Commentary
D-line class deepest in 2011 draft
Evaluating defensive linemen includes five key skill areas, and versatility is important
Originally Published: April 25, 2011
By
Todd McShay | Scouts Inc.
Evaluating defensive linemen is never easy and breaking down prospects includes all areas of their game -- pass-rush skills, run-stopping ability, versatility, hand/foot quickness and toughness/motor. With our 2011 draft board finalized, here's how we rank the top defensive tackles and ends in each of those areas, as well as our rankings of all defensive linemen with draftable grades.
Which defensive ends and tackles are tops in each skill area? How many prospects have draftable grades? Which defensive linemen came off the board in the first two rounds in 2010, and how have the past three classes broken down? ESPN Insiders get all the answers. ![]()
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The 2011 NFL Draft

Draft Tracker | Kiper Home | Draft Blog
Mel Kiper
- Mock Draft 5.0 (4/27)
- Mock Draft 4.0 (4/6)
- Mock Draft 3.0 (3/9)
- Mock Draft 2.0 (2/16)
- Big Board (4/27)
- Top 5's: 2011 draft | 2012 draft (4/27)
- Best draft fits for Cam Newton (3/8)
- Greatest top 10 NFL draft picks ever (3/4)
- Combine winners and losers (3/2)
- Pre-combine stock watch (2/23)
- Replacing NFL veterans via the draft (2/11)
- Regrading the 2010 draft (1/28)
- Mock Draft 1.0 (1/19)
- How Luck changes draft (1/7)
Todd McShay's projections
- 4/28: Final seven-round mock draft
- 4/20: Mock Draft 6.0: Team scenarios
- 4/13: NFL Scouts' Mock Draft
- 4/6: Mock Draft 5.0: Newton goes No. 1
- 3/16: Mock Draft 4.0: Dareus goes No. 1
- 2/10: Mock Draft 3.0
- 1/19: Mock Draft 2.0
- 11/10: Mock Draft 1.0
Scouts Inc.'s draft coverage
- 3/21: Draft Buzz: McShay's draft tools
- 3/21: Stacking the Board: Offense
- 3/21: Stacking the Board: Defense
- 3/15: Breaking down the talent tiers
- 3/11: Draft Buzz: Pro day notes
- 3/8: Questions remain for Newton, Fairley
- 3/2: CBs, OLB Miller combine winners
- 2/23: Horton: NFC team offseason needs
- 2/22: Horton: AFC team offseason needs
- 2/15: Sneaky depth at RB
- 2/14: Three QBs to watch
- 2/9: Combine snubs
- 2/1: All-star risers and fallers
- Sprow: Count on a Chiefs rebound in 2013
- Bowen: Jets D can thrive without Revis
- Tuley: 10 best early value NFL bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs

