4/19/22
The biggest byproduct of the evolution of the game of football over the years has been the significant increase in the amount of passing. There has been a huge spike in college football and a lesser, although still very noticeable, uptick at the pro level. Obviously, more passing for the offense means more opportunities to rush the passer for the defense. It should not come as a surprise that Defensive Ends have become one of the most vital positions on the field. Even the position itself has changed – long gone are the days when a DE’s primary responsibility was to set the edge in the run game and occasionally get after the QB. Nowadays the edge rushers have such different body types and are so much more athletic than the DEs of yesteryear. It is crucial to have elite DE play for any NFL team because if you can’t affect the QB, there is no way you can have success as a defense. In the words of legendary defensive coordinator and architect of the 46 Defense, Buddy Ryan, “It’s hard to throw the ball with tears in your eyes.” See below for some of this year’s best.
1. Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
Very possibly the first overall pick in this year’s draft. I, like many others, originally had Kayvon Thibodeaux pegged as the best DE and the first overall pick, but Hutchinson changed my mind by playing his best in the biggest games. When you put on the film, the first things that pop out about Hutchinson are his high effort and relentless motor – he never stops working to get to the QB, as shown by his 14 sacks in 2021. Is easily able to turn the corner to get around OTs and TEs. If a QB is on the move, I like how he breaks down and makes sure tackles, rarely allowing QBs to escape. Does not only go for the sack, but goes for the ball, something that not all players understand the importance of. Showed good athletic ability by dropping into coverage at times, and was able to run with RBs coming out of the backfield. Aside from his pass rushing dominance, he also caused a lot of chaos in the run game, quickly getting his heels across the line of scrimmage and disrupting plays before they could get started. Many of his sacks came from either speed rush or bull rush, so I would like to see him develop a more well rounded arsenal of pass rush moves. Will inevitably draw comparisons to JJ Watt. Overall, I think Hutchinson will be a very solid DE in the league.
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
As mentioned above, the reason I do not have Thibodeaux listed as my DE1 is because in Oregon’s biggest games last year, he was nowhere to be found. A player with his physical gifts should have had much better production in my opinion, so there are certainly some questions there. With that being said, he is a freak of nature. Made an instant impact as a true freshman by tallying nine sacks, following that up with only three in 2020, before putting up seven sacks in his final stint. Has great size at 6’5, 258 lbs and moves extremely well for a player of his stature. At times, has an excellent first step, which is key for any elite pass rusher. Also uses his speed to chase down ball carriers. Was able to play both standing up and with his hand in the dirt – could be a versatile piece at the next level and could potentially line up at a few different spots to cause mismatches. Definitely needs some more development and must be able to become a factor when his team needs him most.
3. George Karlaftis (Purdue)
Only really played two full seasons in college, as he was sidelined most of 2020 with injuries and Covid. Uses his hands and length incredibly well to disengage from blockers. Has a very impressive bull rush. Always arrives at the ball carrier with bad intentions and is a hard hitter. I love his energy and effort – never gets discouraged if his first pass rush move does not work and just keeps working. Good speed, as shown on his fumble recovery TD last year. If a play goes away from him, he immediately turns and strains to get to the ball, showing great urgency. Spikes inside gaps and is able to disrupt plays at a high level. Karlaftis is a player I think can thrive in the NFL because of his toughness and physicality. I am excited to see how his career unfolds.
4. Travon Walker (Georgia)
Was a part of a big defensive line rotation at Georgia, and because of it, did not have great production. I believe he could have returned to school for another year to improve his draft stock. Has potential, but may wind up being a better college player than an NFL player. Amazing size/speed combination at 6’5, 275 lbs and ran a 4.51 40 at the combine. Is very versatile – lined up in many different places on the field and was asked to a lot of things. I’ve seen him drop into coverage and break up passes, he has lined up inside and either stunted outside to make a big play or was able to use his speed to rush against interior offensive linemen, and of course has lined up at the traditional DE position. Shows good power as well and uses his long arms to separate and shed blocks. Walker is a high risk/reward prospect, but based on his physical traits alone, has asserted himself as one of the most sought after DEs in this class. Would likely best be used as a 3-4 outside linebacker so that he can use his versatility.
5. Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)
Began his career at Temple, where his production could be described as decent at best. Transferred to Penn State for his final season and his game really took off, totaling 9.5 sacks in his lone year in State College. Has okay, not great size, at 6’3, 250 lbs. Remarkable explosion off the ball and plays with great speed. Also ran a 4.6 in the 40. His speed on outside rushes should definitely open up some inside counter move possibilities for him, but this is something he needs to continue to work at. On the down side, was used almost exclusively as a pass rusher and definitely needs to improve against the run if he wants to gain any significant playing time at the next level. There is no doubt that Ebiketie is an unbelievable athlete, but it will be key for him to go to a team that will allow him to develop and fine tune his technique for a few years before putting him on the field for extended periods of time.
Others to know:
David Ojabo (Michigan)
Boye Mafe (Minnesota)
Isaiah Thomas (Oklahoma)