[Direckshun]

NT Danny Shelton, Washington -- As a Chiefs fan, you learn to get spoiled watching nose tackles play football. Danny Shelton is a good (albeit limited) NT, but Poe is so explosive, powerful, and athletic, that Shelton is just pathetic by comparison. Which isn't entirely fair to Shelton -- he's a lunchpail defensive lineman, reliably absorbing double-teams so that his teammates can win one-on-ones. He is not comparable to Alameda Ta'amu, the last NT the Huskies churned out, and was drafted by the Steelers. Ta'amu had some quickness to his game, Shelton does not. He is 6'2", 340 lbs of pure, squatty power, a block of granite in the middle of the line, very difficult to move off the ball. That said, he's not an elite specimen at that tool, either; his burst off the line is average, and while he has great hustle, he's useless outside of the phone booth. He will be a pure two-down NT in the NFL, as his passrushing ability is nonexistent. He can shut down the A gaps against the run, however, which is his real calling card. Teams will probably ask him to slim down some, but his additional weight doesn't detract from his effort on the field. He plays almost exclusively as a two-gapper, engaging his blocker, then shedding them as the RB approaches, and his technique is strong there. Shelton looks like a 3rd rounder to me, maybe even a 2nd rounder if I was really desperate for a two-gapping NT.

Edit (11/18): I watch Shelton all year so far and I see a monster. I think this guy has Phil Taylor potential. He is a bear in the run game, and shows sneaky athleticism in penetrating the pocket and getting to the QB. I think he looks like the best NT the Draft has seen since Dontari Poe in 2012. Definite 1st rounder.