Another year and another draft loaded with defensive talent. While I didn’t go too deep into every potential first round defensive player in next year’s draft, I highlighted the main guys to keep an eye on headed into the 2017-18 college football season. One common thread amongst these guys – something that has become more prevalent over the last few years now – is versatility. Highly touted defensive prospects seem to be taller, leaner, and more versatile than in drafts of a few years ago and beyond, so don’t be surprised when you see the word “versatile” or some variation of it pop up multiple times in this article.

Defensive Line

Christian Wilkins (Junior) Clemson

Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 305 lbs.

Right now, many scouts have Wilkins in the projected top-five of next year’s draft, and while that doesn’t mean much in terms of what team will draft him, it does speak to his talent and production. As a sophomore, Wilkins recorded 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss mainly lined up as an interior defensive lineman, but if his comparison – Jonathan Allen – holds true then Wilkins should have the ability to be moved around both inside and outside throughout the future of his football career.

Edge

Arden Key (Junior) LSU

Height: 6-foot-6 | Weight: 231 lbs.

Tools, tools, tools. Arden Key is one of the most athletic and naturally gifted athletes in this draft. On top of that, he’s got incredible length and uses it to his advantage. A rough comparison – Leonard Floyd. Like Floyd, Key attacks offensive tackles with his massive reach and captures the edge effortlessly with his tremendous speed. Last season Key finished the season with an LSU record 12 sacks, and he only appears to be getting better. Key will be in contention for the first overall pick next season, provided he stays healthy and a quarterback needy team is not picking.

Harold Landry (Senior) Boston College

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 257 lbs.

Landry is a well-built edge bender, who led all of college football last season with 16.5 sacks. He could have entered the draft this past April and been taken in the first round, but he instead opted to get his degree. While reaching that amount of sacks once again will be tough as a senior, there is still little chance that Landry doesn’t go in the first round of 2018. To say he looks natural rushing the passer of the edge is an understatement (see .GIF below).

Linebacker

Malik Jefferson (Junior) Texas

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 232 lbs.

Jefferson fits the bill of today’s NFL linebacker. He is rangy, athletic, is versatile, and can bring the hammer at the point of attack. What helps his cause even more though is that he is one of the few linebackers in recent years to have legitimate size for the position. Expect the scheme versatile Jefferson to slot in any NFL defense as a starter from day one, which should bode well for his chances of going in next year’s top-15 picks.

Cornerback

Tavarus McFadden (Junior) Florida State

Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 197 lbs.

McFadden led all of college football last season with eight interceptions, and none of them were cheap. He’s a true playmaking corner, with NFL level baiting skills and elite makeup athleticism. McFadden’s ball hawking capabilities make him a scheme versatile corner in that he can excel in either man or zone dominant defenses. All of that being said and you have the makings of a surefire top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Safety

Derwin James (RS. Sophomore) Florida State

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 213 lbs.

Even this early, many scouts are beginning to make the claim that James is the top prospect in this class. I can’t blame them though; as he is an athletic playmaker both near the line of scrimmage and in coverage, while his massive build and aggressive mindset combination make him one of the most intimidating defensive weapons since Jalen Ramsey – his former teammate at Florida State.

In coverage James’ long strides, elite speed, and rangy instincts make him more than capable of handling single-high duties, while his tenacity, physicality, and agility give him the potential of even converting to cornerback if needed. When playing in the box, James is a reliable as a linebacker – in fact, that may be where he is best suited. He brings the hammer at the point of contact, making him, today, the undisputed hardest hitter in college football. Below are two great examples of his power, as he blows up a ball carrier in one and demolishes a pass blocking right tackle in the other.

Ultimately, James’ endless traits make him the prospect that all scouts drool over and the piece of clay that all coaches want to mold. Provided he remains healthy, James will be a top-10 pick in 2018.

Minkah Fitzpatrick (Junior) Alabama

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 195 lbs.

Fitzpatrick hits like a linebacker, tracks the ball deep like a safety, and has the quick-twitch athleticism to play corner. I honestly struggled where to place him because he has the athletic skillset to play almost anywhere in the back seven of a defense, similarly to Jalen Ramsey. Ultimately, I listed Fitzpatrick as a safety because that is where he is likely to play next season, but his versatility is actually what may intrigue NFL teams the most. The bottom line is that he has been ultra productive wherever he has played in his two collegiate seasons, even being regarded as one of the best special teamers in the country as well. Currently, Mel Kiper has Fitzpatrick ranked as his second overall player in this draft, which should be enough to lock him into the first round at worst come next April.