DRAFT TRACKER 2021

When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter.

Safety prospect with the physical and athletic profile to make it in the league, but finding the right spot for him could be the key. Gillespie frequently roamed as a single-high safety in the Missouri scheme. He plays with decent instincts on the back-end, but might not have enough range to offer over-the-top help at the next level. He can be fluid in pursuit when running the alleys and working near the line of scrimmage but will need to improve tackle angles to prevent slip outs and misses. He appears to have the strength and athleticism to handle some man coverage on matchup tight ends, but the lack of ball production is a bit of a concern. Gillespie should be an early contributor on special teams with enough versatility to be looked at in a variety of schemes, although there might not be a perfect fit for him.

Charged-up back whose running style can teeter between urgent and out of control. Tape study was much more kind to Rountree in 2020 than 2019, where his struggles with vision and finding his rhythm were noticeable. His size, burst and finish are important traits in becoming an NFL runner and he has a nice blend of foot quickness and decisiveness to the corner when there is too much traffic in front of him. Rountree has very average vision and creativity, but could become a solid backup in the league.

Borom's mobility will be judged relative to his position ask by NFL teams. While some teams might be tempted to try him at tackle first, he doesn't appear to have functional lateral movement for pass sets or as a run blocker. If a team can fix his hand placement and get him working inside opponents' frames, we could see a jump in his block sustain and push as a downhill, phone-booth blocker in a power scheme. He creates some movement as a down blocker and teams are usually willing to spend time developing bigger guards with experience at tackle on the collegiate level.

Hazelton has the size and wingspan that will immediately garner attention from evaluators. His Missouri tape wasn't necessarily bad, but he didn't look like the same guy who played at Virginia Tech. He can win jump balls with his catch radius and leaping ability but also has the strength and length to help create separation in the red zone or in tight quarters. He's not sudden or fast, so he'll have to get used to wearing man coverage, but he has some skill in moving past press to get himself into the route with decent timing. He has a shot to make a team if he can improve his consistency.

Stocky safety/nickel hybrid with good strength and a compact frame but a lack of desired agility in coverage. Bledsoe played nickel primarily and had a disappointing ratio of touchdowns allowed to plays on the ball during his career. His hips tend to hang up when he tries to flip and mirror route breaks. He's missing the make-up burst to close the distance and prevent the catch against NFL-caliber receivers. Bledsoe plays with strength from press and good awareness from short zone, which might be the best option for what he brings to the table. He plays with plenty of toughness and competitiveness, but his coverage limitations and lack of traits are concerns.