Much like a fingerprint every draft is unique and special in its own right.  While we will soon pick and prod each teams picks up and down their board it won't be until years down the road that we can fairly assess the winners and losers in all its capacity.  

When dissecting the 2015 draft class in depth it too has its own special quirks and identity as to how we will likely view and our perception of its entirety as a whole.  For example. while last years draft class offered one of the best groups of wide receivers we may have ever seen, this years class is loaded at the running back position at both talent at the top and depth near the middle-to-late rounds.  This makes things interesting when trying to gauge guys like Adrian Peterson’s trade value, as well as the importance of the position as a whole as its been said the tailback position has been watered down in value with the new trend of a passing league in the works.  

Another intriguing position that this class has to offer is pass rushers.  These guys come in a variety of shapes and sizes but also are prospects that have lined up in multiple positions making it difficult to project exactly where they best fit on a team-by-team basis.  The one thing we know for certain however, is their ability to get after the quarterback making it easy to lump them in a group that has been dubbed “edge rushers”.  No matter the scheme and defensive philosophy your team may have the players in this category will primarily be used as guys who can pressure the passer and wreck havoc in the backfield.  

Due to the volume of top end talent in this specific group the traditional “off the ball” linebackers have been lost in the shuffle and haven't received much attention.  Another reason for this is the sheer fact that the position doesn't have nearly the talent up top like the edge rushers, and when compared to last years class guys like Ryan Shazier, Anthony Barr, and CJ Mosley were head and shoulders better from a pure talent standpoint coming out of college.  

Although they dont matchup with last years prospects lets dive into a few of the top “off the ball” linebackers as they are still an essential and vital part of the game from both a perspective of stopping the run and pass.  

Paul Dawson, TCU, Inside Linebacker

Tough to find someone better in this class better at dissecting a play before the snap and letting his read and react skills take care of the rest than Dawson. A player who has been ripped and ridiculed during the pre-draft process for horrible workout times and a questionable attitude, Dawson has always found a way to thrive when the pressure mounts. Off the field Dawson doesn’t wow anyone with his natural physique with a lot of room to grow, but on the field Dawson plays like a mad man getting anywhere and everywhere he needs to be. Dawson should be groomed and coached into a true three-down inside linebacker as he shows the incredible ability to read plays before they happen and uses his agility to swim around would-be blockers to make the tackle. In the pass game he is adequate enough to hold his own, although quicker, shiftier receivers will give him trouble in the NFL.  

Shaq Thompson, Washington, Weak-Side Linebacker (Strong Safety)

Thompson is one of the biggest wild-cards of the entire draft as he has done nothing but produce for the Huskies at not one, not two, but count ‘em, three different positions. Thompson proved that to the nation after he won the Paul Hornung award for the country’s most versatile player after he lined up at linebacker, safety and running back in the Pac-12. Thompson was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and lived up to the hype during his college career as a dominant player. He is a physical striker that plays an aggressive brand of smart football, but the question is: Where do you play him? Thompson seems to be too small for a linebacker in the NFL as he would likely get chewed up in the running game by bigger, more physical blockers. A switch to safety may be in the works, allowing him to fly around the field and make plays both in coverage and inside the box during run support.

Eric Kendricks, UCLA, Inside linebacker

With his brother playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kendricks comes into the league with the football genes made for the NFL spotlight. UCLA’s first Butkus Award winner, given out to the nation's best linebacker, Kendricks led the Bruins with an outstanding 149 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. Take a step back as a sophomore where Kendricks led the entire Pac-12 conference with 149 tackles and six tackles for loss and it’s easy to see why Kendricks will likely be the first off-the-ball linebacker drafted. A good but not great athlete, Kendricks is smooth as he covers sideline-to-sideline letting his natural football instincts take over. In the end, however, it’s his non-stop motor that just won’t quit, mixed with his fight to win and passion for the game why you want a guy like Kendricks playing for you, and not against you.

Denzel Perryman, Miami, Inside Linebacker

As a junior, Perryman led the Hurricanes in tackles with 108 and earned his way to first team All-ACC honors. He followed that act up last season with another repeat performance, this time leading his team with 110 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss, getting him back on the first team All-ACC squad once more. Perryman is our first true big-hitter on the list as he owns a thick, strong build which he uses to intimidate people along with his violent playing style and attitude. A man who attacks the running lane with authority and is on a mission to hurt you in the process, Perryman understands how to get to the ball carrier. Perryman is phenomenal at moving downhill and being a monster force in the run game. However, it remains to be seen if he can hold his own dropping back in coverage against smaller and more fluid opponents. If what you need is a two-down thumper in the middle of your defense then, no question, this is your guy.  

Stephone Anthony, Clemson, Inside Linebacker  

A late riser in the pre-draft process Anthony impressed myself along with many others down at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. A five-star recruit, Anthony led his team in tackles in both 2013 and 2014, becoming a staple and consistent force inside the Tigers’ defense. A big powerful linebacker at 6-foot-2, 246 pounds, Anthony has the arm length and reach needed to take on and shed blockers in the NFL from day one. He’s a high-motor guy who loves to use his physicality and intensity to scare opposing ball carriers. Anthony lets his hard work in the weight room and film room pay off while he continues to shape into an all-around linebacker. Injuries were the one thing that held him back and could cause him to fall on draft day.