NFL Draft 2011: Power Ranking Patrick Peterson and the Top 16 Defensive Players
This article is part of a two-part series here at Bleacher Report to effectively rank the top 32 players entering this year’s draft. Instead of doing so in mock draft form, we decided to go a different route and rank the top 16 defensive and top 16 offensive players in the 2011 draft class separately. The article on the top 16 offensive players can be found here.
The future of the NFL is still very uncertain. The last day of the current CBA has come and gone, been pushed back, and is now upon us once again.
All the uncertainty about the NFL’s future in 2011 has had an effect on April’s NFL Entry Draft as well. Free agency is effectively on hold. Many players who would have been traded or re-signed by now are still waiting to hear what their fate will be for the upcoming season—if there even is one.
However, through all this bickering about money between “millionaires and billionaires” has not overshadowed the sheer amount of talented players coming out of NCAA programs this season—all of whom are hoping to try their luck on the big stage. Before they ever put on a pair of cleats or see even one practice snap however, they must go through the pageantry that is the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Today, we bring you the top 16 defensive prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft class. These are the best pass rushers, hardest hitters and the most shut-down corners coming into the NFL this year. Few drafts have been this heavy with defensive line talent, but we kick off this list with one of the best coverage men to come out of the Big 12 in years.
Remember, this isn’t a mock draft. A player lower on the list could easily be selected higher than someone higher on the list due to the needs of the team making the selection.
Much of the information in this article comes from the Insider NFL Draft pages at ESPN, Mel Kiper’s Mock Draft and the NFL’s Combine Results site.
16. Jimmy Smith – CB (Colorado)
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Jimmy Smith isn’t one of the fastest DBs in this year’s class—running a 4.46 40—but he is one of the best press-man corners to come into the NFL in recent memory. He is a speed receiver’s worst nightmare, can recover if he gets beat and tips passes with the best of them. However, his real upside is the way he can bump guys off routes and simply remove receivers from the play.
His college numbers are nothing to write home about, but at 6’2” and 211 pounds, he is a tall—albeit, somewhat stiff—physical defensive back who is also strong in the run game on the outside. There is concern about his abilities in zone coverages, but that is something that can be taught.
He has a good head on his shoulders, and better yet, he lets his play do the talking, not his mouth. Look for Smith to be a late first rounder.
15. Muhammad Wilkerson – DT (Temple)
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Muhammad Wilkerson has the most common first name in the world, but he is anything but common. He has strong work ethic, plays hard every play, and is quick for a guy his size. At 6’4” and 315 pounds, he will give a lot of offensive lines troubles with his power and quick first step.
Wilkerson is among the top 5-technique linemen this year. He's a strong pass rusher up the middle who can push offensive linemen right into the quarterback and collapse the pocket from the inside. A true run-stopping anchor, Wilkerson can also shed blocks and pursue when the play moves outside.
Overall, Wilkerson is a rare prospect from the MAC and will bolster anyone’s defensive line. Look for him in the mid to late first round.
14. Ryan Kerrigan – DE (Purdue)
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There are many who are concerned that Ryan Kerrigan will have a tough time finding a place in many team’s front seven because of his relatively smaller size compared to other defensive ends in this draft class.
However, having seen him play every college snap he has taken, I have to say that he will have no problem being a strong and reliable pass rusher at the next level whether as an OLB in a 3-4 defense or a DE in a 4-3.
He has an explosive first step and simply unmatched power for a guy his size. Many have concerns that he isn’t vicious enough with his hands and can fall flat if his first move doesn’t beat the blocker he is working on, but that will come with more time.
He is a smart and tenacious player who has played in the rigors of an NFC North-like defense and will be a great addition to any team’s pass rush. Kerrigan should continue to develop into one of the better speed rushers in recent memory.
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13. Akeem Ayers – OLB (UCLA)
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Akeem Ayers opens up the true linebacker position at No. 13 on our list. Ayers is a 6’2” 254-pound machine. He is very good at dropping into coverage and getting to the ball whether in the run or the pass.
He has shown great ability to tackle the ball carrier, tip and pick off short passes and rush the passer. Ayers' durability cannot be questioned as he didn't miss a game in his NCAA career due to injury.
