WFNY’s 2015 NFL Draft Coverage: Joe Gilbert’s Top Five Interior Defensive Linemen

The 2015 NFL Draft is approaching closer and closer as each day passes. Over the last couple weeks, I have discussed my top five prospects for most of the positions on the defensive side of the ball. Today, I finish up the defense by examining the interior defensive linemen in the draft.

Here were my top five defensive linemen in last year’s draft. These big men are the pillars of the defense. In the NFL, the game is won in the trenches. This year’s group is very talented with some potential Pro Bowl players. There is a variety in the group with some players more skilled as run stuffers and others who can rush the passer. It is definitely a position that Browns fans should keep a close eye on because the team is in the market for an interior defensive lineman.

So let’s take a look at my top five interior defensive linemen in the 2015 NFL Draft.

1. Leonard Williams, USC

March 2: Safeties March 4: Cornerbacks March 10: Inside Linebackers March 13: Edge Rushers March 17: Interior Defensive Linemen

USC’s Leonard Williams could be one of the most versatile players in the last few years, let alone this year. In his junior season last year, he had 80 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. He just may be the best player in the 2015 NFL Draft overall.

Williams has the size, speed and strength to play multiple positions in the NFL. The 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive lineman can play defensive end, defensive tackle, and even has the ability to stand up as an outside rusher. He is capable of rushing the passer and staying stout against the run game. His hands are one of his best assets, allowing him to keep off of blocks or ripping away from the block when he is engaged (as you can see in the video below). He is very quick in his first step allowing him to slip past blockers very quickly. He has long arms along with strength to keep away from blockers and always keeps an eye on the backfield. He can flow down the line and chase down ball carriers on the edges with athleticism. CBSSports.com’s Rob Rang refers to Williams as a “physical mismatch too quick for interior linemen and too powerful for offensive tackles.”

Williams does not have a lot of flaws, making him one of the safer picks in the draft. He is not great at the snap, sometimes being a little slow out of his stance. He will need to tighten up his technique to more fully exploit his athleticism. He also has been hampered with multiple injuries over his career, which could be something teams will need to fully examine. But, these few question marks will likely not hold back this talented defensive lineman.

2. Danny Shelton, Washington

Danny Shelton of Washington is one of the biggest players in the entire 2015 NFL Draft. As a senior last season, he had 93 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He is one of the players in this draft, who can come in right away and be productive as a rookie in the NFL.

Shelton is a huge player at 6-foot-2, 339-pounds and has the strength to be a strong force in the middle of the defensive line. He is a true nose tackle who is pretty impossible to move one on one. He is a true run stuffer with the ability clog the gaps in the run game. He has strength to push the blocker into the backfield and disrupt the play. Many times he attracts a double team, which helps free up his fellow teammates. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller says, “Shelton’s lack of “wow” plays on the highlight reels is misleading, as he does the dirty work so the rest of the defense can make plays.” His hands are very strong, allowing him to toss blockers around in order to get free. With his strength comes athleticism that does not usually come in a player his size. He has quick feet to slip past blockers with a nice swim move and close on the ball carrier. Though he is a dominant run defender, Shelton can pressure the quarterback with a great bull rush (as you can see below).

Shelton biggest flaw is his lack of pass rush ability. He does not have any real pass rush moves, except for his strong bull rush. Another issue he must focus on is keeping his weight in check. He will not jump off the page with amazing plays, but he will be a huge cog in a defense’s ability to slow down the opposing team’s running game and for his teammates to get free to make plays.

3. Malcom Brown, Texas

Malcom Brown of Texas moves very well for a 6-foot-2, 319-pound defensive lineman. In his junior season last year, he had 72 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Brown has the potential to be a disruptive force in the backfield.

For a player his size, Brown uses quickness more than strength and girth. He is extremely quick off the snap and gaining an advantage versus the opposing blocker. He has great strong hands to fight off blockers and penetrate into the backfield (as you can see below). He can hold onto blocks and when he sees the ball carrier coming his way, he can disengage from the block and make a play. He is very good at penetrating and disrupting the backfield. His ability to quickly beat blockers forces offenses to put two offensive linemen on him. He also has the ability to go down the line and chase down ball carriers on the edges. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, “Brown has hand quickness and uses hands like an NFL starter. His instincts and feel off the snap help him to get into the backfield quickly.”

Brown does not have elite strength like Danny Shelton and can sometimes get pushed around. He uses his quickness and hands rather than his strength to beat blockers. He will need to get stronger in order to be even stouter against the run. He is already a good pass rusher because of his quickness, but he is very raw in his pass rushing technique, exhibiting few pass rushing moves. But overall, Brown has the combination of quickness and size that is hard to find in a defensive lineman.

4. Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Florida State’s Eddie Goldman is a strong defensive with good size for a nose tackle. As a junior this season, he had 35 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, four sacks and a forced fumble. He is a player who can be a major asset in a run defense.

Goldman is at his best when he is playing against the run. He is a strong player with great size at 6-foot-4, 336-pounds. He has the ability to keep his ground and fill up gaps in the run game, forcing the ball carrier to run around him. He has good technique off the line, able to leverage the offensive line back with a strong initial punch. He has long arms to keep blockers away from his body and has shown some capability to detach and make a play on the ball carrier (as you can see below). He has impressive athletic ability for a player his size and can bull rush into the backfield and push pressure on the quarterback. ESPN’s Todd McShay says, “Goldman has a thick build, moves well and can be overpowering for blockers. His best trait, by far, is as an interior run defender, with his powerful upper body and punch.”

Goldman is not very explosive in his play and does not showcase his athleticism in his play. He is not elusive, so he gets stuck on blocks and does not penetrate much into the backfield. He is pretty much just a run defender because he is very one-dimensional in his pass rushing. His only real pass rush is his bull rush. He does not have great hands to break away from blockers and get into the backfield consistently. But with his athletic ability, he could develop into something more than just a run stuffer in the NFL.

5. Arik Armstead, Oregon

Arik Armstead of Oregon is a player with big potential in the 2015 NFL Draft. As a junior last season in 13 games, he had 46 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He has great size and athleticism is unmatched in the class.

Armstead has great size at 6-foot-7, 292-pounds along with very good athleticism. He has long arms to keep offensive linemen away from his body, allowing him to stay stout even as a lighter lineman. Even though he is not very heavy, he has natural strength to stand strong in the trenches and hold his ground. He uses good leverage, taking advantage of his length to push offensive linemen. He has strong hands to punch blockers out of his stance and get them off balance going backwards. He often times draws double teams, which will allow teammates to get free. He has very good athleticism, able to chase down ball carriers on the edges (as you can see in the video below). I believe his athletic ability is still untapped and that he could use his great mobility more to his advantage. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. says, “He can be really disruptive when he wins with quickness (he’s a great athlete at his size) or uses leverage to control a blocker and take him backwards, but Armstead is still far more a combination of his athletic credentials and those occasional flashes than it is consistency.

As I have noted earlier, much what teams will be drafting Armstead for is his potential. He is very raw and needs a lot of work. His first task must be to add weight to his frame and gain more strength. He also must work on his pass rushing ability. He has the ability to use a bull rush and spin move to get to the quarterback, but he is not consistent enough with these moves. He does not use his quickness well enough to get past blockers. He also does not use his strong hands well in ripping away from or swimming over offensive linemen. He also needs to improve his snap reaction, often times getting up out of his stance last. However, he does have the physical ability to be a dominant defensive lineman in the NFL.