ESPN NFL Draft 2008

Defensive ends have become a sort of duct tape for organizations trying to repair and fortify their defensive fronts. Looking for an outside linebacker with the burst to apply pressure off the edge and the strength to set the edge and give your 3-4 front a boost? Draft a defensive end who can get to the quarterback and is athletic enough to develop serviceable cover skills, then move him to linebacker. Need to improve the interior pass rush and provide pressure up the middle? Draft a defensive end who's big enough to slide inside and quick enough to shoot gaps there.

Base four-man fronts, on the other hand, have to fill two traditional end spots but do so with players who are different from one another. Teams generally prefer their left defensive ends to be big and strong enough to hold their ground against the big, run-blocking right tackles. On the left side they like a quicker, faster end capable of getting to the quarterback and making plays in pursuit against more athletic left tackles.

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