2012 NFL Draft: Ranking the 10 Best Defensive Ends

The 2012 NFL draft is loaded with pass-rushers, but 10 prospects rank higher than the rest.

With so many different defensive schemes employed in today's game, deciding which players should be classified as defensive ends can sometimes be difficult, and many of the most popular draft sites disagree on this subject.

Smaller players who played defensive end in college will likely move to outside linebacker if picked by a team which uses a 3-4 defense. Similarly, many of the faster and lighter defensive tackles will switch to defensive end.

The criteria for deciding which players are eligible for this list is simple: They must be listed as a DE by at least two of the following three sites: ESPN.com, CBSSports.com and NFL.com.

Now let's see who cracked the top 10.

10. Olivier Vernon, Junior, Miami

Height/weight: 6'2", 261 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.80

Broad jump: 122"

Bench press reps: 31 

Olivier Vernon is a high-risk, high-reward prospect. 

The Miami Hurricane was suspended for the first six games of last year and ordered to pay back $1,200 that he received from infamous booster Nevin Shapiro.

His production during a partial 2011 season was nothing to turn heads, and Vernon finished with just 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks. But in 2010, Vernon had six sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss.

The character concerns that have arisen due to this incident have hurt Vernon's draft stock, but the pass-rusher still has loads of talent.

Like many Miami recruits, he is a top-level athlete. He is fast and explosive enough to be an elite pass-rusher, but also has the strength and instincts to be effective against the run.

He has a complete skill set, but needs to mature both mentally and technically if he is going to be a productive player at the next level.

9. Tyrone Crawford, Senior, Boise State

Height/weight: 6'4", 275 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.89

Broad jump: 113"

Bench press reps: 28

Tyrone Crawford is relentless once he gets onto the football field, and that is an essential quality for any defensive player in the NFL.

The Boise State Bronco entered the combine at a prototypical size for a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but he weighed 10 pounds more at the East-West Shrine Game. This shows that he has the ability to pack on weight.

If Crawford bulked up, he could be effective as an end in a 3-4 defense. His grit and unselfishness will also help him succeed while playing the 5-technique. 

Crawford has all the mental tools to succeed in the NFL, but is not as physically gifted as many of the other prospects at DE.

8. Vinny Curry, Senior, Marshall

Height/weight: 6'3", 266 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.98

Broad jump: 110"

Bench press reps: DNP

If Vinny Curry does not become a star in the NFL, it will not be due to a lack of effort.

Curry's ESPN draft profile identifies him as "one of the hardest workers in the entire 2012 draft class."

He is tireless, and his determination compensates for his physical limitations. His will to win led to 23 sacks in his last two years at Marshall.

He is not the biggest, fastest or quickest defensive end in the draft, but his tenacity and relentless pursuit of the quarterback make him an intriguing prospect. 

Curry does not completely lack talent and his size, strength and polished technique may cause a team to take him with their first pick. However, his athletic limitations squash the possibility of him moving to outside linebacker to fit a 3-4 defense, and he will likely be targeted only by teams that use a 4-3.

7. Whitney Mercilus, Junior, Illinois

Height/weight: 6'4", 261 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.68

Broad jump: 118"

Bench press reps: 27

NFL running backs need to start working on their grip now that Whitney Mercilus is entering the league.

Mercilus' hard hits and nose for the ball caused nine fumbles during his last season at Illinois. This was the most in the nation, as were his 16 sacks.

The defensive end is dangerous when he is let loose on the edge, but physical limitations narrow his options. His strength and speed help him as a pure pass-rusher, but his lack of ability to move around in the open field may force him into a 4-3 scheme.

Regardless of his shortcomings in coverage, Mercilus is a violent hitter of the highest order. There will always be a place on an NFL roster for a guy who can pack a punch like Mercilus can.

6. Nick Perry, Junior, USC

Height/weight: 6'3", 271 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.64

Broad jump: 124"

Bench press reps: 35

Nick Perry is one of the most gifted athletes in this year's crop of defensive ends.

He has the speed, strength and explosiveness to have a long and successful NFL career.

