Ledyard: 2019 NFL Draft Edge Defender Rankings

[YoloinOhio]

Jon Ledyard/The Draft Network 

 

Quote

While the draft world likely remains unsettled on anything close to a strong consensus on the 2019 edge defender class, my grade on the position group have been finalized. I went trait-by-trait to break down how each of my top nine prospects grade out.

 

In no order (the final order is at the bottom), here are my top nine edge defenders in the class (nine was the point at which a huge drop-off occurred):

Nick Bosa, Ohio State

Josh Allen, Kentucky

Montez Sweat, Mississippi State

Jachai Polite, Florida

Brian Burns, Florida State

Clelin Ferrell, Clemson

Christian Miller, Alabama

Rashan Gary, Michigan

Chase Winovich, Michigan

*I’m waiting for Charles Omenihu’s pro day weigh-in to determine where I’m going to grade him, I didn’t expect him to be up seven pounds to 280 at the Combine, so I’m just not sure which grading filter to put him through yet.

 

 

Traits assessed:

production

NfL Combine performance

Arc/Burst Speed

Bend/Flexibility 

Rush Moves

Counters

Run Defense

Character/Work Ethic 

 

Bosa, Burns, Allen were only ones he graded Round 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by YoloinOhio

[MakeBuffaloGreatAgain]

Sweat is 4 spots too high... 1 dimensional, with zero strength at the point of attack and possesses 1 pass-rush move, run around... he's a late 1st round prospect. The combine has made him fools gold.

[BillsFan17]

I'll be honest, if the Bills do take someone on the edge, and early I'd hope to ***** its Burns.

 

I honestly think there could be a case made for Ferrell too. Would be a little high for my blood, but could see why they would possibly go that route.

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, MakeBuffaloGreatAgain said:

Sweat is 4 spots too high... 1 dimensional, with zero strength at the point of attack and possesses 1 pass-rush move, run around... he's a late 1st round prospect. The combine has made him fools gold.

The list in my post isn’t ranked in order. Ledyard has him round 2

 

FINAL GRADES

One note on the final grades here: Polite had a Round 1 grade on tape, but the work ethic and Combine categories scored low enough to drop him into Round 2. Depending on what I discovered as a team in his interview process, I might not draft him at all, or I might take him higher if I felt like he could work in my locker room culture. He is more talented than Ferrell or Sweat in my opinion, I just don’t trust him at the next level.

1. Bosa - Round 1

2. Burns - Round 1

3. Allen - Round 1

4. Ferrell - Round 2

5. Sweat - Round 2

6. Polite - Round 2

7. Winovich - Mid Day 2

8. Gary - Mid Day 2

9. Miller - Mid Day 2

Edited March 19, 2019 by YoloinOhio

[MakeBuffaloGreatAgain]

Gary, Ferrell, Burns, and Polite all should go before Sweat.

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

The list in my post isn’t ranked in order. Ledyard has him round 2

I figured it wasn't your personal order... so I didn't personally attack you. But if I do feel that this is your order, I will ruthlessly admonish your existence.

[BillsFan17]

5 minutes ago, MakeBuffaloGreatAgain said:

Gary, Ferrell, Burns, and Polite all should go before Sweat.

I figured it wasn't your personal order... so I didn't personally attack you. But if I do feel that this is your order, I will ruthlessly admonish your existence.

You can have a distaste for Sweat, that's fine, but Gary doesn't belong in this conversation at all.

[YoloinOhio]

Ledyard knows way more than I do, but I’m surprised to see Gary in the group. He seems miscast. Is any team drafting him to play this position? It’s fair to judge him him on his technique but he’s a DT in the NFL imo 

1 minute ago, BillsFan17 said:

You can have a distaste for Sweat, that's fine, but Gary doesn't belong in this conversation at all.

We posted this at same time. I’m trying to figure out why he includes him. Mid day 2? I mean I guess if you want him to play on the edge but he will be long gone to a team that doesn’t.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

I love Burns but I don't think he's the prototype Beandermott look for.

[BillsFan1988]

3 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

Jon Ledyard/The Draft Network 

 

 

Traits assessed:

production

NfL Combine performance

Arc/Burst Speed

Bend/Flexibility 

Rush Moves

Counters

Run Defense

Character/Work Ethic 

 

Bosa, Burns, Allen were only ones he graded Round 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm going on record these DEs are overrated and I would hate for the Bills to waste a pk on any of these guys. Unless Allen or Bosa falls which is not gonna happen. I'll pass on 

Sweat

Burns

Ferrell 

Gary 

3 hours ago, BillsFan17 said:

I'll be honest, if the Bills do take someone on the edge, and early I'd hope to ***** its Burns.

