QB RB WR TE OT G C NT DT 3-4 DE DE RLB OLB MLB CB S K P

Updated 4/17/10 

100 Once in a decade prospect 

95-99 Elite talent 

90-95 Solid top 10 pick 

85-90 Solid first round pick 

80-85 Late 1st-early 2nd 

75-80 Solid 2nd round pick 

70-75 Solid 3rd round pick 

65-70 3rd-4th round pick 

60-65 4th-5th round pick 

55-60 5th round pick 

50-55 6th round pick 

45-50 7th round pick 

40-45 Undrafted, invite to training camp 

30-40 Career practice squader 

20-30 No NFL future 

0-20 No football future 

1. Terrence Cody (Alabama) 87

2/27/10: Cody weighed in at 370 at his Senior Bowl weigh in after promising he’d be at 355 and his stock lowered. Cody weighed in at 354 today at the combine. He still needs to lose some weight, but I think I can move him back up a little after dropping him following the Senior Bowl. If you’ve ever seen this guy play, he might be the most agile 354 pound man you’ve ever seen. 

1/26/10: He is a large man. One can only hope he keeps his shirt on when he runs the 40 at the combine.

He may only be a two down nose tackle in the NFL, but so are Kris Jenkins and Jamal Williams and most are hugely important to their teams success. With so many teams switching to the 3-4 defense and so few of them having true 3-4 nose tackles, Cody could be a hot commodity this year going as high as 5 to the Chiefs and I think no lower than #29 to the Chargers.

2. Dan Williams (Tennessee) 86

1/30/10: Williams was a big disruptive force all game and really pushed the defensive line back in a big way. However, what really impressed me is, at 325 pounds, how mobile he is. He moved around great and actually covered a running back and prevented him from catching the ball out of the backfield. He also had a pass deflection. He can play any scheme, unlike Terrence Cody. He’s big enough to play 3-4, but also fast and agile enough to play defensive tackle in a 4-3, and he actually has experience in a cover 2 scheme at Tennessee so, despite his size, he can play that scheme at the next level. I can’t see him falling past Tennessee at 16, who needs a big defensive tackle to play in their cover 2 defense. I currently have him ranked as the top nose tackle ahead of Terrence Cody because of his scheme versatility, even though Cody is a better natural run stopper. Cody also weighed in at 15 pounds higher than expected at his weigh in which is not good.

Williams is the more versatile of the two elite nose tackle prospects this year as he can also play 4-3 defensive tackle and is a true 3 down nose tackle. He moves extremely well for his size and gets a great push up front, but he is nowhere near as physically dominant as Cody.

3. Cam Thomas (North Carolina) 70

1/30/10: Thomas cemented himself as the 3rd best nose tackle in this class, by pushing the offensive line forward with great strength, controlling two blockers, and even having a sack of his own. He’s not a pass rushing defensive lineman, but he has a role for himself as a run stopping shield type nose tackle at the next level and with the high number of NFL teams that now use 3-4 systems that need big nose tackles like him, he could ultimately go in the 2nd round, which is why I’d say he made himself the most money this week. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock went as far to say as he guarantees that Thomas will be a 2nd round pick. I will conservatively give him a 3rd round grade for now, but I was impressed nonetheless.

1/27/10: With the 3^rd nose tackle slot up for grabs, Thomas has really made his case to be that 3^rd nose tackle. With excellent size at 6-3 325, Thomas has showed that he can also move as well and in his weigh in, he looked much more muscular than fat.

Already has some experience in a 3-4 defense so at 6-3 325 he’ll get some looks late by desperate teams as a depth guy in a 3-4 scheme.

4. Linval Joseph (East Carolina) 68

4/2/10: Joseph was smart enough not to lose very much weight, dropping only to a very fit 319. He still has the size to play nose tackle. However, he was still able to drpp his already impressive 5.09 to 4.93. He proved himself to be one of the most agile big men in the country last year and is now clearly my #4 nose tackle. That could sneak him into round 2.               

3/1/10: 40s don’t mean a ton to nose tackles, but a 5.09 at 328 with 39 reps on the bench will get you noticed as a very strong athlete.

Showed very good mobility for a 320 pound tackle with 60 tackles and 2 sacks last year and also showed this speed at the combine. He is your standard mid round nose tackle and he could go as early as the 3^rd because of the need for nose tackles in the NFL and his size. 

5. Ekom Udofia (Stanford) 61

Injuries have plagued him at Stanford, but he’s been a hot commodity since he stepped on campus making the Freshman All-American team in 2006 despite not playing full time. He has a great combination of size and moves and would fit a 3-4 defense perfectly at 320 pounds, but unless he can capitalize on his upside and beat the injuries, he’s nothing more than a reserve nose tackle at the next level. However, with so many teams desperate for nose tackles, but could get drafted a lot earlier than he should.

 

6. Kade Weston (Georgia) 58

Part of a defensive tackle rotation with Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens, Weston often gets lost among the hype of those two freakish athletes, but Weston, at 325 pounds, has actually been a much more consistent statistical performer for the Bulldogs. In addition to his ability to get into the backfield, which is rare for someone of his size, he also is able to take on two blockers which is a key for a 3-4 nose tackle. He is a tough matchup and someone I am a lot higher on than most places. It’ll be interesting to see if he gets drafted.

7. Trey Bryant (Baylor) 52

Undersized for a nose tackle at 315 pounds, but this is a very thin nose tackle class and with all of the teams switching to 3-4, he could get drafted in the 5^th round. His size and speed combination are good, but his production was lackluster at Baylor. The only thing that really stands out are how he had a knack for breaking up passes, despite his position. He could be a decent 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle at the next level in addition to a nose tackle, but he’s a reserve in my eyes at this point, no matter the position.

8. Torrell Troup (Central Florida) 48

Probably only a depth guy at the nose tackle position at 315 pounds, but he can also play other positions as a depth guy as well and his instincts are very good for someone of his age and size.

9. Travis Ivey (Maryland) 47

A bigger nose tackle at 6-4 325 pounds so he could be a depth guy at nose tackle with the potential to play as a 4-3 run stopping defensive tackle in the right scheme. As football is a game of inches, it can’t hurt to add someone as big as Ivey to your defensive line depth, but he’s not the most mobile guy either.

10. Al Woods (LSU) 41

Showing how weak this nose tackle class is, Woods could get drafted despite his history of injuries. He was decent this year, but never lived up to his upside as Glenn Dorsey’s successor.