NFL Draft

Feinberg’s Defensive Positional Rankings for the NFL Draft

October 31, 2024
2 mins read

As we get closer to the NFL Draft, draft pundits and national media experts alike are beginning to release their final rankings for the upcoming event on April 27-29. Today, I will be presenting my top 10 positional rankings for the defensive prospects featuring draft grades for each player. I have been looking forward to putting out these rankings after completing my final evaluations, and I hope you enjoy my perspective on many of these prospects.

Interior Defensive Linemen

He’s an outlier with his size, but Pittsburgh DT Calijah Kancey is just so damn good that I don’t think it matters.

Absurdly athletic DL, deep arsenal of pass-rushing moves, great leverage and football IQ. Might have top-5 tape of anyone in this class. pic.twitter.com/8xh0odS7uO

  1. Jalen Carter, Georgia (Top 10)

  2. Bryan Bresee, Clemson (1st)

  3. Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh (2nd)

  4. Mazi Smith, Michigan (2nd-3rd)

  5. Byron Young, Alabama (2nd-3rd)

  6. Keeanu Benton, Wisconsin (3rd)

  7. Siaki Ika, Baylor (3rd-4th)

  8. Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma (4th)

  9. Gervon Dexter, Florida (4th)

  10. Jaquelin Roy, LSU (4th)

Honorable Mentions: Colby Wooden, Auburn; Zaach Pickens, South Carolina

EDGE Defender

BJ Ojulari is awesome, but Jones has wide hand placement and consistently gives up his chest. No way he should be getting bull rushed by a guy who is 250 pounds. pic.twitter.com/jzPtl7m02J

— mike (@bengals_sans) February 11, 2023

  1. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (Top 10)

  2. Myles Murphy, Clemson (1st)

  3. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech (1st)

  4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa (1st)

  5. B.J. Ojulari, LSU (1st-2nd)

  6. Nolan Smith, Georgia (2nd)

  7. Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame (2nd)

  8. Derick Hall, Auburn (2nd)

  9. Will McDonald IV, Iowa State (2nd-3rd)

  10. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State (2nd-3rd)

Honorable Mentions: Nick Hampton, Appalachian State; Keion White, Georgia Tech; Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern; Tuli Tuipulotu, USC

Linebacker

Trenton Simpson re-aligning & coming off the right edge:-crashes down-chucks the tight end-reads the mesh point-gets a tackle for loss

pic.twitter.com/wjPWOeLQGT

— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) April 8, 2023

  1. Trenton Simpson, Clemson (1st-2nd) 

  2. Drew Sanders, Arkansas (2nd) 

  3. Jack Campbell, Iowa (2nd) 

  4. Noah Sewell, Oregon (2nd) 

  5. Henry To’o To’o, Alabama (3rd) 

  6. Daiyan Henley, Washington State (3rd) 

  7. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin (3rd-4th) 

  8. Dee Winters, TCU (4th) 

  9. Dorian Williams, Tulane (4th) 

  10.  Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati (4th) 

Honorable Mentions: Owen Pappoe, Auburn; DeMarvin Overshown, Texas

Cornerback

Michigan CB D.J. Turner’s 4.26-second 40-yard dash is all over his film. Looks like he’s shot of a cannon when he’s unlocked to come downhill toward the catch point. Also easily runs with verticals and shows good patience to play double moves. Fun player. pic.twitter.com/D7v2vjSU5s

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 29, 2023

  1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois (1st) 

  2. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon (1st) 

  3. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State (1st) 

  4. Deonte Banks, Maryland (1st-2nd) 

  5. Cam Smith, South Carolina (2nd) 

  6. Clark Phillips III, Utah (2nd)

  7. Kelee Ringo, Georgia (2nd) 

  8. D.J. Turner, Michigan (2nd) 

  9. Julius Brents, Kansas State (2nd-3rd) 

  10.  Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford (3rd)

Honorable Mentions: Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State; Tre Tomlinson, TCU; Tyrique Stevenson, Miami

Safeties

  1. Brain Branch, Alabama (1st) 

  2. Jartavius “Quan” Martin, Illinois (2nd) 

  3. Sydney Brown, Illinois (2nd) 

  4. Christopher Smith, Georgia (2nd-3rd) 

  5. Jordan Battle, Alabama (2nd-3rd) 

  6. Brandon Joseph, Notre Dame (3rd) 

  7. Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M (3rd) 

  8. Ji’Ayir Brown, Penn State (3rd-4th) 

  9. Jammie Robinson, Florida State (4th) 

  10. J.L. Skinner, Boise State (4th) 

Honorable Mentions: Marte Mapu, Sacramento State; Jay Ward, LSU