Robert Quinn - St. Louis Rams
Quinn is entering his 3rd year in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams and he'll be just 23 years old. Last season he compiled 29 tackles and 10.5 sacks lining up across from DE Chris Long. I expect Quinn to possibly get 15+ sacks and force five fumbles in 2013. The Rams improved their secondary in the draft selecting S T.J. McDonald and CB Brandon McGee. CB Janoris Jenkins should be better in his 2nd year and DT Michael Brockers should be better inside giving a player like Quinn more time to get to the quarterback.
Greg Hardy - Carolina Panthers
Hardy's 2012 season went basically unnoticed so I'm including him on this list for 2013. He started in 10 of the 15 games he played in and racked up 61 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and had a fumble recovery in 2012. Hardy should definitely have an opportunity to improve upon those numbers with the addition of rookie DT Star Lotulelei across the defensive line in 2013. Hardy is also entering the final year of his contract which is always extra motivation to perform. The 2010 6th Round draft pick is going to get paid next off-season if he does.
Chandler Jones - New England Patriots
In 2012, Jones was a defensive rookie of the year candidate until his production fell after the midway part of the season. He registered 45 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles. Jones didn't record a sack after week 8 in the NFL season. He was also dealing with problems in both ankles during the second half of the season and in the playoffs. He was a really raw talent entering the NFL last season and should only get better with more experience and better technique.
Kendall Reyes - San Diego Chargers
Reyes was a solid contributor last season as he racked up 28 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He is a strong and explosive player that can bench 225 pounds 36 times. Reyes is also a special athlete that can do a handspring back flip at 300 pounds. Fellow DE Corey Liuget and Reyes should be dominant duo in 2013 stuffing the run and getting pressure on quarterbacks.
Defensive Tackles
Nick Fairley - Detroit Lions
Fairley will be a full-time starter for the first time in his career this season. In 2012, Fairley registered 34 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and recovered a fumble in 13 games starting in 7 of them. He was growing into a force alongside DT Ndamukong Suh before a shoulder injury ended his season. Fairley battled through a foot injury the season before and needs to prove he can stay healthy in 2013. The Lions need Fairley to step up and take over games due to the limited depth and experience across the Lions' defensive line.
Tyson Alualu - Jacksonville Jaguars
Alualu has started every game since being drafted by the Jaguars in 2010. He has been a solid pro but has yet to produce like a former Top 10 draft pick. He recorded 45 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery last season. With a defensive minded head coach now in Gus Bradley; Alualu should have more of an impact in games this year in Bradley's scheme.
Dontari Poe - Kansas City Chiefs
The massive 6'5'' and 350 pound nose tackle should be even better in his 2nd year with the Chiefs. Poe had 38 tackles in 2012 starting all 16 games. He is still very raw as a player and has incredible athletic ability for a guy his size. Poe was voted as the Chiefs' rookie of the year for 2012. He'll be great in 2013 for what should be a really good Kansas City Chiefs defense.
Sammie Lee Hill - Tennessee Titans
Hill could have started for plenty of teams in 2012 but was behind DT's Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and Corey Williams on the depth chart in Detroit. He'll get his chance to start for the Titans entering his 5th season in the NFL. Hill racked up 15 tackles last year for the Lions starting in 3 of the 15 games he played in. He was a raw prospect coming out of Stillman College and with 4 years of NFL coaching now; Hill should be ready for full-time work for the Titans.
Outside Linebackers
Martez Wilson - New Orleans Saints
With the Saints switching to the 3-4 defense, Wilson is now in a defense where he should excel rushing the passer off the edge. Wilson is one of those freakish athletes that hasn't put it all together yet since being a 5 star recruit coming out of high school but certainly could eventually be a Pro Bowl caliber player. He has prototypical size as a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6'4'' and 252 pounds. Wilson ran a 4.49 forty, had a 36" vertical and a 10'4'' broad jump at the 2011 NFL Combine. Last season, Wilson registered 19 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a situational pass rusher.
Whitney Mercilus - Houston Texans
Mercilus will replace OLB Connor Barwin in the starting lineup since Barwin left for the Eagles in free agency. The 2012 1st Round pick recorded 25 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery last season. He isn't as athletic as Barwin was but still a very good athlete that has a high motor. Great size for a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6'4'' and 257 pounds; Mercilus led the nation in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9) during his last season at Illinois as a defensive end.
Vontaze Burfict - Cincinnati Bengals
Burfict didn't get drafted a year ago because of major character concerns and a terrible NFL Combine running a 5.09 forty and posting a less than stellar 30" vertical. All he wanted was a chance and he got one with the Bengals and didn't look back. Burfict led the team in tackles as an undrafted rookie with 127 of them to go along with a sack and two fumble recoveries. He earned a $299,465 performance based bonus at the end of the season which was tops in the NFL. If Burfict can have a similar type season; he'll be voted into the Pro Bowl.
