DRAFT TRACKER 2020
2020
DRAFT TRACKER
LB
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PLAYER
DRAFTED BY
Arizona Cardinals
Round 1 • Pick 8
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Ascending hybrid talent with rare length, speed and versatility to create mismatches for the offense, depending upon alignment. He has a bachelor's at three positions (slot corner, safety, linebacker) but could earn a master's degree in complex workload with a more focused and defined job description than "jack-of-all-trades." He can handle zone or man coverage from a variety of spots on the field, which gives defensive coordinators a chance to disguise blitz packages and exotic post-snap looks. He'll miss run fits and can be misdirected due to a lack of instincts near the line, but his playmaking range outweighs those concerns for now. His unique potential to spy and shrink the field against dual-threat quarterbacks could push him way up the draft board.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Baltimore Ravens
Round 1 • Pick 28
PLAYER ANALYSIS
While other Tigers received more attention, Queen has some of the most eye-opening tape of the bunch. He plays fast, physical and with impressive field confidence for a one-year starter. His ability to diagnose and flow are both very rapid, and he operates with excellent body control and balance to gobble up runners as an open-field tackler. His inexperience will show itself in taking on blocks and finding optimal pursuit angles, but that will get cleaned up in time. Queen is next up from LSU's linebacker factory, possessing the same three-down ability to hunt, cover and tackle as those before him. He's an early starter with a sky-high ceiling.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New Orleans Saints
Round 3 • Pick 10
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Ascending prospect whose explosive production on the field has begun to mirror his explosive athletic traits. Baun's twitchy get-off and deep bend at the edge is nightmare fuel for Big Ten tackles and he's still at the early stages of pass rush development. He is aggressive to flow downhill in run support, has sideline-to-sideline range and is fluid dropping into coverage. He's strong but a little light as an edge-setter so teams will need to figure out how best to align him. Baun is a scheme-diverse linebacker with high-impact potential whose best days are ahead of him.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 • Pick 23
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Sleek, playmaking linebacker with chiseled frame and long arms. Murray's game is predicated on speed with an ability to fly around from sideline to sideline rolling up tackles. While his twitchy burst allows him to make more plays than the average linebacker, he will overflow to ball-carriers at times. Recognition of play development and ability to take on blocks are both underdeveloped currently, but a move to weak-side linebacker would put him in position to minimize those concerns and maximize his playmaking talent. Murray has hit-or-miss qualities and is more splashy than consistent, but he's immensely talented with the ability to imprint on games on all three downs.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 3 • Pick 1
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Ultra-productive three-year team captain with instincts and cover talent to find work as an every-down linebacker. His play recognition, burst and lateral agility help him play faster than his timed speed and his fundamentals as a tackler are as good as you'll find in this draft. Wilson needs more consistency of approach at taking on blocks and it may take him a minute to adjust to NFL game speed. He should be a core special teams member early, but possesses the tangibles and intangibles to become a productive pro as an inside or SAM (strong-side) linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New England Patriots
Round 2 • Pick 28
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Balancing Uche's skill set and athletic potential against his inexperience and lack of instincts makes him a challenging evaluation. He's unlikely to find sustained success as a situational rusher, but it should be in play for a team to turn loose his rush instincts and agility inside the pocket as a blitzer. He plays with closing burst, can tackle and is smoother in coverage than expected, but the difference in becoming a pro linebacker instead of a short-term, hybrid athlete will depend largely upon improving his second-level instincts and finding an eclectic defensive mind to unlock his potential.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 • Pick 27
PLAYER ANALYSIS
While his tackle production has been good in all four seasons, it's hard not to come away from tape study feeling like his numbers should be even higher with his athletic traits and above-average instincts. Attacking blocks with better hand usage and greater physicality should allow him to eliminate some negative reps and become a more impactful player. He's a potential future starter as an inside linebacker in even or odd fronts, but concerns with coverage duties could impact how teams see him as an every-down linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 4 • Pick 1
PLAYER ANALYSIS
No matter his size, Davis-Gaither is a playmaker with a talent for slipping blocks and ending up near the football. Teams who hope to roll him into a hybrid role may find he's a better pass rusher than cover man. He is comfortable and effective when playing downhill, but issues with inconsistent angles to the ball and missed tackles pop up when forced to play in space. Some teams will be uncomfortable with his size. However, he plays with instincts and toughness. He should find a home as a backup 4-3 weakside linebacker and productive member of special teams units.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Baltimore Ravens
