MGN Top defensive players available in the NFL draft, which starts with the first round on April 28. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN Joey Bosa, DE, 6-5, 269, Ohio State Notable: Sacks dropped off from 13 1-2 in 2014 to five last season, but still played at an All-America level. Strengths: Rarely takes a play at less than max effort. Fast and strong hands keep blockers from locking him up. Weaknesses: Lacks that explosive first-step speed that many elite edge rushers have. Outlook: Was talked about as a possible first overall pick, but will have to settle for top seven or so. DeForest Buckner, DE, 6-7, 291, Oregon Notable: Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2015. Strengths: More power and quickness than speed. Perfect size, quick off the snap, relentless and can wreck a running game. Weaknesses: Tends to stand straight up, which negates his power. Outlook: Either he or Bosa will be the first defensive linemen taken. Shaq Lawson, DE, 6-3, 269, Clemson Notable: All-American last season who had 25 1-2 tackles for loss. Strengths: High-effort pass rusher, with good strength and power to stand up run blockers. Weaknesses: Doesn’t have elite speed off the edge. Outlook: Middle of the first round sounds about right. Kevin Dodd, DE, 6-5, 277, Clemson Notable: Outshined teammate Shaq Lawson late last season. Had three sacks against Alabama in the national title game. Strengths: Another big motor defensive end, like Lawson and Joey Bosa. Locates the ball well. Weaknesses: Hand technique needs work to shed blockers better. Outlook: Which Clemson defensive end goes first? Sheldon Rankins, DT, 6-1, 299, Louisville Notable: Had 14 sacks playing on the interior for the Cardinals. Strengths: Gets off the ball very fast. Often blockers simply can’t get to him. Very productive. Weaknesses: Short and some questions about whether he can stand up to the power of NFL linemen. Outlook: Playmaker who is a good bet to be taken somewhere between 10 and 20. Jarran Reed, DE/DT, 6-3, 307, Alabama Notable: Second-team All-SEC, despite having only one sack and 4 1-2 tackles for loss. Strengths: Disruptive player against the run. Holds down the point of attack and ties up double-teams with excellent technique. Weaknesses: Not much of a pass rusher. Outlook: Late first-rounder for a team looking for a run stuffer. A’Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, 6-4, 307, Alabama Notable: Former five-star recruit had three highly productive seasons at Alabama. Strengths: Powerful and thickly built defensive end that can slide inside. Rarely does a ball carrier break free from his grip. Team leader. Weaknesses: Doesn’t play with great quickness off the edge, which limits him as a pass rusher. Outlook: Could hear his name called during second half of the first round. Andrew Billings, DT, 6-1, 311, Baylor Notable: All-American last season. Strengths: As dominant as any defensive linemen in the country at times in 2015. Very strong and can pursue from behind. Weaknesses: On the short side and technique needs work because he won’t be able to overpower opponents as easily at the next level. Outlook: Just turned 21. Huge upside could get him into the middle of the first round. Robert Nkemdiche, DT/DE, 6-3, 294, Mississippi Notable: Off-the-field issues and character questions, along with tantalizing talent. Strengths: Rock solid for close to 300 pounds. Good quickness and speed. Weaknesses. The production comes and goes. Had 6 1-2 sacks in three seasons. Outlook: First-round talent. But we’ll see. Chris Jones, DT, 6-6, 310, Mississippi State Notable: Big freshman season followed by sophomore slump followed by strong junior campaign. Strengths: Has power to push the pocket backward and moves up and down the line well. Weaknesses: Doesn’t have many pass rush moves. Outlook: Could go ahead of Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche, which would make Bulldogs fans happy. Noah Spence, DE, 6-2, 252, Eastern Kentucky Notable: Former Ohio State player who transferred after failing drug tests. Strengths: Speed pass rusher who plays with great effort. Weaknesses: Linebacker size makes him a tweener with a defensive end’s game. Outlook: Character issues and not ideal size, but he can rush the quarterback, and that can get him into the first round. