I used Walterfootball.com's recently updated 2012 prospects list.
1. Vontaze Burfict-ILB from Arizona St., this guy is a beast and has been compared with Ray Lewis. I see our top needs next year being FS/SS, NT, and ILB. There are no NT or FS/SS worthy of a pick in the 15-20 range at this time and I think that Ryans injury will slow him down more than most realize. Also we don't know how Cushing will perform on the inside so Burfict fills lots of LB holes that may come up.
2. Alameda TaAmu-NT from Washington, this guy is huge and currently the top rated NT by Waltersfootball. I don't think Cody or Mitchell will be stout enough at NT in the run game and add an injured Ryans in the middle, this is a recipe for getting gashed up the middle next year in the run game.
3. Rashard Hall-FS from Clemson, next year doesn't look like a very good year for FS/SS and I think Phillips coverage scheme will call more for 2 FS's who can play the run more than a traditional FS/SS tandem. Hall has really good size and speed.
4. Phillip Blake-C from Baylor, he's got the size that Myers lacks and is a converted OT so I'm guessing that he should have some agility as well and could be a utility lineman.
5. Marvin McNutt-WR from Iowa, this guy has great size at 6'04" and 215 lbs. and had good production last year. I don't see WR as being a huge need like some others and think our WR corp will be fine next year.
6. ?????? I don't know here, maybe some depth at NT, CB, DE, or OG.
7. Karnell Hatcher-S from LSU or Harrison Smith-S from Notre Dame, both have great size and average speed for the position and added depth at our weakest position can't hurt. Also late round picks will be expected to play special teams where a Safety with size should fit in well.
I think it will take more than one draft to complete the change in defense from 4-3 to 3-4 and could see us going almost exclusively defense again, we've still got some big holes to fill and needed depth.
1. Vontaze Burfict-ILB from Arizona St., this guy is a beast and has been compared with Ray Lewis. I see our top needs next year being FS/SS, NT, and ILB. There are no NT or FS/SS worthy of a pick in the 15-20 range at this time and I think that Ryans injury will slow him down more than most realize. Also we don't know how Cushing will perform on the inside so Burfict fills lots of LB holes that may come up.
2. Alameda TaAmu-NT from Washington, this guy is huge and currently the top rated NT by Waltersfootball. I don't think Cody or Mitchell will be stout enough at NT in the run game and add an injured Ryans in the middle, this is a recipe for getting gashed up the middle next year in the run game.
3. Rashard Hall-FS from Clemson, next year doesn't look like a very good year for FS/SS and I think Phillips coverage scheme will call more for 2 FS's who can play the run more than a traditional FS/SS tandem. Hall has really good size and speed.
4. Phillip Blake-C from Baylor, he's got the size that Myers lacks and is a converted OT so I'm guessing that he should have some agility as well and could be a utility lineman.
5. Marvin McNutt-WR from Iowa, this guy has great size at 6'04" and 215 lbs. and had good production last year. I don't see WR as being a huge need like some others and think our WR corp will be fine next year.
6. ?????? I don't know here, maybe some depth at NT, CB, DE, or OG.
7. Karnell Hatcher-S from LSU or Harrison Smith-S from Notre Dame, both have great size and average speed for the position and added depth at our weakest position can't hurt. Also late round picks will be expected to play special teams where a Safety with size should fit in well.
I think it will take more than one draft to complete the change in defense from 4-3 to 3-4 and could see us going almost exclusively defense again, we've still got some big holes to fill and needed depth.