2012 NFL Draft: Defensive Line Preview

The 2012 NFL Draft is full of quality defensive linemen.

Our draft Preview will take a look at each position and give you three studs (players who will out play their draft position, usually two high round picks and one middle round picks). Two Duds (the exact opposite of the first one) and one Sleeper (a name to watch out for late on day three who could end up starting in the N.F.L.)

Three Studs:

Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

It is considered a fact that Quinton Coples played much better in 2010 than he did in 2011, but the questions are why. People who know Coples a bit have speculated that Coples was doing a little bit of playing like he was not getting hurt. Because he had a poor season, the most talented pass rusher in this class, bar none, could drop into the teens where he has the potential to be a Jason Pierre Paul type steal (drafted 15th overall). Coples is also very versatile and could excel plyaing a number of positions 43 DE, 34 DE, 43 DT, and 34 OLB. Coples is scary and has maybe a high bust factor, but make no mistake about it, if he wants it–Copels is a stud.

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Fletcher Cox has been shoot up draft boards during the pre-draft process and for good reason. Cox reminds me in a lot of ways of last year’s #13th overall pick Nick Fairley. Cox ix a true threat in the middle of a 43 Defense or as a 34 outside defensive end. The casual college football and NFL draft fan might end up being surprised hearing Cox name called as high as #6 overall, but no one else will be.

Jake Bequette, DE, Arkansas

I usually try to highlight one mid-round prospect at a position that I think will be a terrific player, but one that’s not really a sleeper. Jake Bequette might not ever be Jared Allen who was drafted in the fourth round, but he can be a very good two way pass rusher and run defender. Bequette is usually slated to go in the fourth or fifth round which I think is fair, but I think he’ll out play his draft position by a lot.

Two Duds:

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy is very talented, but like Coples has some consistency issues. I think Coples was more about playing not to get hurt and that at least for his first four years in the National Football League Coples can dominate the league. There are concerns about Worthy’s conditioning and overall ability. Prior to the 2011 College Football season Worthy was sometimes mocked in the top 10, he is very talented, but like didn’t produce enough.

Dontari Poe, Memphis

Dontari Poe is easy to pick on. Poe will either be a great pick because some team just got the next Ngata. Or a terrible pick as Poe will continue to be unproductive and just a monster athletic man who doesn’t do anything on the field. The concern that Poe did not dominate at Memphis is legitimate, but NO ONE likes picking Poe in the top 10, which to me means he has a great chance to be successful. All the motivation in the world, let’s see if he capitalizes on it.

One Sleeper:

Akiem Hicks, Regina

Even if you watched every single American College Football game in the 2011 season you still would have missed out on Akiem Hicks out of Regina. Hicks is a massive 6’5 325 pounds with really long arms and a thick lower half. Hicks played up in Canada so I didn’t see much of him, but people rave about him and he’s done very well in the pre-draft process. He needs a lot of technique work, but has very high upside for a guy who might not be drafted until the early part of the 7th round. With the right coaching he can play in a number of schemes as well.

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