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ESPN Insider - Bowen: 10 perfect fits for 10 top defensive prospects
By Matt Bowen
Jalen Ramsey is the NFL's next super freak, a defensive back with ideal size (6-foot-1, 209 pounds), sprinter speed (4.41 40 time) and ready-made physicality. Corner? Safety? Nickel? I don't care where you play him; just get this guy on the field and coach him up. He's going to be a star.
But as we discussed Thursday when breaking down the best fits for top offensive prospects, some teams mesh Ramsey's skill set better than others. Which coaching staff can get the most out of the Florida State product who just put on an athletic clinic during the NFL combine in Indianapolis?
Here are the teams that give some of the top defensive prospects in the 2016 NFL draft the best chances to succeed in Year 1.
CB/S Jalen Ramsey: Titans
The Titans need to forget about perceived positional value and pick Ramsey No. 1 overall. He is the top overall player in this class, and he has an extremely rare skill set. The former Seminole has pro size, speed and leaping ability that scouts dream of (41.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-3-inch broad jump). Ramsey's combination of coverage skills and physicality makes him a unique chess piece the Titans can build around in their secondary. The key here? Don't pigeonhole Ramsey based on a specific position. He can play cornerback or safety. He can roll down over the slot or blitz as a dime defender. Just put him in a position to make plays at the point of attack. Like any young defensive back, he has to make the transition. There will be a learning curve on the field, and the Titans would have to ride that wave his rookie season. But working with assistant defensive backs coach Steve Jackson in Tennessee, the best teacher I've been around, Ramsey can develop into an All-Pro. He's a special player.
Honorable mention: Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars
DE Joey Bosa: Cowboys
Bosa didn't run an elite 40 time at the combine (4.86), but don't kid yourself about the Ohio State product: He's the top pass-rusher in this class, based on his game tape, size (6-foot-5, 269 pounds) and physicality. Bosa is also scheme-versatile. NFL teams can play him as a 4-3 DE, bump him inside to DT or line him up as a DE in a 3-4 front. That's big when he is rushing the passer out of nickel fronts, which are becoming more and more common in today's NFL. With the Cowboys, Bosa would step in to take the place of Greg Hardy at DE and work closely with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. That's a beautiful thing. Marinelli is known as a guy who teaches technique and gets the most out of players. Bosa would thrive under his tutelage. The Cowboys need to find some consistency along their defensive front, and Bosa would be a good place to start.
Honorable mention: Chargers, Jaguars, Ravens
View attachment 94692
CB Vernon Hargreaves III: Ravens
Hargreaves is a top-10 talent, a pure cornerback with the footwork, transition ability and ball skills to produce in the pros. The Florida product didn't burn up the 40-yard dash at the combine (4.50), but the tape and his positional workout tell us he plays with great game speed. He is quick to accelerate out of his pedal. Plus, he has the leaping ability and explosive lower-body power (39-inch vertical, 10-foot-10-inch broad jump) to climb the ladder and find the ball with his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame. In Baltimore, Hargreaves would give the Ravens some much-needed new blood in the secondary. With Jimmy Smith under contract through 2019, the Ravens would have two man-coverage corners for the foreseeable future. That creates flexibility with pressure packages and allows the defense to play matchups. Hargreaves could be off the board before Baltimore picks at No. 6. He has that type of talent. But if he's there when the Ravens are on the clock, it's the right play.
Honorable mention: 49ers, Dolphins, Buccaneers
LB Reggie Ragland: Bears
Ragland carries a first-round grade because of his size (6-foot-1, 247 pounds) and physicality at the linebacker position. The Alabama product ran a 4.72 40 at the combine, and that works when you watch his tape or go back to his performance at the Senior Bowl. Ragland showed some pass-rush ability in Mobile by overpowering blockers at the point of attack. Would it be a reach for the Bears to draft Ragland at No. 11? Not when you look at the desperate need in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense for a stud at inside linebacker. This unit was soft up the middle in 2015; it allowed 4.54 yards per carry between left and right guard (28th overall). With Ragland, you fix that. Add a downhill linebacker, a player who fills a need and brings immediate toughness to the defense. Fangio knows a thing or two about coaching stud LBs -- remember those 49ers' defenses with Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman? -- and Ragland would feel right at home in John Fox's culture in Chicago.
Honorable mention: Jets, Bengals, Packers
DE DeForest Buckner: Chargers
At 6-foot-7, 291 pounds, with long arms to keep blockers at bay (nearly 34½-inches), Buckner fits the mold of a 3-4 DE. Think of Arizona's Calais Campbell: big, strong and athletic, with the length to defeat offensive tackles one-on-one. Plus, he has hands the size of a baseball mitt (11¾ inches). That's ridiculous. Like Bosa, Buckner is going to provide some scheme flexibility, especially in nickel pass-rush situations where he can showcase his explosive power and footwork to get to the quarterback. Move him around to find matchups to exploit. That's the name of the game in the NFL. I can't see Buckner getting out of the top five, and the Chargers would be wise to grab him at No. 3. San Diego is desperate for talented bodies up front, and the upside with Buckner is off the charts. You have to think defensive coordinator John Pagano is lobbying hard for this one.
