1. Nick Bosa (Ohio State)– Next to Kyler Murray, this is the second-best player in this entire draft class. Before Kyler decided to make the decision to pursue football, Nick was the projected number one pick. Now, he’s been moved down to the second overall pick in many mock drafts. I see a star in the making when I watch this kid play. Anytime I covered an Ohio State game, he was the first name I’d mention. Like his older brother Joey who plays for the Chargers, he displays the build of your typical edge rusher. He has excellent speed off the edge with the ability to fly by blockers to get upfield, he has excellent hands with tremendous strength to fight and scrap and when he gets to the quarterback, he hits him with authority. In the ground game, Nick has great speed to shut down the run, but it’s the speed to rush the passer that excites scouts.
2. Rashan Gary (Michigan)– I raved about this kid when Jim Harbaugh landed him to come to Ann Arbor to play at the big house. He was everything that Don Brown could want and then some. Standing at 6’4 and weighing at 277 pounds, Rashan is a gifted athlete with a freakish combination of size and speed. He has the speed of a finesse running back, he has the strength of an offensive lineman and plays like a bully each play. To play the defensive end position, you need to possess very scrappy hands. He’s very disruptive with his hands and can shed blocks, swim his way past the blocker and just imposes a physical presence while on the field. He has high first round potential if he can put it all together.
3. Josh Allen (Kentucky)– Say it with me, you better have game if you have two first names! Josh Allen absolutely has game. If you don’t know much about him now, you will when he’s drafted this month in Nashville. He has pure speed off the edge which gives him a jump and pathway to the passer. He’s said that nobody can block him and he’s right. They can’t because of the speed, quick feet and movement up front. He’s a disruptive force that can make it a long day for anyone trying to keep him out of their backfield. He senses the play, moves then finds the football in the running game. As a pass rusher, he was one of the best in the country last year. You talk about a football player who can do it all, he can even drop back in coverage and defend tight ends in space. This has the potential of being a very special football player.
4. Montez Sweat (Mississippi State)– It’s hard to believe he was a tight end before making that transition to the defensive side of the football. He took the world by storm at the combine and in many mock drafts, he’s been in quite a few top ten picks. He plays what I call “grown man football”. He always plays with power, he always stays low but leveled, he has a surprising punch in his power. Being a tall edge defender has its perks. At 6’6, he truly uses his height to his advantage to swat footballs down, swarm by blockers and has the ability to press yet separate from the blocker. The one thing he must work on is being more “violent” with his hands which I’m sure will come in due time.
5. Clelin Ferrell (Clemson)– It’s about time someone from that Clemson defensive line. Clelin has been a terror since stepping on the field for the Clemson Tigers. I believe he’s one of the best athletes in this draft. He has a relentless motor that doesn’t let up when the ball is snapped. He’ll make his way to the ball-carrier. He’s a more athletic Aldon Smith that can make plays all over the field. You need him to drop back to cover some ground, he does it. Need him to help prevent big runs? He’s on it. He feels he can get a sack of the quarterback each time. He has 26 career sacks at Clemson, fifth all time and 47 tackles for loss which is also fifth all time.
