NFL Draft Spotlight: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

by Cory J. Bonini on April 16, 2010 @ 00:00:00 PDT

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A 21-year-old Georgia Tech junior, Derrick Morgan is one of the top-rated defensive ends available in the 2010 NFL Draft. He enjoyed a productive career for the Yellow Jackets; his last season was his finest (52 total stops, 12.0 sacks, two forced fumbles).

Strengths

Explosive first step
Nice array of pass-rushing moves
High motor - consistent effort
Strong against the run and is a polished pass rusher
Moderate upside
Gets good leverage
Excellent closing speed
Disengages from blockers well
Hustles well in pursuit
Sure tackler
Never missed a game
Intelligent

Weaknesses

Lack of versatility - won't be able to play 3-4 outside linebacker
Can't drop back into coverage effectively
Inconsistent burst at the line
One year of high-level sack production

Expected draft placement

It's hard to imagine Morgan falling out of the top 20 picks in the first round since he is such a well-rounded player. Given the difficulty in finding a defensive end that can play both sides of the line, holds up against the run and rushes the quarterback equally as well, it's highly unlikely Morgan won't be drafted by a 4-3 team. Don't expect any team running a 3-4 system to draft him.

About Cory J. Bonini

Cory is KFFL's General Manager. In late 2002, he joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, Bonini has been featured in print, on radio and on scores of websites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors. Follow @CoryKFFL