2015 Draft
Defensive Ends
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4	Randy Gregory	DE	1	Nebraska	1.62	605	235	1st
Explosive, great length and impressive upside, but unpolished and built more like a weakside LB weighed in at 235 lb at the combine)..Struggles to anchor/needs to be stronger and add bulk. Pro Day (Brandt) - "A former Nebraska defensive lineman was the star of the show Thursday, as nearly every scout, coach and personnel man had their eyes trained closely on potential top-10 pick Randy Gregory. However, the edge rusher was determined to prove that he's much more than a player who can simply get to the quarterback, and ran through a full gamut of linebacker drills designed to show off his coverage skills and ability to stay on the field for every defensive snap...ran the 60-yard shuttle in 11.81 seconds and did the three-cone drill in 6.79 seconds. Gregory stood on the rest of his numbers from the combine in order to concentrate on his rigorous positional workout, during which he put on a show. Gregory is very lean and has narrow shoulders. He is extremely athletic....""I think it went pretty well," Gregory told CFB 24/7. "I think the big thing that teams wanted to see were my hips and how fluid I was in my movement. I think I showed that real well in the linebacker drills I did. I didn't do everything but I did do the cone drills I didn't do at the (NFL Scouting Combine)."Overall, I thought I had a really good day." Combine - Arm: 34; Forty: 4.64; 10; BP: 24; VJ: 36.5; BJ: 10-5; ....
1	Arik Armstead	DE	x	Oregon	1.76	6070	292	1st
In the Keim/Arians universe, I suspect the DE draft position would be broken down into a few subcategories including one populated by lanky Calais Campbell clones. It would make logical sense that Cardinal scouts and coaches would be on the lookout for 6-7 290+ DE's to provide depth behind Calais. Armstead fills the bill he's and ex-basketballer who is said to be now committing himself 24/7 to football. Not all that twitchy and lacks quicks off the ball, but Campbell has always had a somewhat different skill set from prototypical edge rushers. It's hard to believe, but Arik is said to have ample room on his frame to fill out and grow even bigger. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...has 33 1/2-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands. Armstead stood on his combine numbers and did position drills only." Combine - Arm: 33; Forty: 5.10; BP: 24; VJ: 34.0; BJ: 9-9; 3C: 7.57; 20S: 4.53; 60S: NA;
5	Nate Orchard	DE	x	Utah	1.97	6030	250	x
Has natural flexiblility to bend and come around the edge, but lacks the power to get much push...Quick first step...high-motor guy...assortment of subtle moves...but he's kind of slender, lacking god-given power and may be vulnerable vs. the run...1.97 10-yard dash time is slower than most top DE's and must be considered a mini-red flag. Pro Day (Brandt) - "..had a good pro day workout, but the consensus is that he will have a hard time in the NFL being a rush/drop outside linebacker. His best position at the next level appears to be as a defensive end with his hand in the ground rushing the passer.". Combine - Arm: 33.75; Forty: 4.80; VJ: 31.5; BJ: 9-7; 3C: 7.28; 20S: 4.43; 60S: 12.06
2	Shane Ray	DE	x	Missouri	4.64	6030	245	x
Lacks polish but possesses "special" natural quicks and explosiveness...Claims to have run a 4.44 with a 40.0+ VJ and 10-0+ BJ (but wasn't timed at the Combine)..Very good diagnostic savvy but is overreliant on pure athletisim to get the job done - needs to develop a broader assortment of moves, hone a few other techniques and become stronger. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 40 in 4.64 and 4.65 seconds. He had a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump. Ray did the short shuttle in 4.53 seconds and the three-cone in 7.71 seconds. Ray was only able to lift while at the combine (21 reps of 225 pounds), so he didn't participate in that event at the pro day. Ray is described as having added some weight, but in the upper part of his body. When he was taking part in linebacker drills, he seemed to slow down toward the end of longer pass routes when in coverage. Ray did look really good going straight ahead as a pass rusher." Combine - Arm: 33.1; BP: 21
6	Za'Darius Smith	DE	x	Kentucky	1.76	6040	274	x
Better prototypical size than most edge rushers...combines good initial burst with overall quicks and pure power...but needs to better control his momentum and become less rigid in space. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 40 in 4.75 and 4.78 seconds. He had a 28 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-4 broad jump. He also had a short shuttle time of 4.63 seconds. He was worked out at both outside linebacker and as a hand-in-the-ground pass rusher at the pro day. His best NFL position, however, is as a pass rusher. His combination of weight and speed will be appetizing for NFL teams." Combine - Arm: 32.6; Forty: 4.83; BP: 23; VJ: 29-0; BJ: 9-5; 3C: 7.42; 20S: 4.66; 60S: 12.65
7	Lynden Trail	DE	x	Norfolk State	1.77	6070	269	2nd
Another DE with Campbell-like length, but on the lighter side...Fundamentally raw but with impressive movement sills for size. Successfully dealing with epilepsy...can be slowed by contact and struggles to recover. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...NA. Combine - Arm: 34.9; Forty: 4.91; BP: 24; VJ: 32.5; BJ: 9-9; 3C: 7.32; 20S: 4.48; 60S: 12.56
8	Henry Anderson	DE	x	Stanford	1.75	6060	294	x
