Defensive End/Rush Linebacker

Purdue

6-4 274

Draft board overall prospect rank: #10

Draft board overall defensive end rank: #3

Overall rating: 90 (Top 10)

40 time: 4.67

4/23/11: People who pay a lot of attention to the NFL Draft and the NFL in general will tell you that defensive linemen have been busting at a very high rate in the past decade or so. The reason for this, defensive lineman are normally the most athletic guys on the field with their combination of size and speed and they ride this all through college and a lot of them don’t have great work ethics. Then they get to the NFL, get paid millions and millions, and all of a sudden their motivation is much smaller, considering that their job description is basically to wrestle with 300+ pound guys.

Ryan Kerrigan is different. He’s a highly productive, high motor, strong work ethic kid. He truly loves the game. His motor never shuts off. He played on a bad Purdue team last year as poor offensive play led to the team going 4-8 and he still played every down hard. He managed 13 sacks after 12 the year before and 7 as a sophomore. He’s a highly productive 3 year starter who has never taken a play off.

He’s not the most gifted athletically, but all that means is that he’s had to work harder to get where he is and he can’t rely on his natural athletic gifts. For this reason, I think he has a never low probability of busting. His measurables aren’t terrible either with a 4.67 40 at 6-4 274. He also benched 31 reps of 225. He’s bulked up about 10 pounds from the end of last season, maintaining his speed in the process. This probably eliminates him from being a 3-4 linebacker, but I would have had some doubt about his ability to play the position even if he was in the 260s. He doesn’t have very fluid hips.

He’s going to be best in a 4-3 as a right end, a dynamic, tough to block, tenacious edge rusher with a non-stop motor. He refuses to be blocked. He’s not that sturdy against the run and he doesn’t have a great initial burst, but he’s already a very refined and proven pass rusher. He doesn’t need a lot of work and he won’t get complacent.

NFL Comparison: Chris Long