Tag: Bradlee Anae

Scouting breakdown: The 11 best edge rushers in the NFL draft

More than ever, it’s important for defenses to bring pressure. Here are the best edge-rushers in the 2020 draft class.

The argument over which defensive asset — coverage or pass rush — is more important in the modern NFL is a fascinating one. One could say that in an era where a lot of teams are playing more than 75% of their snaps with at least five defensive backs on the field at all times, and others double down with at least six on more than 40% of their snaps, coverage is obviously the superior factor.

One could also say that with so many defensive backs on the field against three- and four-receiver base sets, getting a pass rush going with four defensive linemen and a handful of smart blitzers is the order of the day. After all, it doesn’t matter how many defensive backs you have on the field and how good they are — if they have to cover their receivers for five seconds because your pass-rushers can’t get home, your defense is in big trouble.

In the 2020 draft class, there are all kinds of edge-rushers with all kinds of responsibilities. Here are the 11 best as we see them.

1. Chase Young, Ohio State

(Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports)

Height: 6’5″ Weight: 264
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Young started high school as an undersized quarterback, switching to defensive end and tight end once he saw a growth spurt. By his senior season, he’d earned Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year honors with 118 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and five forced fumbles. Offers came from just about every major program in the country, but after a flirtation with Maryland, he chose Ohio State, following in the footsteps of Joey and Nick Bosa as top-shelf Buckeye edge-rushers. He put up 98 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss, and 30.5 sacks in three seasons at Ohio State, though there were some concerns about the three-game sackless streak at the end of his collegiate career against Michigan, Wisconsin, and Clemson, Young had a ready answer for that at the scouting combine.

“I had a lot of quarterback hits, a lot of pressures. If you understand football, you would see that. You’ll see how they changed their whole offensive game plan for one guy. A lot of people might not know how to really study a tape or may not know how to watch football, but if you know football,  I made an impact in those games.

“Being the best defensive end isn’t about sacks, it’s about being the most disruptive player on the field. You can do that without having a sack.”

As I wrote during the combine, Young was absolutely correct about this. He was a top disruptor throughout the entire season, and he projects to be the same type of weapon at the NFL level very quickly.

Stat to Know: Young recorded a preposterous 75 total pressures in 2018, and while his opportunities were relatively limited in 2019, he still had 56 pressures in just 320 pass-rushing snaps (as opposed to 470 the year before).

Strengths: True field-flipping defender who forces opposing offenses to design their game plans around avoiding him. Has ideal first-step quickness to set tackles on edge and prime wins through the arc to the pocket. Turns the corner to the pocket with excellent bend and power. Strong enough to disable blockers when he gets his hands into their chests. Maintains his speed through the pocket to work mobile quarterbacks. Has a nice array of moves from bull-rush to swim and club/rip that can be developed more specifically at the NFL level. Sorts and sifts through multiple blockers to get where he wants to go. Spies the quarterback through the snap and has an innate sense of how to create pressure from broken plays. Adept enough with his feet to do a decent job in short coverage. Works gaps more than he uses a true inside counter, but has the tools to make it work.

Weaknesses: Young needs a more complete plan when he heads wide and gets beaten. Inside counter isn’t developed as it needs to be. Needs better awareness for run plays, zone reads, and misdirection when he’s pinning his ears back. Redirection reaction can be a problem at times, though the recovery speed is obviously there. Wins more on pure athleticism and power than advanced traits, though he’s well on his way.

Conclusion: The question of whether Yonng is the best and/or most valuable defensive player in this draft class is a fascinating one, and probably highly reliant on whether you think pressure or coverage is more important at the NFL level. There are those who might prefer cornerback Jeff Okudah, Young’s Ohio State teammate, because Okudah brings a lockdown man-coverage mentality that’s as worthy of franchise consideration as any non-quarterback skill set. But if you’re looking for an edge defender with an obvious and easily transferable ability to terrorize quarterbacks at the NFL level, look no further. Young is a different player than either of the Bosa brothers, but he certainly looks to have the same type of potential.