Smart, high-effort, hard-nosed. "Built like a tree" but is high cut and lacks better than ordinary muscle definition...Pretty good initial quicks (check 10-yard time compared to other DE's).. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...did 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and then stood on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, where he was a top performer among defensive linemen in the three-cone drill and 20-yard short shuttle. Anderson -- who has 33 1/4-inch arms -- will need to remain a defensive end in the NFL." Combine - Arm: 33.5; Forty: 5.03; VJ: 30.0; BJ: 9-3; 3C: 7.20; 20S: 4.19; 60S: NA
9	Cedric Reed	DE	x	Texas	x	6050	269	x
Est. Forty: 4.90...Length approaches that of Calais Campbell, Arik Armstead and Lyndon Trail. Uses hands well and stays low to win leverage battles...but a bit clumsy and not as powerful as he looks. Pro Day (Brandt) - "..has a left knee issue and was not able to participate in the pro day workouts (he was only able to do the bench press while in Indianapolis for the combine).". Combine - Arm: 33.4; BP: 22
10	Trey Flowers	DE	x	Arkansas	1.84	6020	266	x
Versatile (can rush from the left, right or from sa 2-point stance)...Looks good but skill-set lacks any one single elite quality.... Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 40 in 4.83 and 4.87 seconds. He had a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump, did the three-cone drill in 7.28 seconds, and then stood on the rest of his numbers from the combine (he was a top performer among his peers in the vertical jump, broad jump and 60-yard shuttle). At Arkansas' pro day, Flowers worked out both as a defensive end and as a drop-back type linebacker. His best NFL position, however, will be with his hand in the ground rushing the passer." Combine - Arm: 34.3; Forty: 4.93; BP: 28; VJ: 36.5; BJ: 10-1; 3C: 7.34; 20S: 4.40; 60S: 12.03
3	Alvin Dupree	DE	X	Kentucky	x	6040	267	x
Est. Forty: 4.67. Athletically has a lot going for him (although we'd want to veriy that forty time)..Versatile - often asked to drop into coverage...but he lacks innate power and must use his brains and quicks to slip would-be blockers. Rarely gets his hands up on the pass rush (a pet no-no of this writer). Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.47 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.49 seconds. He stood on his other numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, which were outstanding. Dupree posted the top broad jump among linebackers, and was a top performer among linebackers in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. Dupree's broad jump was spectacular, going 11 feet, 6 inches. Connecticut defensive back Byron Jones broke the combine and world broad-jump marks with a jump of 12 feet, 3 inches. Given Dupree's size, his broad jump might have been even more impressive than Jones'." Combine - Not Listed.
11^	Owamagbe Odighizuwa	DE	x	UCLA	1.63	6030	267	x
Plays much better than his numbers (due to excellent employment of positional techniques) ...Long arms...disruptive coming off the right side...but lacks burst or COD off the edge (strange when you consider his 2nd-to-Gregory 1,63 ten-yard split)...medical history includes 2 hip surgeries.. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...now looks like he could get drafted in the picks Nos. 25-40 range (late first round or early second). Odighizuwa worked out for 20-plus minutes for the Seahawks' defensive line coach. Then, he went to go work out with the linebackers. Odighizuwa is a very good athlete -- he was a top performer among defensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle and 60-yard shuttle, and the top performer among defensive linemen in the vertical jump and broad jump. Odighizuwa has good power, and is probably better going forward than dropping into space (as an outside linebacker). So, he will be considered a hand-in-the-ground pass rusher." Combine - Arm: 33.8; Forty: 4.62; BP: 25; VJ: 39.0; BJ: 10-7; 3C: 7.36; 20S: 4.19; 60S: NA..
12	Corey Crawford	DE	x	Clemson	1.79	6050	283	x
Enormous wingspan helps make up from "ordinary" first step...Lacks the proverbial quick-twitch (sometimes this will happen when you weigh 283 lbs).. Good anticipation and vision...room to add bulk to an already impressive frame. Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 40-yard dash in 5.16 and 5.08 seconds. He also performed 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press." Combine - Arm: 34.5; Forty: 5.01; VJ: 33.0; BJ: 9-2; 3C: 7.64; 20S: 4.65; 60S: NA.
13	Brock Hekking	DE	x	Nevada	x	6030	250	x
.Listed by PFDG as "worth watching." Pro Day (Brandt) - "...ran the 40 in 4.73 and 4.77 seconds. He had a 30-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-9 broad jump. He had a short shuttle time of 4.31 seconds and did the three-cone drill in 7.41 seconds. He also performed 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Hekking also had a good positional workout, and could be a low seventh-round selection or a priority free-agent pickup following the draft. Combine - Not Listed...
14	Marcus Rush	DE/OLB	x	Michigan State	x	6020	243	x
(Great name for a DE) - Listed by PFDG as "worth watching." Pro Day (Brandt) - "...played defensive end during his time at Michigan State, but worked out at linebacker during the pro day. Rush ran the 40 in 4.69 and 4.74 seconds. He had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-9 broad jump. He did the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.24 seconds and the three-cone drill in 6.75 seconds. He performed 24 strength lifts. Combine - Not Listed
15	Martin Ifedi	DE	x	Memphis	1.73	6030	275	x
Mature...Tough...Fighter...Solidly built with good wingspan and upper body strength...but his frame is pretty much "maxed out" bulk-wise. Plays high...May "think too much"...Questionable recovery from knee injury bears watching. Pro Day (Brandt) - NA Combine - Arm: 33.8; BP: 16; VJ: 31.0; BJ: 9-3; 3C: 7.39; 20S: 4.58; 60S: NA
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