Bruce Carter - Dallas Cowboys
The 6'2'' and 240 pound Carter was having a very solid season until he dislocated his elbow which ended his season. He racked up 70 tackles in the 11 games he started in. Now he'll be the weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's Tampa-2 defense. A position that former NFL linebacker Derrick Brooks more than excelled at in Tampa Bay. Carter is a perfect fit as he can run, cover out in space and comes up with power to stop the run. He has to have a big year and stay healthy if the Cowboys expect to be a good defense.
Nick Perry - Green Bay Packers
Perry should wreck havoc this season opposite of OLB Clay Matthews in 2013. In 2012, Perry's season was cut short due to a wrist injury that put him on the injured reserve list. For the 6 games he played in, Perry registered 18 tackles and two sacks. Perry is a strong, fast and explosive athlete that did 35 reps of 225 in the bench press, ran a 4.64 forty, 38.5" vertical and a 10'4'' broad jump at 6'3'' and 271 pounds during the 2012 NFL Combine. He'll be a huge upgrade over now Colts OLB Erik Walden and should get 10+ sacks if he can stay healthy.
Zach Brown - Tennessee Titans
Brown is a very fast linebacker that started in 14 of the 16 regular season games as a rookie last season. He racked up 93 tackles, 5.5 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and three interceptions. Two of his interceptions came against the Jaguars where he took both back for touchdowns in the final game of the year. Brown is a good key piece to the Titans defense that should be better with the additions of DT Sammie Lee Hill, SS Bernard Pollard and S George Wilson.
Inside Linebackers
Nigel Bradham - Buffalo Bills
Bradham started in 11 of the 16 games he played in 2012. He compiled 57 tackles and recovered a fumble. The Bills defense was downright awful last year at times and Bradham will move from a 4-3 outside linebacker to a 3-4 inside linebacker under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Bradham was a 5 star recruit coming out of high school and has great athleticism. At the 2012 Combine, Bradham posted a 4.64 forty, 37" vertical, 10'1'' broad jump and a 4.37 twenty yard shuttle. Bradham and incoming rookie ILB Kiko Alonso need to hold their own if the Bills defense has any chance of being a Top-10 defense.
Dont'a Hightower - New England Patriots
The Patriots have arguably the best linebacker group in the NFL with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and the emerging Hightower. Hightower is a big, powerful athlete with good speed. He had a solid rookie season a year ago with 60 tackles, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. At 6'2'' and 270 pounds, Hightower is a tough block for the offense and he'll make people pay with his physical style of playing. He'll be an All-Pro soon if he keeps progressing.
Demario Davis - New York Jets
Davis is looking to fill ILB Bart Scott's shoes in 2013. Last season, Davis recorded 36 tackles and recovered a fumble while making three starts. He's a strong, fast and explosive player at 6'2'' and 235 pounds. Davis ran a 4.61 forty, did 32 reps of 225 on bench, 38.5" vertical, 10'4'' broad jump and a 4.28 twenty yard shuttle at the 2012 NFL Combine. He has very good upside and it will be good for him to play right next to ILB David Harris. The Jets defense as a whole shouldn't be too bad despite trading CB Darrelle Revis and being rebuilt. Rex Ryan is back at calling the defensive plays as well. The problem is their offense can't stay on the field.
Cornerbacks
Whitney Mercilus - Houston Texans
Mercilus will replace OLB Connor Barwin in the starting lineup since Barwin left for the Eagles in free agency. The 2012 1st Round pick recorded 25 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery last season. He isn't as athletic as Barwin was but still a very good athlete that has a high motor. Great size for a 3-4 outside linebacker at 6'4'' and 257 pounds; Mercilus led the nation in sacks (16) and forced fumbles (9) during his last season at Illinois as a defensive end.
Vontaze Burfict - Cincinnati Bengals
Burfict didn't get drafted a year ago because of major character concerns and a terrible NFL Combine running a 5.09 forty and posting a less than stellar 30" vertical. All he wanted was a chance and he got one with the Bengals and didn't look back. Burfict led the team in tackles as an undrafted rookie with 127 of them to go along with a sack and two fumble recoveries. He earned a $299,465 performance based bonus at the end of the season which was tops in the NFL. If Burfict can have a similar type season; he'll be voted into the Pro Bowl.
