Best NFL team fits for No. 1 prospect Joey Bosa

The PFF analysis team recently put out its latest draft board for 2016, this time including the top 100 NFL prospects.

Where do the top prospects fit best? We identified three ideal team fits for each player in the top 10, based on scheme, need and where each prospect is likely to be selected.

Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa is the No. 1 prospect on the PFF board, after having graded out as one of college football’s best players each of the last two seasons. He earned the No. 2 pass-rush grade and No. 1 run-defense grade among edge defenders in 2015, and he projects to be effective in both areas as a pro. While his ideal fit is as a 4-3 defensive end, he has the versatility to be moved around a bit, and could play at defensive end or on the edge of a 3-4 alignment.

Here are three teams who would be good fits for him:

Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys really need to add an impact defender, and Bosa would fill an immediate need at defensive end in Dallas’ 4-3. He projects as a very strong run defender in the NFL, which would help improve a Cowboys defense that ranked fifth-worst in overall run defense grade last year. He could also help fill the pass-rush void at the position left by Greg Hardy, assuming he doesn’t return to the team, and leave last year’s second-rounder Randy Gregory in more of a part-time role – which is a good thing, given he’s suspended four games to start the season and missed time due to injury in 2015.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Yes, the Jags spent big to add former Denver defensive tackle Malik Jackson in free agency, and they’ll see the return from injury of 2015 No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. But Bosa can play more of a pure defensive end role, adding extra reinforcement against the run, while Fowler serves as the “Leo” DE/OLB hybrid in Gus Bradley’s defense. And on obvious passing downs, the four-man front of Bosa, Fowler, Jackson and Jared Odrick would be a pass-rushing force.

Baltimore Ravens: They run a base 3-4, but Bosa actually fits perfectly as the heir apparent to Terrell Suggs at outside linebacker, with the ability to come off the edge as a defensive end on passing downs. Bosa is a similar player to Suggs, as a bigger edge player who doesn’t test off the charts athletically but is simply a very productive player against both the run and the pass.