2013 NFL Player Rankings: Defense

Vikings Corner's Daniel House releases his player rankings and highlights 

the top defensive players in the 2013 NFL Draft. 

With the NFL Draft approaching quickly, we will release our player rankings for the defensive side of the ball. Check back for more specific breakdowns of the position groups that effect the Vikings.

BYU's Ziggy Ansah is climbing up many experts draft
boards and could very well be picked in the
top 5. 

Defensive Ends:

1. Ziggy Ansah
2. Bjoern Werner
3. Tank Carradine                                      
4. Damontre Moore
5. Sam Montgomery
6. Alex Okafor
7. Datone Jones
8. Corey Lemonier
9. Margus Hunt
10. Trevardo Williams
                                                                               


Defensive Tackles:

Sylvester Williams is one of the most athletic defensive tackles
in this draft and could be drafted by the Vikings at one
of their first round picks.

1. Sheldon Richardson
2. Sharrif Floyd
3. Sylvester Williams
4. Star Lotulelei
5. Jonathan Hankins
6. Jessie Williams
7. John Jenkins
8. Kawann Short
9. Bennie Logan
10. Akeem Spence




Outside Linebackers:

Dion Jordan is one of the most athletic players in
this season's draft class. He is tall, but has speed and
is easily the number two pick
in the draft.

                                                                                          1. Dion Jordan
2. Barkevious Mingo
3. Jarvis Jones
4. Alec Ogletree
5. Arthur Brown
6. Khaseem Greene
7. Zaviar Gooden
8. Chase Thomas
9. Jamie Collins
10. Lerentee McCray

                                                                                     


Linebackers:

After being rumored to have eaten dinner with Rick Spielman ,
Manti Te'o is a supposedly being courted by the Vikings.
Te'o could be taken before the Vikings pick and is
a target for the Bears and Bengals.

1. Manti Te'o          
2. Kevin Minter
3. Kevin Reddick
4. Kiko Alonso
5. Jon Bostic
6. Nico Johnson
7. A.J. Klein
8. Michael Mauti
9. Sam Barrington
10. Steve Greer



Cornerbacks:

Trufant is one of the best cornerback prospects  in
the draft. He has the ability to start immediately at the next level.
He is tall, but has the agility to play with the best receivers
in the league.

1. Dee Milliner
2. Xavier Rhodes  
3. Desmond Trufant
4. Jamar Taylor
5. Blidi Wreh-Wilson
6. David Amerson
7. Darius Slay
8. D.J. Hayden
9. Dwayne Gratz
10. Robert Alford

Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International is my sleeper at safety and could be
selected in the bottom of the first round. Many are concerned
because he is from a small school, but he has mad ball
skills and has a ton of raw talent. 

Safeties:

1. Matt Elam
2. Kenny Vaccaro      
3. Jonathan Cyprien
4. Jonathan Banks
5. Bacarri Rambo
6. Eric Reid
7. Phillip Thomas
8. Shamarko Thomas
9. J.J. Wilcox
10. T.J. McDonald





I'll have more coming soon about the prospects that will impact the Vikings and I will profile some of the best players int his year's draft.