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In a year dominated by offensive tackles, quarterbacks, and wide receivers, there aren't any high-end defenders expected to be taken in the top five of the NFL Draft this year. Currently, there's a good chance that zero defenders will go in the top 10, and the run of defenders is likely to occur in the mid to late first round.
Edge rushers and cornerbacks tend to be the first positions taken due to their positional value in the current NFL landscape. While there isn't a franchise-changing, can't-miss defensive prospect this year, there is plenty of talent that can make an impact in year one.
Who is the best defender in the 2024 class, and who will be the first defender selected in the 2024 draft? Let's dive into that question.
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Jared Verse, Florida State, Jr.
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 260 pounds
- Age: 23.2
- 2023 Stats: 11 sacks in 13 games played, 91.0 pass rush grade, 21.8% pass rush win rate
- 2024 Draft Positional Rank: EDGE1
- Player Comp: Kayvon Thibodeaux, George Karlaftis
Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse was a four-star transfer prospect in 2020 after two years dominating at FCS Albany. He transferred to Florida State and instantly excelled in his two seasons with the Seminoles. Despite receiving some first-round interest a year ago, Verse returned to school for one more year and increased his draft stock.
Verse put up elite numbers as a pass rusher in 2023, posting 11 sacks and finishing third in pass rush win rate among players with at least 50 percent of pass rush snaps. He really stepped up in the team's biggest moments, delivering two of his best performances with a playoff berth and conference title on the line.
As a pass rusher, there isn't anyone in the class with hands as violent as Verse's. He possesses plenty of speed and power, capable of winning with either, and his powerful hands make it very tough for blockers to stay engaged. Verse has an elite first step, and his compact build allows him to power through blockers.
Some of his significant concerns include his age, as he will turn 24 in his first season. His length can cause issues at times, and he needs to improve as a run defender and tackler overall. While Verse lacks elite bend to always win with speed, his combination of speed and power, along with his violent hands, positions him as perhaps the best defender in the upcoming draft.
Dallas Turner, Alabama, Jr.
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 242 pounds
- Age: 20.1
- 2023 Stats: 11 sacks in 14 games, 89.3 pass rush grade, 19.6% pass rush win rate
- 2024 Draft Positional Rank: EDGE2
- Player Comp: Brian Burns, Will Anderson Jr.
Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner was an elite five-star recruit out of high school when he arrived at Alabama, and he made an impact right away. He recorded nine sacks in his freshman season and only got better every year. While the Rose Bowl against Michigan wasn't his best showing, the two prior games were some of his best, and they came against NFL talent at Georgia and Auburn.
Turner is an elite athlete with one of the highest ceilings of any player in this year's draft. Not only does he have height and length that are better than almost any other edge rusher in the class, but he's also expected to run an insane 4.45 in the 40-yard dash. Turner's unique speed and size allow him to be used in coverage, as he can keep up with plenty of receivers on routes.
The combination of speed and power by Turner is the primary reason why he is so dominant as a pass rusher. He has very good length and quick, violent hands, along with having a noticeably high motor in his effort. He has shown the ability to cross over gaps in a moment's notice before blockers can even react, but he is incredibly raw with a potentially low floor.
While he shows plenty of strength to win with power, he isn't the biggest player and will likely need to put on some weight if he wants his power to translate against bigger NFL linemen. Most notably, Turner doesn't have very refined hands and will need to get more technical with his moves if he wants to win consistently at the next level. He is a raw prospect in some ways, but Turner has as much upside as almost anyone in this draft.
Nate Wiggins, Clemson, Jr.
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 185 pounds
- Age: 20.4
- 2023 Stats: 2 interceptions in 10 games played, 82.9 coverage grade, 43.9% completion percentage
- 2024 Draft Positional Rank: CB1
- Player Comp: William Jackson, Greg Newsome II
A four-star recruit from Atlanta, Georgia, Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins made his presence felt right away when he arrived on campus. He played in seven games his freshman year and then took on a huge role his sophomore season, finishing with 25 tackles and nine pass breakups. In his final season, he posted a very strong coverage grade and limited opposing quarterbacks to a 44.4 passer rating.