 

I honestly think there could be a case made for Ferrell too. Would be a little high for my blood, but could see why they would possibly go that route.

Ferrell is Shaq 2.0

[Buffalo Barbarian]

3 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

Jon Ledyard/The Draft Network 

 

 

Traits assessed:

production

NfL Combine performance

Arc/Burst Speed

Bend/Flexibility 

Rush Moves

Counters

Run Defense

Character/Work Ethic 

 

Bosa, Burns, Allen were only ones he graded Round 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chase in the third or fourth.

 

 

[BillsFan1988]

If we go Dline at #9 I'm thinking and hoping it's either Oliver or Wilkins.

[Just Joshin']

Burns is fast but I worry that he will be man handled in the NFL.  He needs more than one trick.

 

That said, I am not a DL expert so maybe I do not appreciate the analysis fully.

[GunnerBill]

I think it is a really good class. 

 

I have Bosa, Allen, Ferrell, Burns, Sweat, Polite and Ferguson all with 1st round grades. 

[DallasMac]

Been waiting for something like this to come out.  I really think the defensive class is overrated.  There are some good DTs available but as far as pass rushers I don't see it after Bosa, Allen.  I really like Williams at the DT spot.  I just feel that it's a solid draft class that's missing elite players other than the top 5 or so.  I hope the Bills trade back unless one of the elite guys fall.  A lot of good solid talent will be available in the second round.

[billsredneck1]

6 hours ago, BillsFan17 said:

I'll be honest, if the Bills do take someone on the edge, and early I'd hope to ***** its Burns.

 

I honestly think there could be a case made for Ferrell too. Would be a little high for my blood, but could see why they would possibly go that route.

after reading about burns, he sure sounds like another jerry hughes...

[YoloinOhio]

1 hour ago, billsredneck1 said:

after reading about burns, he sure sounds like another jerry hughes...

That’s my comparison is well, just from watching him play and size coming into the league 

[PetermansRedemption]

I wonder what it would cost to go from 9 to 4 if Bosa falls. 

[YoloinOhio]

1 hour ago, Bills2ref said:

I wonder what it would cost to go from 9 to 4 if Bosa falls. 

Just burn the Raiders to the ground if Bosa is there at 4 and they trade the pick, given how much draft capital they already hold. 

[PetermansRedemption]

2 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Just burn the Raiders to the ground if Bosa is there at 4 and they trade the pick, given how much draft capital they already hold. 

This is John Gruden after all. He could love 4 QBs in the draft and not be able to decide. Naturally

he has to draft them all. Luckily he has his crush, Nathan Peterman, to hold down the fort in the meantime. 

[SWATeam]

6 hours ago, BillsFan1988 said:

 

Ferrell is Shaq 2.0

 

They couldn't be more different.  Ferrell is lighting off of the snap.  An elite get-off.  

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I think it is a really good class. 

 

I have Bosa, Allen, Ferrell, Burns, Sweat, Polite and Ferguson all with 1st round grades. 

Do you have a second or third round grade on Winovich? He is the embodiment of a McDermott type of guy. 

[GunnerBill]

8 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Do you have a second or third round grade on Winovich? He is the embodiment of a McDermott type of guy. 

 

High 3rd. 

[hemma]

I don't know that they have Gary correctly categorized.

May be IDL, not Edge.

[SWATeam]

3 minutes ago, hemma said:

I don't know that they have Gary correctly categorized.

May be IDL, not Edge.

That's the problem with Gary.  He has only really played edge, but people are projecting him to the inside.  personally, I'd like to see it before spending a high draft pick on a projection.  

[BuffaloRebound]

Burns is a tantalizing prospect.  Not sure he has the size to hold up, but if he does he could be an All Pro.  He’s also only 20 years old.  

[YoloinOhio]

16 minutes ago, SWATeam said:

That's the problem with Gary.  He has only really played edge, but people are projecting him to the inside.  personally, I'd like to see it before spending a high draft pick on a projection.  