NFL Comparison: Aldon Smith. Smith was an absolute force as a pass-rusher before off-field issues unfortunately wrecked his athletic potential. But when Smith was on his game, he had the same combination of size, explosive speed, and unusual power that allowed him to total 33.5 sacks in 2011 and 2012 — the most for any NFL player in his first two seasons since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. Young absolutely has the ability to make the same kind of impact, and has All-Pro potential especially if he cleans up a few non-pass rush issues that will make him a more complete player.

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2020 NFL Draft: Jets land Jerry Jeudy in Draft Wire’s new 7-round mock

The Jets land Jerry Jeudy in Draft Wire’s most recent seven-round mock draft projections.

The Draft Wire just released its latest seven-round mock draft, which has the Jets taking a top receiver.

In this seven-round projection, Luke Easterling Draft Wire’s has the Jets making some interesting picks. First, Easterling has the Jets spurning an offensive tackle in favor of taking a potential All-Pro wide receiver in Jerry Jeudy.

From there, the projections teeter from needs to positional value. Easterling has the Jets addressing the tackle position, but it’s the right side, which is less of a concern. He is able to find immediate, impact starters in the third and fourth rounds, but from there, the Jets aren’t drafting based on needs.

With that said, let’s take a look at Eatserling’s projections for the Jets in Rounds 1-7.

Round 1

11. Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

With Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Wills and Mekhi Becton all off the board before the 11th pick, Easterling has the Jets swinging for the fences by taking Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy over the fourth-best tackle, Andrew Thomas.

Jeudy is the perfect No. 1 wide receiver for Sam Darnold. He’s a crisp route-runner who has the natural speed and ability to take the top off of defenses. Jeudy’s experience in pro-style route combinations at Alabama should bode well for his transition to the pros.

While Jeudy didn’t put up the numbers he did in his sophomore year with the Crimson Tide, he was still among the top receivers in the country last year. Starting all 13 games, he corralled 77 receptions for 1,1263 yards and 10 touchdowns, repeating as a first-team All-SEC pick.

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Lions 2020 NFL draft: A pass rusher for every round

Lions 2020 NFL draft: A pass rusher for every round

Next up in the series of finding a draft prospect at a given position for the Detroit Lions in each round of the draft: pass rusher.

[lawrence-related id=41095]

Rather than just limit it to one specific position, the focus here is on generating pressure on the opposing quarterback. It can come from a hand-in-dirt DE, a stand-up OLB or a hybrid of the two, more commonly known as the EDGE position.

First round: K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU

Chase Young from Ohio State is the obvious choice, and the best player in the 2020 NFL Draft would look fantastic in the Honolulu Blue and silver. Presuming he’s off the board before the Lions pick at No. 3 overall, the focus turns away from Young and onto another option.

Chaisson is almost universally regarded as the second-best EDGE in this draft, and it’s for good reason. Athletically, he’s a marvel at 6-3, 254 well-chiseled pounds and one of the fastest firsts steps in recent memory. He’s got great bend and ankle flexion to sharply turn the corner and attack the QB. Chaisson can win inside too.

There are some drawbacks. He missed all of 2018 with a torn ACL and was hobbled by a foot injury last fall. Chaisson is still learning how to play football; just 20 years old, he didn’t play organized football until high school. His lack of game experience shows at times.

If the Lions trade back from No. 3, Chaisson should definitely be in play with the team’s first pick. He won’t last out of the first 10 or so picks.

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Dueling 4-round mock draft has Ravens going in different directions

With the same prospects available in our mock draft, we each tried to predict what the Baltimore Ravens would do in the 2020 NFL Draft

With the 2020 NFL Draft going all-digital thanks to social distancing from the coronavirus, things could get a little interesting this year. While picking exactly what any single team will do in the draft is a fool’s errand, the turbulence of this year’s draft make it even harder to predict. To try and narrow down what the Baltimore Ravens might do, we’ve created a dueling mock draft.

