The Best Defensive Tackles Not Named Suh or McCoy

We have all heard the hype surrounding the two players that are considered to be the best defensive tackles in the draft, Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy. However, we don’t hear much about the other guys behind them who should be first or early second round players. There are very talented defensive tackles available behind these two future All-Pros and some of these guys could make the team that drafts them very happy.

Here is a look at three players that currently sit behind Suh and McCoy in the defensive tackle rankings with some information on what that player is like and where they may end up going in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Dan Williams-Tennessee-Williams, a junior, is ranked as the third best defensive end by many draft experts and presents interested teams with a solid option at the defensive tackle position. On the upside, Williams has size and strength that is ideal for the position and isn’t a bad athlete. 

He is also intelligent and has great instincts. Williams has good quickness for the defensive tackle position and can stack and shed blockers well enough. He works hard to beat double teams. Going along with his great instincts, Williams is able to diagnose plays and knows where the ball is at all times.

The downside to Williams is that he doesn’t have the agility that several of the other players at his position have and will wear down as the game goes on. While he is a decent enough run stopper he’s not that good of a pass rusher, which could make him a liability. He has been known for a less than perfect work ethic and may be much more of a project player than he appears to be.

Williams is an interesting prospect and one that might get over drafted. He doesn’t have that much starting experience and there isn’t a lot of tape on him to show that he’s worthy of a first round pick. However, teams have fallen in love with him. He’s a one of those guys that could be a big-time find or a big-time bust.

Terrence Cody-Alabama-Cody is sort of an enigma in this draft. There are a lot of experts that think that he will be an outstanding player in the league and will have a long and successful career. However, there are others that feel Cody will go the way of some of the other guys who are big and have had problems controlling their weight and could eventually wash out of the NFL.

However, there is too much talent here to waste and someone is going to take Cody early in the 2010 NFL Draft. When looking at what makes Cody special, the first think that you will notice is his size. He has a massive body and is able to fill the gaps and stop the run. He’s got great hands, good technique and decent athleticism. While his work against the run is strong, his ability to defend against the pass is also very good. He is underrated here.

Looking at what might be wrong with Cody, the first thing you hear is his weight. There have been instances where his weight has been an issue and he will have to keep that under control in the NFL. He isn't that agile and doesn’t have the ideal range that many would like to see in a starting defensive tackle. Cody is inconsistent and sometimes plays hard while at other times it appears he is taking plays off.

Even as we draw closer to the draft, it’s getting much harder to predict where Cody will go. There are some that feel Cody is going to end up being one of the better finds at the defensive tackle position while others feel that he is going to be a risk, no matter where he is taken. However, Cody should be a fine fit somewhere in the NFL and be able to become one of the better defensive tackles to come out of this draft.

Brian Price-UCLA-Price has been kind of a quiet figure at the position heading into the 2010 NFL Draft but with the kind of talent he has, he could end up being one of the better defensive tackles to come out of college. He’s quietly moved up a lot of draft boards since the end of the college football season, and could surprise a lot of people where he ends up.

Price has a lot of upside and has had a very good career. He can rush the passer well, wreak havoc in the pocket and is very quick. He is also a fine athlete and can move around the field very well. Price has good moves that he can use to get free of blockers and looks experienced on the field. He can also chase down plays from behind thanks to his quickness.

There is a downside to every player and Price has a few. He needs to tone things down sometimes and play a little less aggressive. There are times when he can take himself out of plays. He also doesn’t have much room to grow and while he does have good size for the position he doesn’t have outstanding size. As a result, he may not fit well in a 3-4 defense.

A lot of teams like Price for his potential but he isn’t a guy that’s going to go as early in the first round as some think. He’s too small and would fit much better in a 4-3 scheme with good linebackers and solid defensive ends. Teams like the Colts and Saints would be great fits for Price. If he lands with the right team, he could have a long and successful career in the NFL.

So where will each one these guys go in the 2010 NFL Draft? Well two of them are sure fire first rounders (Williams and Price) while Cody may slip into the bottom of the first round or early second round.