NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Line

While there is no top-5 pick in this group of DTs, it is still a solid group with 7 players in the top 2 rounds. Recently Fletcher Cox seems to be shooting up draft boards and is now being considered in the top 10.

Oct 13, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Nick Perry (8) after a play against the California Golden Bears during the first quarter at AT

The Seahawks are not in need of a starting DT, so it’s the later round picks that I’ve paid the most attention to. Keep an eye on Brett Roy of Nevada in the 6th round area of the draft. He’s an undersized DT with quick first steps that could come in and play on passing downs and give Seattle’s big run stoppers a rest, and also increase the overall quality of the Seahawk pass rush.

This is an odd class of DEs. There are a few players with first round grades, but at the same time there is tremendous depth underneath that. This will lead to a few reaches early, and then likely a long gap before an DEs are picked, because there wont be an need to pick one when there’s a similar player that’ll be available later.

In spite of the all the media attention given to the Seahawk’s apparent need of a DE, don’t expect them to take one early in the Draft. Any DE picked by the Seahawks is going to be a part-time player who only comes in on 3rd downs to replace Red Bryant. That’s not something you use an early round pick on.

The exception to that would be a player like Melvin Ingram who can also play OLB. The same could be said for Nick Perry if the Seahawks choose to move down in round 1, even though he isn’t getting as much press and Ingram.

I don’t expect the Seahawks to take a DT this year. They have good talent and depth at the position already.