NFL Draft 2015: Projections for Defensive Stars Set to Make Biggest Impact

The NFL may be continuing to transition to a pass-happy, offensive-centered league, but the importance of having a good defense won't be lost anytime soon.

The old adage that defense wins championships is becoming rapidly outdated with the way the rules are favoring offenses more and more. What remains true is that it's nearly impossible to win a Super Bowl with a bad defense. You can't afford to ignore that side of the ball and expect to truly compete for a title.

As a result, plenty of teams will be looking to the 2015 NFL draft to find their potential building blocks on the defensive side of the ball.

And the three players below have the best chance to provide an immediate impact for their new team in 2015.

Leonard Williams, DT, USC

Projected Selection: No. 2 Tennessee Titans

It's way too early to start making comparisons right now to the top names of today, but Leonard Williams in two or three years could position himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the league—that's how high his ceiling is.

The USC star is the perfect blend of pass-rusher/run-stuffer that teams look for in a dynamic player to anchor the interior of the defensive line. He has the strength to handle NFL offensive linemen in tight quarters and combination of agility and athleticism to get after the quarterback in space.

The Tennessee Titans arguably need a quarterback more than a defensive tackle, but beyond Jameis Winston, there isn't a QB who makes sense at No. 2 for the team. Williams' transition to the NFL will be much easier than Marcus Mariota's.

Plus, the Titans already have another former Trojans star on the line who can help ease Williams into the league in Jurrell Casey. Back in February, Williams spoke about how he'd like to work with Casey at the next level.

"That would be a lot of fun to play with a former Trojan. Trojans always have that connection," he said, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. "It would be great to play side-by-side with (Casey). I know he's been doing great in his profession so far."

In what is a pretty shallow draft class, being able to grab a potential All-Pro like Williams is a no-brainer for Tennessee.

Danny Shelton, DT, Washington

Projected Selection: No. 7 Chicago Bears

Cut more from the mold of the prototypical space-eater is Danny Shelton. While athletic for his size, Shelton's primary skill is disrupting the line of scrimmage and wreaking havoc on the run. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein drew the parallel to Vince Wilfork, which is extremely high praise considering Wilfork has gone to five Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowl rings.

Shelton's stock has dropped somewhat since his unspectacular performance at the combine.

In addition, Zierlein spoke to an NFC scout about the negative perception some have about the former Washington Husky. The scout reportedly said, "Shelton is a bully. If you let him walk all over you early in the game, he's going to keep doing it. But watch how he kind of fades into the background when he goes up against guys who stand up to him. I want to see him show up all the time."

According to Football Outsiders, the Chicago Bears finished with the 29th-best pass defense and 21st-best run defense in 2014.

It's not a stretch to say that Shelton could help in both categories. His potential impact against the run is somewhat obvious, but against the pass, he might demand more attention from the offensive line, which could in turn lead to his teammates getting a little more freedom on the outside to get after the quarterback.

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Projected Selection: No. 14 Miami Dolphins

With the signing of Ndamukong Suh, the Miami Dolphins sent the message that they are tired of being a good team but not good enough to make playoffs. You don't spend $100-plus million on a marquee free agent to finish 8-8 the next season.

The Dolphins need to approach the first round looking to draft a player who can help immediately and fill a role. Trae Waynes would be that guy.

While Miami already has a Pro Bowl cornerback in Brent Grimes, the cupboard is pretty bare after that. It's becoming harder and harder in the NFL to be a viable Super Bowl contender without two top-end cornerbacks; the Seattle Seahawks are setting the standard for the rest of the league.

Although Waynes isn't the same kind of prospect that Dee Milliner, Justin Gilbert or Patrick Peterson were coming out of college, he's the best corner available in this year's class.

The former Michigan State Spartan has a nice blend of speed and physicality that will allow him to match up with a variety of different receivers.

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks made the case that stylistically, Waynes would be a nice fit for the Dolphins' defensive scheme:

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Yes, they signed Brice McCain, but the team should consider targeting an ultra-athletic press corner like Waynes to provide coordinator Kevin Coyle with the flexibility to play tight coverage behind aggressive blitzes at the point of attack. Waynes certainly has a ton of experience playing one-on-one coverage on the outside as the "boundary" corner at Michigan State. Thus, he should thrive in a defense that emphasizes man-to-man coverage on the outside. Most importantly, the addition of Waynes would give Coyle a dynamic trio of cover corners to handle the versatile aerial attacks emerging in the AFC East.

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Waynes wouldn't be the missing piece of the puzzle that makes the Dolphins Super Bowl favorites, but he would certainly help Miami get on the path to title glory.