Using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator to pick for the 31 other teams, Kevin and I looked at what prospects were still available when Baltimore was on the clock through the first four rounds. These were the picks we each made for the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1st round (No. 28)

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Matt: LB Patrick Queen, LSU

Inside linebacker might be Baltimore’s most pressing need right now. While the position has gotten less valuable over time with defenses playing more dime, the Ravens are probably one of the few teams that could still use a true three-down linebacker. Queen would be one of the best answers to that hole.

Queen is a smart, fast and rangy linebacker that can drop back into coverage as well as come down in run support and lay the hammer. He’s an immediate starter with legitimate Pro Bowl capability, which is impressive to find this late in the first round. That’s too much to pass up, regardless of what other needs might exist.

Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Kevin: EDGE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa

Epenesa would be a great selection at 28 for the Ravens. Due to a poor performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, it seems he’s fallen a bit from the top-20 pick he was supposed to be, but he still presents great value. Epenesa can play both defensive end and EDGE, where Baltimore can experiment with him in multiple different positions on the defense. He can also be insurance incase one of the Ravens new defensive linemen gets injured. He’s long, powerful, instinctive, and dominates at the point of attack. He truly screams “Raven”.

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#OnePride 2020 Lions Fan Mock Draft 5.0

This is the fifth edition of Lions Wire’s facilitated #OnePride 2020 Lions Fan Mock Draft, where we present the options and fans vote the pick.

Using the Draft Network‘s Mock Draft simulator, we at Lions Wire presented the #OnePride Twitter fan base four options in each round and allowed them to vote on who they would like the team to pick. After making their selection, the simulator picks for the other 31 teams and then the Lions’ fans are back on the clock for another selection.

For clarification, the four best players are selected by a Lions Wire staff editor/writer, but Lions Wire doesn’t vote — unless there is a tie — or influence the voting. Additionally, Lions Wire is not ranking the players where or when they are available — the simulator makes those decisions. We only offer up the best options.

Lions trade out of pick No. 3

With Joe Burrow (QB, LSU) and Chase Young (EDGE, OSU) being selected with the first two picks, Lions fans opted to trade out of the third spot and found a partner in the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers selected Tua Tagovailova (QB, Alabama) with pick No. 3 and gave the Lions pick No. 6 overall, pick No. 37 in the second round, and pick No. 112 in the fourth round. There would likely also be a 2021 Day 2 pick added into the deal, but for the purposes of this exercise, which 2021 pick was not clarified.

Here’s what the Lions did with their picks in the 2020 draft.

Round 1, Pick 6: Jeff Okudah, Ohio State

With every day that passes the Lions and Okudah appear to be a match made in heaven. Fans took a gamble he would still be on the board at pick No. 6, but by trading down three spots and assuming two quarterbacks would be selected — which they were — they only needed for him to fall past the Giants.

Erik’s take: I believe the Lions would consider trading down to six, but not much further because Okudah is their target. I could also see them sit tight at three and take Okudah there — that’s how important he is to them.

Round 2, Pick 35: A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa

A top-15 talent entering the Combine, Epenesa’s underwhelming performance caused many draft evaluators to drop him down their boards. If he falls to pick No. 35, expect the Lions to run to the podium — metaphorically — as he is a perfect fit for their scheme and can play at down defensive end, as well as inside at the 3-technique. At 6-5, 271 pounds, he is a bigger version of Trey Flowers.

Erik’s take: This is a no brainer pick, as I believe he could be a Top-10 player on the Lions’ internal draft board.

Round 2, Pick 37: Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin

The Lions went to Wisconsin’s Pro Day — remember those — and running backs coach Kyle Caskey put Taylor through drills illustrating their interest in the 226-pound bruiser. Taylor put on an athletic show at the Combine and was one of three running backs in this draft class to check all the athletic boxes the Lions look for in a running back.

Erik’s take: The fit is excellent and he gives the Lions a legit durable option in the backfield — but I have a hard time justifying taking a running back in the second round. Again.

