The 2014 NFL Draft features several high-upside defensive tackle prospects. Tennessee’s Daniel McCullers is someone to keep an eye on because he has as much potential as anyone in this draft class. Overall, I have around 11 defensive tackle prospects who could come off the board in the first two rounds.
1. Daniel McCullers, Tennessee (Top 5)
Daniel McCullers has the potential to develop into an absolute dominant player at the next level. His combination of elite size and good overall athleticism makes it difficult for any offensive lineman to handle him in one-on-one situations.
This isn’t a one-dimensional player, as McCullers shows the ability to both stuff the run and make plays in the backfield. He’s someone who could fit in any system and handle multiple tasks.
However, some question surround McCullers’ game that could end up really hurting his draft stock. He doesn’t consistently play with proper technique and has a tendency to raise his pad level. McCullers gets away with it in college because he’s physically superior to most of his opponents.
This won’t be the case at the next level where NFL offensive linemen are both physically talented and technically sound.
2. Louis Nix, Notre Dame (Top 10)
It’s important not to shoehorn Louis Nix into a specific role based on his size. This is a player who will have much more of an impact penetrating the pocket rather than playing two-gap football. Nix’s quick first step and snap awareness allows him to consistently wreak havoc in the backfield.
However, he also has the strength to hold at the point of attack and stuff the run. His short-area quickness helps him make plays away from his frame. Overall, Nix is just a disruptive player who features the athleticism and motor to quickly develop into a difference maker.
3. Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State ( Top 20)
Calvin Barnett is a nasty player who plays with a ton of tenacity. He combines this desire to make plays with excellent quickness and really long arms. Barnett consistently fires off the ball, gains inside hands and makes plays on the football.
He shows the ability to both shoot the gap with quickness and hold at the point of attack. His long arms are really an asset because it allows him to keep clean and locate the football. This is another interior defensive lineman who excels at wreaking havoc in the backfield.
Barnett reminds me a little of Nick Fairley with his nastiness and explosive first step.
4. George Uko, USC (1st Round)
George Uko is a good athlete who uses his violent hands and suddenness to make plays in the backfield. Offensive linemen have a tough time getting their hands on Uko because he can quickly change direction while slapping way attempted blocks.
Uko needs to improve his snap awareness in order to take his game to the next level. At times, he’s slow off the ball which allows the blockers to gain position. It’s in these situations where the offensive linemen are able to get into his frame and limit his penetration.
5. Will Sutton, Arizona State (1st Round)
Will Sutton is a quick and hard-working defensive tackle prospect. He has a knack for working his way into the backfield and delivering tackles for loss. His effectiveness is increased because of his commitment to keeping his pads down and using his hands.
The big concern surrounding Sutton is that he lacks ideal size and arm length. He’s going to really need to work hard to keep blockers off his frame. NFL evaluators put a lot of stock in the arm length of a defensive lineman, so it’s something to keep an eye with Sutton.
6. Anthony Johnson, LSU (1st Round)
Anthony Johnson is a powerful player whose strength is his ability to stuff the run. Johnson uses his thick lower half, strong upper body and instincts to control the line of scrimmage. His awareness is a key because it helps him locate the football and register tackles.
Johnson needs to show some more explosiveness in order to improve his draft stock. If he can prove that he can consistently make plays behind the line of scrimmage he’ll be seen as a more complete player.
7. Ra’Shede Hageman, Minnesota (2nd Round)
Ra’Shede Hageman is a raw prospect who features a ton of upside. His combination of size, quickness and long arms helps him flash the ability to make game changing plays. Hageman also plays with a strong motor which helps him get the most out of his athletic ability.
However, he needs to clean up his overall technique in order to become a more consistent player. Hageman has a tendency to raise his pad level which allows blockers into his body. This results in too many plays where he’s unable to make an impact.
8. DeAndre Coleman, California (2nd Round)
DeAndre Coleman excels at playing two-gap football. He explodes out of his stance, maintains leverage and gains inside hand placement. This combined with his long arms helps him create space and locate the football.