Round 3 • Pick 34
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Long-legged, loose-hipped linebacker with desired combination of size, physicality and range to help ruin the running game for teams needing linebacker help. His constant downhill mode disrupts blocking schemes and brings impact tackles, but it can be used against him with play-action and misdirection. The instincts are just average but his physical traits even it out on most snaps. He has some coverage limitations but can pressure the pocket as a blitzer and has the athleticism to spy mobile quarterbacks. He's big and tough with the potential to become a good starter inside or as a 4-3 strong-side linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3 • Pick 39
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Traits-based linebacker project with rare speed and explosiveness who may need an extended developmental runway to counter his lack of experience and awareness. Religious beliefs prevented him from playing high school ball (other than a single game) and he is still in the early stages of learning and applying proper technique and fundamentals in all phases of the game. While his inexperience shows up plenty on tape, he has flashes that show off what he could be capable of in the future. Scouts say he's very coachable and that he's one of Mel Tucker's (current CU head coach and former NFL coach) favorites. At best, he develops into a playmaking starter after two or three years. At worst, he should be a plus special teams talent fairly quickly.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Minnesota Vikings
Round 4 • Pick 26
PLAYER ANALYSIS
It's easy to fall in love with the tackle production, football IQ and sideline-to-sideline range but his slight frame and difficulty keeping weight on could become a major stumbling block for him in the way teams view his pro potential. His skill set and recognition are best suited along the inside, but due to his size, he might need to ply his trade as an outside 'backer in a 4-3 defense. He has three-down talent with the aptitude to cover or blitz and is in line to go from plus-backup to eventual starter if he can keep good weight on his frame.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Kansas City Chiefs
Round 2 • Pick 31
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Gay has experience lining up in a variety of linebacker roles, but might not have the feel to play in the middle on the next level. He's hard to miss on the field with his flailing arms and energetic playing style. He's a healthy hitter once he squares and attacks ball-carriers. He lacks instincts and angles to mirror ball-carriers from the gaps to the flanks, but he does a nice job of sticking and finishing when he's in position. His play speed and athleticism appear to be average and he has some zone cover talent. Carving out a defined role will be important if he is to make an NFL roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Denver Broncos
Round 5 • Pick 33
PLAYER ANALYSIS
He's built like a tall, puffed-up safety, but he also runs like one with the range to find play after play when he's kept clean. Strnad could have issues against downhill running attacks due to a lack of size and hand usage. He's an explosive athlete and aggressive striker, but big backs could wear him down on the pro level. He has the twitch and burst to roam from sideline to sideline and should play faster and more efficiently as his recognition improves. He's an ascending playmaker whose athleticism, third-down talent and special-teams ability could make him a middle-round selection as a 4-3 WILL or 3-4 ILB if his medicals check out.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Cincinnati Bengals
Round 7 • Pick 1
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Lunch-pail linebacker able to consistently chalk up production totals in a variety of columns despite a lack of top-tier athleticism. Bailey's intent and play strength are factors that stand out in his success. His effort rarely wavers during a rep and he has the strength and football IQ to put himself in quality positions to make plays. He needs to process blocking schemes faster and take more chances, as his athletic limitations will show up more frequently against NFL competition. Knee injuries in 2015 and 2019 might hurt his draft standing a little bit, but he has middle-round talent as a quality three-down backup.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Cleveland Browns
Round 3 • Pick 33
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Phillips is a reliable option but lacks the alpha field demeanor and explosive athleticism teams look for. He has backup talent and should step into a special teams role quickly. Early tape was better than later tape as the competition level increased. He does an adequate job of handling his assignments but won't make that many plays outside of the scheme.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New York Giants
Round 6 • Pick 4
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Long-limbed, 4-3 linebacker with moldable play traits and an attacking play demeanor. Needs to add muscle and learn to play under control. Brown has the speed and length to put himself into position to make plays but he overshoots open field tackle opportunities. He is average in zone coverage, but has intriguing rush/blitz potential that might be tantalizing. He might climb the ladder from a backup to something more if he can play stronger and with more discipline.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Arizona Cardinals
Round 6 • Pick 23
