Ranking the Top 15 Edge Rusher Prospects in the 2015 NFL Draft

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

10. Dante Fowler Jr., 6’2.5, 261, Florida

Before you ask, I do realize that some draft evaluators have Fowler going as high as the third overall pick to Jacksonville, and I do find it odd that I can’t bring myself to completely buy into the hype on him and rank him higher than 10th on my list of pass rushers. I understand the projectability aspect to the evaluation, but I just don’t see the traits to suggest that Fowler—who had 5.5 regular season sacks before collecting three in the Gators’ bowl game against East Carolina—is going to be a sure-thing perennial star at the next level.

First of all, his size is tweener-ish; he has the build to be plugged in at either 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 outside linebacker, but he’s not really a prototypical fit for either position. His burst isn’t consistent, he stalemates with offensive tackles too frequently, and I’m concerned by the fact that most of his pass-rushing success seems to come when’s moving in a straight line and getting off on pure burst, rather than applying skill and technique and winning a battle off the edge. He’s got the skills to be a good player in space, but he gives up too often after his pass-rushing opportunity has concluded, and he’s generally too quiet in the run game. I think his potential as an elite all-around 3-4 outside linebacker makes him worthy of a pick in the early rounds, but I don’t necessarily think that he’s more deserving of being selected in the first round than the other guys ahead of him on this list are.

Next: 9. Owamagbe Odighizuwa