They moved him around. He did rush the passer at times because he could overmatch some opponents (physically) there but in that defense he played inside and  outside. He was sometimes taken off the field in obvious passing situations and subbed for a pure pass rusher. He cleared the way a lot for Winovich. He doesn’t belong in this group imo. I understand assessing some of the skill sets because I think he will be a DT who can rush the passer but why he’s either the Edge guys I have no idea. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by YoloinOhio

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, Bills2ref said:

I wonder what it would cost to go from 9 to 4 if Bosa falls. 

 

DO IT!!!!!   I think Bean would do that.  Can you imagine a young D with the following in place: CB (White/perhaps Wallace).  LB (Milano, Edmunds), Edge: Bosa.  Secondary: Hyde/Poyer.  Then get DL (Wise from Kansas) in like Rd. 3. 

 

I'd trade 9, and a second to get Bosa. 

2 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

They moved him around. He did rush the passer at times because he could overmatch some opponents there but in that defense he played inside and  outside. He was sometimes taken off the field in obvious passing situations and subbed for a pure pass rusher. He cleared the way a lot for Winovich. He doesn’t belong in this group imo. I understand assessing some of the skill sets because I think he will be a DT who can rush the passer but why he’s either the Edge guys I have no idea. 

 

Gary is interesting.  his numbers in college are not impressive AT ALL.  Yet some are projecting him as a top 10 pick.  That scares me.  Hopefully Oakland takes him, and White falls to us. 

[PetermansRedemption]

4 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

DO IT!!!!!   I think Bean would do that.  Can you imagine a young D with the following in place: CB (White/perhaps Wallace).  LB (Milano, Edmunds), Edge: Bosa.  Secondary: Hyde/Poyer.  Then get DL (Wise from Kansas) in like Rd. 3. 

 

I'd trade 9, and a second to get Bosa. . 

I would think, at an absolute minimum, the cost is 9+2020 1st. I still do it. 

[RyanC883]

4 minutes ago, Bills2ref said:

I would think, at an absolute minimum, the cost is 9+2020 1st. I still do it. 

 

I'd be fine with it.  Hopefully the 2020 1st is a low one !

[Rufridr101]

Everything beano and McDermott have done to this point is about scheme fit. From the secondary to the linebackers it's been lengthy players.  The Trent Murphy move because of the length and not trusting shaq to loose weight to his credit he did. The buffalo bills board will have these players ranked on scheme fit above all. Bosa, sweat,  and Ferrell are the ones who fit the scheme best because of the size and length.  Tremaine Edmunds is a perfect example of the bills drafting measurables. 

[John from Riverside]

I am forever scarred at the crap he was throwing at Josh Allen last year

 

Do not care what he says....he is an idiot

[Buffalo Barbarian]

10 hours ago, DallasMac said:

Been waiting for something like this to come out.  I really think the defensive class is overrated.  There are some good DTs available but as far as pass rushers I don't see it after Bosa, Allen.  I really like Williams at the DT spot.  I just feel that it's a solid draft class that's missing elite players other than the top 5 or so.  I hope the Bills trade back unless one of the elite guys fall.  A lot of good solid talent will be available in the second round.

 

We will never get Williams but if we can somehow snag Dexter Lawrence in the second, i will be stoked , an athletic 350 pounder is hard to find, reminds me of Haloti  Ngata .

 

dominate force against the run. He possesses a combination of size, movement skills, strength, and short area quickness that makes him very difficult to block with one blocks. He fires off the ball and immediately stuns blockers with his power on first contact. Lawrence shows the traits to play in both a one-gap (in limited exposures) and a two-gap scheme. He has heavy hands and surprises with the suddenness of pop when he gets extended.

The former Clemson product creates disruption as he's able to re-establish the line of scrimmage and drive blocks where he wants. But Lawrence won't provide much pass rush and is inconsistent when using his hands to counter. He's just scratching the surface of his potential. For NFL teams that need to upgrade their run defense, he'll be one of the first players considered. Lawrence will likely see starting reps early on in his professional career.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/dexter-lawrence-nfl-draft-profile/ar-BBTNza1

 

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

15 hours ago, MakeBuffaloGreatAgain said:

Sweat is 4 spots too high... 1 dimensional, with zero strength at the point of attack and possesses 1 pass-rush move, run around... he's a late 1st round prospect. The combine has made him fools gold.

 

Whats up Maybin?

[YoloinOhio]

doh

 

 

[zevo]

5 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

doh

 

 

What were his tweets about....

[Reed83HOF]

5 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

doh

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

4 minutes ago, zevo said:

What were his tweets about....

They’re deleted now but in one of them he called Frank Gore a thug