Round 3, Pick, 67: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State

Terrific value at the top of the third round, Aiyuk can be an instant contributor in 2020 with a high enough ceiling to claim a starting role in 2021 — either replacing Marvin Jones on the outside or Danny Amendola in the slot.

Erik’s take: Love it.

Round 3, Pick, 85: Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah

While Epenesa fills a void at down defensive end and 3-technique, Anae would likely fill a role rotating between the JACK linebacker and down defensive end spot.

Erik’s take: I am a big fan of Anae, but this would’ve been the spot to snag a guard for me. I would have grabbed Ben Bartch here and gambled Anae was there 24 picks later.

Round 4, Pick 109: Tyler Biadasz, IOL, Wisconsin

Biadasz hs 41 games starting experience at center for the Badgers but the Lions would be hoping for him to make a Frank Ragnow-like transition to right guard in his first year. He’s not a plug-and-play option but he may be the best option they currently have on this roster.

Erik’s take: In the poll, I also included Washington’s Nick Harris who was with the Lions coaching staff at the senior bowl. I have both Harris and Biadasz in the same tier on my personal draft board, but Harris a tick higher and I would’ve preferred him here.

Round 4, Pick 112: Leki Fotu, NT, Utah

The Lions add their first pure defensive tackle here in the fourth. Fotu is a stout nose tackle who can also see reps at the 3-technique. He is a perfect scheme fit with the upside to develop into a steady contributor.

Erik’s take: Big fan of Fotu and this is the right spot to grab him, but I also would have been fine with the Lions’ fans drafting back-to-back guards and taking Harris, who was still on the board.

Round 5, Pick 149: Devin Duvernay, Slot, Texas

Duvernay is a 4.39 slot receiver who can go over the middle and stretch the field deep. Highly productive in college, his ability to play a variety of roles at the next level is very appealing for a fifth-rounder.

Erik’s take: Really like the upside of Duvernay here, but don’t be surprised if this is where the Lions draft a punter — this is the exact pick where the Seahawks selected Michael Dickson in 2018.

Round 5, Pick 166: Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M

17 picks later and the Lions land their punter of the future. Mann is a complete player who can hit it deep, put air under the ball, drop it inside the 20-yard line with consistency, and handle kickoff duties.

Erik’s take: A Mann-Lions marriage has been anticipated since the Senior Bowl.

Round 6, Pick 182: Raequan Williams, DT, Michigan State

At this point in the draft, Lions fans were looking for depth players who possess enough upside to potentially knock off a player at an already established position. Williams is someone the Lions have kept tabs on the past few years and would put John Atkins and Kevin Strong on notice.

Erik’s take: Boise State wide receiver John Hightower received the fewest votes in this round but he would’ve been my pick despite already drafting Aiyuk and Duvernay. A pure vertical threat, Hightower is a perfect player in Darrell Bevell’s scheme and I expect him to be drafted much sooner than this.

Round 7, Pick 235: Jon Runyan, T/G, Michigan

A two-year starter at left tackle for the Wolverines, Runyan’s future in the NFL has always been at guard. If he ends up on the Lions, expect him to get the Joe Dahl treatment — a swing player who learns multiple positions for the first three years in the league and is a potential starter in year four.

Erik’s take: An underrated athlete who has the upside and NFL bloodlines to get a shot late in the draft and find a home as a reserve early in his career. 

Bills Wire 4-round mock-draft 2.0, post-free agency

Buffalo Bills four-round mock draft from the Bills Wire staff following NFL free agency.

The transactions over the initial weeks of the NFL’s new year have shifted the landscape of the league quite a bit. Major names have been traded and significant free agents shifted their homes. This has an impact on many teams with their choices at the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills among them. 

The Bills Wire staff now takes a look at how the Bills’ moves will impact their draft selections. The most glaring change in this version is that Buffalo does not have a first-round pick, as that draft slot was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. The Bills will need to be judicious with their remaining picks, finding value with the loss of a high-profile pick. 

Editor Nick Wojton, along with staff writers Justin DiLoro, McKenna Middlebrook, Kyle Silagyi, and Matt Johnson, make their predictions for Buffalo’s picks in this edition of The Bills Wire staff four-round mock draft. 

