The NFL Draft begins tonight, and as such we’re winding through the last of our big boards, this time looking at an interesting linebacker group.
At the top is Isaiah Simmons, an absolute freak that can play about four different positions on defense, all very well, and is nominally a linebacker but is better referred to as a football player. From there you have some potential first-round middle linebackers, decent depth for Day 2, and some Wild Cards that could jump up boards or be steals on Day 3.
Tier 1
Isaiah Simmons: There are rumors that Simmons may be on the slide in the top 10 due to a run on offensive tackles at the top of the draft and movement for QBs as well. Don’t overthink this, GMs. Take the 6’4, 238 pound swiss army knife that can play anywhere from rush backer to safety and runs a 4.39 40 and has a 39 inch vertical.
He’s not just an Underwear Olympics gold medalist, he’s insanely productive. He had 102 tackles, 16 TFLs, 8 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups last season for Clemson.
Take. Him.
Tier 2
Kenneth Murray: The Oklahoma standout was the glue that held the Sooner defense together. He flies to the football, can cover the field side to side, and loves attacking downhill. He’s been highly productive and while there are some questions of strength when blockers get to him at the second level, he figures to be an immediate starter for someone in the middle next season and rack up tackles.
Patrick Queen: Hi, Bill here, this is my first write-up on this one and before I begin, take Isaiah Simmons. Anyway! Patrick Queen is one heck of a football player. A brain of a defense, Queen is the type of guy whose football IQ, ability to read plays, and athleticism makes him a potential centerpiece as a Mike linebacker. Not the most physically imposing linebacker at 6’ and 229 pounds, but he threw down a 4.5 40 at the combine, which comes through in his film. His tackling will decide if he’s a Pro Bowl-level player or just a consistently good player, but a team is going to look very smart for drafting him.
Tier 3
Malik Harrison: Brings the physicality you want out of a Mike linebacker. Harrison saw the field during all four years in Columbus and got a little better each year, culminating in a senior campaign where he recorded 75 tackles, 16.5(!!) of which were for loss. A dude you want on the field against the run, Harrison is a tough, physical, downhill linebacker who tackles reliably. Questions exist about how he will fare against the pass, but there’s a lot to like here.
Jordyn Brooks: Here’s a project, but a potentially fun one. Drafting defensive players from Texas Tech is normally — sorry, Red Raiders fans — a terrible idea, but Brooks is capable of doing a whole lot on the field. He’s an alert, quick, and aggressive linebacker who wraps dudes up when he tackles them. He needs plenty of refinement, especially in coverage, but the physical profile and football IQ in a 6’, 240 pound frame could very much be worth it.
Troy Dye: Dye was really productive at Oregon and some analysts love him and think he could be a Day 2 pick, while others see him going early Day 3. The question on him isn’t what he did with the Ducks but projecting his slimmer frame to the NFL and wondering if he’s strong enough to be as productive at that level. I think he’s got ample talent and motor to be a stick, as he’s always been productive and has the benefit of being a solid cover man on pass downs.
Wild Cards
Willie Gay Jr.: One of the most talented linebackers in this class, one some would argue belongs with or even above the guys in Tier 2. However, he’s had some discipline issues that will shuffle him down some boards, but it wouldn’t be an absolute stunner if he got his name called Thursday night or early in Round 2. If a team feels they’ve got an understanding of who he is through the interview process, he’s got incredible talent and athleticism (his Combine performance was jaw-dropping).
Markus Bailey: Here’s the guy who teams will want in their franchise if they can get past legitimate injury concerns — he suffered two ACL injuries as a freshman and redshirt senior. Bailey isn’t a stellar athlete, but he’s a very, very smart linebacker who plays hard as hell and isn’t afraid of any challenge. Will bet on him, at the bare minimum, being a very good special teams player for a long time.
Shaq Quarterman: All Quarterman did at Miami was hit people very hard and he did this an awful lot. He’s not the best athlete or the biggest guy, but he loves to fly around the football field and lay the lumber. There’s always room on my team for a guy like that, and he could be a Day 3 pickup that someone loves.
Akeem Davis-Gaither: The App State product put up terrific numbers in Boone and, like some of the other guys on this list, the questions for him aren’t about production but about his size and strength going to the next level. His tape is too good for him to not have some team fall in love with him and could be a late Day 2 selection as an outside backer with pass rush skills.
Evan Weaver: He’s probably a two-down linebacker. Due to his athleticism, passing downs will always be a bit of a problem for him. But my god, it is stupid how good he is at seeing what is happening, reacting, and tackling ballcarriers. The 6’2, 237 pound linebacker recorded — not a typo — 336 tackles during his final two years at California. Sees and attacks as well as anyone in this class. He’s fun.
Khaleke Hudson: Hilarious strength, as evidenced by his LB-high 30 reps on the bench at 5’11 and 224 pounds. Had a monster sophomore year at Michigan — 77 tackles, 16 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, two picks — but never really got better. Mostly on here because he seems primed to have a long career as a special teams ace, but I would be surprised if he never does anything in the league.