Here are the top 39 “rush” defensive ends in the draft, as rated by NFL Draft Report’s Dave-Te' Thomas. “Round” is Thomas’ prediction. “Grade” is based on pro potential.
INGRAM, Melvin
South Carolina
Height: 6:014 Weight: 264 40 time: 4.69
Round: 1 Grade: 7.8
MERCILUS, Whitney (J)
Illinois
Height: 6:035 Weight: 261 40 time: 4.67
Round: 1-2 Grade: 7.3
McCLELLIN, Shea
Boise State
Height: 6:033 Weight: 260 40 time: 4.62
Round: 1-2 Grade: 6.9
PERRY, Nick (J)
Southern Cal
Height: 6:026 Weight: 271 40 time: 4.55
Round: 1-2 Grade: 6.8
BRANCH, Andre
Clemson
Height: 6:042 Weight: 259 40 time: 4.68
Round: 2 Grade: 6.7
JONES, Chandler (J)
Syracuse
Height: 6:053 Weight: 266 40 time: 4.77
Round: 2 Grade: 6.5
CURRY, Vinny
Marshall
Height: 6:031 Weight: 266 40 time: 4.87
Round: 2-3 Grade: 6.4
JOHNSON, Cam
Virginia
Height: 6:034 Weight: 268 40 time: 4.75
Round: 3-4 Grade: 6.0
LEWIS, Ronnell (J)
Oklahoma
Height: 6:016 Weight: 253 40 time: 4.65
Round: 3 Grade: 6.0
BEQUETTE, Jake
Arkansas
Height: 6:045 Weight: 274 40 time: 4.75
Round: 4-5 Grade: 5.7
IRVIN, Bruce
West Virginia
Height: 6:030 Weight: 245 40 time: 4.41
Round: 2-3 Grade: 5.6
MASSAQUOI, Jonathan
Troy
Height: 6:021 Weight: 264 40 time: 4.81
Round: 5 Grade: 5.4
SMITH, Jacquies
Missouri
Height: 6:025 Weight: 253 40 time: 4.75
Round: 5-6 Grade: 5.3
BROUGHTON, Braylon
Texas Christian
Height: 6:041 Weight: 257 40 time: 4.55
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.1
FUGGER, Tim
Vanderbilt
Height: 6:032 Weight: 248 40 time: 4.63
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.1
LINDSEY, Brandon
Pittsburgh
Height: 6:015 Weight: 254 40 time: 4.85
Round: 6-7 Grade: 5.0
VERNON, Olivier (J)
Miami
Height: 6:021 Weight: 261 40 time: 4.73
Round: 7 Grade: 4.9
ALEXANDER, Frank
Oklahoma
Height: 6:036 Weight: 270 40 time: 4.80
Round: 7 Grade: 4.9
SOLOMON, Scott
Rice
Height: 6:030 Weight: 262 40 time: 4.88
Round: 7/FA Grade: 4.8
LAW, Cordarro
Southern Mississippi
Height: 6:02 Weight: 254 40 time: 4.83
Round: PFA Grade: 4.8
JARRETT, Jamaar
Arizona State
Height: 6:046 Weight: 265 40 time: 4.96
Round: FA Grade: 4.8
SHELBY, Derrick
Utah
Height: 6:027 Weight: 266 40 time: 4.87
Round: FA Grade: 4.8
BLATNICK, Jamie
Oklahoma State
Height: 6:031 Weight: 263 40 time: 4.81
Round: FA Grade: 4.7
LOCKETT, Kentrell
Mississippi
Height: 6:05 Weight: 243 40 time: 4.99
Round: FA Grade: 4.7
NALL, Darius
Central Florida
Height: 6:024 Weight: 256 40 time: 4.78
Round: FA Grade: 4.7
LATTIMER, Jake
Iowa State
Height: 6:017 Weight: 247 40 time: 4.74
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
BRYANT, D.J.
James Madison
Height: 6:034 Weight: 248 40 time: 4.76
Round: FA Grade: 4.6
HUNTER, Grant
Butler
Height: 6:02 Weight: 243 40 time: 4.70
Round: FA Grade: 4.5
BELL, B.J.
Nevada-Las Vegas
Height: 6:02 Weight: 250 40 time: 4.74
Round: CMP Grade: 4.5
SAVOY, William
Louisville
Height: 6:01 Weight: 240 40 time: 4.69
Round: CMP Grade: 4.5
NDUKA, E. J.
