NFL Draft: Top 5 DEs heading into the Combine

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

The NFL Scouting Combine is about to get underway in Indianapolis. Here is a look at our rankings of players at each position heading into the event. We move on to defensive ends.

NFL COMBINE: Top five QBs | RBs | WR/TEs | OL | Breaking down the Power Five conferences

Recruiting: The younger brother of Joey Bosa, the five-star defensive end predictably picked Ohio State over Florida, Florida State and others in the summer before his senior season.

Stats: Bosa played in only three games this season before shutting it down due to injury, but during that time he had 14 tackles (six for loss) with four sacks along with two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He finished with 17.5 sacks during his career with the Buckeyes.

Farrell’s take: Bosa was drawing comparisons to his brother, Joey, before his ACL injury in November of his senior year of high school. Some said he would be even better. We had him ranked higher than Joey out of high school, but we whiffed on Joey being a five-star, so there’s that. Nick was as athletic and physical as his brother and loved to hit. We knew he’d be special, and he’s emerged as one of the best defensive ends in the country and is my No. 1 overall for the draft right now despite coming off injury. He’s a freak of nature.

Recruiting: Allen committed to Kentucky during his official visit to Lexington in January. The Wildcats were his only listed offer. He was ranked as a linebacker by Rivals.

Stats: Allen led the Wildcats with 88 tackles including 21.5 for loss and he had 17 sacks this season. He also forced five fumbles and had two fumble recoveries. He finished his Kentucky career with 220 tackles.

Farrell’s take: Allen was a low three-star out of high school, a big linebacker who we had some concerns about when it came to lateral movement and what position he would end up playing. He’s turned into a tackling machine who can also blitz and get after the passer. His ability to cover in space as well as rush off the edge has scouts drooling and he could go No. 2 overall.

Recruiting: While it came down to Clemson, South Carolina and Virginia Tech, the Tigers were always thought to be his leader and he ultimately committed to Dabo Swinney's program during the summer before his senior season.

Stats: Ferrell totaled 53 tackles this season and led Clemson with tackles for loss and sacks with 19.5 and 11.5, respectively. He also has 15 quarterback pressures this past season.

Farrell’s take: Many felt that this past season would be Ferrell’s breakout year at Clemson, and it appears it was as he was in the offensive backfield often. I always liked his athletic upside out of high school, although he was a bit stiff at times, but I questioned his aggressiveness. It has been interesting to watch him mature and come into his own in that area. His ceiling is very high for the NFL and keeps rising. He’s playing up to his lofty ranking and could land in the top 10.

Recruiting: On National Signing Day, Gary picked Michigan over Clemson. The Wolverines were considered the front-runner for some time. Alabama and Auburn were also in the running late in the recruiting cycle.

Stats: Gary played in only nine games this season and finished with 44 tackles along with seven for loss and 3.5 sacks. The former five-star added five quarterback pressures.

Farrell’s take: Gary is arguably the most athletic player in the country for his size and pushed to our No. 1 overall spot out of high school based on his ability to play end or tackle with ease and dominate at both. He has No. 1 overall pick potential; he’s that freaky. I remember his improvement in high school from a kid who was very upright and raw to a terror by his senior year. He could go as high as the top five but I have him below Ferrell.

Recruiting: Miami was considered the frontrunner for Polite until he visited Florida for its summer camp and landed an offer from the Gators. Florida continued to pursue Polite through the fall and he committed in October.

Stats: Polite totaled only 45 tackles this season but 17.5 of them were for loss and he added 11 sacks this past season. He also forced six fumbles.

Farrell’s take: Polite was a mid-level three-star coming out of high school who had average size and wasn’t overly explosive but made big plays when needed. He was moderately recruited and a kid with a good frame to add size and strength, but he has outplayed his ranking. He always had a good motor, but his ability to pursue increased in college.

Recruiting: After playing at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson, Sweat played at Michigan State before transferring to junior college at Wesson (Miss.) Copiah-Lincoln and eventually ending up at Mississippi State.

Stats: Sweat finished with 53 tackles along with 14 for loss and a team-high 11.5 sacks. He added seven quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Farrell’s take: Sweat could be a great hybrid in this class, an athletic kid who makes his living as an end but could easily stand up at the next level. But he’s also such a great natural pass rusher. Sweat was a tall, filled-out defensive end out of high school who was a three-star but has developed into an athletic freak who has NFL scouts very interested. He’d be higher if this wasn’t such a loaded position for the draft.

Recruiting: The three-star flipped from Northwestern to Boston College late in the process. UCLA was also involved.

Stats: Allen totaled 61 tackles this season with 15 for loss and 6.5 sacks. The former three-star also had an interception, 11 quarterback hurries, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and he blocked two kicks.

Farrell’s take: Allen was a three-star prospect with good size and length but who played weak competition and wasn’t the explosive player you see now. He’s become one of the more well-rounded defensive linemen in the country and led a very underrated defense. Allen is also high on the radar of NFL scouts and could be a second round steal because of how loaded this position is this year.