The Hog Sty’s Draft Preview Series: Part 3, Defensive Line
I’m back at it again with this week’s ‘Draft Preview’ series and this week we’re taking a look at the defensive line. If there is one position this team must address this offseason it is the defensive line. There’s a decent crop of talent in the first few rounds that would be solid additions and instant upgrades in Washington. With the combine starting today, we will soon get a clearer picture of who will be available when come draft day. Here are the 5 best fits for the Redskins defensive line that may be available in the first 3 rounds.
Solomon Thomas
College: Stanford
Height: 6’3
Weight: 280
Draft Projection: early 1st-mid 1st
Strengths: Twitched up athlete who will dominate the combine. Violent hands mixed with an unrelenting motor. An array of refined pass rush moves. Fluid hips, great athleticism, and explosion allow him to shoot gaps as well as any player I’ve watched. Makes a living in opposing backfields. Never ending work ethics make him a Coach/GM’s dream.
Weaknesses: Size, frame, and lack of true position in college are his main knocks. He needs to add more strength in order to be an every down player. Can be over anxious at times jumping the count. May struggle against the run against more talented offensive lineman.
Overall: Thomas is listed as an edge player, which is fine, but I see him as a dominant interior lineman. His burst and pass rushing acumen makes him an elite interior pass rusher. You can play him in the 3-4 or 4-3 at any position and he will win due to his lighting quick burst and strong hands. One of the most exciting prospects I’ve seen in years. I’m hoping his size will make teams second guess themselves allowing Thomas to fall to 17. Thomas would instantly become a top tier pass rusher from the defensive tackle position. I see him being a dream fit for Manusky’s defense lining up as a 3 tech and wreaking havoc on opposing offensive lines. Thomas would be a no brainer at 17 and continues to be one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft.
Malik McDowell
College: Michigan State
Height: 6’6
Weight: 280
Draft Projection: mid 1st-early 2nd
Strengths: Violent hands attached to long arms. Great first step and relentless effort. Plays with solid leverage. Scheme versatile. Great swim move. Functional strength to disengage and anchor against the run. Outstanding lateral movement, which makes him a nightmare in twists/stunts.
Weaknesses: Plays out of control frequently. Inconsistent pad level. If he misses with his hands initially he has a hard time recovering. Inconsistent hands and feet.
Overall: McDowell is a prospect who many are split on. His inconsistent technique makes him a project as a player. His raw abilities and high ceiling give him top ten potential as a prospect. Personally I’d take the risk. In terms of raw talent on the defensive line he is only rivaled by Myles Garrett. A freak athlete with a high ceiling. Raw football player, but when he puts it together he has all-pro/hall of fame potential. McCloughan does not tend to draft defensive lineman in the 1st round, but a talent like McDowell could change his mind. He can play any position on the defensive line, but he would start day 1 as a 3 tech in Manusky’s attacking scheme. His upside is as high as any player in this draft, but is the reward worth the risk? That’s the big question.
Caleb Brantley
College: Florida
Height: 6’2
Weight: 315
Draft Projection: Late 1st-Late 2nd
Strengths: Quick first step. Violent hands. A fight pressure well and is disciplined with his gap integrity. Does a good job disengaging in the run game. Nice push-pull and hand swipe move. Smart player who recognizes plays quickly. Extends well with his arms and shows ability to anchor in run game.
Weaknesses: Lacks 2nd move if the 1st move doesn’t work. He tends to be stonewalled after failed initial move. Gives away stunts with his stance. Endurance/motor issues are a big concern. Inconsistent in anchoring against OL. Lacks lateral quickness and overall athleticism. Lack of playing time at UF makes it difficult to judge true consistency.
Overall: Brantley is a solid all around player with 1 and 2 gap potential. He’s shown the ability to anchor in the run game and attack slow interior players in the pass game. Violent hands and fluid hips give him a decent pass rush ceiling. I’d like to see him work to make his technique more consistent. It will also be interesting to see if he can handle a true workload. He was a part of a large rotation at UF. He would be an instant upgrade to the Redskins defensive line. His pass rush upside and football IQ make him a high value prospect that would be hard to pass up in the 2nd round.
Chris Wormley
College: Michigan
Height: 6’5
Weight: 305
Draft Projection: Early 2nd- Late 2nd
Strengths: Great length allows him to stun lineman in the run game. Good first step and burst to beat lineman off the snap. Great hand placement. His functional strength allows him to anchor at multiple positions. Great lateral movement for a guy his size. Scheme versatile. Good pad level for his size. Consistent effort and get off.
Weaknesses: Not a true edge bender, better inside. Has trouble disengaging after he anchors. Lacks burst to play off the edge. Inconsistent with pass rush moves. Unrefined as a pass rusher. Most weaknesses are amplified by the fact he was asked to play in space. Will need to work on consistent technique at the next level. He will not be able to overpower everyone he plays.
Overall: Wormley is a guy who checks all of McCloughan’s boxes. He’s a senior with great intangibles. Played in a big-time conference against big-time competition. His value and ceiling shoot up when you move him from a defensive end inside to a 3 tech. His length is not fair against interior lineman and his athletic ability is better utilized against slower guards and centers. For a guy who plays fairly consistently he still has room to grow. When he figures out how to use his length to its full potential he will be a consistent 8 sack a year type player.
Jaleel Johnson
College: Iowa
Height: 6’4
Weight: 310
Draft Projection: mid 2nd-mid 3rd
Strengths: Strong punch. Long arms. Gets his hands inside and anchors in the run game. Good motor. He’s not moved from his gap easily. Wins one-on-one battles. Good hips. Constantly anchored against double teams. He’s a true force in the run game. Pass rush potential with his ability to push the pocket and extend offensive lineman off of him.
Weaknesses: Average lateral movement skills. Needs pass rush moves refined. Lacks athleticism of premier gap penetrators. Inconsistent pad level. Must work on counter moves when the bull rush doesn’t work. Can get washed down when he does not keep a good base. Would benefit from another 10 pounds.
Overall: Johnson is a player I could see McCloughan falling in love with. Tough nosed brute on the field. An excellent run defender when he plays with consistent technique. Offers enough pass rush upside to make him a day 2 player. I love his motor and his mean streak. I would love to see him as a 3 tech in a 2-gap system and a shade nose in a 1-gap scheme. I think he would be an ideal candidate to come in and be our future nose tackle for years and years. His aggressive nature would appeal to Manusky’s style as well.