Bruce Carter - Dallas Cowboys
The 6'2'' and 240 pound Carter was having a very solid season until he dislocated his elbow which ended his season. He racked up 70 tackles in the 11 games he started in. Now he'll be the weakside linebacker in defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's Tampa-2 defense. A position that former NFL linebacker Derrick Brooks more than excelled at in Tampa Bay. Carter is a perfect fit as he can run, cover out in space and comes up with power to stop the run. He has to have a big year and stay healthy if the Cowboys expect to be a good defense.
Nick Perry - Green Bay Packers
Perry should wreck havoc this season opposite of OLB Clay Matthews in 2013. In 2012, Perry's season was cut short due to a wrist injury that put him on the injured reserve list. For the 6 games he played in, Perry registered 18 tackles and two sacks. Perry is a strong, fast and explosive athlete that did 35 reps of 225 in the bench press, ran a 4.64 forty, 38.5" vertical and a 10'4'' broad jump at 6'3'' and 271 pounds during the 2012 NFL Combine. He'll be a huge upgrade over now Colts OLB Erik Walden and should get 10+ sacks if he can stay healthy.
Zach Brown - Tennessee Titans
Brown is a very fast linebacker that started in 14 of the 16 regular season games as a rookie last season. He racked up 93 tackles, 5.5 sacks, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and three interceptions. Two of his interceptions came against the Jaguars where he took both back for touchdowns in the final game of the year. Brown is a good key piece to the Titans defense that should be better with the additions of DT Sammie Lee Hill, SS Bernard Pollard and S George Wilson.
Inside Linebackers
Nigel Bradham - Buffalo Bills
Bradham started in 11 of the 16 games he played in 2012. He compiled 57 tackles and recovered a fumble. The Bills defense was downright awful last year at times and Bradham will move from a 4-3 outside linebacker to a 3-4 inside linebacker under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Bradham was a 5 star recruit coming out of high school and has great athleticism. At the 2012 Combine, Bradham posted a 4.64 forty, 37" vertical, 10'1'' broad jump and a 4.37 twenty yard shuttle. Bradham and incoming rookie ILB Kiko Alonso need to hold their own if the Bills defense has any chance of being a Top-10 defense.
Dont'a Hightower - New England Patriots
The Patriots have arguably the best linebacker group in the NFL with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and the emerging Hightower. Hightower is a big, powerful athlete with good speed. He had a solid rookie season a year ago with 60 tackles, four sacks and two fumble recoveries. At 6'2'' and 270 pounds, Hightower is a tough block for the offense and he'll make people pay with his physical style of playing. He'll be an All-Pro soon if he keeps progressing.
Demario Davis - New York Jets
Davis is looking to fill ILB Bart Scott's shoes in 2013. Last season, Davis recorded 36 tackles and recovered a fumble while making three starts. He's a strong, fast and explosive player at 6'2'' and 235 pounds. Davis ran a 4.61 forty, did 32 reps of 225 on bench, 38.5" vertical, 10'4'' broad jump and a 4.28 twenty yard shuttle at the 2012 NFL Combine. He has very good upside and it will be good for him to play right next to ILB David Harris. The Jets defense as a whole shouldn't be too bad despite trading CB Darrelle Revis and being rebuilt. Rex Ryan is back at calling the defensive plays as well. The problem is their offense can't stay on the field.
Cornerbacks
Jimmy Smith - Baltimore Ravens
Smith has only 5 career starts in two years with the Ravens and as a former 1st Round pick; it's time for him to enter the starting lineup in 2013. He had 34 tackles and defected three passes during the 2012 season. CB Cary Williams left for Philadelphia and Smith needs to earn the starting job left over. Smith has everything that NFL teams now want in cornerbacks nowadays. Tall, fast, physical, explosive and agile. Smith has good upside and could be one of the best corners in the league if he puts it altogether.
Dre Kirkpatrick - Cincinnati Bengals
Kirkpatrick played in only 5 games as a rookie last season because he was battling through a knee injury all year. He ended up with 4 tackles on the season. Kirkpatrick should start this year and should have a solid season along with the rest of the Bengals defense. He's a very good tall athlete that has the potential to be a shutdown corner like CB Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks.
Alfonzo Dennard - New England Patriots
Dennard fell all the way to the 7th Round in 2012 after deciding to punch a police officer days before the draft. He probably would have been a 2nd or 3rd Round pick before that. Dennard is only 5'10'' and 200 pounds but is a solid well rounded corner. He started in 7 of the 10 games he played in overall and made plays on defense for the Patriots. Dennard registered 35 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass break-ups and forced a fumble. He should have an even better season this upcoming season.