Here’s a look at each of their four-round mock drafts for the Bills, following the start of the league year and free agency:

Round 2 | Pick No. 54

Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KJ Hamler. Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Nick’s Pick: DE Julian Okwara | Notre Dame

The Bills saw Devin Singletary take the NFL by storm last year and they shouldn’t forget one thing: he was a third-round pick. The Bills don’t need to reach here for a bak.

Buffalo’s best value in Round 2 might be an edge defender with some pass rush potential. The Bill have Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison already over 30. Trent Murphy, on the final year of his contract, is 29 himself. Julian Okwara could be a given a redshirt type of season, while still seeing a nice chunk of playing time in the defensive line rotation that the Bills run.At 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, Okwara has the makings of an NFL defensive end. Okwara sat out the recent combine due to injury, but he’s flashed as a strong pass rusher who plays with a high motor, something the Bills will covet.

Since 2018, Okwara’s 19.1 QB pressure percent led college football, per Pro Football Focus, and 33 percent of his career tackles went for loss. Run defense is where Okwara will likely need to prove his worth at the pro level, but that’s where a less-pressured rookie seasons comes into play.

Justin’s Pick: CB Damon Arnette | Ohio State

As is the case with no first-round pick, the Bills might not find a player that addresses a short-term need. So we’ll have the Bills address the player who will start opposite Tre’Davious White in 2021 instead. Damon Arnette was solid across the way from consensus top-cornerback prospect Jeff Okudah. Arnette can play both inside and out on the boundary. This flexibility will make him a very good support player in the secondary for Buffalo this year. 

Arnette is a physical cornerback. He is aggressive in man-to-man coverage and thrives in press coverage. While he is not a burner (4.56 unofficial 40-yard dash time, according to NFL.com), he is an intelligent player who makes the right decision most of the time on the field. He needs refinement within zone coverage schemes. However, the Bills have had a great deal of success with developing secondary players under Sean McDermott, and the same would most likely happen for Arnette. 

Kyle’s Pick: WR K.J. Hamler | Penn State

Though the Bills’ receiving corps is arguably among the league’s best after the acquisition of Stefon Diggs, the position group gets thin at the bottom of the depth chart. Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie, and Duke Williams certainly bring unique aspects to the team’s receiver room, but if Buffalo has the opportunity to add youth and big-play ability to the unit through a day-two selection, it should take advantage of it. 

Enter K.J. Hamler. The speedy wideout out of Penn State is an ever-present home-run threat, a slot wideout who consistently creates separation with speed. Though he’s a bit undersized at 5-foot-9, 178-pounds, winning with size is not necessarily part of his game. He wins with agility off the line of scrimmage and sub-4.40 speed. 

He’d be a rotational receiver in Buffalo’s offense straight away, a gadget player who could spell Cole Beasley from time to time. His immediate production would likely be far from earth-shattering, but long-term, Hamler could develop into a multi-use wideout – a burner who would also be useful in the short-to-intermediate passing game. By 2022, he could be a focal point of the team’s offense.

McKenna’s Pick: RB Clyde Edwards-Helarie | LSU 

This pick may ruffle some of my colleagues’ feathers, but going into the draft the Bills still need playmakers. During Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s three-year career at LSU he ran for 2,103 yards, and 23 touchdowns. He became a household name during his final year, where he helped lead LSU to a title. While he ran the ball well, he was also effective as a pass-catcher, in his junior year he caught 43 passes for 453 yards and one touchdown. LSU’s offense had him lineup in the backfield and out wide to catch passes, where he showed off slick route running to create separation from linebackers and defensive backs. 

He doesn’t have the measurements of a traditional NFL running back, he stands at 5-foot-8 and weighs in at 209 pounds, but those sorts of measurements actually play to his strengths as a runner. Edwards-Helaire is a patient yet physical runner who makes would-be tacklers miss with jump cuts, spins, or simply lowering his shoulder. In both versatility and production, there may not be a better running back in the draft. 