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Rambunctious tackle sponge and perennial grudge holder who lives to prove people wrong. Weaver certainly doesn't look the part of All-American inside 'backer in the uniform, but he lives for football and plays every snap with urgency. He can be patient but has the instincts and play-recognition skills to beat blockers to the spot. He is slow-twitch, and there is no question that his athletic limitations will be harder to disguise against NFL competition. A lack of traits could limit his upside, but he has the intangibles and toughness to compete as a backup box banger in a 3-4 alignment.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New York Giants
Round 7 • Pick 41
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Running back-turned-linebacker with good length and range. He's still piecing together his fundamentals and instincts at the position. Crowder can really run and that shows up when sprinting and weaving around traffic to chase down outside runs and perimeter passes. He has a feel for lane choices by runners, but flowing with leverage and learning to tackle with balance/proper pad level are still works in progress. His fluidity and athleticism are excellent building blocks for future growth. Plus, his potential in coverage and on special teams adds to his chances for success. Crowder should fit nicely into a backup role early on.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 4 • Pick 34
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Four-year starter and team leader with a physical demeanor and impressive level of production. Quarterman is durable and dependable in the middle of the defense, but he lacks NFL range and has below-average short-area agility and quickness as open-field tackler. He's a linear, downhill thumper, but struggles to stay ahead of climbing blocks when runs flow wide. His size and toughness give him a shot as a backup inside linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- 31 5/8"
- Hand
- 10 1/4"
- Wing
- 76 7/8"
Production
69.38
Athleticism
71.48
Total Score
140.86
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Productive and tough, Bachie is a limited inside linebacker who needs the action to stay in his living room in order to make plays. He is a natural at the position with a feel for flowing to the football ahead of blocks or smartly hanging back when he senses misdirection. His play strength and contact balance are a plus but teams might view them with some skepticism after a failed PED test. He will struggle with man coverage but plays passing lanes from zone effectively. His technique and play recognition will stand out for defensive coaches, but it might not matter if his speed and athletic testing don't check out.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 5'11 1/8"
- Weight
- 235 lbs
- Arm
- 32 3/8"
- Hand
- 10"
- Wing
- 77 1/4"
Production
67.30
Athleticism
69.95
Total Score
137.25
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Four-year starter with annual stat sheets that looked remarkably similar in all four years. Ironically, some scouts argue that Pinckney hasn't shown enough growth and improvement beyond his standout freshman season. He's physical and plays with decent instincts, but he's an average athlete and doesn't play with enough control or balance from snap to snap. He's been solid at Miami, but his ceiling might be as a backup linebacker and special-teams contributor as a pro.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Atlanta Falcons
Round 4 • Pick 13
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Scouts say Walker is expected to test well, and it can be hard to ignore the consistency of production over the last three years, but the tape just doesn't pop. As an inside linebacker, his instincts and awareness help take him where he needs to go, but the football movements are too stiff and mechanical and will make it tough to carry the production over as a pro. He has core special-teams potential and might be able to challenge for a late roster spot because of it.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Los Angeles Rams
Round 7 • Pick 20
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Detail-oriented inside linebacker who needs a clean bill of health after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October. Johnston plays with a nice blend of physicality and instincts that help rack up tackles. He rarely stays blocked and does an impressive job of sifting through bodies to find the ball-carrier. He's instinctive and active in zone coverage, but speed limitations hinder his man-cover ability. The football intelligence and instincts help mitigate average athleticism and speed. Johnston could become a special-teams standout with average, three-down-backup ability.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1 3/4"
- Weight
- 234 lbs
- Arm
- 31 1/4"
- Hand
- 9 1/2"
- Wing
- 75 1/4"
Production
68.07
Athleticism
57.82
Total Score
125.89
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Tough three-year starter who plays an instinctive, fundamentally sound brand of football. Garrett's best work happens in the box, where his diagnose, flow and ability to fit and disrupt blocking schemes stands out. He gets early downhill flow to eliminate angles and slip blocks. He's both mentally and physically strong. Even with all the positives, he lacks the length, speed and short-area agility teams typically look for in starting linebackers, but if he tests well, it could end up pushing him up draft boards a full round.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1 3/4"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- 31 5/8"
- Hand
- 9 1/4"
- Wing
- 75 5/8"
Production
72.20
Athleticism
57.57
Total Score
129.77