Sam Houston State
Height: 6:04 Weight: 242 40 time: 4.71
Round: CMP Grade: 4.4
MAYES, Chris
Wesley
Height: 6:03 Weight: 235 40 time: 4.82
Round: CMP Grade: 4.4
BROWN, Morkeith
Temple
Height: 6:05 Weight: 260 40 time: 4.89
Round: CMP Grade: 4.4
SMITH, Andrew
Miami
Height: 6:02 Weight: 245 40 time: 4.94
Round: CMP Grade: 4.3
RIESKAMP, Jeff
North Carolina State
Height: 6:03 Weight: 245 40 time: 4.67
Round: CMP Grade: 4.3
OSBORNE, Tyler
Southern Utah
Height: 6:02 Weight: 242 40 time: 4.84
Round: CMP Grade: 4.3
LEAK, Antonio
Henderson State, Ark.
Height: 6:011 Weight: 241 40 time: 4.76
Round: CMP Grade: 4.3
ADEBAYO, Bo
Western Kentucky
Height: 6:03 Weight: 258 40 time: 4.80
Round: CMP Grade: 4.3
MARINOVICH, Mikhail
Syracuse
Height: 6:044 Weight: 253 40 time: 4.69
Round: CMP Grade: 2.5
Thomas' grades are based on pro potential and are not round projections.
8.5-9.0
Franchise Player: Immediate starter. ... Should have a major impact to the success of the franchise, barring injury. ... Possesses superior critical factors in all areas. ... Plays with consistency and without abnormal extra effort. ... Rare talent.
7.8-8.4
Top Ten Player: Immediate starter. ... Should have a major impact to the success of the franchise, barring injury. ... Possesses superior critical factors in most areas. ... Plays with consistency and without abnormal extra effort. ... Rare talent.
7.3-7.7
Star Quality: Eventual starter. ... Should make a significant contribution in his first year. ... Possesses above average critical factors. ... Has the talent and skills to start. ... Will contribute to upgrading the team. ... Can play without abnormal effort, but has some inconsistency in his play that will improve with refinement and development. ... Has no real weakness.
6.9-7.2
Impact Player: Possesses at least average to above average critical factors in all areas. ... Will contribute immediately, whether as a starter or a valuable reserve. ... Will move into the starting lineup with seasoning. ... Above average player who needs to refine certain areas.
6.4-6.8
Eventual Starter: Could move into the starting lineup within three years. ... Has average critical factors in all areas. ... Needs further development, but has the ability to contribute.
6.0-6.3
Potential Starter: Could force himself into the starting lineup with improved performances. ... Will make a team. ... Has average critical factors in most areas, but at least one with less than average quality that he will have a hard time overcoming. ... Probable draft choice.
5.5-5.8
Roster Player: Has the ability to serve as a key reserve and possible future starter. ... Has average critical factors, but more several areas that are less than average. ... Plays with normal extra effort.
5.0-5.4
Project: Has the skills to play pro ball with proper tutoring. ... May make a team based on need. ... Possesses no real strong critical factors and is probably below average in several areas that the player will have a hard time overcoming.. Possible draft choice, but only if that team is caught short on talent available at that position.
4.6-4.9
Developmental : Could make a team with an impressive showing in training camp. ... Not strong in most critical factors. ... Deficient in more than one area that he will not be able to overcome. ... At least average in the factor of competitiveness. ... May not make a team due to his limitations.
4.1-4.5
Camp Player: Has redeeming qualities that could allow him to play in the pros with improved performances. ... Deficient in more than one critical factor. ... Might make a team, but will always be the player that squad will look to replace.
3.5-4.0
Reject: Might make a team, but has glaring deficiencies in several critical factors. ... Below average competitor whose athletic skills will allow him to enter training camp, but has a difficult time in trying to make a team.
2.0-2.5
Unrated: Serious injury (2.0) or off-field problem (2.5).
Dave-Te' Thomas has more than 40 years of experience scouting for the NFL. With the NFL Draft Report, Thomas handles a staff that evaluates and tests college players before the draft and prepares the NFL's official Draft Packet, which is distributed to all 32 teams prior to the draft. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this story on our subscriber message board.