Honorable mention: Jaguars, Ravens, 49ers
ESPN Insider - Bowen: 10 perfect fits for 10 top defensive prospects
By Matt Bowen
Jalen Ramsey is the NFL's next super freak, a defensive back with ideal size (6-foot-1, 209 pounds), sprinter speed (4.41 40 time) and ready-made physicality. Corner? Safety? Nickel? I don't care where you play him; just get this guy on the field and coach him up. He's going to be a star.
But as we discussed Thursday when breaking down the best fits for top offensive prospects, some teams mesh Ramsey's skill set better than others. Which coaching staff can get the most out of the Florida State product who just put on an athletic clinic during the NFL combine in Indianapolis?
Here are the teams that give some of the top defensive prospects in the 2016 NFL draft the best chances to succeed in Year 1.
CB/S Jalen Ramsey: Titans
The Titans need to forget about perceived positional value and pick Ramsey No. 1 overall. He is the top overall player in this class, and he has an extremely rare skill set. The former Seminole has pro size, speed and leaping ability that scouts dream of (41.5-inch vertical, 11-foot-3-inch broad jump). Ramsey's combination of coverage skills and physicality makes him a unique chess piece the Titans can build around in their secondary. The key here? Don't pigeonhole Ramsey based on a specific position. He can play cornerback or safety. He can roll down over the slot or blitz as a dime defender. Just put him in a position to make plays at the point of attack. Like any young defensive back, he has to make the transition. There will be a learning curve on the field, and the Titans would have to ride that wave his rookie season. But working with assistant defensive backs coach Steve Jackson in Tennessee, the best teacher I've been around, Ramsey can develop into an All-Pro. He's a special player.
Honorable mention: Chargers, Cowboys, Jaguars
DE Joey Bosa: Cowboys
Bosa didn't run an elite 40 time at the combine (4.86), but don't kid yourself about the Ohio State product: He's the top pass-rusher in this class, based on his game tape, size (6-foot-5, 269 pounds) and physicality. Bosa is also scheme-versatile. NFL teams can play him as a 4-3 DE, bump him inside to DT or line him up as a DE in a 3-4 front. That's big when he is rushing the passer out of nickel fronts, which are becoming more and more common in today's NFL. With the Cowboys, Bosa would step in to take the place of Greg Hardy at DE and work closely with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. That's a beautiful thing. Marinelli is known as a guy who teaches technique and gets the most out of players. Bosa would thrive under his tutelage. The Cowboys need to find some consistency along their defensive front, and Bosa would be a good place to start.
Honorable mention: Chargers, Jaguars, Ravens
View attachment 94692
CB Vernon Hargreaves III: Ravens
Hargreaves is a top-10 talent, a pure cornerback with the footwork, transition ability and ball skills to produce in the pros. The Florida product didn't burn up the 40-yard dash at the combine (4.50), but the tape and his positional workout tell us he plays with great game speed. He is quick to accelerate out of his pedal. Plus, he has the leaping ability and explosive lower-body power (39-inch vertical, 10-foot-10-inch broad jump) to climb the ladder and find the ball with his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame. In Baltimore, Hargreaves would give the Ravens some much-needed new blood in the secondary. With Jimmy Smith under contract through 2019, the Ravens would have two man-coverage corners for the foreseeable future. That creates flexibility with pressure packages and allows the defense to play matchups. Hargreaves could be off the board before Baltimore picks at No. 6. He has that type of talent. But if he's there when the Ravens are on the clock, it's the right play.
Honorable mention: 49ers, Dolphins, Buccaneers
LB Reggie Ragland: Bears
Ragland carries a first-round grade because of his size (6-foot-1, 247 pounds) and physicality at the linebacker position. The Alabama product ran a 4.72 40 at the combine, and that works when you watch his tape or go back to his performance at the Senior Bowl. Ragland showed some pass-rush ability in Mobile by overpowering blockers at the point of attack. Would it be a reach for the Bears to draft Ragland at No. 11? Not when you look at the desperate need in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense for a stud at inside linebacker. This unit was soft up the middle in 2015; it allowed 4.54 yards per carry between left and right guard (28th overall). With Ragland, you fix that. Add a downhill linebacker, a player who fills a need and brings immediate toughness to the defense. Fangio knows a thing or two about coaching stud LBs -- remember those 49ers' defenses with Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman? -- and Ragland would feel right at home in John Fox's culture in Chicago.
Honorable mention: Jets, Bengals, Packers
DE DeForest Buckner: Chargers
At 6-foot-7, 291 pounds, with long arms to keep blockers at bay (nearly 34½-inches), Buckner fits the mold of a 3-4 DE. Think of Arizona's Calais Campbell: big, strong and athletic, with the length to defeat offensive tackles one-on-one. Plus, he has hands the size of a baseball mitt (11¾ inches). That's ridiculous. Like Bosa, Buckner is going to provide some scheme flexibility, especially in nickel pass-rush situations where he can showcase his explosive power and footwork to get to the quarterback. Move him around to find matchups to exploit. That's the name of the game in the NFL. I can't see Buckner getting out of the top five, and the Chargers would be wise to grab him at No. 3. San Diego is desperate for talented bodies up front, and the upside with Buckner is off the charts. You have to think defensive coordinator John Pagano is lobbying hard for this one.
Honorable mention: Jaguars, Ravens, 49ers
