byron Murphy II had 36 this year. A few others had 30 or more total tackles.

It seems to me the majority of first round DTs did not make a significant impact their rookie seasons. A few did.

It is interesting that Kenny Clark who was drafted by the Packers in 2016 had similar rookie stats to Mazi Smith. Clark and Mazi had 13 tackles and 1 for a loss. Mazi had a sack his rookie season. Clark had 0 sacks. Clark is a stud DT today.

another interesting fact I found, in 2019 6 DTs were drafted in the first round. Quinnen Williams, Ed Olliver, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, Jeffery Simmons, and Jerry Tillery. That is some class of DTs. The Cowboys did not have a first round pick that year. In 2017 and 2021, no DTs were drafted in the first round.

Of the 24 DTs taken in the first round, I could safely opine that Mazi Smith is 1 of 2 most disappointing. Maybe Robert Nkemdiche taken by the Cards in 2016 was more disappointing.

But they all showed a lot more than Mazi did. Looking at film of some of them, it was clear the offense knew these guys were there. As regards stats, outside of a few like aaron donald you are never going to see much in the way of stats from DTs. Their job is to hold the O line up; prevent penetration; free up the LBs to make the tackles at the LOS or just past. Honestly, few DTs are ever going to get more than five or six sacks in a season. The ones that do are the real gems. Nuts if both our starting DTs got three or four sacks each a season I would be happy with that as long as they performed their primary duty which is not getting sacks.