Defensive Position Rankings 1.0

Top 5 DIs

1. Jer'Zhan Newton

2. Byron Murphy II

3. T'Vondre Sweat

4. Leonard Taylor III

5. Kris Jenkins

Similar to QB, I think the top two players in this group would be better classified as 1A and 1B. The combine will probably play into who I ultimately put on top, but both Newton and Murphy are first round talent. I think that everyone else in this class does a decent job of ticking either the run defense or pass rush rush box, but not both. That is what sets the two at the top apart. I think Jenkins and Sweat are run stuffing machines and Taylor has the ability to be a 3rd down specialist, but they all look limited in their roles.

Top 5 EDGEs

1. Dallas Turner

2. Laiatu Latu

3. Jared Verse

4. Darius Robinson

5. Bralen Trice

I don't think anyone will push back on my top three. While the order is very much up for debate, the three guys in that conversation haven't changed since summer scouting. Robinson is the guy that intrigues me the most. He is a tank, but also has a lot of length. He could easily find a home as a DE in a 3-4 system or as an inside guy in a 4-3 look. I think he has the highest ceiling of any of these players and could be an absolute nightmare for offenses.

Top 5 LBs

1. Junior Colson

2. Edgerrin Cooper

3. Payton Wilson

4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

5. Edefuan Ulofoshio

I think I will be higher than most on Colson, but I think he is the real deal. He has experience in an NFL caliber defensive system, has found success as a two year starter. I think Cooper will be the first LB to hear his name called, and deservedly. He is a stud and has only scratched the surface in my opinion. With all the talk around how down this LB class is, I think the two guys are the top are difference makers.

Top 5 CBs

1. Cooper DeJean

2. Terrion Arnold

3. Quinyon Mitchell

4. Nate Wiggins

5. Ennis Rakestraw

This CB class is so exciting. It is incredibly deep and stacked at the top. he fact that I don't even have Kool-Aid McKinstry's name on this list is evidence for how much talent this class has. I think DeJean is the best defensive player in this draft and will answer the bell much like we have seen from the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Sauce Garnder. Don't be surprised to see him turn out to be a top defensive back for years to come.

Top 5 Ss

1. Tyler Nubin

2. Kamren Kinchens

3. Jaden Hicks

4. Javon Bullard

5. Kitan Oladapo

This group doesn't have a Brian Branch or Kyle Hamilton as has been the case with past years, but it does have two really solid options that have the potential of being fringe first rounders. Oladapo is one that snuck into the number five spot who I am really excited for. I think he can be a monster in the defensive backfield and will have a really surprising rookie year.

Newt Westen

With a little less than a week until the combine I wanted to formulate some Top 5 Position rankings.

I have a couple updates to player rankings in my Top 75 that will affect some of these rankings as well as a handful of other positions (RB, TE, G, C, LB and S) that don't see 5 players in the Top 75. On the other hand, there are at least five tackles, cornerbacks and wide receivers in the Top 32 to predict that these classes are very deep and the top of them is stacked.

With the combine on deck and pro days after that, a handful of these positions will see some changes as those athletic traits start to emerge. I can see a guy like Tyler Guyton, T.J. Tampa, or Dallas Turner moving up people's boards after they put on an absolute show next week.

Until then, prost.