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In the current pass-driven NFL era, the value of a dominant pass rusher is second to none and is worth his weight in gold but unfortunately the last 2 draft classes have seen only one defensive tackle being taken in the first round, Taven Bryan to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018.
The 2019 NFL Draft though unlike the last two drafts promises to be a better one for defensive tackles trying to get the call in the first round, the talent in this year's draft class is elite and has the potential to make an impact on the field from day 1.
Here are the top-5 Defensive Tackles from 2019's Draft Class:
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#5 Jerry Tillery (Notre Dame)
Many would have had a thought about what would have been if Jerry Tillery had played out his college career as an offensive tackle rather than his current position of defensive tackle, would he have achieved the same success? Well we will never know the answer to that but we sure do know that the former 4-star offensive line recruit out of high school was a destructive presence in Notre Dame's defensive line and now has his eyes set on the pro level.
Tillery is a rare breed when it comes to pass rushing ability, his size fits perfectly with NFL franchises' mindset about defensive tackles. On the field, he goes to work quickly, gaining contact faster than his matchups with his long 34 inch arms, his two go-to rushing moves the snap-rip and cross chop are quite destructive. If he gains the right amount of leverage, can reset the line of scrimmage with his burst and play strength. Tillery is at his best as a three-tech in a 4-3 alignment but does have upside as a five-tech in a 3-4 alignment.
As for weaknesses, he lacks elite-level flexibility and thus fails to close down runners capable of changing direction quickly, this may limit his chances of playing on the outside. While he did have a dominant senior year for Notre Dame, consistency on every rep is something he should look to improve on as he joins the pros. His run-defence also needs improvement.
Finally in conclusion, a disruptive interior pass-rusher, an effective yet improving run-defender with athleticism and an elite level reach, Jerry Tillery has the tools to be an intriguing prospect with first-round traits.
#4 Christian Wilkins (Clemson Tigers)
A 5-star recruit out of high school, Christian Wilkins committed to play college football at Clemson University. For 4 years from 2015 to 2018, Wilkins led one of the nations most talented football defenses and helped them to two national championships in 2016 and 2018.
He was a destructive interior presence along the Clemson defensive line throughout his career totaling 192 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 15 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.
Wilkins is an upfield three-technique guy who can make plays outside his area, he is a versatile player who has played all across the defensive line in his career with the Tigers. He is at his best when working through the edges of the blockers. Wilkins is an explosive rusher, who relies on his quickness to avoid blockers and does well while avoiding cut blocks. Has an array of pass-rushing moves which he puts on display when making contact with offensive linemen.
While there aren't any glaring downfalls in Wilkins' game, his arm length (32 1/2) has been a matter of concern among scouts and coaches in the league. The word out there is that he may find the going tough against offensive linemen with longer reach but apart from that he is a solid prospect can start on most defensive lines from day 1.
#3 Dexter Lawrence (Clemson Tigers)
The Wake Forest high school graduate was a 5-star recruit going into the college recruitment season and the undisputed no.1 prospect from North Carolina, no.2 DT prospect across the nation.
Dexter Lawrence was spoilt for choices when it came to college offers, all major collegiate programs like Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Clemson, NC State offered scholarships to the talented defensive lineman. He ultimately decided to play out his college football career with the Clemson Tigers.
Lawrence got off the blocks quickly in his freshman year and was a destructive presence on the Tigers' defensive line. He racked up 55 tackles and 5 sacks in the regular season, breaking the Clemson record for most sacks by a freshman. He was named the 2016 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year for his performances.
Lawrence finished his college football career with 131 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He was part of the Clemson team which defeated Alabama in the 2017 national football playoff championship. He could have won a 2nd national championship with the Tigers but was banned from the 2019 college football playoff after he tested positive for ostarine.
A 6'4" 342 lbs athlete with the size, length, power and athleticism to play at multiple positions in a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme, Lawrence has all the tools to prosper at the pro-level. He posses tremendous power which he uses to bull-rush through opponents and get to the QB. Lawrence may not fell the QB regularly but he can make life miserable for them in the pocket.
He does need some polishing technically though as he relies more on his frame than his technique to get through offensive linemen. Overall Lawrence's rare combination of size and speed would be too good to leave on the board for many franchises in the first round.
#2 Ed Oliver (Houston Cougars)
Ed Oliver is like a bag full of surprises; in 2015, a high-school graduate, he took the big decision of becoming the first 5-star recruit in the history of college football to commit to a school outside the Power 5 Conferences. If this was not enough, on March 5, 2018, Oliver declared that he would enter the 2019 NFL Draft, a full 14 months before the draft.
While his off-field choices may be confusing, Oliver makes sure that on the field he makes the right choices, which has helped him record 129 tackles and 10.5 sacks combined in his freshman and sophomore years.
According to many scouts, Oliver lacks the size for his position but with his immense talent and hard work, Oliver has shown that he has the potential to be a disruptive interior force at the pro level.
As a run defender, he shows his immense power and strength to take on blockers and manages to slip through defenses on slants and angled rushes. In pass rush, he manages to create enough separation by putting in the work at the line of scrimmage and outworking his opponent to put pressure on the quarterback. He has a great motor and never gives up on a play.
Oliver still has to work on his hand usage while engaging with offensive linemen, he is an active hand fighter but his arsenal of counter moves is very limited. On more occasions than not, he tries to overcome blockers with his strength and explosiveness which has found him wanting on quite a few snaps hence he needs to refine his technique and add some evasive hand moves to his arsenal.
Overall, Ed Oliver is a hot commodity going into the 2019 NFL Draft and in a class filled with elite defensive candidates, he is expected to be one of the top 5 picks.
#1 Quinnen Williams (Alabama Crimson Tide)
Alabama is one of the major producers of excellent pro prospects and freak athletes especially on the interior of the defensive line. Defensive tackles Marcell Dareus, Jonathan Allen, D'Ron Payne have all been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, this year another player looks destined to join that list.
Quinnen Williams, an Alabama native, decommitted from Auburn University to join the Crimson Tide in 2016. He redshirted his first year in Alabama and made his first start under Nick Saban in 2017, playing a small yet pivotal role in Alabama's 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Georgia.
His breakout season though came in 2018 when he landed himself a place on the starting lineup. In total that season, he racked up 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, leading his side to the SEC title. He was a unanimous All-American and a First-Team All-SEC.
Williams is a rare prospect with his interior pass-rush ability. He's really quick off the snap, hurrying the offensive line with pure speed. He shows off his impressive technique by displaying his ridiculously destructive hand usage and pass-rushing moves like the hip tosses, swim move and more, usually leaving linemen in dust with his decisive moves. A highly enthusiastic player with a relentless motor, Williams plays from whistle to whistle and tries to impose himself on his opponents on every snap.
The only drawback with Williams is his lack of experience as a starter, he has only one full season as a starter under his belt. But his talent and potential clearly outweigh the cons and he should be a top-5 pick come Thursday.
