Soon after the 2014 NFL draft concluded I released my "too-early" Big Board for the 2015 NFL draft, a ranking which includes players who will be underclassmen during the 2014 college football season. It goes without saying that these rankings are preliminary, as I have hundreds of hours of evaluation ahead on the 2015 class.
A couple of important notes about the rankings below:
• This isn't a straight "top 10" list, because I've split these between seniors and underclassmen. I think it's important to rank seniors alone, as those are the only players I can guarantee will be a part of the 2015 NFL draft process.
• In some instances I've included more than 10 players; if two or three guys are extremely close on my board, I simply tacked on the names.
With those parameters in mind, here's an early look at the top DE prospects in the 2015 draft class.
Top five senior defensive ends
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1. Cedric Reed, Texas Longhorns: Reed broke through last season with 10.0 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. He has good length at 6-foot-6, and holds up well at the point of attack. He lacks elite quickness, but can create some separation with his long arms and can be moved around. He's a player I'll be watching closely.
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2. Markus Golden, Missouri Tigers: Golden had 13.0 tackles for loss after moving from linebacker to defensive end last season.