Prince Amukamara - New York Giants
Amukamara hasn't been the playmaking cornerback the Giants had hoped he'd be. He's had plenty of injuries already in his short career and needs to prove he can stay on the field for a 16 game season. In 2012, Amukamara compiled 53 tackles, one interception and seven pass break-ups. He has good size at 6'0'' and 207 pounds along with excellent athletic ability. Amukamara ran the forty in 4.43 seconds, had a 38" vertical, a 10'8'' broad jump and 4.08 short shuttle time at the 2011 NFL Combine. This could very well be the season where Amukamara shows he has the ball skills to be a great cornerback in the NFL.
Safeties
Harrison Smith - Minnesota Vikings
Smith had a very good rookie year with 104 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Smith is a smooth athlete that can cover well and is good at stopping the run being a linebacker first at Notre Dame before switching to safety. He'll have to lead a young, inexperienced Viking secondary in just his 2nd year since CB Antoine Winfield is now gone with the Seattle Seahawks.
Mark Barron - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2012, Barron registered 88 tackles, one interception, 10 pass deflections and forced a fumble starting in all 16 games. He is a Pro Bowl caliber safety and with the additions of CB Darrelle Revis and FS Dashon Goldson, Barron should be free to make a lot of plays for the Buccaneers. Barron comes down hard to stuff the run and has very solid coverage skills.
Major Wright - Chicago Bears
Last year, Wright started all 16 games for the Bears and piled up 71 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass break-ups, forced a fumble and recovered two other fumbles. It was his best season by far compared to his first two years with the team. Wright has decent size at 5'11'' and 206 pounds with good speed running a 4.48 forty yard dash. He's a big hitter that relies on his instincts. Wright has gotten better and better in pass coverage each year and the 2013 season looks bright for him.
Smith has only 5 career starts in two years with the Ravens and as a former 1st Round pick; it's time for him to enter the starting lineup in 2013. He had 34 tackles and defected three passes during the 2012 season. CB Cary Williams left for Philadelphia and Smith needs to earn the starting job left over. Smith has everything that NFL teams now want in cornerbacks nowadays. Tall, fast, physical, explosive and agile. Smith has good upside and could be one of the best corners in the league if he puts it altogether.
Dre Kirkpatrick - Cincinnati Bengals
Kirkpatrick played in only 5 games as a rookie last season because he was battling through a knee injury all year. He ended up with 4 tackles on the season. Kirkpatrick should start this year and should have a solid season along with the rest of the Bengals defense. He's a very good tall athlete that has the potential to be a shutdown corner like CB Richard Sherman of the Seattle Seahawks.
Alfonzo Dennard - New England Patriots
Dennard fell all the way to the 7th Round in 2012 after deciding to punch a police officer days before the draft. He probably would have been a 2nd or 3rd Round pick before that. Dennard is only 5'10'' and 200 pounds but is a solid well rounded corner. He started in 7 of the 10 games he played in overall and made plays on defense for the Patriots. Dennard registered 35 tackles, three interceptions, seven pass break-ups and forced a fumble. He should have an even better season this upcoming season.
Prince Amukamara - New York Giants
Amukamara hasn't been the playmaking cornerback the Giants had hoped he'd be. He's had plenty of injuries already in his short career and needs to prove he can stay on the field for a 16 game season. In 2012, Amukamara compiled 53 tackles, one interception and seven pass break-ups. He has good size at 6'0'' and 207 pounds along with excellent athletic ability. Amukamara ran the forty in 4.43 seconds, had a 38" vertical, a 10'8'' broad jump and 4.08 short shuttle time at the 2011 NFL Combine. This could very well be the season where Amukamara shows he has the ball skills to be a great cornerback in the NFL.
Safeties
Harrison Smith - Minnesota Vikings
Smith had a very good rookie year with 104 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, 11 pass break-ups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Smith is a smooth athlete that can cover well and is good at stopping the run being a linebacker first at Notre Dame before switching to safety. He'll have to lead a young, inexperienced Viking secondary in just his 2nd year since CB Antoine Winfield is now gone with the Seattle Seahawks.
Mark Barron - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2012, Barron registered 88 tackles, one interception, 10 pass deflections and forced a fumble starting in all 16 games. He is a Pro Bowl caliber safety and with the additions of CB Darrelle Revis and FS Dashon Goldson, Barron should be free to make a lot of plays for the Buccaneers. Barron comes down hard to stuff the run and has very solid coverage skills.
Major Wright - Chicago Bears
Last year, Wright started all 16 games for the Bears and piled up 71 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass break-ups, forced a fumble and recovered two other fumbles. It was his best season by far compared to his first two years with the team. Wright has decent size at 5'11'' and 206 pounds with good speed running a 4.48 forty yard dash. He's a big hitter that relies on his instincts. Wright has gotten better and better in pass coverage each year and the 2013 season looks bright for him.
