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NFL Draft: Ranking the 4-3 DE Class by Tiers
NFL Draft: Ranking the 4-3 DE Class by Tiers | National Football Post
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NFL Draft: Ranking the 4-3 DE Class by Tiers
Breaking down the tiers of quarterback prospects… Wes Bunting
March 27, 2012 Print This
Breaking down the tiers of quarterback prospects…
Tier 1
Quinton Coples: North Carolina (6-6, 285)
Can be as good as he wants to be in the NFL. The game comes very easy to him and he can be dominant if he learns to use his arms even better to slip blocks in the pass game, but with more time I expect that to improve. The sky is the limit as long as he's willing to work at his trade and keep his motor running.
ICONIngram knows how to reach the QB.
Melvin Ingram: South Carolina (6-2, 276)
He is an impressive pass rusher who can get after the QB in a number of ways. Ingram is raw with his technique and can get better, but his suddenness, length and natural feel for the game makes me think he's one of the draft best senior pass rushers.
Tier 2
Cam Johnson: Virginia (6-4, 270)
A solid college defensive end who has never been much of a sack artist but there are some tools there. Showcases some fluidity in his drop and in coverage and has the ability to mature into a more sudden pass rusher. Will get looks in both a 34 and 43 front.
Tier 3
Whitney Mercilus: Illinois (6-4, 265)
Physically he looks the part and has the skill to simply man handle college lineman at times. However, he's a raw kid who is stiff in the hips and doesn't have a great feel for the game when asked to find the football. He's got some upside, but his tightness and overall lack of natural feel for the game are two very big concerns that will keep him from being the type of pass rusher his freaky skill set says he could.
ICONBranch is a potential three down player.
Andre Branch: Clemson (6-5, 260)
Has a lot of untapped talent and is the kind of athlete you would expect to mature into a solid three down player in the NFL as a 43 DE.
Tyrone Crawford: Boise State (6-4, 276)
I like his skill set. I think he's going to develop quickly at the next level and he has the ability to be a solid three down lineman with some time. He isn't there yet, but as a prospect Crawford has some real upside and displays the kind of blue-collar pass rushing mentality that I like with a powerful element to his game on contact.
Vinny Curry: Marshall (6-4, 263)
A strong kid with good movement skills and the production to go along with the skill set. Isn't a dynamic athlete but has the ability to keep tackles off balance and be a solid pass rushing force.
ICONJones has a tendency to get upright.
Tier 4
Chandler Jones: Syracuse (6-5, 265)
I love his size and length. But I worry about defensive lineman who play upright, lack a great get off burst and struggle to change directions. I don't see him as a big time pass rusher. But if he improves his pad level he could mature into a potential starting option.
Tier 5
Jack Crawford: Penn State (6-5, 273)
A big, strong defensive end prospect who still has some upside to his game. But won't be able to take that next step until he learns to play with a more consistent pad level. A size prospect worth developing long term.
Jake Bequette: Arkansas (6-5, 271)
Not a special athlete, more of a savvy power player, but works hard rushing the pocket, has a great motor and can play the run. A rotational guy early on who has the ability to earn a starting role.
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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I was surprised to see Mercilus down in Tier 3 and Nick Reed left out all-together. I know Mercilus is considered a 3-4 OLB prospect, too, so maybe that's why he is bumped down. Same for Reed, but I was surprised he isn't on Bunting's radar at all for a 4-3 DE.
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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kind of sucks all the guys tied to us are tier three lol
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If you needed a reason not to go DE in round 1, it is because there are only really 2 that are worth it.
NFP is a little off in ranking Mercilus so low, but the Bears might be better off adding a 2nd or 3rd round pick to the mix.
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Cam Johnson ahead of Mercilus and Ingram in the same tier as Couples???
Come on...
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity 
If you needed a reason not to go DE in round 1, it is because there are only really 2 that are worth it.
NFP is a little off in ranking Mercilus so low, but the Bears might be better off adding a 2nd or 3rd round pick to the mix.
I do keep seeing peoples evaluations of him being more a one trick pony situational guy. I dont want my first round DE to be that. Im hoping for Decastro myself but that looks like a pipe dream
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Originally Posted by
Papa Bear I was surprised to see Mercilus down in Tier 3 and Nick Reed left out all-together. I know Mercilus is considered a 3-4 OLB prospect, too, so maybe that's why he is bumped down. Same for Reed, but I was surprised he isn't on Bunting's radar at all for a 4-3 DE.
