2011 NFL Draft: Defensive End Rankings

Published on January 20, 2011 by Seahawk Fanatic     

1. Robert Quinn*, DE, North Carolina
   Height: 6-5. Weight: 268.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
   Projected Round (2011): Top 10 Pick.
   10/8/10: Quinn is still out indefinitely with an NCAA eligibility issue. There is no denying Quinn’s elite talent. He’s a flexible, coordinated athlete with a tremendous first step and speed off the edge. We’re hoping Quinn plays the second half of the season for the Tar Heels.

   5/5/10: Currently the No. 1 pick in Matt Mcguire’s 2011 NFL Draft, Robert Quinn had 19 TFL and 11 sacks as a mere sophomore in 2009.

2. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 282.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.84.
   Projected Round (2011): Top 10 Pick.
   10/8/10: Clayborn has a great motor and terrific hand use, and shows some burst off the edge. He lacks an elite first step, but he plays very hard and defensive ends like him don’t come around very often.

   5/5/10: Adrian Clayborn would have been a clear-cut top 15 prospect as both a 4-3 and 3-4 end, but was charged with assaulting a cab driver recently. He pleaded guilty. Fortunately for him, the Bengals will gladly ignore that.

3. Allen Bailey, DE, Miami
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 288.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
   Projected Round (2011): Top 25 Pick.
   10/8/10: Bailey has been proven to be more consistent this year. He shows excellent athleticism for a 288-pound lineman and is playing with a lot of power off the edge. He’s not going to be an elite pass rusher from the right side, but as a left defensive end he has a high upside and can be one of those guys that can simply shut down the right side of the offensive line with his ability to play the run. He gives you the best value as a 5-technique, or 3-4 defensive end.

   5/5/10: Allen Bailey had been known as an athletic freak who never lived up to the hype. Well, that has completely changed. As a junior, Bailey had 11 TFL and seven sacks.

4. Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 261.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.76.
   Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
   10/8/10: Beal is on a mission. He is showing good speed off the edge, and I love his second effort as a pass rusher. His stock is on the rise – he has 8.5 TFL, six sacks, and three forced fumbles through four games this season and is looking like a marginal first-rounder.

   5/5/10: Finished his junior season with 19 TFL and 11 sacks. A 4-3 right end.

5. Cameron Jordan, DE, California
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 290.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.94.
   Projected Round (2011): 1-2.
   10/8/10: Not many players have had a bigger rise up big boards this season than Jordan. He is among the most consistent, productive players in the nation. He is extremely strong at the point of attack and is simply mauling linemen this season. His hand use and extension is textbook and he is shedding blockers at will. Statistically, he isn’t killing it (16 tackles, 2 sacks), but he has the attention of everyone with an actual eye for talent that watches him play. He projects as a left defensive end here in the 4-3 scheme, but his best value like Allen Bailey is as a 3-4 defensive end.

   5/5/10: Had a great junior campaign, generating 9.5 TFL and eight sacks.

6. Da’Quan Bowers*, DE, Clemson
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 280.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
   Projected Round (2011): 2.
   10/8/10: Bowers has all of the physical skill in the world, but he is still a bit inconsistent and he will disappear for stretches. He could be more powerful at the point of attack, but there is a lot of upside here in his athleticism and ability to bend off the edge.

   5/5/10: Da’Quan Bowers hasn’t been able to live up to his measurables yet; as a sophomore, Bowers had 10.5 TFL but only three sacks.

7. Greg Romeus, DE, Pittsburgh
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 270.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
   Projected Round (2011): 2-4.
   10/8/10: Romeus has decided to have back surgery and will miss a significant portion of the season, rendering him out indefinitely. Before Romeus’ injury, he was highly productive and tough in run support, but he didn’t show much in terms of a pass rush. This injury really hurts him and he could now slide on Draft Day.

   5/5/10: Greg Romeus finished his junior campaign with 11.5 TFL and eight sacks. He’s currently the No. 2 pure 4-3 defensive end in the 2011 class.

8. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 263.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
   Projected Round (2011): 2-4.
   10/8/10: I love Kerrigan’s motor and competitiveness, but he doesn’t have the physical skill set that will enable him to make the same plays at the next level. He lacks explosiveness and agility to be the same player in the NFL. I also like his quickness off the ball and ability to play the run, but he’s an overrated prospect at the moment.

   5/5/10: Ryan Kerrigan just put together an outstanding junior campaign, notching 17 TFL and 11 sacks.

9. Sam Acho, DE, Texas
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 260.
   Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
   Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
   10/8/10: He puts up the stats, but on tape Acho gets a lot of his sacks and tackles off stunts and missed blocking assignments. He has some talent and physical skill, but he’s a bit finesse and technically raw.