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Woodward doesn't look the part of NFL linebacker with short limbs and an underdeveloped frame. He has below-average athletic traits and lacks the speed to range from sideline to sideline. However, he's instinctive and plays with a bird dog's sense of tracking with a consistent ability to find the football. He's active and tough but may not have the necessary physical tools to translate into an NFL job. First and foremost, he has to be given clearance by NFL medical staffs at the NFL Scouting Combine.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2 3/4"
- Weight
- 241 lbs
- Arm
- 31 1/4"
- Hand
- 8 3/4"
- Wing
- 75 5/8"
Production
56.38
Athleticism
64.40
Total Score
120.78
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Bright linebacker with good instincts and production as a four-year starter. He lacks the size and pop to be a will-imposer at the point of attack, but he has adequate straight-line speed as a run-and-chase outside linebacker in an even front. His short-area burst and athleticism are just average and his desire to play fast leads to biting on bait against misdirection. He's very active and plays with good energy and decisiveness, which accounts for his consistency of production against the run, but he has almost no career production against the pass. There are holes in his game that are unlikely to be filled by coaching, but he might still hear his name late on Day 3.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'
- Weight
- 235 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Athletic limitations and a lack of pursuit speed could short-circuit his chances as a draft prospect, but he plays the game with a natural level of aggression and toughness that will appeal to a coaching staff. Tezino's instincts and poise show up inside the box and it's rare to see him play with wasted motion and false steps when flowing downhill. While the play demeanor and production are both good, he's only an early down linebacker who lacks range and consistency as an open-field tackler.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 6 • Pick 17
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Undersized inside linebacker better-suited at the WILL spot in a 3-4, where he can be protected by size around him. He has enough speed and nose for the football to find work on this level, but it may not translate to success in the pros due to his lack of traits and plus speed. He's not twitchy or athletic enough to get away without top-notch instincts and recognition. He's just average in those areas. He loves football. The intangibles and special teams production could give him a shot.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'4"
- Weight
- 224 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
While Wilborn's size and length will be appealing as a box safety, his 2019 safety tape was filled with inconsistent play as he transitioned from linebacker to safety. Wilborn was a much steadier tackler as a linebacker in 2018 and seemed to struggle with downhill angles inside the box in 2019. He exhibits questionable feel for space when tasked with zone coverage, but has some talent dogging routes and playing the football when allowed to play man. The lack of instincts and tackle consistency are hurdles, but he could garner nickel linebacker consideration.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'3"
- Weight
- 220 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Long but lean Will linebacker prospect who enjoyed a season full of production as a graduate transfer from Ohio state. Jones has the burst and bend to disrupt the run from backside pursuit and attack the pocket as an edge rusher/blitzer. His impressive 2019 production came as a 3-4 edge, which he has little chance of playing as a pro unless he gets much bigger and much stronger. He's a quality athlete, but lacks plus aggression and toughness against the run and he hasn't proven he can be counted on in coverage. The special-teams experience is a positive but he may not have enough checks in his favor to make it as an off-ball linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 229 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
2019 was his only season at the "Dog" position on the edge, but the production was staggering in several high-impact stat columns. However, Mencer's size, length and strength should get him evaluated at his former, off-ball linebacker spot. He's a natural athlete with above-average speed and a highly effective spin move used to rush the quarterback and unhinge from run blocks. He has experience covering in space, but allows too much separation against speed. His 12 career forced fumbles represent his active attempts to attack the football, but he needs to attack the block and attack the runner with the same level of urgency and aggression to stick around with a team.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2 3/8"
- Weight
- 237 lbs
- Arm
- 32 3/8"
- Hand
- 9 1/8"
- Wing
- 76 3/8"
Production
52.67
Athleticism
64.18
Total Score
116.85
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Tall, angular inside linebacker who is slightly below average by athletic measurements but way above average when it comes to "see ball, get ball." Olson is an instinctive, skilled hunter who feels play development and takes winning angles to the football. He's a heavy striker and a fundamentally sound tackler in the open field. The question is whether he can overcome a lack of twitch and NFL pursuit speed. He's smart and productive and that could be enough to land on a roster despite where he is drafted.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Productive inside linebacker with a decent nose for the football despite delays in reading and responding to play flow. He often finds himself behind climbing blockers and struggles to separate once they get into him. Fehr is limited in man coverage but plays with good anticipation and instincts from zone and is an efficient blitzer. He finds too many blocks from the second level, though. May need to make a team as a special teams ace.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1 5/8"
