Look for a first round filled with pass rushers
Dolphins beat writer OmarKelly continues his 10-part series looking at the top prospects in the upcoming NFL draft (April 25-27) with the pass rushers.
A handful of the elite talents in the 2019 draft class are pass rushers or 3-4 defensive ends, which means plenty of these sack specialists will be firstround picks. And don’t be surprised if there’s a run on edge rushers and ends the second day of the draft.
Top five
Ohio State’s Nick Bosa: Bosa, a former St. Thomas Aquinas High standout, is a terrific edge player who uses speed, leverage, hands and powerwell. He had a productive college career (77 tackles, 17 1⁄ sacks and
2 two forced fumbles) before missing all but three games of his junior season with a core injury.
Kentucky’s Josh Allen: Allen, who recorded 220 tackles (42 for a loss), 311⁄ sacks and forced11fumbles during his four seasons at Kentucky, is a phenomenal athlete who possesses size (6-foot-5, 262 pounds), speed (4.63 time in the 40-yard dash) and power (28 reps of 225 pounds). He runswell and is quick when it comes to diagnosing plays.
Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell: Ferrell, who totaled 27 sacks and forced five fumbles during the past three seasons, is a consistent playmaker who wins with quickness and hand usage. He plays with strength and has closing speed when the quarterback is within reach. His frame indicates he’s better suited for a 4-3 scheme.
Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat: Sweat, who recorded101 tackles and 22 sacks in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, is one of the most unique athletes in this draft. He’s long (6-6, 260), athletic (125-inch broad jump) and faster (4.41 time in the 40-yard dash) than mostNFL receivers. However, there are concerns about a heart condition that could affect how high he’s drafted.
Michigan’s Rashan Gary: Gary is an explosive athlete who plays with strength and power. But as a pass rusher he has limited moves and mediocre hand use, which explainswhy his production at Michigan (134 tackles, 10 1⁄ sacks in
2 three seasons) fell short of expectations. He’d be an ideal fit as a 3-4 defense end or as a left side end in a 4-3 scheme.
Best of the rest
Miami’s Joe Jackson, Texas’ Charles Omenihu, Boston College’s Zach Allen, Georgia’s Jonathan Ledbetter, Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson, Iowa’s AnthonyNelson, Old Dominion’s Oshane Ximines, TCU’s L.J. Collier, Clemson’s Austin Bryant and Oregon’s Jalen Jelks are the best 3-4, and 4-3 traditional ends in this draft.
Florida State’s Brian Burns, Michigan’s Chase Winovich, Georgia’sD’AndreWalker, Florida’s Jachai Polite andNorthern Illinois’ Sutton Smith are the best of the pass rushing outside linebackers available.
Class grade: A
Teams that need pass rushers better act fast in this draft because this will be one of the better groups of defensive ends and passrushing outside linebackers to enter the NFL in years.
Bosa and Allen will both likely be top-five selections, and three more pass rushers could sneak into the top half of the first round. This draft is filled with 4-3 and 3-4 defense ends and passrushing outside linebackers, but expect teams in need to act fast.
Teams in need
The Panthers, Eagles, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Falcons, Lions, 49ers, Jets, Titans, Colts, Raiders all need traditional defensive ends. The Giants, Packers, Cardinals, Ravens, and Chiefs need pass rushing outside linebackers.
Dolphins’ focus
The Dolphins gave up a ton of rushing yards the past two seasons andwere inconsistent when it came to pressuring the quarterback in 2018, which explainswhyMiami allowed CameronWake to sign with Tennessee, traded Robert Quinn toDallas, released Andre Branch, and didn’t re-signWilliamHayes.
Problem is, that leaves CharlesHarris, a former first-round pick who hasn’t lived up to expectations and has contributed 38 tackles and three sacks in the 27 games he’s played the past two years, as the only promising pass rusher on the roster.
Miami needs to find a potential starter to put oppositeHarris in this draft because as the roster stands nowTank Carradinewould be a starter.