With the league close to evenly split by 4-3 and 3-4 defenses, scouts were asked to rank the players based on the scheme their team employs. There were 14 scouts representing 4-3 teams and seven from 3-4 teams.
In each poll, scouts were asked to rank the best players on a 1-to-5 basis, with five points assigned to first place and so forth. No limits were placed on the players the scouts could choose from other than players couldn't be voted for again in the D-line polls or in the linebacker polls coming Wednesday.
Here were the results of the polls.
Defensive end in a 4-3: Quinton Coples, 57 points (nine firsts); Whitney Mercilus, 35 (one first); Nick Perry, 25 (two firsts); Chandler Jones, 24 (one first); Andre Branch, 18 (one first); Melvin Ingram, 14; Vinny Curry, 12; Courtney Upshaw, 11; Bruce Irvin, five; Jared Crick, three; Tyrone Crawford and Shea McClellin two; Jack Crawford and Olivier Vernon, one.
Defensive tackle in a 4-3: Michael Brockers, 59 points (seven firsts); Fletcher Cox, 48 (five firsts); Dontari Poe, 45 (two firsts); Jerel Worthy, 16; Devon Still, 15; Kendall Reyes, 14; Brandon Thompson, four; Ingram three; Coples, Mike Martin and Derek Wolfe, two.
Defensive end in a 3-4: Cox, 21 points (three firsts); Brockers, 20 (two firsts); Coples, 17 (two firsts); Reyes, 16; Still, 12; Tyrone Crawford, seven; Jones, five; Worthy, three; Akiem Hicks and Billy Winn, two.