Here are the top five defensive end/edge-rushing prospects for the NFL draft (with their draft projections):
1. Jadeveon Clowney, 6-foot-6, 266 pounds, South Carolina (first round): He is considered the most athletically gifted player to enter the draft in decades. His work ethic has been questioned by scouts, but some teams are not alarmed. "That's just the way it is," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. "Everybody is going to have their opinions."
2. Khalil Mack, 6-3, 251, Buffalo (first): He only had one college offer coming out of Fort Pierce, Fla. Skeptics contended that he would be just another good linebacker in the Big Ten before Buffalo faced Ohio State last season. "He went out and dominated," Kiper said.
3. Anthony Barr, 6-5, 255, UCLA (first): He's an converted running back. "He looked like a top-10 pick had he come out last year," Kiper said. "I thought this year, he played like an offensive player. He needs to be a little bit more tenacious."
4. Dee Ford, 6-2, 252, Auburn (late first, early second): He's a tenacious and self-confident rusher. "Maybe he could go early in the second round to Atlanta and put his hand in the ground and be a pass rusher, which is what Atlanta needs," Kiper said.
5. Demarcus Lawrence, 6-3, 251, Boise State (late first, early second): Started his career at Butler Community College in Kansas. The South Carolina native picked Boise State over Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina and Oklahoma. "Has natural pass-rush ability — shows burst, bend and closing speed to hunt down quarterbacks," wrote Nolan Nawrocki in his "2014 NFL Draft Preview."
Teams in need of players at this position: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and New York Giants.
Need area for Falcons?: Yes. The Falcons must improve their pass rush after ranking 25th in the league in sacks per pass attempt last season. The Falcons added stoutness in free agency and that should make it easier for their edge rushers to get sacks.
Top 5 for 2015 draft: 1. Randy Gregory, 6-5, 255, Nebraska; 2. Cedric Reed, 6-5, 258, Texas; 3. Trey Flowers, 6-3, 262, Arkansas; 4. Alvin Dupree, 6-3, 252, Kentucky; 5. Markus Golden 6-3, 260, Missouri.
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