Expert: Former Michigan Defensive Linemen Could Have Huge Rookie Years

The 2017 NFL Draft has come and gone, and Michigan ended up with more selections than any other school with a school-record 11. The decision makers have now had their post-draft press conferences, and the roles that the first-year professionals will play on the next level are starting to come into focus.

Senior NFL writer Will Brinson of CBS Sports recently took some time to break down the Michigan draft class and provide his thoughts on the group as NFL rookies. He thinks that two former Wolverines who could have big professional debuts both play along the defensive line. Although Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley were routinely on the field together during their time in Ann Arbor, both will be defensive ends — albeit much different ones — in 2017, and Brinson likes how each fits within their new teams’ schemes.

Charlton, who was drafted 28th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, provides exactly what the club needed — length and pressure off the edge. The two ends already on the roster with double-digit career starts, Tyrone Crawford and Demarcus Lawrence, are both in the 6-3 to 6-4 and 270-285-pound range and have a combined 21.5 career sacks in eight NFL seasons. Charlton checked in at 6-6 and 277 pounds at the NFL Combine and his draft stock soared due to his ability to get the quarterback, which was showcased in a final season that featured 9.5 sacks.

The fact that the Cowboys didn’t have to trade up to grab such a perfect fit and their status as a defending division champion that might be just one or two pieces shy of going deeper in the playoffs than 2016 only helps how Brinson grades the franchise’s selection of Charlton.

“Charlton landing in Dallas that late was a great deal for them, being able to sit tight at their draft position and scoop up a top pass rusher,” Brinson said. “He ended up in an outstanding spot for his skill set. He can slide into the Cowboys’ defensive line as one of the primary 4-3 defensive ends there, will get coach up by [defensive coordinator and line coach] Rod Marinelli — one of the best in the business at getting the most out of his talent — and will have tons of opportunity to see playing time.

“He could be a dark horse for Defensive Rookie of the Year if the Cowboys win 10-plus games and he has 10-plus sacks.”

Wormley wasn’t drafted for his pass-rushing prowess, but he does seem to be tailor-made for the Baltimore Ravens’ five-technique defensive end spot. Last year’s starter Lawrence Guy — whose measurables (6-4, 305) are nearly identical to the 6-5, 298-pound Wormley — signed with New England as a free agent. Guy never put up huge numbers, he totaled just 28 tackles last year, but the third-round pick (No. 74 overall) out of Michigan could be the guy to fill that void from day one, and maybe even provide more on the statistics sheet than his predecessor.

“Wormley can have a huge impact in the first year when you consider how this Ravens defense is structured,” Brinson noted. “They paid big for [nose tackle] Brandon Williams, who will absorb bodies in the middle, and they added Tyus Bowser [an outside linebacker from the University of Houston] in the second round to provide pass rush depth with Terrell Suggs. There's enough talent on this defense where Wormley certainly won't be a focus, but there isn't enough depth at the 3-4 defensive end position to keep him off the field early on.”

As for the Wolverines’ other first-round choice, safety Jabrill Peppers — who actually came off the board first, at No. 25 overall to the Cleveland Browns — Brinson thought the draft position could be considered a reach for him. The scribe figured the versatile defender would go in the range that he did, but also noted Peppers was a guy “the Bowns could have perhaps gotten later. … I would rather have Tre’Davious White [an LSU cornerback who went 27th to the Bills] or Takkarist McKinley [a UCLA defensive end who went 26th to the Falcons], personally.”

Following the draft, the Browns’ front office has indicated they intend to not only use Peppers on defense and as a return specialist, but also on offense.

“Forcing Peppers to try and acclimate to the NFL on both sides of the ball seems pretty aggressive, but that’s the nature of [head coach] Hue Jackson, too,” Brinson explained. “I still think the Browns view this as a redshirt year for the whole team — they’re not going to be that competitive — so it wouldn’t be surprising if they were willing to let Peppers learn on a trial-by-fire basis.”

Brinson also liked the Broncos’ fifth-round choice of tight end Jake Butt — “He obviously fell because of his injury, but I still thought he would end up going earlier than he did.” — and called that another NFL steal out of Michigan.

Finally, he liked the landing spot of safety Delano Hill, who was a bit of a surprise top-100 selection when coming off the board in the third round, at No. 95 overall, to the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-1, 216-pounder certainly fits the physical profile he will be surrounded by in the secondary of his new home.

The Seahawks restocked their safety depth chart in the draft by selecting Hill, Colorado’s Tedric Thompson (6-0, 204) in the fourth round and Cincinnati’s Michael Tyson (6-1, 204) in the sixth. Starter Kam Chancellor (6-3, 225) is 29 and has not started all 16 games since 2013, while returning back-linemate Earl Thomas (5-10, 202) just turned 28 but had his 2016 season ended by a broken tibia suffered in week 13 and then tweeted about how he was considering retirement (although he later clarified he would definitely be playing in 2017).

“I think Hill, like Tedric Thompson and Mike Tyson, was just a guy that the Seahawks identified who can eventually develop into a stud safety in their system,” Brinson explained. “A physical guy with a grasp on fundamentals who will go to safety school with Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Plus, the Seahawks need insurance if Thomas isn’t fully recovered or gets injured again.”

More of The Wolverine's NFL Draft coverage

Jabrill Peppers To The Browns In Round One

Taco Charlton Goes No. 28 To The Cowboys

Taco Charlton Says He’s Ready To Help Dallas Win

Peppers Thrilled To Go To Cleveland, Says 'My Character Speaks For Itself'

Baltimore Ravens Select Chris Wormley With The No. 74 Pick

Jourdan Lewis Selected No. 92 By Dallas

Delano Hill Selected By The Seattle Seahawks At No. 95 Overall

Amara Darboh Joins The Seattle Seahawks

Jourdan Lewis, Dallas Cowboys Both Confident In Lewis' Character

Delano Hill Is Thrilled To Be A Seahawk

Another Harbaugh In Chris Wormley's Future