Following interviews with a selection of executives in personnel before and after the NFL combine, we’ve put together a two-part look at the 50 players they viewed as most likely to lead off the draft next month. We have broken it up by offense and defense. Players are listed by position and in current order of value. Thirty-seven of the 50 declared for the draft early as underclassmen. Much can and will change in the next six weeks as teams monitor results of pro days and make final deliberations.



The 40-yard dash times are based on the average of available hand-held watches. Heights are rounded to the nearest half-inch.



Below are 21 of the 50 prospects, on the defensive side. You can read about the other 29 players in the offense file, found here.



Defensive linemen (5)



Derrick Brown, Auburn (6-foot-5 1/2, 324 pounds): Brown returned for his senior season and strengthened his case as a top-10 pick. “He’s more powerful and more...