Tier defense after day 2

So how I do this, is I group these guys that are similar in rating, and when there is a big enough discrepancy I create a new tier. So even if the TEs are a hot mess, they get a tier 1, tier 2 etc.

I will group all the offense in 1 post, and the defense in another.

IDL Tier 1:


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Tier 2:

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Tier 3:

71. Leki Fotu - IDL - Utah - 6'-4" 330 lbs. - A monster NT with a little pass rush juice to him. Good motor and is almost impossible to move. Not the athletic freak Lawrence was last year.

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Tier 4:

103. Rashard Lawrence - IDL - LSU - 6'-2" - 308 lbs. - What you would expect in an LSU DL, tough, strong and excellent against the run. Doesn't offer much in the way of a pass rush.

108. Larrell Murchison - IDL - NC State - 6'-2" 297 lbs. - A nose for the ball with a great motor. Not the rangiest 3 tech, but he will apply constant pressure.
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Tier 5:

137. Jason Strowbridge - IDL - North Carolina - 6'-4" 275 lbs. - A gap jumper that lacks the size to hold his ground against double teams. Once he is into gaps, causes issues for the offense. A 34 DE or 43 DE is his future.

165. Raequan Williams - IDL - Michigan State - 6'-4" 308 lbs. - Not a great athlete, but is strong, can stack and hold his ground and when he does get in the backfield, he finishes well. Needs to get more consistent on effort.

173. James Lynch - IDL - Baylor - 6'-4" 289 lbs. - Monster sack production from a guy with not a ton of athletic ability. Not twitchy and not explosive. Just average strength. Really just wins on an all-day motor and a give 'em hell attitude.

189. Khalil Davis - IDL - Nebraska - 6'-2" 308 lbs. - Not real long, but a quick first step and a good motor is where he wins. Not a great run defender due to his lack of length.
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Tier 6:

204. Benito Jones - IDL - Ole Miss - 6'-1" 316 lbs. - a fire hydrant with very good strength. Won't slide thru gaps but holds more than his own against the run. A true NT with a little pass rush push.

231. Bravvion Roy - IDL - Baylor - 6'-1" 333 lbs. - Not your typical NT. He can dominate against the run, but has some juice to get after the QB (6 sacks this year) Short length will limit his upside.

237. Tyler Clark - IDL - Georgia - 6'-4" 300 lbs. - nice get off with good hand usage to keep himself clean. Kinda frenetic, and will wash himself out at times. Good power.

242. Robert Landers - IDL - Ohio State - 6'-1" 285 lbs. - A 34 DE that lacks the usual length. Strong with a good burst. Decent athlete. At his best in a straight line.

Tier 1 have a chance at being elite.Not AD elite, but elite. Tier 2 is my favorite tier. I also like the guys in tier 4. After that its scheme fits and situational downs (like pass rusher specialist or 2 down run stuffer) Its a decent class.
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Edge Tier 1:


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Tier 2:

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Tier 3:
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Tier 4:

82. Curtis Weaver - Edge - Boise St. - 6'-3" 265 lbs. - He could either be a 43 or 34. Lacks an ideal athletic profile, but has a hot motor, a good first step, active hands and handles his own against the run. Another high floor, lower ceiling type.

101. Khalid Kareem - Edge - Notre Dame - 6'-4" 268 lbs. - Long and strong, excellent against the run, not much juice as a pass rusher. A bit stiff. 43 end only.

106. Bradlee Anae - Edge - Utah - 6'-3" 257 lbs. - Can rush the passer and hold his own against the run, excellent hand fighter, with a top-notch motor. Not the greatest athlete. 43 or 34 compatible.
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Tier 5:


118. Kenny Willekes - Edge - Michigan State - 6'-4" 264 lbs. - Relentless, tough, strong, try hard with average athletic ability for the position. I think due to that he is a 43 DE.

138. Alton Robinson - Edge - Syracuse - 6'-3" 264 lbs. - A toolbox full of length, athletic ability, bend and explosiveness. Decent against the run. Just needs to put it all together. 34 Edge with a high ceiling.
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Tier 6:

163. D.J. Wonnum - Edge - South Carolina - 6'-5" 258 lbs. - An above average athlete that can do a little of everything, but isn't great at any one thing. Perfect size for 34 Edge with a great motor.

