NFL draft preview: the best D-linemen
Washington's 6-foot-2, 339-pound Danny Shelton would be an ideal centerpiece in the Bears' new 3-4 scheme and immediately improve what has been one of the league's worst defenses for two years running.
Shelton is a made-to-order nose tackle for a 3-4 defense, and there's little doubt he'll be a plug-and-play starter from Day One.
Shelton fits the mold of 3-4 nose tackle better than anyone on the roster, including Jeremiah Ratliff, who went to four straight Pro Bowls as a nose tackle with the Cowboys. But the 303-pound Ratliff is a different kind of nose tackle, and he'll turn 34 before the season begins.
The question is whether Shelton can be more than just a two-down run-stuffer in a league that trends more toward the pass every season.
Shelton's performance last year says he can. In addition to 16 ½ tackles for loss, he had 9 sacks and showed the ability to make plays up and down the line. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, however, isn't certain Shelton is the right man for the Bears at No. 7 overall.
"In this league right now, that's the debate: Do you take a guy who's a run stopper that can get you some penetration but is not going to be a sack guy?" Kiper said. "At Washington, (Shelton) did a lot of damage behind the line of scrimmage; (but) how much will he do at the pro level?"
The Bears might be tempted to pass on Shelton and look at a defensive end who can provide a better pass rush, but the clear-cut top player there, USC's Leonard Williams will be gone.
Unlike 3-4 defensive ends in this draft, where the top talent runs out quickly, there are several high-quality, space-eating nose tackles. The Bears might be able to wait under Day Two (Rounds 2 and 3) to get their man in the middle.
Iowa's Carl Davis is 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds but still runs a 5.07 40-yard dash and flashes excellent run-stopping ability, and his quickness makes him a disruptive presence when his motor's running full throttle. But there was some inconsistency in his play, especially as a pass rusher. He had just 3 ½ sacks in four years and some have him labeled as a boom-or-bust prospect.
Davis changed some minds in the week of workouts leading up to the Senior Bowl, where he was named by NFL scouts as the game's most outstanding practice player.
The tackle who lined up next to Davis at Iowa - Chicago's Louis Trinca-Pasat - could be a late-round steal. The son of Romanian immigrants, Trinca-Pasat didn't play football until his freshman year at Lane Tech. Although Trinca-Pasat grew up a huge NFL and NBA fan, he's never attended a game at Soldier Field or the United Center. School, work and church were the priorities in his parents' home.
"I never went to any professional league games at all," he said. "No sports. My parents were really strict growing up. We weren't really allowed to go to any sporting events. If I got a 'B' on my report card, I might get a whuppin'.
"As far as going out, when we were young, I got to go sleep over at a friend's house when I was about 14 years old. Other than that, we were at home, waking up every morning on Saturday and going to work with my dad at buildings and cleaning them and stuff. We didn't have much growing up, so we had to help out, and I guess that instilled a lot of values in me and discipline and hard work."
Those qualities have helped turn the 6-foot-1 Trinca-Pasat from a 235-pound freshman into a 290-pound NFL prospect who competes hard on every play and could be an effective rotation player.
NFL draft primer: Defensive linemen
Bob LeGere breaks down the top college defensive linemen in the NFL draft:
DL Leonard Williams, USC 6-5 302 4.97
A beast. Dominates with size and strength; just scratching surface.
NT Danny Shelton, Washington 6-2 339 5.64
Big, stout and strong. What teams are looking for in a 3-4 nose.
DL Eddie Goldman, Florida State 6-4 336 5.27
Versatile, powerful, instinctive but fits best as run-stuffing NT.
DT Malcom Brown, Texas 6-2 319 5.05
Stout anchor with athleticism. Could use more discipline.
DL Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma 6-5 329 5.17
Dominant when he plays hard, which he doesn't always do.
DE Arik Armstead, Oregon 6-7 292 5.10
Raw with minimal production but ascending and could be a stud.
DL Carl Davis, Iowa 6-5 320 5.07
Extremely productive vs. the run; should do more as pass rusher.
DL Mario Edwards, Florida State 6-3 279 4.84
Quick, productive, disruptive vs. run; little factor vs. pass.
DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State 6-2 293 5.01
Disrupts with quickness and technique but can be overpowered.
DL Xavier Cooper, Washington State 6-3 293 4.86
Lacks some power but wins with quickness inside or at DE.
Note: DL is a player who can play tackle in a 4-3 or end in a 3-4.
Note II: Because the Bears will play a 3-4 base defense this year, players who could be defensive ends in a 4-3 but project to OLB in a 3-4 are included in the "linebackers" installment.