2014 NFL Draft: Expanded Defensive Positional Rankings

As the NFL season reaches the midway point, it's time to update defensive positional rankings for the 2014 NFL draft.

The defensive side of this draft is fascinating as many of the top players going into the season have seemingly faded, while other, lesser known players are stepping up and making themselves known.

Positions of strength at this point are defensive end and outside linebacker. This is exciting to many front offices, as NFL franchises covet dynamic and explosive pass-rush specialists over just about anything else.

On the other hand, if there is a clear weakness among the positions is defensive tackle. Typically, it is fairly easy to pick out six or seven defensive tackles who teams will go up and get. This year, however, that clearly isn't the case. While there are some nice players, there just is not anyone who really jumps off the page as an elite prospect.

Defensive Ends

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The defensive end class is, of course, headlined by South Carolina end Jadeveon Clowney. As good as Clemson's Vic Beasley and Oregon State's Scott Crichton are, they are graded well below Clowney - at least for the time being. That is not to say this isn't a strong class, because it certainly is. And if your team is seeking an explosive pass-rush end or a massive run-stopper, he can be found in this group.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
2. Vic Beasley, Clemson
3. Scott Crichton, Oregon State
4. James Gayle, Virginia Tech
5. Trent Murphy, Stanford
6. Michael Sam, Missouri
7. Chris Smith, Arkansas
8. Kareem Martin, North Carolina
9. Josh Mauro, Stanford
10. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas
11. Kony Ealy, Missouri
12. Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State
13. Ben Gardner, Stanford
14. George Uko, USC
15. Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

Defensive Tackles

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While this group lacks real star power, it still has an excellent mix of players with varying styles who excel in disparate schemes. For this reason, predicting who will go when will be a challenge. Notre Dame's Louis Nix III might be the guy with the broadest appeal based upon size alone; but a player like Arizona State's Will Sutton is likely to draw plenty of attention.

1. Louis Nix III, Notre Dame
2. Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
3. Dominique Easley, Florida
4. Will Sutton, Arizona State
5. Timmy Jerrigan, Florida State
6. Daniel McCullers, Tennessee
7. Anthony Johnson, LSU
8. Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State
9. DaQuan Jones, Penn State
10. DeAndre Coleman, Cal
11. Aaron Donald, Pitt
12. Danny Shelton, Washington
13. Brandon Ivory, Alabama

Outside Linebackers

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The NFL is demanding more and more of its outside linebackers, thereby putting a premium on the top prospects. In this day and age, they must demonstrate versatility and athleticism to suit up in an NFL that puts a premium on speed - particularly in the passing game. This group has some top tier athletes who should flourish in myriad defensive systems.

1. Anthony Barr, UCLA
2. Khalil Mack, Buffalo
3. C.J. Mosley, Alabama
4. Ryan Shazier, Ohio State
5. Kyle Van Noy, BYU
6. Denzel Perryman, Miami
7. Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
8. Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech
9. Telvin Smith, Florida State
10. Ronald Powell, Florida
11. Morgan Breslin, USC
12. Dee Ford, Auburn
13. Prince Shembo, Notre Dame
14. Jordan Hicks, Texas
15. Carl Bradford, Arizona State

Inside Linebackers

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Traditionally, inside linebackers were on the field. primarily, to stop the run. However, in today's NFL, the inside linebacker has to blitz and cover as much as anyone on the field. This group of inside linebackers isn't top heavy, but goes fairly deep in terms of players who can be drafted and contribute, even if it is just on special teams, initially. One to watch in this group is Wisconsin's Chris Borland. He's a bit undersized, but is 100 percent football player.

1. A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
2. Christian Jones, Florida State
3. Shayne Skov, Stanford
4. Yawin Smallwood, UConn
5. Trey De'Priest, Alabama
6. Ramik Wilson, Georgia
7. Chris Borland, Wisconsin
8. Lamin Barrow, LSU
9. Jordan Zumwalt, UCLA
10. AJ Tarpley, Stanford
11. Eric Kendricks, UCLA
12. Bryce Hager, Baylor

Cornerbacks

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This group oozes potential, but their collective college football season, thus far, hasn't lived up to the hype. From Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu to Oklahoma's Aaron Colvin, we see guys who sometimes look like sure first rounders, but then surprise with some glaring inconsistencies which prevent them from earning a full endorsement.

1. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
2. Bradley Roby, Ohio State
3. Louchiez Purifoy, Florida
4. Jason Verrett, TCU
5. Antone Exum, Virginia Tech
6. Marcus Roberson, Florida
7. Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech
8. Aaron Colvin, Oklahoma
9. Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
10. Damian Swann, Georgia
11. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Nebraska
12. Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas
13. Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M
14. Jaylen Watkins, Florida
15. Andre Hal, Vanderbilt

Safeties

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This group might not be chock-full-o'-firsts, but make no mistake, this class goes six or seven deep with potential rookie starters. The majority of this group has nice size and speed. And in some cases, like Florida State's Lamarcus Joyner, we can see the potential for a Pro Bowl caliber type of performer.

1. HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama
2. Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State
3. Craig Loston, LSU
4. Deonne Bucannon, Washington State
5. Dion Bailey, USC
6. Terrence Brooks, Florida State
7. Tre Boston, North Carolina
8. Jordan Richards, Stanford
9. Ed Reynolds, Stanford