NFL Draft Rankings (Defensive Top 5's)

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1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
4. Andre Branch, Clemson
5. Vinny Curry, Marshall
Sleeper: Frank Alexander, Oklahoma

Comments: This seems to be a pretty weak DE class. Quinton Coples is the top guy and has #1 overall pick type potential, but hasn't had the season many thought. Melvin Ingram had a breakout year and could be selected by 3-4 teams also. Mercilus is a fringe 1st round while Branch and Curry seem to be more 2nd rounders.

Tackle
1. Devon Still, Penn State
2. Brandon Thompson, Clemson
3. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
4. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
5. Alemeda Ta'amu, Washington
Sleeper: Mike Martin, Michigan

Comments: Here is another position that really isn't very rich with elite prospects. Devon Still is a stud and will probably be a top 20 talent. Other than that we might not see another DT taken in the first round. All of the top 5 could also be fits in the 3-4 too. Keep an eye on Mike Martin. He isn't big on anybodies radar yet, but he is incredibly strong and should fit well in a 2 gap system.

Rush Linebacker
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Nick Perry, USC
3. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma
4. Bruce Irvin, West Virginia
5. Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh
Sleeper: Jacquies Smith, Missouri

Comments: Of course you could include Melvin Ingram in here, but I felt his natural fit was at 4-3 DE where as some of these guys could fit as 4-3 DEs too. Upshaw leads the pack and should be a coveted OLB because his experience already playing the position in college. Nick Perry has the physical tools and should test out very well at the combine. Both Bruce Irvin and Brandon Lindsey have very good potential to break out in the 3-4 since they struggled at times playing traditional 4-3 ends.

Outside Linebacker
1. Zach Brown, North Carolina
2. Lavonte David, Nebraska
3. Nico Johnson, Alabama
4. Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
5. Keenan Robinson, Texas
Sleeper: Tank Carder, TCU

Comments: With so many teams playing the 3-4 a lot of these guys won't go as high as they should. Zach Brown continues the OLB tradition at North Carolina as being a very good athlete. Lavonte David was a tackling machine at Nebraska, but his lack of size (215 lbs) makes him very specialized. I'm a huge Travis Lewis fan and his injury and inconsistent play has hurt him the past couple of years. But a team will get a steal in him.

Middle Linebacker
1. Luke Keachly, Boston College
2. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State
3. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
4. Audie Cole, North Carolina State
5. Kevin Reddick, North Carolina
Sleeper: Chris Galippo, USC

Comments: Where the DL talent not being very talent rich, the MLB group is the exact opposite. 3 of these players should be 1st round talents and the other two could go or will be very close. Keachly is the cream of the crop of this class and is considered to be the best MLB to come out since maybe Patrick Willis. Burfict has all the talent, but hasn't lived up to the hype. Audie Cole really blossomed when moved inside and Reddick is very dependable.

Cornerback
1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
3. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
4. Alphonzo Dennard, Nebraska
5. Chase Minnifield, Virginia
Sleeper: Shaun Prater, Iowa

Comments: The CB class is deep, but most of the talent is in that late 1st and 2nd round area. Morris Claiborne is an elite shut down corner who won't last past the Bucs. But after him you have a log jam of Jenkins, Kirkpatrick, and Dennard. All are good, but have some flaws in their game. Keep an eye on Shuan Prater. He was an All Big 10 corner as a junior but a lack of talent around him too the focus off of him. He could really excel if he goes to the right team.

Safety
1. Mark Barron, Alabama
2. Antonio Allen, South Carolina
3. Brandon Taylor, LSU
4. Kenny Tate, Maryland
5. Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami
Sleeper: Matt Daniels, Duke

Comments: Yet another position where the overall talent is not the greatest. Mark Barron is the only true 1st round worthy S in this class. He has the ability to play in coverage, but is at his best when he is coming up and making plays. Kenny Tate has a bunch of talent, but was moved to LB this year and really struggled. Matt Daniels is my sleeper pick and one of my favorite players in this draft.