Positional Depth: DL Top 25

[Drek]

Here's my preliminary top 25 at the DL position, DTs marked. Real rough and I didn't haggle much over a single slot or two as its too early to lock anyone in.

1. Jamaal Anderson
2. Alan Branch (DT)
3. Gaines Adams
4. Amobi Okoye (DT)
5. Charles Johnson
6. Quentin Moses
7. Adam Carriker
8. Jarvis Moss
9. Tank Tyler (DT)
10. Victor Abiamiri
11. Lamaar Woodley
12. Quinn Pitcock (DT)
13. Tim Crowder
14. Anthony Spencer
15. Turk McBride (DT)
16. Ryan McBean (DT)
17. Ola Dagunduro (DT)
18. Justin Harrell (DT)
19. Baraka Atkins
20. Brandon Mebane (DT)
21. Ikaika Alama-Francis
22. Marcus Thomas (DT)
23. Kareem Brown (DT)
24. Dan Bazuin
25. Justin Hickman

Talented position and personally I don't think the talent gap between say, Abiamiri to Baraka Atkins, or McBride to Kareem Brown is that big a difference.

Most DLs taken in the first round of a single draft: 10, the 2003 draft which featured Dwayne Robertson as the 4th overall pick and included Terrell Suggs (10th) and Ty Warren (13th). Interesting to note, in 2003 there were five first round DTs, no other first day DTs were taken, Dan Klecko was next off the board in the fourth round pick 117th overall.

[Master___Pain]

And outside of that you still have guys like Abraham Wright that would be a steal on day two. (I am homering, but Wright is going to be a good DE/OLB (3-4) at the next level)

[OrangeShadow]

i think mebane should be a little higher but thats just me

[Drek]

i think mebane should be a little higher but thats just me

Probably, but I wasn't really trying to slot them exactly, the combine and post-season bowls will shift guys around too much in the pending months to make it valid. I just wanted to give everyone an idea as to what first day DL talent is out there. Barring any major shake ups most, if not all, of these guys should be off the board by the end of day 1.

And outside of that you still have guys like Abraham Wright that would be a steal on day two. (I am homering, but Wright is going to be a good DE/OLB (3-4) at the next level)
I wouldn't say its homering that much, I honestly was considering putting Wright on my top 25 but I'm just not big on DE/OLB 'tweeners. He needs to improve his projected 40 times to get a fair shake in the league though.

[Master___Pain]

I wouldn't say its homering that much, I honestly was considering putting Wright on my top 25 but I'm just not big on DE/OLB 'tweeners. He needs to improve his projected 40 times to get a fair shake in the league though.

Meh, 40 times for DL to me are not as important as the shuttle times. Rarely are these guy running 40 yards in a straight line. Abe is a weight room warrior so I expect him to hold is own at the combine in the bench. I'm trying to recall his bench numbers but I think it was over 400 lbs and a pretty decent clean number too.

[Elway777]

I would love to get Jamaal Anderson. I would trade our 21 pick plus our first rounder next year to move up and get him.

[Drek]

Meh, 40 times for DL to me are not as important as the shuttle times. Rarely are these guy running 40 yards in a straight line. Abe is a weight room warrior so I expect him to hold is own at the combine in the bench. I'm trying to recall his bench numbers but I think it was over 400 lbs and a pretty decent clean number too.

For DTs I'd agree, but its applicable to DEs because it gives an indication as to how well they'd do in backside pursuit (not as important as their shuttle though), and for someone like Wright its highly important because he's shooting for a job in a 3-4 front, he needs a 40 time good enough to have some coverage and run pursuit capabilities.

I would love to get Jamaal Anderson. I would trade our 21 pick plus our first rounder next year to move up and get him.

We still wouldn't be close. Try our 1st and 2nd this year plus our first next year.

Thats why I'm in favor of trading the 21st for a '08 first and 2nd or 3rd this year. There will be other elite DLs next year, and with two firsts we'll be able to pursue them without sacrificing the first half of our draft.