Matt’s Pick: RB Cam Akers | Florida State

After a strong free agency period, one position that’s a little higher in demand for depth than others is at running back. In a draft that is QB, WR, and DL heavy, Buffalo could have their pick of the litter when it comes to the top RB prospects. 

Edwards-Helaire is an option, but Cam Akers of Florida State is the pick. Devin Singletary is the guy in Buffalo, but he needs his complement. Many of the better teams in the NFL have used talented RB duos and have found success. Buffalo can get a top-10 talent from this RB class in Round 2. Over three seasons, Akers gained 2,875 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 486 receiving yards, and seven receiving scores. 

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2020 NFL Draft: 6 DEs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are six defensive end/edge rushers for Bills to consider in the second round of the NFL Draft.

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.

Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.

This is the third piece in a series exploring realistic options who could be on the draft board when the Bills pick in the second round. 

Here are seven defensive ends who could be an option for the Bills in the second round of the draft:

Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Current roster

The Bills addressed this position by bringing in Mario Addison and the versatile Quinton Jefferson in free agency, who could play up and down their defensive line, perhaps more at the 3-tech defensive lineman spot.. However, the unit could benefit from an infusion of youth, particularly a player who can get after the quarterback. 

Buffalo’s defensive ends are getting a bit long in the tooth, with as Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison who are currently 31 and 32 years old, respectively.  In addition, Trent Murphy enters the final year of his contract this year, and he’s 29 himself.

Thus, it’s realistic that the team could use their first pick this year on an edge rusher in order to both prepare for the future along with adding another piece of talent in Buffalo’s rotation at the position. 

 

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Who did the Colts get in latest Draft Wire mock draft?

A look at the haul in Draft Wire’s latest mock.

The Indianapolis Colts are just a few weeks out from the 2020 NFL draft, which is still scheduled for the final week in April.

As the draft approaches, there are many ways the Colts can go about selecting their prospects. Without a first-round pick, Indy won’t be on the clock until the No. 34 selection. What direction they will go with that is anyone’s guess.

Our friends over at Draft Wire conducted a three-round mock draft. Here are the results for the Colts in the latest simulation:

No. 34 | Jacob Eason | QB | Washington

The Colts stayed put at the No. 34 pick and selected a high-upside quarterback prospect with a big arm. There is a lot to like about Eason’s game, enough to make him a projectable prospect learning under the ranks of Philip Rivers and Frank Reich.

Eason has a big arm and plenty of areas to improve upon, but he has a high ceiling and with some time to develop under Rivers and Reich, there would be plenty of optimism in this selection.

No. 44 | Laviska Shenault Jr. | WR | Colorado

This would be a major steal for the Colts if they were able to get Shenault at No. 44. The only concerns being a core muscle injury he suffered during the NFL combine and with that, he still ran a 4.58 at 6-foot-1, 227 pounds.

Shenault is a true X-receiver and would fill a big need for the Colts as their future WR1. He brings a solid blend of size, speed and ability to beat the press makes him an excellent prospect for the Colts. The only worry is that he’s likely to go in the first round of the draft.

No. 75 | Bradlee Anae | EDGE | Utah

A high motor with the ability to set the edge as a 4-3 base defensive end, Anae is an interesting prospect for the Colts. He brings plenty of juice out his stance and finds ways to get upfield quickly, which would be a strong fit for the Colts’ attacking front.

Anae would likely fall into the rotation behind Kemoko Turay and Justin Hosuton on the egde.

How adding Jamie Collins impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The 2020 tampering period is just over a day old and the Detroit Lions have already agreed to terms with several players, including hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins.

Early predictions for where Collins will play in the Lions scheme are all over the map. And for good reason. Of the game film I studied when trying to ascertain where Collins would play, I arrived at one answer — everywhere.

Collins played for the New England Patriots last season, and because their scheme is as close to the Lions as there is in the NFL, it was easy to do an apples-to-apples comparison of how he would be used in Detroit.

