2014 NFL Draft defensive end rankings

Say what you want about Jadeveon Clowney's 2013 season, but he's still head and shoulders above the rest of the defensive ends in the 2014 NFL Draft and the top player in the entire class. He's the most explosive defensive end to come out of college football in a long time and he still has room to get even bigger and more explosive in the NFL.

With a few highly ranked defensive ends returning to school, the competition to be the second defensive end off the board should be an interesting one. Schemes always play a big role, and not everyone of these players will be drafted to play defensive end. Missouri's Kony Ealy is our second ranked defensive end. The combination of his physical potential and late-season spike in production has him in position to get drafted early in May. He's a versatile player who can play all along the defensive line but is at his best when coming off the edge.

Stephon Tuitt is an interesting case. He's an ideal fit for the 3-4 defense but could probably slide inside to play defensive tackle as well. A few other prospects are in the same boat. Teams will likely work them out at multiple positions to figure out how they fit best.