174. Trevis Gipson - Edge - Tulsa - 6'-4" 261 lbs. - an easy mover with decent burst and good flexibility. Can get bullied against the run. Developmental 34 Edge.
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Tier 7:

182. Trevon Hill - Edge - Miami - 6'-3" 248 lbs. - Athletic, bursty edge with a nice pass rush. Needs to add weight to handle the run. Pass rush specialist early. 34 Edge.

184. Carter Coughlin - Edge - Minnesota - 6'-3" 236 lbs. - an undersized 34 edge rusher with some burst and fluid movement skills. Cannot match power with anyone, and his run defending suffers from that.

186. Jonathan Garvin - Edge - Miami - 6'-4" 263 lbs. - 43 DE that can set a strong edge and keep everything inside. Not a ton of burst, and average athletically. Decent pass rush on physical traits alone.

191. Kendall Coleman - Edge - Syracuse - 6'-3" 257 lbs. - Average athlete that is really still developing his skill set. Good motor and plays with nice physicality. Needs to be developed. Developmental 34 Edge.\

222. Tipa Galea'i - EDGE - Utah State - 6'-5" 235 lbs. - An explosive, oily, easy mover. Needs to add mass if he wants to hold up against the run.

249. Derrek Tuszka - Edge - North Dakota St. - 6'-5" 251 lbs. - A 43 end that will transition to a standup 34 edge. Tough, strong and can hold up vs the run. Great pass rush production. Decent athlete, but lacks flexibility to bend around the edge.

Tier 1 is just Young, simply because he is the best edge rusher I have looked at. Ever. better than the Bosa boys, everyone. He is a game wrecker IMO, and can alter a defense single handedly. Tier 3 and 4 are my favorite tiers, and I'm not sure the Rams could go wrong with any of them TBH. Just get 1. Tiers 5-7 are developmental or situational edges. But plenty of good talent in there. Really hoping the Rams come away with someone from tiers 3 or 4.
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LB Tier 1:

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Tier 2:

84. Akeem Davis-Gaither - LB - Appalachian St. - 6'-2" 224 lbs. - Highly productive WILL that plays fast, can cover and rush the QB. I like him outside in a 43, but maybe a MO in a 34...

91. Troy Dye - LB - Oregon - 6'-4" 231 lbs. - Another see ball, chase ball LBer that needs to add strength. But he makes plays all over the field.
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Tier 3:

121. Shaquille Quarterman - LB - Miami - 6'-1" 234 lbs. - A real old school MLBer that reads, reacts and then thumps. I think he moves well enough to help in some coverage.

124. Evan Weaver - LB - California - 6'-2" 237 lbs. - Not the world's greatest athlete, but he is so instinctual he's always around the ball. Super productive. Not a hammer and not great in coverage.

130. David Woodward - LB - Utah State - 6'-2" 230 lbs. -Not fast or super athletic, but he is smart, instinctual and has a big motor. He is everywhere. ILB

139. Joe Bachie Jr. - LB - Michigan State - 6'-2" 230 lbs. - a ILB with good instincts and decent range. Will pop you in the mouth when given the chance. Probably a 2 down ILBer in the NFL. Steroid suspension...
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Tier 4:

158. Markus Bailey - LB - Purdue - 6'-1" 235 lbs. - A Kiser clone in the fact that he is a smart. between the tackles, run stopping machine. Not enough athletic ability or speed to cover against the pass. 2019 knee injury muddies his water. 2 down ILB.

164. Justin Strnad - LB - Wake Forest - 6'-3" 238 lbs. - Smooth moving forward and backward, can run and cover and go sideline to sideline. Would rather run around blockers then stack and shed. Still learning the nuances so his arrow is pointing up. ILBer in an odd front or WILL in an even front.
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Tier 5:

193. Mykal Walker - LB - Fresno State - 6'-3" 230 lbs. - Has played DE, Edge and ILB. So, he is a movable chess pc. I like him as an ILB in an odd front. Certainly knows how to blitz, can drop into coverage and will stick his nose in the fan in run support. Needs development time, due to so many position changes.

209. Kyahva Tezino - LB - San Diego State - 6'-0" 235 lbs. - Plays the run well, decent athlete that can get to the sidelines and plays with patience and intelligence. Lacks length and quickness.