Where he really comes into his own, however, is in run defense. He seals off the edge and can play coverage from sideline to sideline with a tenacity not seen in many LB prospects. He also comes with little downside on and off the field. Simply put, he is a very strong choice for teams needing a versatile, run focused OLB and is easily a top-half pick in the first round.
12. Adrian Clayborn – DE (Iowa)
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Minor drama seems to follow Clayborn—sometimes literally in the form of a female stalker—but he is a well above average DE in a D-Line heavy draft.
His versatility is nearly unmatched as his 6’2” and 281-pound frame affords him the ability to move inside to defensive tackle on passing downs and also as a 5-technique end in three man fronts.
He doesn’t over pursue in play action, can play in a two-gap scheme if needed, and is an unyielding pass rusher.
The same cannot be said about his effort against the run. Simply put, he is another strong lineman prospect from Iowa and has the ability to keep offensive linemen up the night before a game against him. Look for Clayborn as a late first round pick.
11. Corey Liuget – DT (Illinois)
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One of many strong prospects—especially on the defensive side of the ball—from Illinois this year, Corey Liuget is one of the hardest working defensive linemen in this draft whose motor never seems to stop.
Liuget has a quick first step and really excels at staying low and shedding blocks. He never seems to lose sight of the ball for very long and when he reaches the quarterback or ball carrier he pursues strong from behind, closes gaps quickly and hits as hard as anyone at his position.
His abilities to tip passes at the line and make open-field tackles may push him up in the draft, but for now, he still sits just outside the top 10 on our defensive player board.
10. Cameron Jordan – DE (Cal)
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Weighing in at 287 pounds, the 6’4” defensive end from Cal is a defensive coordinator’s dream. He is the typical size for a 5-technique defensive end and has great quickness and top speed to go with it.
There are concerns about his attitude and ability to stay out of off-field trouble which has become more important than ever in today’s NFL in the wake of players like Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick and of course the infamous Pacman Jones. However, he comes from an NFL family and should be able to keep himself in check at the next level.
He is not overly strong in either the run or pass, but is versatile and can identify plays quickly to be effective in both situations. He bats down passes, and could be very effective as either a 3-4 DE or 4-3 power end.
9. Aldon Smith – DE (Missouri)
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Aldon Smith may get his chance someday soon to line up across from his fellow Missouri Tigers teammate Blaine Gabbert and strike fear in the eyes of a fellow athlete who knows just how talented Smith is.
He has work to do before playing in the NFL—namely in the form of bulking up his 6’4” 263-pound frame a bit more—but is possibly the best defensive end in this draft against the run. Smith has quick feet and can get up field quickly and disrupt plays in the backfield.
His pass rush skills are average, but if he can learn to keep himself lower and add power to his lower body and core he could be an effective two-way rusher in the NFL. Look for him to just sneak into the top half of the first round picks.
8. Prince Amukamara – CB (Nebraska)
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Prince Amukamara is certainly a royal prospect. At 6’0” and 206 pounds he is a great size for a cornerback and his play shows it. He is durable—having never missed a game due to injury in four seasons at Nebraska—and keeps himself out of off-field trouble.
His confidence at the position shines through on every down and plays man, man-press and zone coverages with the best of them. His lack of interceptions in 2010 is misleading—he has great hands and ball skills, can close gaps quickly and change directions quickly to follow routes designed to shake man coverage.
Amukamara isn’t as hard hitting as some of the other defensive backs in the draft, but he makes solid tackles and can move up to stop the run as well. His football instincts and aptitude allow him to quickly sniff out running plays and play-action.
Expect Amukamara to fall no farther than 10th in the draft.
7. J.J Watt – DE (Wisconsin)
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Yet another defensive lineman in this draft class, J.J. Watt is one of the quicker, big D-Linemen this year. Don’t be fooled by his 15th place earning 4.84 40 time, he is intense off the ball and shows great finishing speed and the ability to disrupt passing lanes when he gets in the QB’s face.
Watt’s motor must run on Energizer batteries because he simply keeps going and going and never gives up on a play. He's an extremely smart player who's rarely fooled on anything short of option plays.
He—like Aldon Smith—could use work on his lower body strength to improve his skills as a pass rusher but his ability to stop the run and disrupt throwing and sight lanes will make him an invaluable addition to any team’s defensive line.
