Missouri linebacker Shane Ray might not have been able to show his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the NFL clubs in greatest need of a pass rusher aren't waiting around for a 40-yard dash clocking to bring the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in for a visit.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens have all scheduled a visit with Ray, according to Yahoo! Sports' Rand Getlin. The market for pass rushers early in the 2015 draft is expected to be a hot one, which is good news not only for Ray but other elite pass-rushing prospects, as well, such as Florida's Dante Fowler, Nebraska's Randy Gregory and Clemson's Vic Beasley. Kentucky's Bud Dupree could be a first-round pick, too. As many as seven NFL clubs choosing in the top 10 of the first round count a pass rusher among their primary draft needs.
Missouri's pro day is set for Thursday, where Ray's 40-yard dash figures to be the most highly anticipated attraction for NFL scouts and coaches. A strong pro-day performance from Ray would help solidify his standing as one of the draft's top pass rushers, something he needs in light of the collective impression the aforementioned pass rushers made at the combine.
Projected as a top-10 pick by half a dozen NFL Media analysts, Ray would fit both need and draft slot for the Titans, Jaguars and Falcons. The Ravens, on the other hand, pick at No. 26 and would likely need a significant trade up to land the 6-foot-3, 245-pound edge rusher.
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