2018 NFL Draft by Position: Linebackers (9/11)
Even with the top of the board likely to see three or four quarterbacks being taken, Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds might both go in the Top 10. Both players are NFL-ready forces on both pass and run defense. Behind those two, the class of 4-3 Linebackers and 3-4 Inside Linebackers are comparatively weak. Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch both have good odds at hearing their name near the end of the first round, but behind them, teams are going to really have to do their homework on who exactly they're plugging in to their ever-evolving Linebacker spots.
1. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech - Top 10 pick
Tremaine Edmunds has off-the-charts size (6'5", 255 lb.), speed (4.54 40-yard-dash) and explosiveness. His elite production translates to every single Linebacker position, truly unparalleled by any other Linebacker prospect. Edumunds' instincts are still developing, and he makes a few too many mental mistakes every game, but he's also only 19 years old. Edmunds has starting ability right away, and after a few years of developing in a system, his production should be at a Brian Urlacher-like All-Pro level for years to follow.
2. Roquan Smith, Georgia - Top 12 pick
Roquan Smith is a sideline-to-sideline versatile Linebacker who can cover on passing downs just as well as he can rush. At 6'1" and 236 pounds, he's a bit undersized, but his speed, quickness, high IQ and strong anchoring ability will prevent him from losing tackles at the next level. The number one name scouts said they want? Deion Jones. Smith's toolbox and crazy-good 4.51 40-yard-dash round out a realistic upside of a Pro Bowl-level Deion Jones 2.0. That's music to any defensive coordinator's ears.
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama - Late 1st/Early 2nd Round
Rashaan Evans had the speed and pursuit ability coming into his senior year, but he graduated with a much improved feel for the position. Evans fits best as a 3-4 blitz-first Inside Linebacker or a 4-3 "Will" backer. His best three games on tape are the past three National Championship games, showing he plays up to the level of his opponents. That's just something you can't teach. Evans should start early in any defensive formation, and if he can stay healthy, he has a realistic upside of Lawrence Timmons 2.0.
4. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State - Late 1st/Early 2nd Round
I didn't watch a ton of bowl games this past year, but I remember the Las Vegas Bowl for one player and one player only: Leighton Vander Esch. He foudn a way to blow up every play, especially when he had to defend in the red zone. Vander Esch should add more muscle to his 6'4", 255-pound frame, but that frame should translate well as a productive defender on both pass and run defense, a rarity out of first-year players. His play strength could be better, and he hasn't figured out a way to beat big blockers, so rotating him right away should be better for his development, but he has every-down starting potential who could easily tally 150+ Tackles a year like an early-career Karlos Dansby.
5. Jerome Baker, Ohio State - Mid 2nd/Mid 3rd Round
Jerome Baker's slim 6'1", 230 pound frame should only realistically translate as a weakside 4-3 Outside Linebacker. His high-end speed (4.53 40-yard-dash) and overall athleticism make him a great pass coverage 'backer option right away. Baker's lack of strength and toughness will discourage most teams from seeing him as a three-down option. Baker doesn't have great instincts, and while he could see early reps on special teams and sub packages, but it will take a lot of coaching to turn Baker into anything more an average starter.
6. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State - Late 2nd/Early 4th Round
Darius Leonard is 6'2", 235 pounds with crazy long arms. His length, combined with athleticism and elite production, make Leonard an enticing prospect. Scouts wished they saw more of a mean streak and better play strength, two things not apparent on his small school tape. Leonard can play inside in a 3-4 and as a 4-3 "Will" option, where he could develop into a decent three-down starter down the road.
7. Malik Jefferson, Texas - Late 2nd/Mid 4th Round
Malike Jefferson has the size (6'3", 236 lb.), length and speed (4.52 40-yard-dash) that scouts drool over at the position. You wouldn't believe his incredible combine results if you looked at his mediocre tape first. Jefferson's poor instincts and lack of mean streak will likely guarantee his move from inside to strictly a 4-3 weak side Outside Linebacker. His athleticism should guarantee plenty of special teams reps right away, but he needs to boost his attitude and motor if he wants to develop into anything more than a rotational option.
8. Josey Jewell, Iowa - Late 3rd/5th Round
Josey Jewell's tape shows he's a monster at Inside Linebacker, but his measurables (6'1", 234 lb., shorter-than-average arms) are concerning scouts. He dug himself a big hole by running a horrid 4.82 40-yard-dash at the combine, then putting up essentially the same time on his Iowa pro day. Jewell's instincts, character and motor translate well, but his lack of speed will have him slipping down the board. He simply need to be a better athlete in order to develop into anything more than an average backup Inside Linebacker.
9. Fred Warner, BYU - 4th/6th Round
If there was a utility man position on defense, Fred Warner would have that spot penciled in right away. At 6'3" and 232 pounds, he's built like a 3-4 Inside Linebacker, but he plays more like a roving Safety. Warner's tape shows great coverage instincts and agility, meaning if a team is willing to coach Warner a bit, they could easily turn him into this new "hybrid linebacker" role. His 4.64 40-yard-dash wasn't as good as many teams hoped, but Warner should make an impact on special teams right away and provide a different option in pass defense sub-packages. Whether he develops into anything more is a huge question mark.
10. Dorian O'Daniel, Clemson - 4th/6th Round
Dorian O'Daniel doesn't have great size (6'1", 223 lb.), but he was productive and stands out on tape playing in one of the nation's best defenses. Scouts were looking to turn him into a speedy coverage option on pass defense packages, but his speed has tested poorly throughout this offseason. O'Daniel's poor technique and non-existent toolbox will likely prevent him from ever becoming a starter in the NFL, but his abundant special teams experience should earn O'Daniel a back roster stop.
