Risen Star
Likes Collector
- Messages
- 87,179
- Reaction score
- 204,989
Best defensive linemen in the 2019 class
Kiper: Everyone knows about Bosa and Oliver in this class. They're at the top of both of our boards. Bosa is the best edge rusher in this class, and Oliver, who is getting comps to Aaron Donald, is the best interior rusher. Do you agree, Todd?
McShay: Yes, but Oliver is not an elite pass-rusher like Donald was coming out of Pitt. Remember that Donald put up 11-sack seasons twiceat Pitt -- Oliver hasn't done that. He has only 13.5 sacks in his career and is more of a menace as a penetrator against the run. Great player, and he's a nightmare to block one-on-one -- extremely disruptive and explosive -- but I think the No. 2 defensive line spot is wide open with a talented class.
Kiper: I agree with that. He's going to be compared to Donald until April, and it's really not fair. Oliver can be an impactful player even if he's not producing double-digit sacks every season. So who are the next-best defensive tackles in this class?
McShay: Michigan's Rashan Gary, who's already 283 pounds and could play inside or outside, combines size, athleticism, strength and burst. Great instincts and some versatility. He has dealt with a shoulder injury this season, but he returned versus Penn State, and it shouldn't cause him to slide much. Derrick Brown also brings some versatility and pop from the inside at Auburn. He is still developing his hand usage, but he can locate the ball and is just an easy mover at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. But a guy I'm really liking a lot this season is Alabama's Quinnen Williams. His hand speed and quick first step jump out on tape. With four sacks and 12 TFL this season, Williams is outplaying his more highly touted teammates on that line.
Kiper: Williams had a monster game against LSU. And I'll add to your list Mississippi State's Jeffery Simmons, who has 9.5 tackles for loss and has been incredibly disruptive. He's a top-25 pick for me in a strong class. Where do the Clemson tackles fit in for you, Todd?
McShay: I like the Christian Wilkins-Dexter Lawrence duo a lot. I think Wilkins is the best collegiate-level defensive lineman in the group as a high-motor pass-rusher with top-end awareness. But Lawrence has more upside and looks a lot quicker and fluid this season than he did in his injury-riddled 2017 campaign. The Tigers' best pass-rusher is Clelin Ferrell off the edge, though. He doesn't have overly violent hands, but Ferrell brings a nice combination of size, speed and length to the defensive end position. Who do you like among edge guys, Mel?
Kiper: If you're talking about pure edge rushers after Bosa, I've got three: Kentucky's Josh Allen is putting up ridiculous numbers against SEC offensive tackles, with 10 sacks and five forced fumbles. He might be the best 3-4 rusher in this class. Then there's Mississippi State's Montez Sweat and Florida State's Brian Burns. Sweat, who has an outstanding takeoff at the snap, has 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons. The explosive Burns has really come on this season, putting up nine sacks. All should be first-round picks in 2019. Am I missing anybody, Todd?
McShay: Boston College's Zach Allen converts speed to power as a push-rusher, tallying 5.5 sacks so far this season. And keep an eye on Florida's Jachai Polite. He is slippery and shows great speed and instincts, notching seven sacks for the Gators through nine games. He's rising and has been under the radar for most of the season.
Kiper: Oh, you want a few under-the-radar guys for Day 2? How about Old Dominion's Oshane Ximines, whom I highlighted earlier this season. He's up to 8.5 sacks off the edge. Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson is in that area, too, as a pure hand-in-the-dirt defensive end who has 12.5 sacks already. I'm also a big fan of Auburn's Nick Coe, a third-year sophomore with a huge, 282-pound frame and high ceiling. He has seven sacks this season.
Kiper: Everyone knows about Bosa and Oliver in this class. They're at the top of both of our boards. Bosa is the best edge rusher in this class, and Oliver, who is getting comps to Aaron Donald, is the best interior rusher. Do you agree, Todd?
McShay: Yes, but Oliver is not an elite pass-rusher like Donald was coming out of Pitt. Remember that Donald put up 11-sack seasons twiceat Pitt -- Oliver hasn't done that. He has only 13.5 sacks in his career and is more of a menace as a penetrator against the run. Great player, and he's a nightmare to block one-on-one -- extremely disruptive and explosive -- but I think the No. 2 defensive line spot is wide open with a talented class.
Kiper: I agree with that. He's going to be compared to Donald until April, and it's really not fair. Oliver can be an impactful player even if he's not producing double-digit sacks every season. So who are the next-best defensive tackles in this class?
McShay: Michigan's Rashan Gary, who's already 283 pounds and could play inside or outside, combines size, athleticism, strength and burst. Great instincts and some versatility. He has dealt with a shoulder injury this season, but he returned versus Penn State, and it shouldn't cause him to slide much. Derrick Brown also brings some versatility and pop from the inside at Auburn. He is still developing his hand usage, but he can locate the ball and is just an easy mover at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. But a guy I'm really liking a lot this season is Alabama's Quinnen Williams. His hand speed and quick first step jump out on tape. With four sacks and 12 TFL this season, Williams is outplaying his more highly touted teammates on that line.
Kiper: Williams had a monster game against LSU. And I'll add to your list Mississippi State's Jeffery Simmons, who has 9.5 tackles for loss and has been incredibly disruptive. He's a top-25 pick for me in a strong class. Where do the Clemson tackles fit in for you, Todd?
McShay: I like the Christian Wilkins-Dexter Lawrence duo a lot. I think Wilkins is the best collegiate-level defensive lineman in the group as a high-motor pass-rusher with top-end awareness. But Lawrence has more upside and looks a lot quicker and fluid this season than he did in his injury-riddled 2017 campaign. The Tigers' best pass-rusher is Clelin Ferrell off the edge, though. He doesn't have overly violent hands, but Ferrell brings a nice combination of size, speed and length to the defensive end position. Who do you like among edge guys, Mel?
Kiper: If you're talking about pure edge rushers after Bosa, I've got three: Kentucky's Josh Allen is putting up ridiculous numbers against SEC offensive tackles, with 10 sacks and five forced fumbles. He might be the best 3-4 rusher in this class. Then there's Mississippi State's Montez Sweat and Florida State's Brian Burns. Sweat, who has an outstanding takeoff at the snap, has 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons. The explosive Burns has really come on this season, putting up nine sacks. All should be first-round picks in 2019. Am I missing anybody, Todd?
McShay: Boston College's Zach Allen converts speed to power as a push-rusher, tallying 5.5 sacks so far this season. And keep an eye on Florida's Jachai Polite. He is slippery and shows great speed and instincts, notching seven sacks for the Gators through nine games. He's rising and has been under the radar for most of the season.
Kiper: Oh, you want a few under-the-radar guys for Day 2? How about Old Dominion's Oshane Ximines, whom I highlighted earlier this season. He's up to 8.5 sacks off the edge. Louisiana Tech's Jaylon Ferguson is in that area, too, as a pure hand-in-the-dirt defensive end who has 12.5 sacks already. I'm also a big fan of Auburn's Nick Coe, a third-year sophomore with a huge, 282-pound frame and high ceiling. He has seven sacks this season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59673813/usa_today_10799232.0.jpg)