Originally Posted by
motownbear kind of sucks all the guys tied to us are tier three lol
I think leaving Perry off was an oversight because he was listed on the last one of these I saw. Upshaw isn't listed either but for all of the other articles I've read they're better DE prospects than Ingram whose arm length may limit him to playing OLB.
The most recent reports I've read project Perry more as a 4-3 DE. The other issue I have with this ranking Cam Johnson ahead of Mercilus. It's a given that Mercilus will go round one whereas Cam Johnson has never been rated as a number one pick. Personally I think Curry and Branch are both better DE prospects than Cam Johnson as are Perry and Upshaw.
Most of the rest of these guys are no better than mid round picks who lack basic pass rush skills.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
MPBears68 Cam Johnson ahead of Mercilus and Ingram in the same tier as Couples???
Come on...
Exactly..........this is not the same as one that was done a week ago. I think the editors messed up here.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity If you needed a reason not to go DE in round 1, it is because there are only really 2 that are worth it.
NFP is a little off in ranking Mercilus so low, but the Bears might be better off adding a 2nd or 3rd round pick to the mix.
Nice try Windy but no cigar, LOL.
This is a bullshit ranking that's much much different than one which appeared on NFP just a week or so ago.
First of all there is no way Cam Johnson ranks ahead of Mercilus. Johnson has NEVER been ranked as a first round pick and some have Mercilus going top 20. That alone should tell you this ranking is wacked.
Perry isn't listed and neither is Upshaw both of whom are seen as better DE prospects than Ingram who, as you pointed out yourself, has physical limitations that may preclude him from playing with his hand on the ground.
So, Coples, Ingram, Mercilus, Perry and Upshaw are all a pretty sure thing to go in round one. I would be willing to bet there will be at least two on the board at #19 and possibly even three and although it's unlikely Coples will be it's not 100% out of the question.
A few of these guys are 2nd rounders but quite a few aren't worth more than a mid round pick because they lack great pass rush skills. Even the second round guys remind me more of Alex Brown than they do Osi Umenyiora.
If by some incredibly lucky set of circumstances we do get a shot at DeCastro (the only guy I would pass on a DE for) then the I'd look at Branch and Curry in two and a guy like Bequette in the middle rounds because I love high motor guys like him. They may not be slick with the moves but they're relentless. Another guy like that is Jared Crick but I think he has some injury issue. But guys like those two are strictly LDE material.
If I was a betting man I'd bet it will be Mercilus with Perry and Upshaw in second and third if we go DE in one but there is no way there are only two potential first round pass rushers.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman Nice try Windy but no cigar, LOL.
This is a bullshit ranking that's much much different than one which appeared on NFP just a week or so ago.
First of all there is no way Cam Johnson ranks ahead of Mercilus. Johnson has NEVER been ranked as a first round pick and some have Mercilus going top 20. That alone should tell you this ranking is wacked.
Perry isn't listed and neither is Upshaw both of whom are seen as better DE prospects than Ingram who, as you pointed out yourself, has physical limitations that may preclude him from playing with his hand on the ground.
So, Coples, Ingram, Mercilus, Perry and Upshaw are all a pretty sure thing to go in round one. I would be willing to bet there will be at least two on the board at #19 and possibly even three and although it's unlikely Coples will be it's not 100% out of the question.
A few of these guys are 2nd rounders but quite a few aren't worth more than a mid round pick because they lack great pass rush skills. Even the second round guys remind me more of Alex Brown than they do Osi Umenyiora.
If by some incredibly lucky set of circumstances we do get a shot at DeCastro (the only guy I would pass on a DE for) then the I'd look at Branch and Curry in two and a guy like Bequette in the middle rounds because I love high motor guys like him. They may not be slick with the moves but they're relentless. Another guy like that is Jared Crick but I think he has some injury issue. But guys like those two are strictly LDE material.
If I was a betting man I'd bet it will be Mercilus with Perry and Upshaw in second and third if we go DE in one but there is no way there are only two potential first round pass rushers.
I think you might be disappointed as the Bears draft offense in the 1st and look at DE in the middle rounds.
If I had to guess I think they will look for some situational developmental guys in rounds 2-4 to develop behind Izzy for a year and provide more speed.
1. WR
Instant starter across from Marshall.
2. OT
Competition at the most important spot against Webb.
3. DE Bruce Irvin [West Virginia]
A pure speed guy that can be developed an dplay 3rd down.
4. CB
5. DE Jake Buqeutte [Arkansas]
A athletcally limited hgh motor guy that could provide some pass rush based on effort and drive.
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