227. Cameron Brown - LB - Penn State - 6'-5" 233 lbs. - Long for a LBer. Also raw. Can cover a ton of ground quickly and goes sideline to sideline. Not great in coverage. Not sure his position fit. 43 OLB or maybe add 15-20 lbs and make him a 34 edge?

232. Kamal Martin - LB - Minnesota - 6'-3" 240 lbs. - A 34 ILB that fills that downhill run plugger role that is tight hipped and lacks the range to work 3 downs. Will stick you when given the chance.

245. Mohamed Barry - LB - Nebraska - 6'-1" 245 lbs. - A bull in a china shop ILBer with sideline to sideline athleticism. Tough and strong just kinda running around out there hitting things and overrunning other things...

Tier 1 are all fast moving, new age LBers, Tier 2 all have a hole, like isn't good at shedding blockers, a tad slow, a tad small, a tad soft in taking on blockers, still outstanding players. Tier 3 is an interesting group, old school backers with a couple of guys that got suspended, tiers 4 and 5 are all developmental guys and some have huge upside, Walker, Taylor, Tezino and Brown. Not a stellar class, but plenty of very good LBers and plenty of upside.
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CB Tier 1:

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Tier 2:

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Tier 3:

65. Troy Pride - CB - Notre Dame - 5'-11" 193 lbs. - Under-rated athletically, has good speed and can work in man and zone coverages. A perfect #2 CB.

67. Bryce Hall - CB - Virginia - 6'-1" 202 lbs. - Long, physical and smart. Always taking good angles and is in the proper position. Not the world's best athlete. he will outwork you. Zone CB.

87. Darnay Holmes - CB - UCLA - 5'-10" 195 lbs.- Smooth and quick are his calling cards. I wish he was more aggressive. off man or zone scheme fit.
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Tier 4:

113. Amik Robertson - CB - Louisiana Tech - 5'-8" 187 lbs. - slot corner due to his size. But he is a mean, physical little dude that will bring the fight to you.
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Tier 5:

153. Javelin Guidry - CB - Utah - 5'-9" 191 lbs. - Quick, oily and super fast. Size is going to limit him to slot/nickel/dime work.

167. Myles Bryant - CB - Washington - 5'-8" 183 lbs. - another slot CB, plays faster than he ran, explosive movement skills.

168. Lamar Jackson - CB - Nebraska - 6'-2" 208 lbs. - Big, long and physical. Speed will give him issues. Press man CB.

171. Essang Bassey - CB - Wake Forest - 5'-9" 191 lbs. - a nickel/slot CB that gets after it and is a smooth enough athlete to mirror really well.

177. A.J. Green - CB - Oklahoma State - 6'-1" 202 lbs. - Physical CB, sometimes too physical. Decent speed and a decent athletic profile.

178. Harrison Hand - CB - Temple - 5'-11" 197 lbs. - Smart, tough and has some ballhawk to him. Not the quickest CB. Zone CB
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Tier 6:

185. Josiah Scott - CB - Michigan State - 5'-9" 185 lbs. - A nickel back with good speed and decent toughness for his size. Good ball skills. Too small to survive on the outside.

194. Lavert Hill - CB - Michigan - 5'-10" 190 lbs. - A hard-nosed press man. Lacks speed to stay with the fast WRs. Might work inside. Man only.

206. Trajan Bandy - CB - Miami - 5'-8" 180 lbs. - Smooth footed DB that moves well in space and has OK speed. Lack of size and strength is an issue.

211. Jace Whittaker - CB - Arizona - 5'-11" 185 lbs. - a ballhawk with good instincts and good speed. Not very physical and lacks great size.

214. Kindle Vildor - CB - Georgia Southern - 5'-10" 191 lbs. - Ballhawking athletic CB with the size and footwork to work in any scheme. Not great in run support. Can be over-aggressive.

219. Reggie Robinson II - CB - Tulsa - 6'-1" 205 lbs. - Long with decent athletic profile, does his best work in a zone and things are in front of him. Nice production. Modest athlete.