At 6-foot-2, Wiggins has elite height and length for a corner, which bodes well for his chances as an outside press corner. However, he currently weighs just 185 pounds, and his expected 40-yard dash time of 4.55 is on the slower end of this year's cornerback class. The frame is there, though, and he can become somewhat physically imposing if he puts on weight.
As a coverage defender, he is very good at mirroring receivers and recognizing routes to provide blanket coverage. Unlike other young corners, he doesn't rely on grabbing receivers to slow them down, thanks to his very technical footwork and skills in press coverage. His only touchdown allowed this year came on a short-yardage fade route, but he is typically very active at the catch point to make plays on the ball. Wiggins is patient and great with his eyes, which keeps him from getting beat deep on double moves.
His weaknesses lie mostly in his physical attributes, as he will need to add weight to be as effective in press coverage against bigger NFL receivers. He doesn't have elite speed and will not be able to get back into the play if receivers beat him and then stack their route. Regardless, the frame and talent are there, and Wiggins has plenty of potential to be a strong outside corner in this league.
Cooper DeJean, Iowa, Jr.
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 207 pounds
- Age: 20.9
- 2023 Stats: 2 interceptions in 10 games played, 76.8 coverage grade, 43.5% completion percentage
- 2024 Draft Positional Rank: CB2
- Player Comp: Christian Gonzalez, Jamel Dean
Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean wasn't very highly touted out of high school and didn't make much impact during his freshman season. The massive leap came in 2022 during his sophomore season, where he played 12 games and allowed a QB rating of just 55.6. His trajectory has continued to point up in 2023 with a 40.6 passer rating when targeted, and he looks like a legitimate prospect for the next level.
DeJean's 6-foot-1, 207-pound frame is very enticing for NFL scouts, as he has the true ability to line up anywhere in the secondary and even in the box thanks to his size. Despite being taller and heavier than almost every corner in the draft, he is expected to run a 4.5 40-yard dash, which is right near the middle among cornerbacks in this class.
The former track star is a truly special athlete as he's insanely explosive and fluid despite being big for his position. DeJean has good route recognition from an IQ standpoint and does a good job driving on routes, especially when he's in a deep zone. Most importantly, he can shed blocks like a linebacker and can provide insane value as a slot corner in this league as a true run-stopper who can cover almost any receiver you put on him.
DeJean didn't play much press coverage until the end of his final season, and he needs to refine some technical details in that area. When a ball is thrown and he's defending, he rarely tries to turn and locate the ball, which will limit how many interceptions he will have. Overall, DeJean is a special athlete who can play a wide range of roles for a defense.
Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois, Jr.
- Height: 6-foot-2
- Weight: 295 pounds
- Age: 21.4
- 2023 Stats: 8 sacks in 12 games played, 84.1 pass rush grade, 15.4% pass rush win rate
- 2024 Draft Positional Rank: DT1
- Player Comp: Grady Jarrett, Calijah Kancey
Illinois interior lineman Jer'Zhan Newton came in as a three-star recruit, but he quickly made an impact. 2021 was a bit of a learning curve as a true freshman, but he thrived in each of his final two seasons at defensive tackle. In 2023, Newton recorded eight sacks in 12 games played and posted an insane 15.4 percent pass rush win rate, which ranked first among interior linemen with 80 percent of pass rush snaps and fourth among those with 50 percent of pass rush snaps.
At 6-foot-2, Newton is quite undersized for an interior NFL lineman. He weighs 295 pounds, which isn't too small, but his lack of height and length could really hurt him at the next level. He has good speed and explosiveness to make up for it, and his power rush allows him to go through blockers.
Newton is a technician pass rusher who has a full range of moves to win on the interior, which is why he was perhaps the best interior pass rusher in the country. When his first move fails, he quickly can go into his ridiculously deep bag of counter moves. While the length is a concern, Newton's ability to shed blockers hides it as much as possible, and he makes sure to disengage as soon as needed.
The concerns about his length will specifically hurt his ability to defend the run in zone blocking reach blocks. In turn, there's a high chance he plays a role like Jalen Carter did this season, where he's essentially a pass rush specialist in his first year while he works on refining his run game technique. If you're looking for a disruptive pass rusher from the interior, Newton is easily the guy.
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