- Weight
- 242 lbs
- Arm
- 33 5/8"
- Hand
- 9 1/2"
- Wing
- 80"
Production
56.86
Athleticism
60.07
Total Score
116.93
PLAYER ANALYSIS
While Divinity has played inside linebacker (2019) and 3-4 rush linebacker (2018), teams will need to determine whether he is able to be flexed around the alignment or whether he needs to fine-tune a single position. Instincts and recognition are clearly an issue inside and will need time to develop. He has length but lacks overall size as an NFL edge rusher. His athleticism and pass-rush talent are nothing special. Teams will have to examine his character as they determine if he's worthy of a backup or practice-squad role.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 241 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Primarily an inside linebacker in college, Evans has the strength and versatility for consideration inside or outside as a 4-3 strong-side linebacker. He plays effectively with his eyes, diagnosing and flowing to the football. He's patient to prevent over-pursuit, but needs to improve his hand usage to keep from being washed away by move blocks. He's built lower to the ground, but the pad level still gets him in some trouble in taking on blocks and making open-field tackles. He's athletic enough for spot drops, but must prove he can cover real pass-catching threats man-to-man.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New York Giants
Round 7 • Pick 24
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Tough inside linebacker prospect whose physicality will be overshadowed by a lack of functional quickness and short-area athleticism. Brunson is built for life inside the box, but once it spills wide, he struggles with pursuit angles and range. He's unable to handle man coverage, which further limits his chances of making a roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 7 • Pick 27
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Resilient, mentally tough linebacker whose ability to fight back after two ACL tears to the same knee should tell teams about his football character. Of course, the same ACL tears also tell teams that durability could be a major concern. Russell has had trouble keeping weight on in the past and weighed just 221 pounds at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January. His play speed and athleticism are both solid, but he lacks elite instincts as a playmaker to offset concerns about his size and consistency against the run. A trip into camp as an undrafted free agent could be his post-draft destiny.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 239 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Active inside linebacker lacking the desired length and pursuit speed NFL teams covet. He always seems to be around the ball, but he's more of a dirty-work linebacker who rallies to the ball than solo stopper. He has good vision and instincts to find the ball-carrier and is very physical in taking on blocks and in striking running backs. He's light on the physical traits and third-down talent teams look for, so he may need to prove he can step in and star as a special-teams demon.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Indianapolis Colts
Round 6 • Pick 34
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Glasgow is a fun player to watch with his boundless energy and fearless nature continuing to show up on snap after snap. He uses his hands effectively to help elude or unglue from blockers and he's a card-carrying special teams ace. However, he's too small as an NFL linebacker and doesn't run well enough to play safety in the league. He will compete like a demon wherever he lands, but below-average traits and his lack of coverage ability may sink his chances despite the special teams production.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 5'11 5/8"
- Weight
- 234 lbs
- Arm
- 31 3/8"
- Hand
- 9 3/8"
- Wing
- 75 5/8"
Production
61.02
Athleticism
62.11
Total Score
123.13
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Harris is most definitely a full-grown man when it comes to the physicality, frame and strength needed in the box. He plays with eyes past blockers and does a nice job of playing around or through them, constricting the gap with his downhill flow. However, he doesn't have much range and tends to play on skates when forced to make sudden, reactive movements in space. He offers very little third-down value and will need to shine on special teams to solidify a spot as a two-down backup at inside linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Green Bay Packers
Round 5 • Pick 30
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Angular linebacker with decent straight-line twitch who takes too long to diagnose and flow, making him a viable block for climbing linemen. He plays upright and a little stiff in his scrapes and doesn't find his run fits as efficiently as he needs to. He can gather and wrap as a tackler, but will struggle to finish elusive backs in the open field and he's unimpressive as a passing-down participant. Martin's lack of early play recognition and elusive flow to ball might push him outside as a 4-3 SAM option.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Washington Commanders
Round 5 • Pick 17
