Position Breakdown: Defensive End

1.  Jadeveon Clowney (JR) 6'5 266 South Carolina
Analysis: One in 10 year talent. Elite athlete for size. A force to the QB. Fits in any scheme. Only questions are whether he'll give it his all. Takes plays off. Immaturity off the field.
Projection:  #1 Overall

2.  Dee Ford (JR) 6'2 252 Auburn
Analysis:  Explosive off the edge.  Non stop motor. Has experience standing up and playing in coverage. Played best vs top teams. Size may force him to play in 3-4 only. Struggles vs run.
Projection:  1st Round

3.  Kony Ealy (JR) 6'4 273 Missouri
Analysis:  Do it all defensive end. Good speed and quickness for size. Can play both DE spots and move inside to DT in passing situations. 4-3 fit only. Doesn't do well in space.
Projection:  Top 50

4.  Scott Crichton (JR) 6'3 273 Oregon State
Analysis: Elite explosion off the ball. Motor runs hot. Faster on tape than timed. Can translate speed to power. Able to operate in space. Struggles vs run.
Projection:  Day 2

5. Jeremiah Attaochu (SR) 6'3 252 Georgia Tech
Projection: Top 50

6. Demarcus Lawrence (JR) 6'3 251 Boise State
Projection:  2nd Round

7. Kareem Martin (SR) 6'6 252 North Carolina
Projection: 2nd Round

8. Trent Murphy (SR) 6'5 250 Stanford
Projection: Day 2

9. Jackson Jeffcoat (SR) 6'3 247 Texas
Projection: 4th or 5th Round

10. Cassius Marsh (SR) 6'4 252 UCLA
Projection:  4th or 5th Round

Player Profile: Kony Ealy

Height:  6'4
Weight:  273
School:  Missouri
Position:  Defensive End
Ranking:  #3 Defensive End
Projection:  1st Round

Strengths
-Ideal length and bulk to play DE in a four man front
-Experienced.  Played since his redshirt freshman year
-Size will allows him to line up at different positions along the line to take advantage of mismatches
-Explodes off the ball looking to create havoc in the backfield
-Showcases the closing burst to get to the QB
-Knows how to use his hands.  Quick and hard to keep lineman off him
-Is effective at getting his hands up in the passing lanes. Got a tip, INT, and TD in one play vs Indiana.
-Nice combination of pass rushing moves.
-Good strength allows him a solid bull rush to move tackle into the QB
-Durable.  No injury issues to speak of

Weaknesses
-Struggles against the run.  Has trouble shedding blocks
-Isn't an elite athlete
-His motor will run hot and cold
-Doesn't do well in space.  Limits his chances to succeed in a 3-4 scheme
-Aggressiveness can cause him to over pursue and take him out of the play

Summary
With the likes of Justin Smith and Aldon Smith wrecking havoc in the NFL, the Missouri Tigers do have a claim to being DE U!  The next player that could help with that tradition could be Kony Ealy.  Ealy was been under the radar a bit with Michael Sam's production at the beginning of the season, and most recently his barrier breaking announcement.  However Ealy is the better player and prospect.  Ealy has many of the tools teams are going to look for when it comes to defensive ends.  He has good size and gets off the ball in a hurry.  However his numbers were down largely because he faced constant double teams.  Ealy may not have the gaudy stats you'd like, but his ability to disrupt in the backfield doesn't always show up on the stat sheet.  The downfall on Ealy is that he struggles to anchor in against the run like you'd think with somebody his size.  Ealy also struggles in space which could cause some 3-4 teams to be scared off.  Ealy is likely a 4-3 defensive end only and pair that up with some minor deficiencies and you'll likely see him fall to the 20s come draft day.  Cincinnati seems to be the likely landing spot, especially with them losing Michael Johnson.  But with a lack of true 4-3 ends, don't be surprised if he goes much earlier.  But he won't fall out of the first round with Denver and Seattle both being teams that would love to snatch him up.