NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Line

(This is the fifth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Defensive end may be the deepest position in the draft and there are plenty of different shapes, sizes and styles for every NFL team to grab hold of.

Defensive tackle is a different story. Two, maybe three will be first round selections and the depth at the position in recent years is nowhere in evidence in this class.

If an NFL team is looking for a pass rushing DE look no further than Clemson's Gaines Adams, Arkansas' Jamaal Anderson and Florida's Jarvis Moss, if it's an all-around end that's needed then Nebraska's Adam Carriker is your man.

How you rate them is based on need - different strokes for different folks as Sly & the Family Stone once sang.

Here at the Fanatics Blog, I believe the best is the on who's the most versatile and that means Carriker. The kid is big and tall(6-6, 296), has excellent quickness and explosion and can play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. He's a hard worker with a non-stop motor and he plays with pain. The kind of athlete a coach wants on his team.

The best pass rusher by far is Adams. He has the potential to be a quarterback's nightmare for years to come. He has decent strength and good sideline-to-sideline movement. His only knock is a lack of size to play the run, but as a pass-rushing specialist he could be a game-changing player.

Anderson has the potential to develop into that kind of player, as does Moss, but both need to work on their games. Improving their strength and building bulk would go a long ay for both guys. Neither emerged until their senior seasons and both have to prove they can be consistent at the next level.

The defensive tackles all have some risk.

Michigan's Alan Branch is falling on the eve of the draft because of health issues (he may have fractures in his legs) and the fact that some scouts and coaches feel Branch doesn't play hard all the time. He has a tendency to play high and get shoved back at times.

Louisville's Amobi Okoye is the most interesting prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft. He's only 19 and has tremendous potential, but right now that's all it is. He needs to get bigger and stronger and grow into his body. He's not ready to play over center and clog the middle, but his character, intelligence and quickness are top notch. Okoye has a tremendous upside, but the team that drafts him will have to be patient.

Justin Harrell of Tennessee has first-round talent, but a torn bicep caused him to miss most of last season and he may fall out of the first round. Harrell is a strong and explosive tackle who proved at the Combine that his injury is well healed. A very solid player.

Top 10 Defensive Ends:
1. Adam Carriker - Nebraska
2. Gaines Adams - Clemson
3. Jamaal Anderson - Arkansas
4. Jarvis Moss - Florida
5. Anthony Spencer - Purdue
6. Victor Abiamiri - Notre Dame
7. LaMarr Woodley - Michigan
8. Ray McDonald - Florida
9. Tim Crowder - Texas
10. Ikaika Alama-Francis - Hawaii

Best Pro Prospect: Carriker & Adams
Sleeper: Francis
Falling: Moss

Top 10 Defensive Tackles:
1. Amobi Okoye - Louisville
2. Alan Branch - Michigan
3. Justin Harrell - Tennessee
4. Tank Tyler - NC State
5. Marcus Thomas - Florida
6. Turk McBride - Tennessee
7. Brandon Mebane - California
8. Quinn Pitcock - Ohio State
9. Paul Soliai - Utah
10. Kareem Brown - Miami, Fla.

Best Pro Prospect: Okoye
Sleeper: Soliai
Falling: Branch