NOTE: Do to time
constraints, I'm only listing
players who would be a
good fit in our defense or
that fit our needs.
constraints, I'm only listing
players who would be a
good fit in our defense or
that fit our needs.
| NOSE TACKLE RANKINGS |
Name Height Weight 40 Time College
1. Haloti Ngata 6’5 338 5.12 Oregon
Strengths: Strong and powerful. Can create a strong push up the middle. Athletic for a man his size.
Can really dominate and must be double-teamed constantly. Loads of potential.
Weaknesses: Somewhat inconsistent. Missed 2003 season with torn ACL. Needs some development.
How He Fits: Haloti would be a great nose tackle prospect for the Cowboys. He should be long gone by
the 18th pick though.
2. Broderick Bunkley 6'3 306 4.94 Florida St.
Strengths: Extremely strong and powerful. Sturdy build. Excellent speed and quickness. Can really get
after the quarterback. Very productive as a senior.
Weaknesses: Has some injury concerns. Some character issues.
How He Fits: Kind of like Glover. He could be a NT, but it would be a giant waste of his strengths, which is
getting penetration. Probably a Top 15 pick anyway.
3. Gabe Watson 6'4 342 5.25 Michigan
Strengths: Great Size. Unblockable at times. Can collapse the pocket. Strong and can dominate
opponents in one-on-one situations. Good quickness and agility for a man of his size. Could really excel in
a 3-4 defense.
Weaknesses: Extremely inconsistent. Has been benched several times during his career. Needs to
keep his weight in check. Has poor stamina and can wear down easily. Will never be much of a pass
rusher. A big gamble.
How He Fits: Gabe would be a perfect fit for us. Ferguson is old and we need a NT for the future as well
as depth for next year. A possibility in the 1st or 2nd round.
4. Babatunde Oshinowo 6’2 304 5.33 Stanford
Strengths: Good Size and a wide base which is crucial for a NT. Intelligent and has good intangibles.
Durable and experienced. Strong and stout at the point of attack.
Weaknesses: Not much of a passrusher. Poor agility and quickness. Can sometimes be neutralized a
good center.
How He Fits: Possible option in Round 3. I'm not a real big fan of his, but he is the best option if we miss
out on Watson.
5. Montavious Stanley 6’2 315 5.20 Louisville
Strengths: Good athletic ability. Can plug the middle and rush the passer. Loads of upside. Versatile
athlete with good production.
Weaknesses: Raw and will need some development. Inconsistent and an underachiever.
How He Fits: Very intriguing prospect. Has the size and strength to play NT, but he might be too athletic
for his own good. Probably wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of a 3-4 with the athletic ability he has.
A good option in the 3rd round if the need is still there.
6. Steve Fifita 5'11 323 5.30 Utah
Strengths: Fireplug in the middle. Massive frame. Extremely strong and stout at the point of attack.
Uses his size to his advantage. 3 year starter.
Weaknesses: Very short. His height could affect his ability to be an every down player. Not very athletic.
Won't give you much as a passrusher.
How He Fits: Solid NT prospect. Good option in the 4th or 5th round if Bill believes his height isn't a huge
problem.
7. LeKevin Smith 6'3 316 5.05 Nebraska
Strengths: Good size and a solid frame. Great athleticism. Can get some penetration. Has some
upside.
Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger. Might be too athletic for his own good if he is forced to play NT.
Underacheiver who is inconsistent. Has had some knee injuries.
How He Fits: He would be a solid option in the 4th or 5th round. He is probably better suited for a 4-3
however and could easily be a first day pick for a team that runs one.
8. Tommy Jackson 6'0 312 5.26 Auburn
Strengths: Excels at taking on multiple blocks. Stout and can hold his ground. Experienced team leader
with good intangibles. Good motor.
Weaknesses: On the short side. Doesn't have a lot of upside. Not much of a passrusher. Has dealt with
some injuries throughout his career.
How He Fits: T.J. is a solid late round option to help bolster our NT depth. Will never be star, but could
end up developing into a solid starting NT.
9. Orien Harris 6’3 302 5.27 Miami
Strengths: Good athletic ability. Pretty stout at the point of attack. Is a pretty good passrusher. Wide
base. Experienced and was productive. Hasn’t reached his full potential.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent. Some injury concerns. Can have some difficulty shedding blocks.
How He Fits: Probably better off in a 4-3. Would be a decent option in the middle rounds, but probably
not starting material at NT.
10. Titus Adams 6'4 308 5.14 Nebraska
Strengths: Nice frame with long arms. Excellent athletic ability. Does a good job against the run.
Experienced and durable. Has some upside.
Weaknesses: Big-time underachiever. Needs to get stronger. Doesn't have a great NT build. Poor
stamina.
How He Fits: Late round option. Could play DE or NT, but will never start at NT. Better of in a 4-3.
11. Domato Peko 6'3 307 5.32 Michigan St.
Strengths: Can clog the middle. Pretty strong and powerful. Wide base and is tough to move. Decent
athlete who can get a push up the middle. Decent upside.
Weaknesses: Raw and only started for one season. Not much of a pass rusher.
How He Fits: Nice late round prospect as a developmental nose tackle who could potentially start a few
years down the road.
12. Johnny Jolly 6'3 317 5.43 Texas A&M
Strengths: Great size. Good probably get even bigger. Hard worker and a team leader. Tough to
block. Stout against the run.
Weaknesses: Below-average athletic ability. Needs to use his hands and leverage better. Doesn't have
a lot of potential at the next level.