224. Nevelle Clarke - CB - UCF - 6'-1" 190 lbs. - I called him a mini Ramsey. Plays with a swagger and a ballhawks mentality. Great size for a CB. Easy mover. Needs to add strength and some weight to reach his full potential.
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Tier 7:

238. Levonta Taylor - CB - Florida State - 5'-10" 190 lbs. - a CB turned safety, smooth lower half and good speed and lack of strength make him an ideal zone fit, either as a nickel or S. had back problems in the past.

241. Stanford Samuels III - CB - Florida State - 6'-1" 187 lbs. - Long and a bit clumsy. Would be a good zone CB with some developmental upside.

246. John Reid - CB - Penn State - 5'-10" 187 lbs. - A physical press man CB that due to lack of size will end up being a Nickel Back. Average speed to match his average athletic ability.

IMO its Ukodah and everyone else, but unlike the Edge group, Henderson and Fulton stay close enough to be tier 1s. They all have CB1 potential. Tiers 2 and 3 all are CB2s with CB1 upside in the right situations. Tiers 4-6 all have scheme or position (slot) limitations, but a ton of good talent in those tiers. My personal favorite is Neville Clarke. Tier 7 is totally developmental. All in all a deep class and a little something for everyone.
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Safety Tier 1:
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Tier 2:



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Tier 3:

80. Alohi Gilman - S - Notre Dame - 5'-10" 201 lbs. - A zone safety that is an absolute hammer coming forward. Another versatile player that can do a little of everything.

88. K'Von Wallace - S - Clemson - 5'-11" 206 lbs. - Physical, will stick his face in the fan and has some nice ball production. Not overly athletic or fast, but versatile.

92. Antoine Brooks Jr. - S - Maryland - 5'-11" 220 lbs. - Here is that big nickel LBer or third safety I have been talking about for the last year or so. best working around the box in sub packages. Physical, emotional and not extremely rangy.
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Tier 4:

150. J.R. Reed - S - Georgia - 6'-1" 202 lbs. - An old school SS that works best moving forward as he doesn't have the foot speed to be ultra rangy.

157. Geno Stone - S - Iowa - 5'-10" 207 lbs.- Another kid from Iowa with smarts, instincts and lacks a big athletic profile. Works best in the box or zone[/b] coverage.

179. Jalen Elliott - S - Notre Dame - 6'-0" 205 lbs. - Slow, moderate athlete, but man he loves to blow up ball carriers. IMO a box safety or a big nickel LBer.
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Tier 5:

190. Myles Dorn - S - North Carolina - 6'-2" 205 lbs. - A decent all-around S with good work in the box and some solid pass defense stats. His lack of speed may limit his upside.

205. Jaylinn Hawkins - S - California - 6'-1" 208 lbs. - Smart, physical with some range. Not a ton and won't wow you going sideline to sideline. Decent ball skills, but he has room for improvement.
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Tier 6:

223. Nigel Warrior - S - Tennessee - 6'-0" 190 lbs. - Vols played him everywhere from what I saw. So he can do some of everything. Good athlete, good run defender for hsi size. Lack of ball production is a concern.

243. Shyheim Carter - S - Alabama - 5'-10" 194 lbs. - A CB/S that was used as a hybrid 3rd safety for the Tide. Could be a movable piece in the secondary. Not overly fast or athlete. Declined to test at the combine reinforcing that idea.

247. Jordan Fuller - S - Ohio State - 6'-2" 203 lbs. - A single high safety that is too slow to play single high in the NFL IMO. Racked up a ton of tackles and loves to hit. I like him as a depth/3rd safety with plenty of upside in the box.

Tier 1 are solid starters, no super studs like in drafts past. Tier 2 is my favorite tier. If you are looking for a good starter early in their career, get one from the top 2 tiers. Tier 3 may have a starter or 2 in it, after that, get picky, find one that fits your scheme and add them for depth only.

1 special note on the Safety class. Kenny Robinson, the XFLer from West Virginia is apparently eligible for the draft and I totally missed it, so he never got into any of my rankings. Here is the long and short on Kenny Robinson:

Nice size at 6'-2" 202 lbs.
Decent, not elite range
good ball skills
good blitzer
Played single high and in the box, so is versatile
Suspect tackler
takes bad angles at times
can get lost in his zone coverage

He is a late 3rd to 4th rounder IMO

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Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok