NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One by one, they all talked about being part of such a stacked defensive draft class.
“Best D-line class ever,” Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver said.
“We’re just honored to be thought of as one of the best classes for defense,” Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa said.
“I feel like this is going to be one of the best draft classes in a very long time,” Kentucky outside linebacker Josh Allen said.
But the best defensive class ever? Not so fast.
“It’s one of the best years we’ve seen, but I can’t put it ahead of 2011,” NFL Network analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah said Wednesday. “That was J.J. Watt, that was Von Miller, that was Aldon Smith, that was [Ryan] Kerrigan, that was ridiculous. I don’t know if we’ll ever see that one [again]. It’s not on par with that, but it’s pretty darn good.”
That class also included Cameron Jordan, Robert Quinn, Marcell Dareus, Muhammad Wilkerson and Cameron Heyward all going in the first round. Those nine draft picks have combined to rack up 589 sacks, 27 Pro Bowl selections and 13 All-Pro honors in their first eight seasons in the NFL.
Jeremiah said this year’s class is unique from recent years because of the “sheer number” of defensive studs and the different styles they offer. In addition to Oliver, Bosa and Allen, top-heavy defensive draft board included Alabama DT Quinnen Williams, LSU LB Devin White, Clemson DT Christian Wilkins, Michigan LB Devin Bush, Michigan DE Rashan Gary, Mississippi State edge Montez Sweat, Mississippi State DT Jeffery Simmons and Florida State edge Brian Burns, among others.
“None of us are anything alike,” Oliver said. “Come on, man, it’s like, just pick what you want. You got everything you want. I don’t know what players they compare them to, but you ain’t getting the same thing.”
Entering Thursday, the record for defensive players taken in the first round of the NFL draft was 19, in 2006.
While the offensive weapons typically draw the most attention atop the draft, this year’s defensive class relished the change, at least for a year.
“It’s always good to throw a little salt in there and switch it up,” Oliver said. “Because [quarterbacks] get all the love. You turn on ESPN normally, it’s about a quarterback. For it to be about defensive players, that’s great.”