In 2019, Collins lined up at all four of the Patriots linebacker spots, even shifting over the slot on occasion. In the games that I watched, he rarely lined up at the same position on back-to-back plays, illustrating his true versatility.

Collins is able to play at all these spots for three major reasons. He has a freaky level of athleticism, can effectively rush the passer, and is one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL. This combination of skills makes him a unique player and one that fits the Lions like a glove.

Like in New England last season, I don’t expect Collins to stay put at any one position, and honestly, that will complement the way the other Lions linebackers are trending as well.

Lions LBs trending towards positional fluidity

After the conclusion of the 2019 season, I did a film study, examining how the Lions linebacker roles were changing. The results showed that while Jarrad Davis and Devon Kennard — who was released yesterday — held static roles, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones’ roles were more fluid.

Now the Lions have three fluid linebackers all signed to multi-year contracts. Collins just signed a three-year deal, Tavai’s rookie contract expires in 2022 and Jones got a mid-year extension that expires in 2021.

Meanwhile, the static off-the-ball linebackers that remain, Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, are in the final year of their contracts. Reeves-Maybin has consistently made the final roster based on his special teams ability, while Davis began to expand his duties to the WILL position in the latter parts of the season, something he may need to do more moving forward.

Will the Lions add more LBs?

If they do, it will surely be a player who is positionally fluid so that they can mesh with the other linebackers currently on the roster.

The most obvious name remaining in free agency is Kamalei Correa, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, who was directly coached by new Lions’ linebacker coach Tyrone McKenzie over the last two seasons. Correa has experience playing the JACK linebacker role, can rush the passer and drop into coverage. He has been a career rotational player, but on the Lions roster, that’s what they likely need right now.

If the Lions look to the draft, there are four top-100 players they are surely watching. Zach Baun (Wisconsin) is an off-the-ball linebacker who has shown a knack for rushing the passer. Josh Uche (Michigan) is lightning quick off the edge and can drop into coverage better than most JACK linebackers. Bradlee Anae (Utah) is primarily a pass rusher but has shown the ability to win from his feet. While Curtis Weaver (Boise State), who at 6-63, 265-pounds, is physically as close to a Dont’a Hightower clone as you will find. Weaver is a junior, but Baun, Uche, Anae were all on the North roster at the Senior Bowl and were coached by the Lions staff.

Adding any one of these players would give the Lions front a significant boost in 2020, even if they are in a limited role to begin the season.

2020 NFL draft: Bradlee Anae scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Utah edge defender prospect Bradlee Anae

Bradlee Anae | EDGE | Utah

Elevator Pitch

Anae is another one of the Utes that will be looking to make the jump to the pros, and one of five on defense. Anae isn’t a speed rusher but is one of the more technically sound edge defenders for the upcoming class and could make an immediate impact as a rotational player with opportunity to work his way into a starting role. His best fit is in a 4-3 with his hand in the dirt.

Vitals

Height | 6-3

Weight | 257

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Combine Profile

Strengths

The Hawaii native is technically savvy with his hands. Often he attacks quickly with the first punch. He is one of the more advanced technicians among this edge class that gets pretty weak after Chase Young at the top. Anae can use a plethora of moves that he has in his tool box. He uses his length to his advantage, his push-pull technique is probably his best move.

Despite not having top end speed, Anae shows a good first step. He uses that to get the offensive tackle off balance and goes on the attack.  He is a lunchpail, blue collar player. His motor and high energy is on full display when he is on the field. Doesn’t give up on plays as Anae continues to pursue.

Weaknesses

The biggest question mark that surrounds Anae will be attacking in the run game. While his play is solid on the edge, he can get washed out on blocks with more physical tackles. Needs to work on strength in his upper body to work on shedding blockers at the point of attack.

Anae has to win with technique given the fact that he isn’t one who can win with speed around the edge. Doesn’t have the bend that some of the other weakside defensive ends have at the NFL level. So working on his spin that is rather ineffective and inside pass rush will be key in his development.

Projection: Day 2

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