04-15-2018, 05:25 PM
I usually would do scouting reports every year, and sadly this year I haven't been able to post here as much due to work and working closely with NFL Draft Diamonds. However, I still wanted to do something and give my thoughts on some players.
So from now until the 25th, I will be posting my top 5 players at certain positions. Each day will be a different position.
If you have any questions about other prospects, whether thoughts or if I watched them, please by all means bring them up.
And if you have different rankings (which will happen) and want to discuss it, please do.
Now with this said, here's my first rankings.
Note: If a player has recently gone through an injury I will not hold that against them. Off the field issues I will not as well. This is purely based on tape, Combine, and bowls (such as East-West and Senior). Does not mean I would draft them there, but basing this on the plays they perform on the field alone.
Wolf's Top 5 Defensive Ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State.
Chubb is an extremely instinctive and dangerous pass rusher. He can beat you with almost any move; swim move, bull rush, or even just over-power the lineman. Extremely strong hands that can slap away defender's and sheds blocks consistently. He has a strong build to him and has dangerous speed for a defensive end. Chubb also tries to go for the strip rather than just take the opponent down. I've also been impressed with his motor as he uses speed most of the time, he seems to always be going at a high level. He's not the most natural bender around the corner and will have to better time his movement at the snap of the ball, but he has improved every year throughout his career and seems like he will be a great addition to whoever drafts him.
2. Arden Key, LSU
This is one of those players that has immense red flags but is an extremely good player. Going off of game tape, Key is very hard to keep hold of. He's fast, big, has long arms to keep the opponent at bay, and continuously fights throughout the play. He can also beat the lineman with inside moves or outside moves, showing he has multiple techniques and understands how to use them. Key is very good when it comes to "curving" around the edge to the quarterback, he has a natural bend to him. He does struggle against bigger, tougher tackles that can get a hold of him and while he plays to the end of the whistle, you can tell when he gets tired. There's a lot of upside to Key as he could become a dominate pass rusher in the NFL.
3. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
Davenport is such a raw prospect but has a high ceiling. He's an aggressive player and uses his long length to win his battles. He's powerful and quick at the point of attack. He's more of a straight line player and isn't going to be someone who will bend the corner. You can also tell how raw he is by his pad level and struggling against play action, but he's a very good run defender. He finishes plays and will take on blockers, which can be a positive or negative depending on the situation. There's a ton of upside with Davenport, but it may take him awhile to get up to speed of the NFL.
4. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Hubbard has a ton of attributes that you want in a defensive end. He doesn't really have a trait that's "elite" and hasn't played to his full potential, there's a lot to like with his game tape and things to look forward to in the NFL. He can bend the corner and uses pad level extremely well. He also does very well with his hand usage and can win his battles by doing so. He also sometimes over-pursues and will miss the quarterback and will sometimes flaten to the quarterback. However, he's a hard worker and can certainly be a good defensive end in the league.
5. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
Gets off the ball with a quick burst and has a very good drive with his legs. Ability to disengage with opponents and go after the ball. He also shows a ton of pass rush moves. Okoronkwo can also hesitate and set up the opponent to counter and beat them. He sometimes gets tight hyped and isn't exactly the biggest defender, but he has shown the ability to fight until the end of the whistle and make plays. He will most likely be used as a pass rushing specialist in the NFL; whether at DE or OLB in a 3-4 defense.
So from now until the 25th, I will be posting my top 5 players at certain positions. Each day will be a different position.
If you have any questions about other prospects, whether thoughts or if I watched them, please by all means bring them up.
And if you have different rankings (which will happen) and want to discuss it, please do.
Now with this said, here's my first rankings.
Note: If a player has recently gone through an injury I will not hold that against them. Off the field issues I will not as well. This is purely based on tape, Combine, and bowls (such as East-West and Senior). Does not mean I would draft them there, but basing this on the plays they perform on the field alone.
Wolf's Top 5 Defensive Ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State.
Chubb is an extremely instinctive and dangerous pass rusher. He can beat you with almost any move; swim move, bull rush, or even just over-power the lineman. Extremely strong hands that can slap away defender's and sheds blocks consistently. He has a strong build to him and has dangerous speed for a defensive end. Chubb also tries to go for the strip rather than just take the opponent down. I've also been impressed with his motor as he uses speed most of the time, he seems to always be going at a high level. He's not the most natural bender around the corner and will have to better time his movement at the snap of the ball, but he has improved every year throughout his career and seems like he will be a great addition to whoever drafts him.
2. Arden Key, LSU
This is one of those players that has immense red flags but is an extremely good player. Going off of game tape, Key is very hard to keep hold of. He's fast, big, has long arms to keep the opponent at bay, and continuously fights throughout the play. He can also beat the lineman with inside moves or outside moves, showing he has multiple techniques and understands how to use them. Key is very good when it comes to "curving" around the edge to the quarterback, he has a natural bend to him. He does struggle against bigger, tougher tackles that can get a hold of him and while he plays to the end of the whistle, you can tell when he gets tired. There's a lot of upside to Key as he could become a dominate pass rusher in the NFL.
3. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
Davenport is such a raw prospect but has a high ceiling. He's an aggressive player and uses his long length to win his battles. He's powerful and quick at the point of attack. He's more of a straight line player and isn't going to be someone who will bend the corner. You can also tell how raw he is by his pad level and struggling against play action, but he's a very good run defender. He finishes plays and will take on blockers, which can be a positive or negative depending on the situation. There's a ton of upside with Davenport, but it may take him awhile to get up to speed of the NFL.
4. Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
Hubbard has a ton of attributes that you want in a defensive end. He doesn't really have a trait that's "elite" and hasn't played to his full potential, there's a lot to like with his game tape and things to look forward to in the NFL. He can bend the corner and uses pad level extremely well. He also does very well with his hand usage and can win his battles by doing so. He also sometimes over-pursues and will miss the quarterback and will sometimes flaten to the quarterback. However, he's a hard worker and can certainly be a good defensive end in the league.
5. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
Gets off the ball with a quick burst and has a very good drive with his legs. Ability to disengage with opponents and go after the ball. He also shows a ton of pass rush moves. Okoronkwo can also hesitate and set up the opponent to counter and beat them. He sometimes gets tight hyped and isn't exactly the biggest defender, but he has shown the ability to fight until the end of the whistle and make plays. He will most likely be used as a pass rushing specialist in the NFL; whether at DE or OLB in a 3-4 defense.