11. Jack Cichy, Wisconsin - 4th/6th Round
Jack Cichy has a desirable level of instincts and quickness, but you'd also have to look at tape from over 20 games ago. Yes, he's missed the last 20 Badger games due to injury. Cichy's IQ and solid frame (6'2", 238 lb.) should boost his stock, but the durability and lack of in-game speed draw some red flags. He should help instantly on special teams, but even if he stays healthy, there's a good chance his ceiling is capped off as a decent backup Inside Linebacker.
12. Genard Avery, Memphis - 4th/6th Round
Genard Avery is big (6'1, 248 lb.) and athletic (look at his combine results), an incredible combination. His hips are pretty tight, but his tape shows Avery finds a way to move around the field well enough to be highly productive. Avery's size alone makes him versatile, but most scouts agree he projects best as a 4-3 strong side Linebacker. His ceiling is limited, but he should reasonably develop into a decent backup across multiple Linebacker slots with an instant impact on Special Teams.
13. Shaquem Griffin, Central Florida - 4th/7th Round
Shaquem Griffin isn't just an incredible story; he's also just simply a helluva football player. His instincts, technique, motor, attitude, and play speed are all NFL-ready. Griffin's obvious drawback is his lack of a hand. Disengaging from tackles and finishing plays are going to be a real struggle for Griffin. His open field speed and pursuit abilities should see him develop into a Su'a Cravens-like hybrid role, and teams will look for Griffin to blow up special teams plays as well.
14. Tegray Scales, Indiana - 5th/6th Round
Tegray Scales has incredible instincts and his tape is filled with incredible angles. The size (6', 230 lb.) and speed (4.77 40-yard-dash) aren't great, but his tape against big O-Linemen was extremely productive. Scales doesn't pop off the charts as a great fit at any Linebacker spot, but his high IQ and motor make him coachable enough to develop into a fill-in starter inside in a 3-4 or on the strong side in a 4-3 set.
15. Micah Kizer, Virginia - 5th/6th Round
Micah Kizer lacks size (6', 238 lb.) and speed (4.66 forty), but he still found a way to be consistently productive against good ACC opponents. He's sturdy and holds his own inside the box, but he's a total liability in coverage. Kizer's solid toughness and natural instincts should be enough to get him drafted, but it's unlikely he'll develop into anything more than a backup Inside Linebacker.
16. Mike McCray, Michigan - 5th/6th Round
Mike McCray is as physical as they come, and he has the size (6'1", 245 lb.) to stay that way at the next level. His tape and combine results say Inside Linebacker, but his lack of versatility to play anything else will automatically push his stock back to Day 3. McCray is an eyesore in coverage, so his NFL usability might only be on run defense. If he can stay healthy, another concern coming out of Michigan, McCray should develop into a solid backup Inside Linebacker with the ability to earn starting reps on run defense packages.
17. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt - 5th/7th Round
Oren Burks has never spent more than a year at the same position, and in today's version of Linebackers, that's actually a plus. He fits well as a 3-4 Inside Linebacker who drops back, or a 4-3 weakside Outside Linebacker. Burks' insticts and overall tackling technique need a lot of work at the next level, but his coverage ability and athleticism should be enough to earn a roster spot with a realistic upside of a quality sub-package rotational option.
18. Skai Moore, South Carolina - 6th/7th Round
Skai Moore's instincts and IQ are at an elite level for a college prospect. He just doesn't fit in any position at the next level. Moore's size (6'2", 226 lb.) and lack of strength prevent him from being an effective Strong-side Linebacker or Inside Linebacker, and his poor coverage skills and average speed make him a mediocre fit as a weakside 'backer. As long as he can stay healthy, something Moore struggled with at South Carolina, he should see a realistic ceiling of a versatile, yet mediocre backup option. He'll have to fight for a roster spot right away, though.
19. Matthew Thomas, Florida State - 6th Round/Undrafted
Matthew Thomas has a long 6'3" frame, but he could definitely add to his 232-pound weight. He lacks a mean streak, doesn't play with great strength, and his instincts are god-awful on tape. Thomas' athleticism, length and untapped potential are likely enough to get him drafted, but he needs a productive camp to prove he's more than just a practice squad option.
20. Davin Bellamy, Georgia - 6th Round/Undrafted
Davin Bellamy has Edge Rusher-like size at 6'4" and 255 pounds, but he doesn't have the speed or play strength to make an impact on the edge. He's not very productive on tape, and teams will be confused as to where to play him. Bellamy should make an impact on special teams right away, but Defensive Coordinators will have to get very creative if they want to develop him into anything more than a borderline practice squad player.
21. Andre Smith, North Carolina - 7th Round/Undrafted
Andre Smith has the size (6', 237 lb.) and toughness to be a run enforcer, but that's about it. His speed and athleticism are poor, and he's useless in coverage. Smith doesn't lose tackles and he's an absolute bruiser after initial contact, so teams looking for depth at Inside Linebacker for run defense packages will give him a long look on Day 3. It's very unlikely Smith will become anything more than a depth option, though.
22. Christian Sam, Arizona State - 7th Round/Undrafted
Christian Sam's best asset is his versatility to play Inside Linebacker in any package, as well as a weak side Linebacker in 4-3 sets. At 6'2" and 244 pounds, his body is NFL ready and so is his play strength. Sam's speed is poor, his other athletic numbers were average at the combine and many scouts question his football character. He should be an instant impact on special teams, but Sam needs a productive camp to guarantee a backup role at Linebacker.
Other Linebackers with training camp chances: Joe Iyiegbuniwe, Western Kentucky; Ja'whaun Bentley, Purdue; Kenny Young, UCLA; Quentin Poling, Ohio
