2015 NFL draft: Top 10 defensive linemen
The Observer’s top 10 defensive linemen available in the 2015 NFL draft:
1. DL Leonard Williams
College: Southern California.
Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 302.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: Possibly the best, most complete player in the draft, Williams can play any position along the defensive line and could be a Pro Bowler in Year One.
2. DT Danny Shelton
College: Washington.
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 339.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: Shelton had five fumble recoveries and 11 tackles for a loss last season. He bench pressed 225 pounds 34 times at the combine.
3. DE Shane Ray
College: Missouri.
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 245.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: Ray comes from a recent string of very good edge rushers from Missouri, and he was the SEC’s top defensive player last season.
4. DE Arik Armstead
College: Oregon.
Ht.: 6-7. Wt.: 292.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: Tall and long, Armstead could easily go top-15 just based off his size, but with a 5.10-second 40 he isn’t very fast.
5. DT Malcolm Brown
College: Texas.
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 319.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: Brown had 61/2 sacks and 71 tackles last season for the Longhorns and could be a nose tackle in a 4-3 defense.
6. DE Randy Gregory
College: Nebraska.
Ht.: 6-5. Wt.: 235.
Projected round: 1st.
Comment: One of the biggest mysteries in the draft, Gregory can’t seem to keep on weight and has a failed drug test on his record.
7. DT Grady Jarrett
College: Clemson.
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 304.
Projected round: 1st-2nd.
Comment: A ball of muscle who impressed many at his pro day. Jarrett could easily be taken on the first night.
8. DT Eddie Goldman
College: Florida State.
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 336.
Projected round: 1st-2nd.
Comment: A great run stuffer who will have to work on his pass rush if he wants to be an every-down defensive tackle in the NFL.
9. DL Mario Edwards Jr.
College: Florida State.
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 279.
Projected round: 1st-2nd.
Comment: Son of a former NFL cornerback, Edwards has the size to play left defensive end but he could also add a few more pounds and slide inside to tackle.
10. DE Owa Odighizuwa
College: UCLA.
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 267.
Projected round: 1st-2nd.
Comment: Looks the part of a 4-3 defensive end and has the strength to beat offensive linemen, but the hip injuries in his past will scare teams.
Panthers’ perspective
In the first two rounds of Dave Gettleman’s first two drafts, he’s taken three defensive linemen in four picks. Gettleman can’t help himself, and the Panthers still need help at the defensive end position opposite Charles Johnson. Wes Horton, Mario Addison and Kony Ealy played well in place of Hardy last year, but Carolina needs another double-digit sacker on the team. Ealy could turn into that eventually, but a first-round pick this year could turn into it sooner.
Local connection
Clemson’s Corey Crawford isn’t as talked about because he played on the other side of Vic Beasley, but Crawford has the talent to be a mid-round pick after 251/2 tackles for a loss in his career with the Tigers. ... Duke defensive end Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo ran a blistering 4.59 at Duke’s pro day but didn’t look as good when he dropped into coverage. He could be a late-round pick or a priority free agent.
Sleeper
Utah’s Nate Orchard was one of the most impressive players at the Senior Bowl, but as the months have passed a lot of experts haven’t talked much about him. Keep an eye out for Orchard, who led the nation last season with 181/2 sacks, to go possibly as high as the second or third round.
Worth noting
Leonard Williams said it’d mean a lot to him to be drafted in the first round so that he could repay his mom for putting food on the table for him and his four siblings, all of whom are about his size. ... Danny Shelton faced a near-death experience in 2011 when he saw his brother get shot and killed and the gun turned to him. Shelton took the gun and began beating the man who shot his brother before he was stopped.
Jonathan Jones
This story was originally published April 27, 2015 at 4:38 PM with the headline "2015 NFL draft: Top 10 defensive linemen."