6. Nick Fairley – DT (Auburn)
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Work ethic questions aside, Nick Fairley is simply a beast inside. He is simply the best and most dynamic pure pass rusher in the last few drafts with possibly the exception of Ndamukong Suh.
He is tall and maybe a bit light for his position, but possesses explosive speed and can shed blocks and get to the passer in a hurry. He plays the pass and run equally well and can beat blockers with a multitude of different moves and has very quick hands for a DT.
Fairley will have to learn to curb his enthusiasm—and anger—if he wants to truly succeed in the NFL. He needs to cut down on the personal foul calls if he wants to be friends with his defensive coordinator for long.
However, Fairley is one of those virtually “bust-proof” prospects and will be a steal if he falls farther than fifth overall.
5. Von Miller – OLB (Texas A&M)
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The other first round likely linebacker in this draft class, Von Miller has the ability to change the defensive strength of any NFL team just by being on their side of the field. He notched the second-fastest 40 time among linebackers—a 4.53—at the NFL Combine and is one of the most effective third-down defenders in the game.
He is a very durable OLB who lets his play do the talking for him and works hard in every practice and on every down. His effort is lacking in some pursuit plays and he could use some work in the film room to better diagnose draw and play-action plays. That being said, Miller is one of the best at reading screens and shutting them down in the backfield.
As with many others in this draft class, he could use bulking up in his lower body but overall has great size, quickness and tenacity. Miller will be an excellent addition to anyone drafting in the top five.
4. Robert Quinn – DE (North Carolina)
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Robert Quinn’s story is nothing short of miraculous. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor during his senior year of high school, he has rebounded to be one of the most explosive pass rushers in the history of UNC and the ACC. He is a bit on the small side for a defensive end, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in speed.
Quinn did miss the 2010 season due to an NCAA suspension, but the circumstances of the suspension are still vague at best and his character is rarely still called into question. His passion and work ethic are unparalleled and is versatile enough to fit in on any team’s D-Line from day one.
Some teams might still have a warning in the back of their minds about his year off from football, but he is still in great football shape and ready to play. Don’t be surprised if he jumps into one of the top five picks.
3. Marcell Dareus – DT (Alabama)
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Marcell Dareus is the true Cinderella story of the 2011 NFL Draft. He lost his father when he was only six years old and nearly lost his mother to heart failure a few years ago. However, he has persevered through all the chaos and is the No. 1 defensive tackle on our list.
He stays low in the trenches, owns one of the quickest first steps in the draft, and has shown the ability to change direction quickly to shed blocks and get into the backfield.
Dareus also rarely takes any plays off, though he does need work on his stamina to be an every down pass rusher. He is more of a one gap lineman in most circumstances, but can plug holes and play well against the run or pass.
Look for Dareus to come off the board very quickly on Draft Thursday. We think whomever picks him couldn’t use that pick on a more deserving athlete.
2. Patrick Peterson – CB (LSU)
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After the initial flurry of loving for Patrick Peterson following his dominant Combine showing, he drops only to No. 2 on our list of defenders in this year’s draft class.
A legitimate shut-down corner, Peterson will be a welcome addition to any team’s secondary. At the Combine he ran a 4.34 40, tied for fifth in the vertical jump at 38 inches, and missed the top spot in the broad jump by a mere inch.
Long story short, the six-foot, 219-pound Peterson will be one of the best rookie coverage corners in recent memory and can also hit hard and support in the running game. We still think he is a lock for the No. 1 overall pick regardless of whose pick that is.
1. Da’Quan Bowers – DE (Clemson)
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In a “Tiger” filled draft, Bowers takes the proverbial cake. He is a slab of a man at 6’3” and 280 pounds and is still quick for his size and position.
Bowers is possibly the most versatile lineman in this draft due to his size, power and explosiveness and hits hard when he gets to the ball carrier. He has been known to give up on plays early but a big rookie contract might be the right motivation to change that.
As it is, he is a rare 3-technique prospect who would be strong and effective on the end of any team’s line and could easily go first in the draft if the price or team is right. Regardless of whose pick it is, the chances of him dropping out of the top three picks is slim to none, and he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come in the NFL.
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