Danny Shelton leads NFL draft's defensive tackle crop – USA TODAY
By the time dozens of NFL officials and scouts flocked to Seattle earlier this month for the University of Washington’s pro day, there was little left for Danny Shelton to do that would shake his status as a first-round pick in the 2015 draft.
So the hulking, 6-foot-1, 338-pound defensive tackle showed off his personality – and his heritage – by draping a lava-lava, traditional Polynesian clothing, around his waist and over a pair of gray shorts as he ran through position drills. He wore similar garb during social events at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January.
His choice of attire was just a glimpse into the man a team will be getting – a player who has much more to him than just his big body. As NFL teams got to know Shelton this spring, they likely learned about his study abroad trips to Tahiti, about how he mentored Seattle-area Polynesian high school students, and about how he became the first Washington player since 1991 to be named an academic All-American.
He also anticipated questions about watching his brother, Shennon, be shot and killed when Danny was 17, and about how Shennon’s death – and the lack of prosecution in that case – filled him with anger that transformed the way he practiced and played, but not always for the better.
That changed last year, Shelton’s agent, Jeff Sperbeck said, when Chris Petersen arrived to replace Steve Sarkisian as the Huskies’ head coach. While some players might not thrive from a coaching change late in their college career, for Shelton, it was a fresh start.
“Once the new staff came in, he felt like it was his opportunity to be this person he always wanted to be. Didn’t want to hold on to the anger, the resentment,” Sperbeck said. “If you don’t think that translates into performance, you’re crazy.”
To Jeff Choate, Shelton’s defensive line coach, it was a matter of Shelton maturing. And it certainly helped that Shelton had the brains to match his brawn.
“You need to be able to anticipate to be a dominant player. He was so locked in to what we were doing, he was making checks for us in coverage,” Choate told USA TODAY Sports. “He really understands the big picture. He wants to know why we’re doing things. Don’t get that a lot from d-lineman. His intellect made him curious.”
Washington’s coaches did their part to help boost Shelton’s draft stock when they decided to keep Shelton on the field in pass-rush situations last fall.
“Unless he tapped, I didn’t take him off,” Choate said.
That didn’t happen often. Choate estimated Shelton played in about 90 % of the Huskies’ defensive snaps – an absurdly high number for a nose tackle, especially in the Pac 12, playing against many up-tempo, no-huddle, spread offenses.
“It’s a demand for our defense to be able to compete and be able to stay out on the field. So I challenge myself every day to practice running to the ball, stripping the ball, working on turnovers,” Shelton said.
If Shelton can truly be a three-down player in the NFL might be the only question left about him – especially for a team considering using a high first-round pick on him. There is no doubt that Shelton has the physical gifts and technical tools to be a quality run-stuffer in the NFL. But to be worth the first-round investment, NFL officials will want to be convinced that he can affect the quarterback as well.
“That always has to be part of the equation, especially when you’re taking a nose. The biggest question is, can he give you anything on third down? Most coaches are of mindset they can find guys to play the run, but it is hard to find someone to rush passer from inside,” said Phil Savage, the executive director of the Senior Bowl and former general manager of the Cleveland Browns. “That’s what makes him intriguing.”
His physique has drawn favorable comparisons to veteran players like Dontari Poe of the Kansas City Chiefs and Haloti Ngata of the Detroit Lions. The Ngata comparison seems particularly apt since Shelton said he’s long looked up to Ngata, who also has Polynesian roots (Shelton is Samoan, while Ngata is Tongan).
“I think everybody sees that comparison. Powerful, better feet than you think, and I’m surprised at how many snaps he can play at a high level,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “He is a top 10 pick. … This kid played 80% of the snaps up and down the line of scrimmage. You can’t run against them, and he gets them pushing the pocket. So I think he’s a really intriguing guy.”
TEAM NEEDS
Detroit Lions: The Lions got short-term help at defensive tackle when they traded with Baltimore for veteran Haloti Ngata on the first day of free agency, but the Lions need to make another long-term investment in the position after losing former first-round picks Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley to free agency last month. Whichever defensive tackle the Lions select (and whenever they select him – perhaps with their first-round pick at No. 23) will have massive shoes to fill in replacing Suh, the league’s most dominant defensive tackle.
Chicago Bears: The Bears are shifting to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Vic Fangio, and the Bears need a big man to anchor that defensive line. Chicago has some veteran ends, like Ray McDonald, who has history with Fangio from San Francisco, but has little depth at nose tackle. Perhaps Shelton could be a perfect choice for the Bears with the No. 9 pick.
New England Patriots: The Patriots may have depth at defensive tackle with players like Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga and free agent addition Jabaal Sheard from Cleveland, but will those guys be enough to replace Vince Wilfork, who signed with the Houston Texans after the Patriots chose not to re-sign him? With a deep pool of defensive tackles this year, the Patriots could get good value at the position even with the No. 32 pick.
Cleveland Browns: The Browns were last in the NFL in run defense last year after allowing more than 140 rushing yards per game. Though Phil Taylor is expected to be back and healthy after missing 11 games last year, the Browns need to fortify that defensive front. With two first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 19), a defensive tackle is certainly an option early in the draft.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts were big spenders in free agency on offense and also invested in upgrades at outside linebacker, but the Colts did not sign anyone to help bolster their run defense. And after getting gashed by the Patriots’ run game twice last year, it has to be a priority in the draft.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Eddie Goldman, Florida State
Height: 6-4 Weight: 336
Scouting report: Goldman has ideal size and strength for an interior defensive lineman and a strong record as a run-stopper in college. Questions remain about his pass-rush abilities and his ability to play on third downs in the NFL.
Insider’s take: “With Eddie you’re getting a true 2-gap guy, you’re getting somebody who can sit and clog, but you lose some of that upfield ability.” – NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout for the Ravens and Eagles
Projected round: Late first
Malcom Brown, Texas
Height: 6-2 Weight: 319
Scouting report: Brown might be the most versatile defensive tackle in this group, which will make him attractive to teams that play either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. While at Texas, Brown played nose tackle and defensive end, including experience as a stand-up rusher.
Insider’s take: “You can play him in a 1 technique, in a 3 technique, you could play him — I think you could play him in a zero and he could do that as well. He can two-gap, he can penetrate, and to me that versatility is one of the reasons why I have him up there, because those guys are hard to find.” –NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Height: 6-5 Weight: 329
Scouting report: If you only looked at Jordan Phillips’ highlight reel, he’d be a slam-dunk first-round pick. An athletic marvel – he capped his combine workout with a standing backflip – he has the potential to be a dominant interior player, if he can produce game in, game out. Phillips will need to convince teams that he’s more than just a flash player to be worthy of a first-round pick.
Insider’s take: “We see plays out of him that are big-time plays, but you don’t see it with a consistent basis yet.” – NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis.
Projected round: First or second.
Michael Bennett, Ohio State
Height: 6-2 Weight: 293
Scouting report: The smallest of the top-tier defensive lineman in this draft, Bennett will need to convince teams that he can hold up against physical interior offensive lineman in the NFL. But working in Bennett’s favor is strong film from late in his senior year at Ohio State, where he played his best games while leading the Buckeyes to a national title.
Insider’s take: “Michael Bennett from Ohio State is one of my favorite players. I thought from the Michigan State game last year and all the way through, and if you go back and take his games from the Big Ten Championship Game, semifinal, Alabama, final versus Oregon I thought he was dominant.” – NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis
Projected round: Second
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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @Bylindsayhjones
PHOTOS: 2015 NFL draft prospects
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