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, 6-4, 273, Oklahoma State Notable: Co-Big 12 defensive player of the year. Strengths: Good size/speed/power package. Weaknesses: Plays stiff and doesn’t make many moves when taking on blockers. Outlook: Hey, look, another pass rusher who could slip into the first round. LINEBACKERS Myles Jack, OLB, 6-1, 245, UCLA Notable: Played both ways as a freshman and was the Pac-12 offensive and defensive newcomer of the year. Knee injury limited him to three games last year. Strengths: Speed, athleticism and instincts are exemplary. Can be used in coverage as a safety and is tenacious enough to play close to the line of scrimmage. Weaknesses: Aside from concerns about his healing knee, he does not have a thick, old school linebacker build. But in today’s NFL that should work just fine. Outlook: His draft slot will be determined by which teams believe his knee will be fine. He would be a top 10 lock otherwise. Leonard Floyd, OLB, 6-6, 244, Georgia Notable: Led Georgia in sacks each of the last three seasons. Strengths: Long, elusive and fast off the edge and in pursuit. Weaknesses: Not much bulk could lead him to get knocked around at the next level. Outlook: More upside than production, but could fit nicely into a 3-4 scheme. Top 15 potential. Reggie Ragland, ILB, 6-1, 247, Alabama Notable: All-American last year and top tackler on a national championship team. Strengths: Hits hard. Takes on blockers. Good instincts and clogs holes. Shows some ability to rush the passer. Weaknesses: Questions are about how he’ll play in coverage and in space, but his pass-rush skills could make him more than a two-down linebacker. Outlook: Second half of the first round. Darron Lee, OLB, 6-1, 232, Ohio State Notable: Former high school quarterback turned ultra-athletic linebacker. Strengths: Skill set is similar to Myles Jack. Fast and flexible player who excels in space. Could be used as a hybrid safety/linebacker. Weaknesses: Undersized and an inconsistent tackler. Outlook: Interesting upside. Lee could be drafted just outside the top 10 or in second round. DEFENSIVE BACKS Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, 6-1, 209, Florida State Notable: Started three years for the Seminoles, each season in a different secondary spot. Strengths: If you could engineer a defensive back, Ramsey would be it. Size, speed and athleticism are all ideal. Played cornerback and safety and was used as a hybrid, playing almost like a linebacker. Excelled at all of it. Weaknesses: The technique and skills that make for a lock-down cornerback need work. But that might not be the way he is used in the NFL. Outlook: Top five pick. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, 5-10, 204, Florida Notable: First team All-SEC each of his three seasons with the Gators. Strengths: Changes directions quickly, and has skills, athleticism and attitude to be a shutdown cornerback. Weaknesses: Small frame could be a problem against big receivers and gets a little too aggressive at times. Outlook: Second defensive back off the board, maybe a top 10 pick. Eli Apple, CB, 6-1, 199, Ohio State Notable: Interceptions dropped from three as a sophomore to one as a junior as opponents began to shy away. Strengths: Height and long arms, plus good speed, make for an ideal package for NFL cornerback. Weaknesses: Tends to grab in coverage if he thinks he is getting beat. Outlook: Chance he gets picked ahead of Hargreaves, but probably third cornerback selected. William Jackson III, CB, 6-0, 189, Houston Notable: Had 23 pass break-ups last season to lead the nation. Strengths: Good speed and locates ball well. Weaknesses: Strength to stand up to big receivers could be an issue. Outlook: Maybe a notch below Apple and Hargreaves. Maybe? Artie Burns, CB, 6-0, 193, Miami Notable: Had six interceptions last season as a junior and was one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s best cornerbacks. Strengths: Good hands and closing speed. Weaknesses: Better athlete than technician. Makes big plays. Gives up some, too. Outlook: NFL teams cannot get enough talented cornerbacks. Karl Joseph, S, 5-10, 205, West Virginia. Notable: Was having an All-America-type season until he hurt his knee in practice during the second month of the season. Strengths: Plays with fierce aggressiveness. Big hitter with knack for getting his hands on the ball. Weaknesses: The knee could be a problem, plus he plays like he is 30 pounds heavier than he is. Outlook: Could crack the first round on leadership skills and desire alone. TJ Green, S, 6-2, 209, Clemson Notable: Converted from receiver after his freshman year. Strengths: Coverage skills and receiver speed make him a potentially versatile defensive back. Weaknesses: His tackling still needs work. Outlook: A tall safety who might be able to play cornerback could find his way into the first round. Keanu Neal, S, 6-0, 211, Florida Notable: Made 95 tackles despite missing two games last season. Strengths: No safety in this draft hits harder, plus he has the athleticism to be effective in coverage. Weaknesses: Those coverage skills need work. Outlook: Another player who an NFL team might be able to use as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back. Late first-round possibility.