Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Draft: Breaking down the outside linebacker prospects

Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. (6) pressures East Carolina Pirates quarterback Shane Carden (5). Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Tier One

1. Dante Fowler, Florida (6-2, 261)
2. Vic Beasley, Clemson (6-3, 246)
3. Shane Ray, Missouri (6-2, 245)
4. Randy Gregory, Nebraska (6-5, 235)
5. Alvin “Bud” Dupree, Kentucky (6-4, 269)
6. Eli Harold, Virginia (6-3, 247)

The Skinny: This is a very deep class of edge rushers. Up to four could be drafted in the top-ten this year, and six or seven could be off the board by the end of the first round.

Fowler headlines this year’s pass rusher class. He’s one of the most complete players in the draft and a player who is a ton of fun to watch on film.

A nice blend of speed and power, he’s a beast off the edge. However, he can also hold his own against the run–something that gives him an advantage over the other top pass rushers in this class.

He’s not only an explosive athlete, but he plays with a tremendous motor. He will even claw his way to the quarterback if he has to. He’s an easy player to like.

Clemson Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley (3). Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Closely behind Fowler, I have Beasley. He’s the top speed rusher out of the group. He has an incredibly quick first step off the line, and he can get under a tackle’s pad level and bend the corner.

He’s also a freak athlete, posting top marks in all agility and speed drills at the combine. He could improve against the run, but as a pure pass rusher, there might not be anyone better coming out of college.

Ray is one of the most explosive players on tape. When he rushes the passer he’s on a tear and will demolish anyone standing in his way.

Ray brings a lot of juice off the edge and has a plethora of pass rush moves. However, he has slid down my draft board a bit because he’s a bit of an awkward fit as a 3-4 outside backer. He seems limited if asked to drop and make plays in space.

He’s more of downhill player with good straight-line speed and agility. I see him as a similar player to Seattle’s Cliff Avril.

Considered a sure-fire top-five pick entering the pre-draft process, off-field concerns and questions about his work ethic could cause Gregory to fall to the middle of the first round.

Despite this, Gregory is still a speedy, athletic pass rusher who can use his long, lean frame to bend around tackles and get after the quarterback. He does need to add bulk to be able to hold up against the run in the NFL, but his overall upside is hard to ignore.

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks offensive lineman Chase Regian (71) and Kentucky Wildcats defensive end Alvin Dupree (2). Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

Dupree is an imposing figure who sets a hard edge and has some good twitch and quickness to beat lineman with finesse as well as power.

He was dominant at times at Kentucky, but he was also very inconsistent and disappears for long stretches at a time on film, which hurts his draft stock.

His game isn’t quite as polished as the other top edge rushers, and when watching him, you’d like more impact plays on a regular basis for his ability  level.

However, his ceiling as a player is very high. In three to four years we may be talking about him as the best pass rusher to come out of this draft class.

Harold is flying under the radar a bit because of the depth of the top echelon of pass rushers. However, Harold should still get first round considerations and has the blend of speed, power, and athleticism you look for in a 3-4 rush backer.

He’s also a smooth athlete in space and has a good closing burst to make plays in pursuit. He’s an all-around solid player who could find himself in a starting lineup early on as a rookie.

Next: Tier Two