LB Drue Tranquill
Tranquill, the fourth-round selection of the 2019 NFL draft, made an impact upon arriving. As the season went on he grew into an integral part of the defense. Tranquill racked up 64 tackles (50 solo), four tackles for loss and one pass defended. He also finished with the most special teams tackles by any rookie (11).
Even though he established himself as the team’s best linebacker in 2019, the former Notre Dame product will still likely split time with Denzel Perryman at MIKE in 2020. Perryman will play middle linebacker on most — if not all — rushing downs, and Tranquill will fill that role on passing downs.
Even if Tranquill is slightly stuck in the mud at the moment, his presence when his opportunities on the field arise – against the run, in coverage and on special teams – should once again stand out. Tranquill is built for the future, but he could earn the status as a top-15 linebacker by the end of the year.