NFL Draft — Defensive Ends

Athlon Sports’ 2008 NFL Mock Draft and Top 100 prospect database will be unveiled on Friday, Feb. 15. Until then, we will be taking a look back at the past five NFL Drafts — with a position-by-position breakdown of the players taken in the Top 100 and first round, along with a sneak preview of the 2008 NFL Draft class.

End of the Line

As the Super Bowl XLII champion N.Y. Giants proved, ends are the most valuable players on a defense. A strong pass rush can make up for a weaker secondary, by giving the opposing quarterback (say, Tom Brady?) less time to scan the field and make the right decisions. Ends like Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck can make a tremendous impact without ever recording an official statistic.

Quarterback hurries, knockdowns and sacks add up over the course of a game. Only human, no quarterback can withstand four quarters of being blindsided without the result being short-armed and hurried passes; or worse, barking at linemen (Tony Romo?) or receivers (Peyton Manning?) when the problem is not the offense’s shortcomings but really the defense’s strengths — which begins with the ends of the line.

While 3-4 defensive schemes use their outside linebackers (who often were college defensive ends when they were drafted) as the primary pass rusher, a traditional 4-3 end is still one of the most sought-after commodities in the league — along with the franchise quarterback, left tackle and cornerback.

A 3-4 end is more of a hybrid who must take on interior linemen, while the 4-3 variety is the classic edge rusher exploding from a three-point stance before swim-moving, bull-rushing, spinning around or just flying by the opposing offensive tackle.

The 2008 NFL Draft defensive end class is deep. Virginia’s Chris Long, Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston, Florida’s Derrick Harvey, Miami’s Calais Campbell and Clemson’s Phillip Merling are all considered to be first-round talents prior to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 20-26).

	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
1st Round	4	3	3	3	5
Top 100	13	6	7	9	10

Over the past five years, an average of nine defensive ends have been selected in the Top 100 picks — which is roughly the first three rounds — of the NFL Draft. Of those, an average of four ends per year have been first-round draft choices.

With the need for pass rushers far outweighing the number available, teams are more likely to take a chance on a physical specimen who may or may not pan out as a player. Many feel that a workout warrior can become a monster on the field at the next level by being coached up and taught technique, while a productive collegiate sack artist without natural physical gifts may not be able to maneuver his way around starting offensive tackles in the league no matter how hard he hustles.

2007	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Gaines Adams, Clemson Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas Adam Carriker, Nebraska Jarvis Moss, Florida	Bucs (4) Falcons (8) Rams (13) Broncos (17)
Top 100	LaMarr Woodley, Michigan Turk McBride, Tennessee Tim Crowder, Texas Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan Quentin Moses, Georgia Charles Johnson, Georgia Ray McDonald, Florida	Steelers (46) Chiefs (54) Broncos (56) Eagles (57) Lions (58) Bears (62) Raiders (65) Panthers (83) 49ers (97)

A sleek speed rusher, Adams was the first end off the board on Draft Day and the most productive member of last year's class as a rookie. Although he undoubtedly needs to bulk up, Adams showed flashes in his first year with the Bucs, recording six sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

On the other end of the spectrum, Anderson did not notch a single sack in 16 games, Carriker had two sacks (spending the majority of his first year inside at nose tackle) and Moss had one sack before a season-ending knee injury ruined his rookie campaign after just six games.

2006	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Mario Williams, NC State Tamba Hali, Penn State Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College	Texans (1) Chiefs (20) Giants (32)
Top 100	Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech Frostee Rucker, USC Jason Hatcher, Grambling	Seahawks (63) Bengals (91) Cowboys (92)

There may not have been a more debated No. 1 overall pick in the history of the NFL Draft. The Texans passed up a chance to draft Houston hometown hero and Texas quarterback Vince Young (who went to local villain Bud Adams' Oilers/Titans organization, an AFC South division rival) as well as electric USC tailback and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

After producing only 4.5 sacks as a hobbled rookie, Super Mario stayed healthy and developed a few pass rush moves to go along with his incredible size (6'6", 293) and athleticism. In his second season, Williams recorded 14.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning a reputation as one of the better young ends in the game today.

A shallow but strong class, first-rounders Hali and Kiwanuka have also been productive.

The "Tamba-Hawk" has 16 sacks and eight forced fumbles in two years with the Chiefs, while Kiwanuka — who has bounced from end to outside backer with a Giants team loaded on the line — had 99 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two interceptions in 26 career games before breaking his leg this season.

2005	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	David Pollack, Georgia Erasmus James, Wisconsin Marcus Spears, LSU	Bengals (17) Vikings (18) Cowboys (20)
Top 100	Matt Roth, Iowa Dan Cody, Oklahoma Justin Tuck, Notre Dame Vincent Burns, Kentucky	Dolphins (46) Ravens (53) Giants (74) Colts (92)

Although quarterback Eli Manning was named Super Bowl XLII MVP, the award easily could have gone to Tuck — who had two sacks, one forced fumble and countless quarterback pressures in the biggest game of his life. Despite being 6'5" and 250 pounds with room to grow (now 275 pounds) coming out of Notre Dame, Tuck was the sixth defensive end selected in a weak class.

In fact, the Giants three-headed monster of defensive ends were all extremely good values on Draft Day — Michael Strahan went No. 40 overall out of Texas Southern in 1993, Osi Umenyiora was selected No. 56 out of Troy in 2003 and Tuck slid under the radar to No. 74 in 2005 despite playing all of his home games on national television with the Irish.

2004	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Will Smith, Ohio State Kenechi Udeze, USC Jason Babin, Western Michigan	Saints (18) Vikings (20) Texans (27)
Top 100	Travis LaBoy, Hawaii Antwan Odom, Alabama Marquise Hill, LSU Darrion Scott, Ohio State Anthony Hargrove, Georgia Tech Reggie Torbor, Auburn	Titans (42) Titans (57) Patriots (63) Vikings (88) Rams (91) Giants (97)

Smith has been one of the cornerstones on a below average Saints defense, with 33.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles through four seasons. Aside from Smith, however, this draft clearly shows just how desperate teams are to find pass rushers at end.

The Vikings spent the first of what would be consecutive first round picks on Undeze, who has been a disappointment — but less of a bust than 2005 first-rounder Erasmus James.

Meanwhile, the Titans selected three ends in the first 103 overall picks of the draft, taking LaBoy, Odom and TCU's Bo Schobel. None of the three has become a reliable starter, although Odom will likely get overpaid on the free agent market this offseason for the same reason the Titans took a shot in the dark, hoping his obvious athleticism would eventually equal consistent results.

2003	Player, School	Team (Pick)
1st Round	Ty Warren, Texas A&M Michael Haynes, Penn State Jerome McDougle, Miami Calvin Pace, Wake Forest Tyler Brayton, Colorado	Patriots (13) Bears (14) Eagles (15) Cardinals (18) Raiders (32)
Top 100	Chris Kelsay, Nebraska Osi Umenyiora, Troy Dewayne White, Louisville Sam Williams, Fresno State Andrew Williams, Miami	Bills (48) Giants (56) Bucs (64) Raiders (83) 49ers (89)

In many ways, Warren is the prototypical 3-4 end, although he is often overshadowed by Patriots linemates Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork — two other former first-round picks in the trenches.

The big fella (6'5", 300) can occupy blockers and fight through double-teams on his way to the quarterback, allowing New England's fleet of linebackers free reign to roam sideline-to-sideline making plays.

The star of the class is Umenyiora, who is perfect in the Giants' 4-3 scheme. With size (6'3", 260), speed and quickness, Umenyiora has registered 41.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in five seasons.

And whether Strahan retires or not, the Big Blue Wrecking Crew defensive line will still be among the NFL's best — with Umenyiora, Tuck and Kiwanuka.

Keep checking AthlonSports.com for ongoing NFL Draft coverage:

Safeties Cornerbacks Linebackers Defensive Ends Defensive Tackles Offensive Linemen Tight Ends Wide Receivers Running Backs Quarterbacks 2008 NFL Mock Draft

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