How He Fits: Decent option in the late rounds. We are getting into the guys I would be scared to enter
next year with as our 2nd NT.
Strengths: Strong and powerful. Can create a strong push up the middle. Athletic for a man his size.
Can really dominate and must be double-teamed constantly. Loads of potential.
Weaknesses: Somewhat inconsistent. Missed 2003 season with torn ACL. Needs some development.
How He Fits: Haloti would be a great nose tackle prospect for the Cowboys. He should be long gone by
the 18th pick though.
2. Broderick Bunkley 6'3 306 4.94 Florida St.
Strengths: Extremely strong and powerful. Sturdy build. Excellent speed and quickness. Can really get
after the quarterback. Very productive as a senior.
Weaknesses: Has some injury concerns. Some character issues.
How He Fits: Kind of like Glover. He could be a NT, but it would be a giant waste of his strengths, which is
getting penetration. Probably a Top 15 pick anyway.
3. Gabe Watson 6'4 342 5.25 Michigan
Strengths: Great Size. Unblockable at times. Can collapse the pocket. Strong and can dominate
opponents in one-on-one situations. Good quickness and agility for a man of his size. Could really excel in
a 3-4 defense.
Weaknesses: Extremely inconsistent. Has been benched several times during his career. Needs to
keep his weight in check. Has poor stamina and can wear down easily. Will never be much of a pass
rusher. A big gamble.
How He Fits: Gabe would be a perfect fit for us. Ferguson is old and we need a NT for the future as well
as depth for next year. A possibility in the 1st or 2nd round.
4. Babatunde Oshinowo 6’2 304 5.33 Stanford
Strengths: Good Size and a wide base which is crucial for a NT. Intelligent and has good intangibles.
Durable and experienced. Strong and stout at the point of attack.
Weaknesses: Not much of a passrusher. Poor agility and quickness. Can sometimes be neutralized a
good center.
How He Fits: Possible option in Round 3. I'm not a real big fan of his, but he is the best option if we miss
out on Watson.
5. Montavious Stanley 6’2 315 5.20 Louisville
Strengths: Good athletic ability. Can plug the middle and rush the passer. Loads of upside. Versatile
athlete with good production.
Weaknesses: Raw and will need some development. Inconsistent and an underachiever.
How He Fits: Very intriguing prospect. Has the size and strength to play NT, but he might be too athletic
for his own good. Probably wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of a 3-4 with the athletic ability he has.
A good option in the 3rd round if the need is still there.
6. Steve Fifita 5'11 323 5.30 Utah
Strengths: Fireplug in the middle. Massive frame. Extremely strong and stout at the point of attack.
Uses his size to his advantage. 3 year starter.
Weaknesses: Very short. His height could affect his ability to be an every down player. Not very athletic.
Won't give you much as a passrusher.
How He Fits: Solid NT prospect. Good option in the 4th or 5th round if Bill believes his height isn't a huge
problem.
7. LeKevin Smith 6'3 316 5.05 Nebraska
Strengths: Good size and a solid frame. Great athleticism. Can get some penetration. Has some
upside.
Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger. Might be too athletic for his own good if he is forced to play NT.
Underacheiver who is inconsistent. Has had some knee injuries.
How He Fits: He would be a solid option in the 4th or 5th round. He is probably better suited for a 4-3
however and could easily be a first day pick for a team that runs one.
8. Tommy Jackson 6'0 312 5.26 Auburn
Strengths: Excels at taking on multiple blocks. Stout and can hold his ground. Experienced team leader
with good intangibles. Good motor.
Weaknesses: On the short side. Doesn't have a lot of upside. Not much of a passrusher. Has dealt with
some injuries throughout his career.
How He Fits: T.J. is a solid late round option to help bolster our NT depth. Will never be star, but could
end up developing into a solid starting NT.
9. Orien Harris 6’3 302 5.27 Miami
Strengths: Good athletic ability. Pretty stout at the point of attack. Is a pretty good passrusher. Wide
base. Experienced and was productive. Hasn’t reached his full potential.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent. Some injury concerns. Can have some difficulty shedding blocks.
How He Fits: Probably better off in a 4-3. Would be a decent option in the middle rounds, but probably
not starting material at NT.
10. Titus Adams 6'4 308 5.14 Nebraska
Strengths: Nice frame with long arms. Excellent athletic ability. Does a good job against the run.
Experienced and durable. Has some upside.
Weaknesses: Big-time underachiever. Needs to get stronger. Doesn't have a great NT build. Poor
stamina.
How He Fits: Late round option. Could play DE or NT, but will never start at NT. Better of in a 4-3.
11. Domato Peko 6'3 307 5.32 Michigan St.
Strengths: Can clog the middle. Pretty strong and powerful. Wide base and is tough to move. Decent
athlete who can get a push up the middle. Decent upside.
Weaknesses: Raw and only started for one season. Not much of a pass rusher.
How He Fits: Nice late round prospect as a developmental nose tackle who could potentially start a few
years down the road.
12. Johnny Jolly 6'3 317 5.43 Texas A&M
Strengths: Great size. Good probably get even bigger. Hard worker and a team leader. Tough to
block. Stout against the run.
Weaknesses: Below-average athletic ability. Needs to use his hands and leverage better. Doesn't have
a lot of potential at the next level.
How He Fits: Decent option in the late rounds. We are getting into the guys I would be scared to enter
next year with as our 2nd NT.