4-3 DEs in the Draft

[davos]

I'm not suggesting this as a round 1-2 deal but I see a ton of talent in the DE class and this is not always a position where you can just grab talent wherever, whenever.

DEs

Given/top targets: Garrett (gone), Derek Barnett (Who I think may fall), Solomon Thomas

But here comes the second wave..and a lot of years this is usually where you get more strictly 3-tech/fringe DT or 3-4 edge rushers, but man, I'm seeing a lot of potential 3 down 4-3 DEs in this class and it presents us some good options. Here we go:

 

Daeshon Hall 6'5 265 (The other DE from the Aggies) 

Talk athletic, this guy can be dominant and without Garrett on the same line.  He showed up very well at the Senior Bowl and honestly, the more I read up on him, the more I like him.  His initial quickness off the snap is the best in this class IMO. He's powerful and if we want to get to the QB quick without blitzing, this is the type of guy I could see fitting in perfectly here.  

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2017/01/25/texas-am-defensive-draft-prospect-turning-heads-senior-bowl-week

He will be rising on boards and think he would be a great pick round 2.  

 

Tanoh Kpassagnon 6'7 290 Villanova

The inevitable given the chatter here...So we have reports we "like" this kid already and it's easy to see why he's had scouts drooling.  He's 6'7 290 but plays like he's 250.  Crazy athletic for his size and has a motor.  If his skill can translate and come into fruition, he's a monster.  Seeing his college clips, he looks like a man amongst boys...the competition leap is huge from Nova.  Some could argue he could fit a 3-4 like a Preston Smith but he's so versatile, he fits both schemes as a starter.  

 

Taco Charlton 6'6 272 Michigan

Taco meets all the criteria on paper for a 4-3 DE.  The thing is, he just doesn't seem to have that extra zing and zest.  I'll cheat and say I agree with CBS where it describes him like Justin Tuck (probably at his ceiling).  He can very well be an above average end that will help a team but not a stud 10+ sack/yr type.    

 

Sleeper:

Deatrich Wise Jr.  6'5 271 Arkansas

He has length and measurables stack up to a true 4-3 DE and he has a ridiculously long wingspan. Very high ceiling from my view.   A good write up on him:

http://withthefirstpick.com/2016/08/03/2017-nfl-draft-arkansas-deatrich-wise-jr-scouting-report/

He plays his size, went against top competition and has a lot of potential.  

 

 

 

--

Edit:

To add a few more on the fringe 3 down side of things or if we double dip...

 

DeMarcus Walker 6'4 280 FSU

More of a base end who I can't imagine being a sack machine but could be a viable NFL starter.  Consider fringe because he's got fatigue issues at times.  

 

Tarell Basham 6'4 260

Solid in both run support and pass rushing but with the competition increase, may start out as a DPR.  More of a potential base-end 4-3 starter like Walker.  

http://www.ganggreennation.com/2016/12/23/14067236/scouting-the-2017-nfl-draft-tarell-basham-edge-ohio

 

 

 

[The Lone Panther]

Da'Shawn Hand is a guy to keep an eye on for a late round pick. 

[*FreeFua*]

Pie for Hall. So quick off the line. He'd be a situational pass rusher until he added more strength. If you watch his games against LSU and Alabama he's too easily moved. 

The more I watch Taco the more I like him. To think he's just coming into his own is the scary part. He's so athletic.

So many pass rushers in this draft with incredibly high ceilings imo.  

[Ace_Aladdin]

5 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

I'm starting to get the feeling that we'll double dip at RB.

corrected.

[stirs]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2006627/tanoh-kpassagnon

Most of his weaknesses are things that can be coached

Trade down to 12 with Cleveland pick up a third

1st  Howard TE

2nd Tanoh  DE

3rd  Reddick  LB

3rd  Foreman RB

3rd  Helflin  C

5 guys who could start next season, not this coming, except for Howard, but the next

[Ace_Aladdin]

19 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Hahaha not a chance

Better chance than yours :) 

[davos]

2 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

Pie for Hall. So quick off the line. He'd be a situational pass rusher until he added more strength. If you watch his games against LSU and Alabama he's too easily moved. 

The more I watch Taco the more I like him. To think he's just coming into his own is the scary part. He's so athletic.

So many pass rushers in this draft with incredibly high ceilings imo.  

For sure.  And yeah, he had some tough matchups against big lines but I really think he has the 3 down ability.  He has still shown himself to be a powerful guy and I don't see him as a one dimensional DPR type.  

I see Tanoh is starting to get hype, but don't want people to overlook Hall.

To address others--A double dip could very well be possible.  It puts more pressure in a make or break season for Ealy and I just wouldn't want to miss out on some of the DL talent in this draft.  It's great.  

Good draft to need a DE, TE, or S and we fit right into that criteria.  Hopefully DG capitalizes.  

I'll save my mock for the one where I include all the beach babes but there's a few scenarios with Hall and Tanoh I've been floating.  

[h0llywood]

Not sure if this has been mentioned in other threads, but Tanoh is the man.

I wouldnt be surprised his draft stock moves up to 1-2 rd grade after the combine.

[ncfan]

Id love Tanoh in the 2nd then Hall with our 3rd round comp

 

1st: Fournette (assuming Jamal Adams is gone)

2nd: Tanoh

3rd: Leggett (deep TE, think he drops to here)

3rd b: Hall

4th: KD Cannon

[davos]

2 hours ago, ncfan said:

Id love Tanoh in the 2nd then Hall with our 3rd round comp

 

1st: Fournette (assuming Jamal Adams is gone)

2nd: Tanoh

3rd: Leggett (deep TE, think he drops to here)

3rd b: Hall

4th: KD Cannon

That would be an awesome scenario

[davos]

*edited the OP to add a few more.

[Montie_0123]

I'm just hoping we can find atleast  1 or 2 DE in the draft who can be every down starters for us because I don't want the team to do what they did this year again. Other teams need to think about the whole DLine and not just the DT.

[electro's horse]

Garrett is probably going to end up an OLB or an elephant type rusher. 

Dude got manhandled by good lts all year. 

[davos]

18 hours ago, stbugs said:

Fringe, not a sack machine? Did you watch the bowl game against Michigan? 4 tackles for loss and 1 sack. He looked phenomenal and is a way better prospect than Tanoh or Hall. Hall had 3.5 sacks in 2016 against similar level competition compared to Walker's 16 sacks. Walker had more games with 2 or more sacks (5) than Hall had sacks. Tanoh had 11 sacks against FCS level opponents.

Walker looked like a stud in the bowl game against Michigan. In most rankings, he's usually right behind Taco/Thomas/Barnett. I'm ignoring the guys who seem like they are more 3-4 OLB.

I'd be more than happy with Walker at 40 and if some other DEs somehow jump him, I hope we trade up from our 3rd to snag him. If somehow he drops to 72, we damn well better take him there.

Valid points in regards to Walker but he still has a fringe body type; I can see him inside on passing downs so that's why he wasn't in the first leg of the OP.  He piled up sacks in college but given his frame, his numbers may not translate in the NFL unless he grows his moves arsenal.  Though, I agree--we could obviously benefit by him coming here and would not have an issue with him at 40.