Defensive Tackles
 

So we're probably gonna have to look at one of these pretty early this year. We were supposedly on Mazi Smith last year so tell me who to watch this year.

Sweat from Texas is a monster nose tackle, and if Spags isn't happy with Neil Ferrell, I'd be looking at him in the 1st or 2nd round.

Ruke Orhorhoro is probably my favorite obtainable 3-tech (Newton being a likely top 15 pick is just out of reach for us).

I love McKinnley Jackson as a mid-round NT (probably round 3).

I like Michael Hall alot as well. I think he's going to be a better pro than college player but he might be better as a 3-4 DE than a 4-3 3T.

Yeah, I dunno about a pure NT. A 3T is enticing to me.

Hall was on my radar as well. I actually feel like his only avenue to a long career is as a 4-3 3 tech. I just don't see him having the length to excel in an odd front.

But if anyone takes him thinking he's going to be a Jones replacement, that's a mistake. He's nowhere near the athlete. I'm not sure he'll ever actual excel at all - he may just be a guy who has a steady career.

It's admittedly a lazy comparison given their roles and school, but Dre'Mont Jones may be the sort of best case scenario I could see for him.

A couple DTs I got my eye on

Ruke Ohorhoro Clemson
Darius Robinson Missouri
Justin Eboigbe Alabama
Gabe Hall Baylor
Tim Smith Alabama
Alfred Collins Texas
Zion Logue Georgia

Here's another guy on my radar:

NT/DT Jordan Jefferson, LSU, 6-4, 317 lbs, 4.7 40-yard dash.

Kid has some plus traits, he's fast and strong, he's got some position versatility too, maybe we can coach him up.

"His spin move is already NFL-caliber, and Jefferson displays a very good motor. Made Bruce Feldman's Freak's List - ranked #71. He wrote "Jefferson squatted 695, power-cleaned 395, and benched 495 pounds. He also moved remarkably well, vertical-jumping 34 1/2 inches and clocking a 4.52 in his pro agility time."

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/...L-WestVirginia

I agree with this because these guys aren't particularly expensive on the free agent market. It seems to me that the space eating NT type is a player that we could find at a bargain on the market.

Also, just a thought-

I don't remember Spags ever really employing the 330+ pound NT type. I'm not going to go back and look at his rosters, but I don't remember that ever being part of his concepts. A lot of 'tweener' types, versatility is prized, but not just a huge run stuffing NT type.

Plus we have Farrell and Buggs who can fill that role for next year

Yeah, you want beef but you want guys that can move as well.

Ideally, you get guys that you don't have to take off the field on pure passing downs. But those guys.....get 30 million dollars a year.

DL

Byron Murphy II
Kris Jenkins
Brandon Dorlus
Mehki Wingo
Maason Smith
Tyler Davis

Gabe Hall is a guy I like as well.

A few others I didn't list above that I really like are:

DeWayne Carter, Duke - Reliable 3T with good pass rush ability
Nathan Pickering, Mississippi State - Nice, steady, NT type

I have mixed feelings on Keith Randolph of Illinois. I love his length and initial punch but he's slow off the ball. He is alot like Gervon Dexter, just overshadowed by a much better Newton on the opposite side of their 3-4.

They haven't shown anything at all in a Chiefs uniform, so I don't know about all that.

We need good DT's, other than Jones, it's the defense's biggest weakness and without Jones, it's a gaping hole.

But not a traditionally expensive hole to fill.

If you're picking in the 2nd and going purely on upside at DT, Maason Smith at LSU is someone who really pops out at you.

Incredibly big and athletic (6-6/315), he's a guy that with good coaching and dedication on his own part could be an absolute monster/steal.

Thoughts on him?

The LSU coaching staff was pretty much a dumpster fire this year, at least on the defensive side. Maybe that's hiding a little bit of his potential?

I thought Farrell showed well in week 18. I think he is a good young DT that fits that run stuffer role.
Buggs has a proven record in the NFL.

I agree that we need upgrades but with those two I think we are ok at the run stuffing role there. We need upgrades for Dickerson and Wharton.

I find myself CONSTANTLY taking him in the 2nd round of mock drafts. Like clockwork.

I like him a lot. I mean I don't see a dime's worth of difference between him and Mazi Smith from a potential standpoint and frankly I think Smith's upside is greater.

Yeah, I think he'd really be a nice option in the 2nd. I mean if he and Darius Robinson are there in the 2nd, I don't think that's a close question.

His scouts read an awful lot like young Chris Jones. 6-6, 315, freaky strong, freaky quick, freaky long. Needs technique work.

I was thinking that Byron Murphy was this year's Chris Jones?

I don’t see that comparison.

Jones is a tall, long, lean DT with incredible quickness and strength.

Murphy is like 6-1/305.

Completely different bodies and styles.

He seems like he could have the versatility Spags like to employ along the line too. He plays the full year and he probably goes before we can get a chance. I'm hoping we get the WR we need in the first and maybe a shot at him in the 2nd.

Right - that's why I likened him to Donald around here somewhere.

I mean I don't believe he's that guy at all, but that's the archetype for him. Jones, as you noted, is a lot more line Maason Smith.