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With our Six pick here are three DL candidates from ESPN insider to consider:


Gaines Adams Scouts Grade: 98
DE | (6'4", 261, 4.7) | CLEMSON

Strengths: Possesses adequate-to-good height and only decent bulk -- but room on his frame to get bigger. Very agile for the position. Displays explosive first-step quickness and good top-end speed as an edge rusher. Displays very good instincts and awareness as a pass rusher. Has long arms, times his jumps well and does a great job of batting down passes at the line of scrimmage. He also has shown good fluidity when occasionally asked to drop in coverage on zone blitzes. He has improved his discipline and technique versus the run. Does a fine job of sealing off the backside. He gets upfield quickly and can be disruptive in the backfield versus the run. Also shows very good change-of-direction skills in space, which allows him to redirect and pursue as a run defender. He is a hard worker with solid all-around intangibles.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and lower-body strength. He will need to improve his size in order to consistently take on NFL blockers. He absorbs too many blocks and doesn't do a consistent enough job of disengaging once reached. Needs to play with more consistent leverage versus the run. Has a tendency to come out of his stance too high and will allow linemen to get into his pads too frequently. He needs to become more consistent as a tackler. He will overextend at times and gets caught lunging or leaving his feet too frequently.

Overall: Adams was redshirted in 2002. He saw action in 12 games as a backup defensive end for the 2003 season, registering 15 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack. Adams played in all 11 contests with just one start (Texas A&M) in 2004 but did win Clemson's defensive 12th man award after recording 35 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, and two blocked punts. In 2005, he took over as the starting "bandit" DE and made 56 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 29 quarterback pressures, and three forced fumbles. Adams started all 13 games during the 2006 season, finishing with 62 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Adams made a wise decision to bypass the 2006 NFL Draft and return for his senior season. He played eight-man football in high school, so he needed the extra time in college to mature both physically and as a player. He still needs to get bigger and do a better job of defending the run, but he has the frame to add at least 15 more pounds and he made noticeable strides in his run-stopping technique during his final season at Clemson. Adams should eventually become a playmaking starter as a 4-3 end in the NFL -- and he also displays enough athletic ability to fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Regardless, Adams grades out as the premier defensive end prospect in the 2007 class and he should come off the board within the top-10 picks.

Jamaal Anderson Scouts Grade: 96
DE | (6'5", 273, 4.75) | ARKANSAS

Strengths: Possesses outstanding size. Is tall with great weight distribution, long arms and big hands. Displays good lower-body strength and upper-body power. Is able to jar offensive linemen with initial punch. Is smooth and fluid for his size. Possesses adequate speed and is able to change directions quickly for a big defensive end. He displays good combination moves of power and finesse as a pass rusher. Plays with a high motor and is relentless as a pass rusher. He has enough size and strength to effectively hold his ground when teams run at him, so long as he plays with good leverage. He pursues hard from the backside in run-support and he is a powerful tackler.

Weaknesses: Lacks elite top-end speed and will struggle to turn the corner as quickly when rushing the passer off the edge. He does not possess great first-step quickness, either. Fires out of his stance too high and must learn to play with better leverage. Needs to do a better job of using his hands to get off blocks. He will struggle to disengage quickly enough versus the run. Limited experience; he was only a starter for a year and a half at Arkansas before leaving early.

Overall: Anderson saw action in all 11 games in 2004 as a true freshman off the bench and on special teams recording 18 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and one blocked punt. In 2005, he once again played in all 11 games but received five starts to end the year after Anthony Brown was injured and registered 47 total tackles including 10.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Anderson then started all 14 games during the 2006 season amassing 65 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, and one forced fumble gaining First Team All-SEC recognition.

Anderson is making the NFL plunge a year early after experiencing a breakout season as a junior in 2006. The good news and bad news with Anderson is that he's still relatively raw. While he may not be ready to contribute as an every-down player as a rookie, he displays the physical tools to develop into an upper-echelon starter if he continues to work at the next level. Anderson should be one of the top three or four defensive ends selected -- most likely in the mid-to-late first-round range.

Alan Branch
DT | (6'5", 328, 5.23) | MICHIGAN

Scouts Grade: 97

Strengths: A massive two-gap interior defender with excellent height, bulk and strength. He possesses a massive frame and is able to occupy two blockers in the run game. He shows good initial quickness for his size and typically does a solid job of playing with leverage for such a tall guy. He shows good balance and body control for his size. He gives a great effort on most plays and shows better than average stamina for his massive frame. He can take over a game when he's fresh and gets his motor running. He is more of a two-gap fit, but he often will disrupt plays in the backfield by using his quickness, size and strength to penetrate. He is a powerful tackler with impressive wrap-up skills for his size. He displays the ability to collapse the pocket with a powerful bull rush. He's versatile and has experience playing NT, DT and DE in three-and-four man fronts.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal explosiveness. He's quick for his size but lacks the speed and closing burst to consistently make an impact as a pass rusher in the NFL. He's mostly a one-dimensional bull rusher type. He needs to improve his arsenal of pass-rush moves. He has room to improve in terms of using his hands to play off of blocks. Durability is only a minor concern after missing two games due to a knee injury in 2005.

Overall: Branch appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2004 seeing time at defensive tackle, defensive end, and on special teams registering five total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. In 2005, he played in all 12 games starting the final 10 contests and recorded 31 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble, again seeing action at both defensive tackle and end. Branch settled into a starting spot at defensive tackle for all 13 games in 2006 and finished the season with 25 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles earning First Team All-Big Ten accolades.

Branch is an all-around gifted defensive tackle prospect with an outstanding combination of size, power and quickness. He has experienced playing end in a 3-4, the three-technique in a 4-3, and nose tackle in both alignments. Regardless of where he lines up, Branch fits best in a two-gap scheme. In our opinion, Branch is the most complete all-around interior defensive lineman in the 2007 class and he should be a top-10 pick.