There is a deep group of defensive front-seven prospects in the 2015 NFL draft class, and for a lot of teams, choosing one will come down to the best fit.
I've broken up every front-seven prospect with a first- or second-round grade on our draft board into groups based on their best position fits, starting with three major categories -- interior linemen, edge players and off-the-line linebackers -- and then going into subcategories like nose tackle and 3-4 edge rushers after that.
Let's take a look at where the top front-seven defenders in this year's draft class fit best:
Interior linemen
Nose tackles
The prototype here is the 320-pound guy who can take up space in the middle of a 3-4 defense, dominating versus the run and frequently pushing the pocket enough as a pass-rusher to get the quarterback to move off his spot. Not all 3-4 schemes require one, but this is the role most of these guys play. They do a good job of occupying gaps and blockers so that linebackers can roam free behind them and make plays.
Danny Shelton, Washington (Ranking on Scouts Inc. board: 14): Several of the players I'll write about in this article are scheme-versatile, but Shelton is really a pure nose tackle. He commands double-teams with his size and strength.