Top 5 Defensive Tackles in the 2014 NFL Draft
1. Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
Donald had the best offseason of any player this year. He had healthy production in 2013 (28.5 tackles for loss), but his combine performance, including a 4.62 second forty yard dash (which is excellent for someone of his weight of 285 pounds) and 35 reps in the 225 bench press, boosted his draft stock into the stratosphere. Expect him to be selected as high as the Viking’s 8th overall selection, and no lower than the Bear’s 14th overall selection.
2. Louis Nix (Notre Dame)
At 330 pounds, Nix is less of the pass rushing 3-tech DT that Donald is and more of a run plugging 1-tech nose tackle. Teams that had trouble stopping the run in 2013 will be very interested in Nix.
3. Timmy Jernigan (FSU)
Jernigan’s combine wasn’t as impressive as Donald’s, but his sub-5 second forty time as a 300 pounder proved what Jernigan showed on his game tape: that he plays incredibly light on his feet for someone of his size. His footwork is excellent, but his technique could use a little work in other areas. Jernigan is often the last player on the d-line to react to the snap; he will have to fix this problem to take full advantage of his talent.
4. RaShede Hageman (Minnesota)
Teams with a lot of holes on their d-line will take a hard look at Hageman, as he showed in his college career he can play both the 1-tech and 3-tech DT positions effectively, and he is projected to be most successful in the NFL as a running-stopping 5-tech. His level of versatility will attract a lot of interest from teams that need a boost in run defense.
5. Dominique Easley (Florida)
If it weren’t for an ACL tear early in the 2013 season, Easley would most likely be near the top of his list. This injury is even more concerning when you consider Easley tore the ACL in his other leg in 2011. Even still, the talent Easley flashed in 2012, including 3.5 tackles for loss in the Sugar Bowl loss to Louisville, will have some team believing his potential is worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
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