Just like the offensive line controls the game on the offensive end, the defensive line controls the defense. The game of football is won between those two battles. Most defensive linemen go into groups such as 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 defensive ends, 4-3 defensive tackles, and big nose tackles. This year there is a lot of depth for the defensive linemen. The big guys are very big and the top guys are very versatile to fit in multiple types of defenses.
The top 2 guys being named for d-linemen are Joey Bosa and Noah Spence. Bosa was once looked as a candidate for the #1 overall pick, but now seems to be falling more in the 5-10 range. He is a good pass rusher and uses his hands well, but he is not a natural pass rusher and doesn’t have the initial burst/speed that you see from natural pass rushers. I think the best comparison to him would be Derrick Morgan of the Tennessee Titans.
Speaking of natural pass rushers, the man who seems to have to most pass rush ability is Noah Spence. He was originally looked at as a 2nd round, and to some 3rd round, guy, because of his off-field issues, but his talent has been so undeniable that he is now being looked at as possibly the 3rd overall pick to the San Diego Chargers.
One other player that has been racing up draft boards lately has been DeForrest Buckner. He is also being talked about as a possible pick of the Chargers at #3. He fits perfectly as a 3-4 DE who is so long and lanky that he should be able to hold the edge and knock down a lot of balls. The difference between him and previously selected Oregon DE’s is Buckner actually has some nice pass rushing moves.
Below is a list of all the heights, weights, arm lengths, and hand lengths of all the Defensive Linemen who will be at the 2016 NFL Combine.
| Player | School | Height | Weight | Arm |
| Mehdi Abdesmad | Boston College | 6-6 | 284 | 33 3/8 |
| Sterling Bailey | Georgia | 6-4 | 285 | 33 3/8 |
| Jimmy Bean | Oklahoma State | 6-5 | 264 | 33 1/2 |
| Andrew Billings | Baylor | 6-1 | 311 | 33 |
| Ronald Blair | Appalachian State | 6-2 | 284 | 34 |
| Joey Bosa | Ohio State | 6-5 | 269 | 33 3/8 |
| DeForest Buckner | Oregon | 6-7 | 291 | 34 3/8 |
| Jonathan Bullard | Florida | 6-3 | 285 | 33 5/8 |
| Vernon Butler | Louisiana Tech | 6-4 | 323 | 35 |
| Shilique Calhoun | Michigan State | 6-4 | 251 | 34 1/4 |
| Kenny Clark | UCLA | 6-3 | 314 | 32 1/8 |
| Maliek Collins | Nebraska | 6-2 | 311 | 33 1/8 |
| Kamalei Correa | Boise State | 6-3 | 243 | 31 5/8 |
| James Cowser | Southern Utah | 6-3 | 248 | 32 7/8 |
| Sheldon Day | Notre Dame | 6-1 | 293 | 32 5/8 |
| Kevin Dodd | Clemson | 6-5 | 277 | 34 |
| Jason Fanaika | Utah | 6-2 | 271 | 32 5/8 |
| Adam Gotsis | Georgia Tech | 6-5 | 287 | 34 1/8 |
| Javon Hargrave | South Carolina State | 6-1 | 309 | 32 |
| Joel Heath | Michigan State | 6-5 | 293 | 34 1/2 |
| Willie Henry | Michigan | 6-3 | 303 | 33 3/8 |
| Matt Ioannidis | Temple | 6-4 | 299 | 32 3/8 |
| Branden Jackson | Texas Tech | 6-4 | 273 | 33 3/8 |
| Quinton Jefferson | Maryland | 6-4 | 291 | 33 3/8 |
| Austin Johnson | Penn State | 6-4 | 314 | 32 3/4 |
| Chris Jones | Mississippi State | 6-6 | 310 | 34 1/2 |
| Matt Judon | Grand Valley State | 6-3 | 275 | 33 7/8 |
| Ufomba Kamalu | Miami | 6-5 | 295 | 35 |
| Bronson Kaufusi | BYU | 6-7 | 285 | 34 1/2 |
| Darius Latham | Indiana | 6-4 | 311 | 34 3/4 |
| Nile Lawrence-Stample | Florida State | 6-1 | 320 | 32 3/4 |
| Shaq Lawson | Clemson | 6-3 | 269 | 32 3/4 |
| Dean Lowry | Northwestern | 6-6 | 296 | 31 |
| Luther Maddy | Virginia Tech | 6-0 | 287 | 32 1/4 |
| Chris Mayes | Georgia | 6-3 | 338 | 34 |
| Alex Mccalister | Florida | 6-6 | 239 | 36 |
| Carl Nassib | Penn State | 6-7 | 277 | 34 |
| Giorgio Newberry | Florida State | 6-6 | 285 | 34 |
| Yannick Ngakoue | Maryland | 6-2 | 252 | 32 1/2 |
| Dadi Nicolas | Virginia Tech | 6-3 | 235 | 34 3/4 |
| Robert Nkemdiche | Ole Miss | 6-4 | 294 | 33 7/8 |
| Shawn Oakman | Baylor | 6-8 | 287 | 35 3/4 |
| Victor Ochi | Stony Brook | 6-1 | 246 | 33 3/4 |
| Emmanuel Ogbah | Oklahoma State | 6-4 | 273 | 35 1/2 |
| Romeo Okwara | Notre Dame | 6-5 | 265 | 34 1/8 |
| D J Pettway | Alabama | 6-2 | 265 | 32 1/4 |
| Sheldon Rankins | Louisville | 6-1 | 299 | 33 3/8 |
| D J Reader | Clemson | 6-3 | 327 | 33 |
| Jarran Reed | Alabama | 6-3 | 307 | 33 3/8 |
| Hassan Ridgeway | Texas | 6-3 | 303 | 33 |
| A’Shawn Robinson | Alabama | 6-4 | 307 | 34 1/2 |
| Devaunte Sigler | Jacksonville State-Al | 6-4 | 298 | 33 3/4 |
| Noah Spence | Eastern Kentucky | 6-3 | 251 | 33 |
| Charles Tapper | Oklahoma | 6-3 | 271 | 34 3/8 |
| Lawrence Thomas | Michigan State | 6-4 | 286 | 33 1/4 |
| Ron Thompson | Syracuse | 6-3 | 253 | 32 1/4 |
| Vincent Valentine | Nebraska | 6-4 | 329 | 33 1/8 |
| Jihad Ward | Illinois | 6-5 | 297 | 33 7/8 |
| Adolphus Washington | Ohio State | 6-3 | 301 | 34 1/2 |
| Antwaun Woods | USC | 6-0 | 318 | 31 |
| Connor Wujciak | Boston College | 6-3 | 291 | 33 1/4 |
| Anthony Zettel | Penn State | 6-4 | 277 | 31 1/8 |