2019 NFL Scouting Combine: Defensive Line Measurements

A couple days, we went over the offensive line and why it is the key to a good offense, now it’s time to flip the script and talk about the engine of the defense, the defensive line. This article will be filled with elite players that will all likely go within the 1^st two rounds. In all honestly, about 75% of the names I will mention will be 1^st round picks and this year is a very heavy defensive dominant draft. If you are a team with multiple 1^st round picks, you can get 2-3 defensive studs and turn your whole team around.

I put the DL into 3 groups. The 1^st are the biggest of guys, the 300-pound monsters that can play the one technique as a NT, the five technique as a 3-4 DE or the three technique as a 4-3 DT. Quinnen Williams of Alabama is an absolute beast, arguably the best player in the draft. Christian Wilkens and Dexter Lawrence of Clemson terrorized defenses this past year and will continue to do that on the next level. Wilkens should go in round one, while Lawrence may crack the 1^st, but more likely early round two.

Next are the guys that can play the five and the three technique. Ed Oliver of Houston started the year as the projected #1 pick, and would be most years, this just happens to be a superlative year for the defensive line position. This is just a stacked year. Rashan Gary of Michigan is a player that some are either very high or down on because of his inconsistency, but he will be taken in round one. Jerry Tilery of Notre Dame and Dre’Mont Jones of Ohio State are 1^st round talents that will likely slip into round two.

Finally, we get to the Edge Rushers. Nick Bosa of Ohio State, despite playing only limited in three games this year will likely go #1 in the draft. Montez Sweat of Mississippi St can be dominant at times and should go within the 1^st 10-15 picks, same goes for Clelin Ferrell of Clemson. Both can apply big time pressure on the QB. Brian Burns of Florida St is a great athlete, but is around 10-15 pounds lighter than every else here. Jachai Polite of Florida is another great athlete with a high ceiling, but also a low floor.

There are two other electrifying DL that need to be pointed out even though you won’t see them on the field at the combine. Jeffery Simmons of Mississippi St was a top five player in this draft a few weeks ago, but tragically suffered a torn ACL in training, which could drop him to round two. Someone willing to wait will get a huge steal. Jaylon Ferguson of Louisiana Tech is a sack machine with 39 sacks the last three years, and 17.5 last year. He is not allowed at the combine due to a rule he broke in High School.

The front seven of a football team can control a game. They can not only stop the opposing offense, but now so many teams are creating turnovers, as well as setting up the offense with good field position. Offense may bring the people to the stadium, but most of the time it’s the defense that has to send them home happy. This year is an extraordinary year or talented defensive players and the defensive lineman that you will see Sunday will steal the show that is normally centered around Saturday.

Below are the Defensive Linemen measurements from the 2019 NFL Combine.