   5/5/10: Sam Acho had a great first season of high productivity, generating 13 TFL and seven sacks as a junior.

10. Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 285.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
    Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
    10/8/10: I like McPhee, but he hasn’t been much of a pass-rusher this season. The culprit? I think he’s overweight – I’m not sure whether he is responsible or his coaching staff wanted him to bulk up, but McPhee would gain a lot of quickness back if he was in the high-260, low-270 range. McPhee uses his hands well and plays hard. He could have a big Senior Bowl and climb boards quickly in the offseason if he drops some weight.

    5/5/10: Notched 12 TFL and five sacks in 2009.

11. Jabaal Sheard, DE, Pittsburgh
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 260.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
    Projected Round (2011): 3-4.
    10/8/10: When Sheard brings his “A” game you see a second-round pick. However, I have seen too much bad tape to really be high on him. He isn’t consistently tough and I don’t always see an effective pass-rusher. Maybe he will pick up his game as the year goes along, but for the moment his play warrants his draft projection.

    5/5/10: With Greg Romeus drawing touble teams, Jabaal Sheard was able to garner 10.5 TFL and five sacks in 2009.

12. Ryan Winterswyk, DE, Boise State
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 263.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.66.
    Projected Round (2011): 3-5.
    5/5/10: Ryan Winterswyk had a monstrous junior campaign, collecting 17 TFL and nine sacks.

    8/8/09: Ryan Winterswyk collected 11.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks as a sophomore for Boise State. Broke up six passes as well.

13. Pierre Allen, DE, Nebraska
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 265.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
    Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
    5/5/10: Had identical 8.5-TFL, five-sack seasons as a sophomore and junior.
14. Eddie Jones, DE, Texas
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 260.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
    Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
    10/8/10: : Jones looks like he is having his breakout season for the Longhorns out of the shadow of Sergio Kindle. Though he has great athleticism and flexibility, his instincts are questionable.
15. Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 263.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
    Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
    10/8/10: I like his hustle and instincts, but he’s a mediocre talent who looks like a rotational player at the next level.
16. DeQuin Evans, DE, Kentucky
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 260.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
    Projected Round (2011): 4-6.
    5/5/10: A JUCO transfer, DeQuin Evans collected 12.5 TFL and six sacks in his first year at Kentucky in 2009.
17. Scott Solomon, DE, Rice
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 265.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
    Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
    5/5/10: Had a decent junior campaign, notching 10.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks.

    

18. Jake Laptad, DE, Kansas
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 258.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
    Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
    5/5/10: Had a solid junor campaign, collecting 12 TFL and 6.5 sacks.

    8/8/09: Jake Laptad was very impressive as a sophomore, accumulating 8.5 TFL and seven sacks. Some (Al Davis) will frown upon his 40.

19. Markus White, DE, Florida State
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 261.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.67.
    Projected Round (2011): 5-7.
    5/5/10: Markus White, starting in place of Everette Brown, notched 10.5 TFL but only two sacks in 2009.

    8/8/09: Has just one sack in his Florida State career, but will take Everette Brown’s spot in the lineup. You have to like his size and 40 time.

20. Craig Marshall, DE, South Florida
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 260.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
    Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
    5/5/10: Craig Marshall will now have his chance with George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul gone. Marshall had 3.5 TFL and three sacks as a junior.
21. Kentrell Lockett, DE, Ole Miss
    Height: 6-5. Weight: 254.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
    Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
    5/5/10: Notched nine TFL and four sacks in 2009.

    8/8/09: Kentrell Lockett had 12 TFL, but only 2.5 sacks in 2008. Not good for someone who seems like he’ll be a situational 4-3 rusher at the next level.

22. Bryant Turner, DE, UAB
    Height: 6-2. Weight: 260.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
    Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
    5/5/10: Not a good fit for the 4-3 (size) or the 3-4 (coverage). Did have 11 TFL and six sacks in 2009. Should be a situational pass-rusher.

    8/8/09: Bryant Turner had seven TFL and four sacks as a sophomore.

23. Lazarius Levingston, DE, LSU
    Height: 6-4. Weight: 269.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.83.
    Projected Round (2011): FA.
    5/5/10: Had no sacks in 2009, but managed eight TFL.

    8/8/09: In 2008, owner of four TFL and two sacks, and not to mention a very grim first name.

24. Michael Goggans, DE, Auburn
    Height: 6-3. Weight: 257.
    Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
    Projected Round (2011): FA.
    5/5/10: Managed just 2.5 TFL and one sack in 2009.

    8/8/09: Couldn’t get a sack as a sophomore, but managed four TFL.

WalterFootball.com: 2011 NFL Draft: Defensive End Rankings.

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