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Top linebackers to watch in the NFL draft,
Sports Weekly is taking a position-by-position look at prospects for the NFL draft, which runs April 27-29 in Philadelphia. This week: linebackers.
1. REUBEN FOSTER, ALABAMA
Height, weight: 6-0, 229 Foster was the top-ranked linebacker before the NFL scouting combine, and he remains there even after being sent home early after a verbal altercation during the medical checks. That punishment kept Foster from being able to complete his slate of interviews and from participating in on-field drills, but his film and college production at Alabama should be more than enough to make him the No. 1 inside linebacker drafted. He could go as high as in the top 10. Foster is an excellent tackler, and his speed and athleticism should allow him to hold up in pass coverage — a critical skill teams are looking for when drafting a linebacker in the first round.
2. HAASON REDDICK, TEMPLE
Height, weight: 6-1, 237 Reddick is the fastest-rising linebacker, in part because of a spectacular series of workouts at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.52second 40-yard dash. The question about Reddick is that he projects to linebacker in the NFL but never played that position at Temple (he was an undersized defensive end in college). But he has all the physical traits and athleticism that should convince NFL teams that he can make the switch. He already has pass rush skills (and had 101⁄ 2sacks as a senior at Temple). His predraft workouts have shown he should have the coverage abilities that teams covet.
ZACH CUNNINGHAM, VANDERBILT
3. Height, weight: 6-3, 234 If college production matters, Cunningham should be among the top linebackers drafted in April. He led the Southeastern Conference in tackles last season as a junior and recovered four fumbles, both signs that he always manages to be around the ball. Also helping Cunningham’s case to be a first-rounder is how easy it is to picture him in any defensive scheme. Cunningham is versatile enough to play weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but he also could be an inside linebacker for a team running a 3-4. And with so many NFL teams running some sort of hybrid scheme, Cunningham could be plugged into a variety of roles.
4. JARRAD DAVIS, FLORIDA
Height, weight: 6-1, 238 NFL teams won’t get to see Davis work out until his pro day at the University of Florida on March 28. He declined to participate in on-field drills at the scouting combine in order to maximize his recovery time from the ankle injury that cut short his final season at Florida. If Davis’ pro day goes well and he shows he’s fully healthy, he could be a late firstround pick. Before his injury, Davis showed great sideline-to-sideline range. Regarded as a strong leader at Florida, he was expected to interview very well.
5. RAEKWON MCMILLAN, OHIO STATE
Height, weight: 6-2, 240 There is no questioning McMillan’s college credentials as a three-year starter at Ohio State, but he has spent this spring trying to prove he can quickly transition to the NFL, just like former Buckeyes defensive teammates Darron Lee and Joey Bosa did a year ago. The knock on McMillan was his athleticism, with questions about whether he had the speed necessary to stand out in the pros. He helped answer that with a 4.61second 40-yard dash at the combine, third best among linebackers in Indianapolis.
6. ANTHONY WALKER, NORTHWESTERN
Height, weight: 6-1, 238 When Walker weighed in at the scouting combine at 238 pounds, it showed he was willing to answer one of the biggest questions about him. He played at closer to 250 pounds at Northwestern, and that extra bulk likely would hamper Walker’s ability to be fast and fluid enough in an NFL defense. But if he can manage to keep a slightly leaner frame, Walker projects as a prototypical middle linebacker.
7. KENDELL BECKWITH, LSU
Height, weight: 6-2, 243 Beckwith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament late in his senior year at LSU, so a team will have to draft Beckwith based on his college film and interviews alone. That injury will hurt his draft stock, though he told reporters at the combine that he had already started running and expected to be healthy in time for training camp.
8. ELIJAH LEE, KANSAS STATE
Height, weight: 6-3, 228 Lee didn’t get an invite to the combine, so he didn’t get to measure himself directly against the other top linebackers in this draft class. But expect teams to give him a hard look after a solid career at Kansas State, including more than 100 tackles and two interceptions last season. Lee is slightly undersized, which might have teams concerned about his ability to hold up against the run. But with teams often in sub passing packages, having a smaller, faster linebacker is becoming increasingly valuable, which could increase Lee’s stock.
9. ALEX ANZALONE, FLORIDA
Height, weight: 6-3, 241 Anzalone looks the part of an NFL inside linebacker, and he performed well at the combine, but a team will have to draft him largely on his potential after an injury-plagued career at Florida. He missed the last five games (in his only season as a starter) because of a broken arm. He dealt with shoulder issues earlier in his career.
10. RYAN ANDERSON, ALABAMA
Height, weight: 6-2, 253 Anderson was extremely productive in college and recorded nine sacks last year while playing alongside other talented frontseven players, such as Foster and Tim Williams. But Anderson faces plenty of questions in the draft process about whether he’s athletic enough to be a full-time contributor in the NFL. He didn’t alleviate those concerns, especially after running a slower 40-yard dash at his pro day in Tuscaloosa (4.84) than he did at the combine (4.78).
Next week: Cornerbacks