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Undersized safety turned linebacker who summons toughness and spunk to counterbalance his lack of traits. The production has been fairly impressive in two of the last three seasons, but he's quicker than fast and his range is limited. Hudson's lack of size shows up near the line of scrimmage and he's not as sticky in coverage as he needs to be. His talent for blocking punts should garner attention, but may not be enough to overcome deficiencies at linebacker or safety.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'
- Weight
- 224 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Orr is an early down inside linebacker with plenty of toughness, but he's lacking the physical and athletic attributes teams expect from the position. His instincts and play recognition take him where he needs to go and he leverages his gap with eagerness. Unfortunately, big guards can swallow and sustain blocks against him. The lack of athleticism and speed hinders his functional range and is a major concern. The sack total is nice, but likely irrelevant as a pro since he's unlikely to be on the field on passing downs even if he were to make a team.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Inside linebacker short on physical traits who found ways to stack up production in 2019. Harding moves with decent short-area quickness and plays with admirable feel for play development when diagnosing the run. He scrapes with pace to race ahead of climbing blocks but needs to get better at utilizing his hands to stay clean when taking on blockers. Harding doesn't have the awareness or athleticism to offer third-down value in coverage. He's instinctive against the run and is plenty tough, but the lack of functional field speed and range will be a challenging obstacle to overcome.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 5'11"
- Weight
- 213 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
In the "joker" role at SMU, Nelson played near the line of scrimmage as a hybrid safety/linebacker. He lacks the fluidity and coverage traits to be a full-time safety and is smallish to play weak-side linebacker in an even front. Nelson has some hip tightness that limits his reactive agility as an open-field tackler, but he's very tough and comes downhill looking to strike a blow. It's easy to love the play demeanor and his talent as a blitzer, but he might be caught between positions.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2"
- Weight
- 246 lbs
- Arm
- 34 3/8"
- Hand
- 9 1/4"
- Wing
- 83 3/8"
Production
61.53
Athleticism
67.17
Total Score
128.70
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Throwback linebacker with size, toughness and aggression. He has power and contact balance that keeps him from getting pushed around and can stop runners dead in their tracks as a box thumper. He's effective tracking a runner's lane choice but needs to play with better recognition of blocking scheme to stay ahead of climbing blocks. Bituli lacks functional speed and is too clunky as an open-field tackler. There are defenses who covet size and aggression inside who may be willing to overlook Bituli's limitations if he can star on special teams.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'0 3/8"
- Weight
- 234 lbs
- Arm
- 31 7/8"
- Hand
- 9 7/8"
- Wing
- 77 1/4"
Production
62.01
Athleticism
64.14
Total Score
126.15
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Active inside linebacker with good recognition and initial quickness, but lacking the discipline and take-on skills to play at a consistent level as a pro. Immaturity and bad decision-making derailed him early in his career, but he's been a good teammate and productive player since sitting out the 2017 season. It's easy to love the motor, but the inconsistent open-field tackling combined with proclivity for running himself out of position might force him to shine on special teams if he wants to compete for a back-end roster spot.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2"
- Weight
- 227 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Undersized college edge defender who will need to prove he can transition into a role as a 4-3 outside linebacker. The pass-rush production and ability to attack the pocket could carry over as a blitzer, but he's simply too small to become a designated pass rusher. Daka plays with tenacity and sniffs out the football, but may not have the desired agility and lateral quickness as a scrape-and-chase, off-ball linebacker. His competitive nature, toughness and special-teams traits could give him an outside chance of landing a practice squad spot.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'3"
- Weight
- 239 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Team captain with one season as a full-time starter at inside linebacker. Welch has good size and had decent production in 2019, but he lacks the twitch and functional range expected of NFL inside linebackers. He's a technically sound tackler when he's in position, but there are too many examples on tape where his instincts and recognition failed to keep him one step ahead of the blocking scheme.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'
- Weight
- 221 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Undersized Will linebacker prospect who played a reliable, consistent brand of football for Iowa State. Spears' play recognition against the run is average and his angles to the football can be choppy and inefficient. He doesn't have the burst or top-end speed for extended pursuits to the perimeter. He's a very consistent tackler once he's locked and loaded and he plays with solid ball skills and instincts when dropping into space. Spears handled his duties in college but lacks the size and traits necessary to make it as a pro.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
Go to Player Page
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