He needs to improve his upper-body strength in order to improve his ability to disengage. Coleman also struggles generating pressure on the quarterback, something he’ll need to improve to round out his game.
9. DeMonte McAllister, Florida State (2nd Round)
DeMonte McAllister is a lot like his teammate Timmy Jernigan in that he’s maxed out physically. However, McAllister shows more explosiveness and ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
He isn’t someone who’ll pass the eye test, but will surprise with his quickness and disruptive play. McAllister also does a good job holding up against the run because of his thick lower half. His upper-body strength is a benefit because it helps McAllister disengage and make plays away from his frame.
I have him in the second-round range mainly because it’ll be tough for him to improve as a player. He’ll be productive at the next level, but is what he is at this stage in his career.
10. Timmy Jernigan, Florida State (2nd Round)
Timmy Jernigan is an undersized defensive tackle prospect who might be maxed out as a player. However, he shows enough athleticism and effort to find a role at the next level. His best skill set is his lateral movements which allow him to slip into the backfield.
Jernigan also has a nose for the football which helps him make sure he is always working towards the ball carrier. However, his limited size will be something that concerns evaluators. He just doesn’t have the same potential as other prospects at this position.
11. Dominique Easley, Florida (2nd Round)
Dominique Easley is a versatile defender whose best attribute is his ability to hold at the point of attack. This is a strong player capable of handling double teams and playing two-gap football. Easley flashes the ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage from time to time, but not on a consistent basis.
His overall production is hindered because he features an average first step. He also doesn’t consistently gain inside hand placement. Both these issues are why I have Easley ranked in this range. Easley has a chance to move up the board if he can show better skills in these areas.
12. Danny Shelton, Washington (4th Round)
Shelton features the size and strength to hold up at the line of scrimmage. He also flashes enough quickness to get off the ball and penetrate. Shelton is a surprising athlete with an explosive first step and some suddenness.
However, Shelton needs to work on his overall technique. The biggest issue surrounds his limited hand usage. Too often, Shelton fires off the ball with his head down which allows the blocker to push him away from the play.
13. Bruce Gaston, Purdue (4th Round)
Bruce Gaston was overshadowed a little by Kawann Short last season, but he was actually a more consistent player. He routinely gains inside hand placement, holds up at the point of attack and shows the upper-body strength to disengage.
Gaston’s upside is kind of limited because he doesn’t feature top-end quickness. He’s not a player that’ll make a ton of plays in the backfield.
14. Cassius Marsh, UCLA (4th Round)
UCLA uses Cassius Marsh more as a five-technique than a traditional defensive tackle. However, he’s probably a better fit as a defensive end in a 4-3 system. Marsh is a fluid athlete with long arms and good quickness. He flashes a ton of potential, but needs to develop more as a player.
15. DaQuan Jones, Penn State (5th Round)
DaQuan Jones’ biggest contribution comes as a run stuffer and space-eater. He uses his thick lower half and overall strength to hold at the point of attack. This also benefits the defense by keeping the linebackers clean.
The issue is that Jones doesn’t show a ton of explosiveness. He also had a tendency to raise his pad level which allows the blocker to move him off the line. This type of inconsistency is why he ranks so low on my list.
16. Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh (5th Round)
Aaron Donald doesn’t show enough overall ability to really be considered as a big-time prospect. His best attribute is his average quickness off the ball, but that’s negatively impacted by his lack of hand usage.
17. Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State (6th Round)
Ryan Carrethers doesn’t offer much versatility and will be limited to a run-stuffing role at the next level. He’ll have a tough time sticking on a roster because he has limited athleticism and is really only a size prospect. While he can hold at the point and handle double teams, Carrethers doesn’t have the short-area burst to consistently make plays away from his frame.
18. Nnamdi Obukwelu, Harvard (7th Round)
Nnamdi Obukwelu is an undersized defensive line prospect who doesn’t show any real stand-out skills. His limited size makes it difficult for him to hold at the point of attack and locate the football. He also doesn’t have the suddenness to slip past potential blockers.