His talent translated into production while at USC, and he led the team in sacks (8.5), forced fumbles (three) and tackles for a loss (13) last season. 

His physical gifts are even more evident when he is forced to drop into coverage. He is a fluid athlete who can move around in space, making him an ideal candidate to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Perry's versatility and natural abilities make it very unlikely that he slips out of the first round.

5. Andre Branch, Senior, Clemson

Height/weight: 6'4", 259 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.70

Broad jump: 120"

Bench press reps: DNP

NFL draft scouts often use the term "bend" when referring to pass-rushers, and bending is something Andre Branch excels at. 

This refers to a player's ability to bend his torso, which allows for a sharp change of direction as he moves past his blocker so that he can head straight for the quarterback.

As ESPN's Todd McShay said, "We always talk about bending the edge—Andre Branch can do it."

This quality makes Branch an elite pass-rusher, but he also has the athleticism to be effective in coverage. 

Branch is one of the most versatile defensive end prospects, and this will help him significantly on draft day.

4. Chandler Jones, Junior, Syracuse

Height/weight: 6'5", 266 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.87

Broad jump: 120"

Bench press reps: 22

April is shaping up to be an excellent month for Chandler Jones' family.

Jones is expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft, and his brother, Jon, just successfully defended his UFC light-heavyweight championship belt. 

The Syracuse pass-rusher used some of his brother's techniques to help out his game. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he said:

"

The way I was taught to play football, I was told there was a target I had to hit every snap. Looking at the target out of snap, my hands were a lot more fast. I was on that target before I could even think about being that fast. My hands got lightning fast and I'm excited to see them get even better.

"

Jones is one of the few prospects with the ability to play defensive end or linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, as well as DE in a 4-3 defense. 

His versatility and talent make him an exciting prospect, and many of the offensive linemen he will be unleashed on won't stand a puncher's chance against him.

3. Courtney Upshaw, Senior, Alabama

Height/weight: 6'2", 272 pounds

40-yard dash: DNP

Broad jump: DNP

Bench press reps: 22

Courtney Upshaw had a disappointing performance at the NFL combine, but can still fall back on a dominant senior season at Alabama that ended with a national championship.

Upshaw finished the year with 9.5 sacks, 18 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

He participated in only a few events at the combine, and the drills he did take part in revealed some weaknesses in coverage. This may hurt Upshaw's stock, as he is short for a 4-3 defensive end and projects best as a 3-4 linebacker.

However, the physicality and nastiness that defined his play with the Crimson Tide will be extremely attractive to the majority of NFL teams.

A few scouts may knock him for having stiff hips, but in the end, Upshaw is one of the best pass-rushers in this draft class.

2. Quinton Coples, Senior, North Carolina

Height/weight: 6'6", 284 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.78

Broad jump: 109"

Bench press reps: 25

Men as big as Quinton Coples should not be able to move like he does.

Coples' massive frame and remarkable athleticism led Rob Rang of CBSSports.com to compare him to another standout defensive end who attended North Carolina—Julius Peppers. 

Coples finished his senior season with 7.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss despite consistently having to work against double teams.

While every player on this list has physical gifts, none are quite as talented as Coples. He has an extremely rare combination of size and speed, and players with similar builds usually go on to have very successful NFL careers. 

Coples looks poised to follow Peppers, Mario Williams and Jason Pierre-Paul and become the next big-time athlete to make his mark at defensive end.

1. Melvin Ingram

Height/weight: 6'2", 264 pounds

40-yard dash: 4.79

Broad jump: 109"

Bench press reps: 28

A defensive end's primary responsibility is to rush the passer, and no prospect in this year's draft does that better than Melvin Ingram.

Regardless of what stance or what gap Ingram lines up in, he will cause offensive linemen a lot of problems. 

Ingram sets himself apart with his lower-body strength, and he posted very impressive times in the three-cone (6.83) and shuttle (4.18) drills.

His explosiveness and ability to change direction are second to none in this year's draft class and are directly related to his incredibly strong legs.

Wherever Ingram ends up and whatever position he plays, he will be causing quarterbacks nightmares for many years to come.