#01 - Payton Wilson LB NC State
Positives
+Such a fluid athlete
+Has 2nd gear to chase down ball carriers
+Secure tackler
+In coverage he is fluid and plays with his eyes
+In man he has the speed and agility to cover all types of tight ends and backs
+Displays nice ball skills
Areas of Improvement
-Length is an issue
-Lack of power combine with length issue scares me at next level a bit
Red Flag: Extensive injury history.
Quick Hit
Wilson has not let his past injuries stop him from competing at a high level. The athletic ability is top tier and when combined with his instincts for the position, it gives you a versatile player and one whom you can confidently have defending the run and pass.Grade: (86.7) - 2nd Round Grade
#02 - Edgerrin Cooper LB Texas A&M
Positives
+Good length
+Has the sideline-to-sideline chase ability
+Plays like he is on fire, closes in a flash. He has a powerful striking ability to lay devastating hits
+Excellent at block avoidance
+Excellent at block avoidance
+Length allows him to gain some leverage
+Confident and calm when diagnosing or in coverage
Areas of Improvement
-His fire and drive results in some missed tackles
-Play with more strength and more confidence to defeat blocks
Quick Hit
Cooper plays like he is shot from a cannon, but the man knows when to smother the flame and relight the short fuse. He has all the makings of an instant starter at the linebacker position.Grade: (86.675) - 2nd Round Grade
#03 - Junior Colson LB Michigan
Positives
+NFL Size
+Fantastic tackler and physical defender
+Fluid moving sideline to sideline and dropping into coverage
Areas of Improvement
-More of a react linebacker than instinctual
-Comfort level dropping into coverage isn't there yet
-Adverse to taking on blocks and can come in too high when he does
Quick Hit
Physical NFL-ready size linebacker who excels at tackling. Colson is also a great athlete who can limit damage because of his mobility and range when in pursuit.Grade: (84.025) - 2nd Round Grade
#04 - Jeremiah Trotter Jr. LB Clemson
Positives
+Outstanding instincts and football intelligence
+Reads the eyes of quarterback
+Slips blocks very well, quick footed
+Better mover than he even gives himself credit for
Areas of Improvement
-Significantly undersized for the position
-Still has some limitations as an athlete
-Poor tackler
Quick Hit
The legacy of the Axe Man lives on. Trotter Jr. brings great intelligence to the football field. It is his instincts that allow him to be involved in most plays and his quick feet and ability to slip blocks to finish them.
Grade: (79.05) - 3rd Round Grade
#05 - Tommy Eichenberg LB Ohio State
Positives
+Better athlete than people give him credit for; shows actually fluid and change of direction on football field
+Shows his intelligence; excellent job of filling gaps and plays hard at goal line
+Bounce and shed is nice; shows some ability to stack even with short arms because of a stout lower half
Areas of Improvement
-May not have the real speed to compete sideline to sideline or stick in man coverage
-Lack of feel for routes and drop in zone
-More of a gap filler than a game breaker (This isn't as bad as I feel I make it sound)
Grade: (76.65) - 4th Round Grade
#06 - Jordan Magee LB Temple
Positives
+Supreme Athlete for the position; he would grade out pretty weel at each safety position too
+Can redirect himself on a dime
+High energy
+Growing instincts as a run and pass defender
+Awarded single digit jersey by his peers
+Won't see him demolished by blocks
Areas of Improvement
-Tweener
-While you won't see him blown up by blocks you won't be seeing him blow up blocks either
-Struggles to shed when engaged
-Still needs to get a feel for coverage, can seem a little bit like a chicken with his head cut off in some moments
Grade: (75.1) - 4th Round Grade
#07 - Tyrice Knight LB UTEP
Positives
+Very intelligent linebacker; he plays the run very well and his instant flow to the ball carrier makes up for some of his limitations
+Good tackler
+Linear speed
+Shows good zone eyes and ability to make plays on the ball
Areas of Improvement
-Undersized
-Limited lateral mobility
-Struggles with physicality
-Concerned his areas of improvement may be too much for his Football IQ to overcome at next level
Grade: (75.1) - 4th Round Grade
#08 - Cedric Gray LB North Carolina
Positives
+Downhill linebacker
+Solid in coverage; follows eyes of the quarterback and can go make plays on the football
+Does well to keep a low pad level
+When he is on and playing a active style he can make a lot of plays in the back field
+While smaller than average he holds his frame well
Areas of Improvement
-Inconsistent ability to defeat blocks
-Questionable lateral mobility; lack of feel for routes does not bode well for man coverage responsibilities
-Bit smaller than the average linebacker
-Inconsistent in gap play
-Improvement as a tackler needed
Grade: (72) - 5th Round Grade
#09 - Marist Liufau LB Notre Dame
Positives
+Arm length is absolutely lethal
+Violent defender; combined with length will bring fumbles
+Good lateral mover
+NFL size
Areas of Improvement
-Needs to develop a better feel for the position
-Needs to work on using his given gifts to make effective plays on ball
-Must improve tackling form
Grade: (71.9) - 6th Round Grade
#10 - Trevin Wallace LB Kentucky
Positives
+Good length+Vicious downhill attacker
+Good tackler
+Speed, acceleration, and fluidity throughout tape
Areas of Improvement
-Lack of instincts for position. He can be indecisive in the run game allowing for dominating second level blocking while also being faked by routine play action because he reacts not anticipates-Often find him not playing through the block
-Struggles to gain leverage
+Shows developing instincts in run and passing game
+Good tackler
-Severely undersized
-Poor length gives fear that one of his strengths will dwindle at next level
-Ineffective at taking on and defeating blocks
-Was never really tasked to rush pass
+Plays with aggression
+Makes plays for the ball in coverage
+Explosive
+Better athlete than tested
-Late to diagnose plays and then is indecisive on how to attack
-Frenetic in coverage
Grade: (70.35) - 6th Round Grade
#11 - Steele Chambers LB Ohio State
Positives
+Growing player at the position+Shows developing instincts in run and passing game
+Good tackler
Areas of Improvement
-Limited athlete-Severely undersized
-Poor length gives fear that one of his strengths will dwindle at next level
-Ineffective at taking on and defeating blocks
-Was never really tasked to rush pass
Grade: (66.025) - 7th Round/PFA Grade
#12 - Ty'ron Hopper LB Missouri
Positives
+High effort+Plays with aggression
+Makes plays for the ball in coverage
+Explosive
+Better athlete than tested
Areas of Improvement
-Undersized in every sense, arm length, height, weight, and hands-Late to diagnose plays and then is indecisive on how to attack
-Frenetic in coverage
Grade: (61.3) - 7th Round/PFA Grade
#13 - Cutis Jacobs LB Penn State
Positives
+Explosive
+Solid tackler
+Large hands
+Has the speed to make plays
Areas of Improvement
-Lack of feel for the position
-Lack of comfort in coverage
-Limited lateral mobility
-Attacks blocks too high, struggles to disengage
-His missed tackles are ones he should've had
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