You’ll be forgiven for looking through the following scouting reports and wondering: Wait, what is a linebacker in 2020?
The answer to that question may be more elusive than ever, as the No. 2 player on this list — Isaiah Simmons, probably the draft’s most interesting prospect — might not even really be a linebacker. I’m predicting he’ll play as an outside backer here, used to blitz and cover tight ends. But he could end up being a safety. Or some sort of hybrid.
And then there’s my No. 1 player: You take film of Patrick Queen and show it to a coach from 15 years ago and it’s a near certainty that coach would tell you Queen needs to move to safety because he’s not strong enough to play the Mike.
But here we are. This is a diverse group with varied talents built to succeed in today’s NFL.
1. Patrick Queen, LSU
Queen isn’t your old school, gap-plugging linebacker who’s going to ruin the opposing team’s run game, but … who cares? Coverage matters most and that’s where his strengths lie. And it’s not like Queen is clueless as a run defender. He knows how to read blocks and fill gaps. If he adds some bulk, he’ll develop into an average run defender. The instincts are there. It’s his fluidity as a pass defender that will add the most value to whichever team drafts him.
Grade: Mid 1st Round
2. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Simmons may very well end up playing safety in the NFL — a lot of smart draft analysts are predicting that — but an NFL team will get the most value out of him at linebacker. I don’t know if he’ll ever be a Mike linebacker who plays in the middle of the defense, but put him at one of the outside spots and he’ll wreak havoc. Simmons has the size to play linebacker but he’s not great at taking on blockers and shedding them. He did most of his damage as a tackler when unblocked. He has more than enough athleticism to cover tight ends. I don’t know about receivers, which is why I wouldn’t be thrilled with him at safety.
Grade: Late 1st Round
3. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
If you’re drafting on looks alone, Murray is your guy. He’s what a modern-day linebacker should look like. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast. It’s the playing football part that gets him trouble. If some NFL team can harness all of that physical ability and teach him how to play the position, Murray will be a star. If not, he’ll be another in the long line of athletic linebacker prospects who fail to stick with a team. Murray will be billed as a coverage linebacker thanks to his athleticism, but he’s more of a chase and tackle guy than someone who’s going to stick with tight ends downfield.
Grade: Early 2nd Round
4. Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
Gay was one of the combine’s biggest stars, running a 4.4 40-yard dash and putting up elite numbers in the vertical and broad jumps. That wasn’t a surprise necessarily, as Gay’s athleticism jumps off the film. He’s not a great tackler but the instincts, especially in coverage, are there. He could be hurt by the circumstances surrounding this year’s draft process. He got in trouble with the NCAA, but that was an academic issue that most teams will probably overlook.
Grade: Early 2nd Round
5. Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
A decade ago, Davis-Gaither would probably be playing another position. He’s undersized for a linebacker, but he was a reliable run defender which may convince some teams to overlook that and focus on his ability to defend the pass. Davis-Gaither is not only a reliable player in coverage but he proved to be a productive blitzer. Modern NFL defenses should be focused on stopping the pass, and this is a prospect that will help you do that in a variety of ways.
Grade: Mid 2nd Round
Five more prospects to keep an eye on…
6. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
7. Troy Dye, Oregon
8. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
9. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
10. Davion Taylor, Colorado