NFL Draft: Missouri’s Shane Ray a Top Five Lock?

Playing behind second round pick Kony Ealy and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Sam, it’s no wonder Missouri’s defensive end Shane Ray went almost unnoticed by the NFL Draft world just a year ago. Despite finishing the season with very respectable numbers for a reserve pass rusher, Ray set out to prove to everyone that the treasure behind two star players was an even better one, and he’s been successful.

A workout warrior and athletic freak, Ray has racked up 59 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a blocked kick this season, just his junior year and first as a full-time starter.

It’s been rumored that Ray can run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4 second range, and that he has athletic measurables that are absolutely off the charts. It wouldn’t surprise anyone with what you see on game tape from this guy. He absolutely explodes off the line of scrimmage, and makes it impossible for offenses to have any sort of normal flow when trying to scheme against him.

At 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, there is room for growth as a defensive end, but Ray could also play in a two-point stance as a rush linebacker at the next level. The sky is the limit for this young man, who has all the potential in the world.

The question is, how high can he go?

Well, some have Ray as a first rounder. Some have him as a top 15 lock. Some have him in the top five. Offseason workouts will be a large determining factor here potentially due to the smaller sample size, but it’s clear that Ray has potential to be one of the best players coming out of this year’s draft class, should he choose to leave school early. He has one year of eligibility remaining at Missouri.