As the NFL Draft draws closer, Badgers Wire is exploring draft profiles of those who have declared. The basic premise of these articles is to take a brief look at each player. Each column will take a look at each player’s football statistics as well as their physical statistics. Finally, we’ll give you a brief summary of what each player offers and where he can be expected to go in the 2020 NFL Draft. Next up is Wisconsin inside linebacker Chris Orr.
Start with the statistics: Orr enters the NFL Draft at 6 feet and 225 pounds. Orr was a consensus Second-Team All-Big Ten with 78 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He was a do-it-all player for the Badgers and he did it all well. Then there’s the pedigree. Orr comes from Super Bowl-winning stock. His dad was a two-time Super Bowl winning tight end with the Washington Redskins. His defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Jim Leonhard, is a pupil of Rex Ryan. As far as football acumen, he has it where it counts.
The folks at Gang Green Nation took a look at Orr and felt he would be a terrific fit for the New York Jets. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is still out for a verdict at this time. But for most players, just getting into the NFL is more important than where you’re drafted. The vast majority of the time, players are not in any position to dictate the terms of their draft, unless their name is Eli Manning. Orr isn’t the type of player to start a war over, relative to his draft destination. His attitude would be a perfect fit for the Jets and their blue-collar fan base. It really is an ideal match on many different fronts, football included.
There is a lot to like about Chris Orr… and there is a lot to work on with Chris Orr. Orr is not going to give teams the coverage skills of Zack Baun. He isn’t going to be the type of linebacker who can change the direction of a team, but if you put someone alongside him — someone like a Zack Baun, to be perfectly candid — Orr is the type of linebacker who can be the perfect complement on a team which is trying to shore up the middle of its defense. He doesn’t provide dominance, but he does provide dependability and stability.
Stay tuned to Badgers Wire for more on Chris Orr and where he is drafted.