Could David land at the end of round one?
The 2012 NFL Draft is quickly coming upon us. With less than ten days until Andrew Luck’s name is called by Roger Goodell, we will be offering our position-by-position rankings with final grades on most of the draftable prospects.
Today we look at the outside linebackers in the 2012 NFL Draft:
1. Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska
Height: 6005 Weight: 233
What Lavonte David lacks in size he more than makes up for with his playmaking ability and overall athleticism. David is best suited on the weak side and is a 4-3 player only. He possesses outstanding instincts and can play sideline-to-sideline.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 1-2
Final Grade: 6.0
2. Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah St.
Height: 6003 Weight: 234
I admit that I like Wagner more than most. The knock on Wagner is that he looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. Some of that may be true but the reality remains that he amassed 445 tackles in 46 starts at Utah St. He will need to work on finding the football on a more consistent basis but his competitiveness will make some NFL team very happy.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 2-3
Final Grade: 6.0
3. Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma
Height: 6016 Weight: 253
Ronnell Lewis may be one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has all the makings of a very good pass rushing linebacker in the NFL. With the versatility to play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 he should come off the board fairly early. His overall game is raw and he will have to show he can consistently play down in and down out.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 2
Final Grade: 6.0
4. Miles Burris, OLB, San Diego St.
Height: 6020 Weight: 246
Miles Burris is one of my personal favorites in this draft. He has the makings of an effective edge rushing linebacker in the NFL. There are some major shortcomings with Burris as he has a tendency to be overaggressive and miss tackles in the open field and hasn’t been overly effective in coverage. That said, he has a relentless motor and nose for the ball that should make him a steal in the middle rounds of this draft. Scheme diverse.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 4
Final Grade: 5.9
5. Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
Height: 6012 Weight: 244
I wish I liked Zach Brown more. He’s an athletic marvel that may be the most explosive ‘backer in this draft. Brown has all the physical tools to be a special player. Unfortunately, I don’t see those tools translate to the football field. He’s undisciplined with average instincts and prefers to run around contact rather than take it on. Too soft for me.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 2
Final Grade: 5.8
6. Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia
Height: 6030 Weight: 245
Irvin may have the fastest first step in this draft and has the makings of an elite pass rusher. That said, he’s non-existent against the run and most likely a situational rusher in the pros. Grading him as a complete prospect he’s around a 5.1 but his ability to get after the QB raises him significantly. In today’s NFL there’s a place for a guy like Irvin on every roster.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 2-3
Final Grade: 5.8
7. Keenan Robinson, OLB, Texas
Height: 6031 Weight: 242
Keenan Robinson is a versatile prospect that could play all three LB spots in the 4-3. His best fit is as a weak-side linebacker that would allow him to show off his athletic ability in coverage. He’s not as physical as you would like and doesn’t tackle with the aggression of some of the other top linebackers but everything else is in order with this guy.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 3-4
Final Grade: 5.7
8. Demario Davis, OLB, Arkansas St.
Height: 6020 Weight: 235
Demario Davis is an above-average athlete that will need time to develop into a starting role. High ceiling with Davis as he’s capable of bringing it for three downs. He needs to tighten up his coverage ability and misses tackles because he plays out of control at times.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 3-4
Final Grade: 5.7
9. Terrell Manning, OLB, NC State
Height: 6021 Weight: 237
Manning is a weak-side linebacker in the 4-3 that can play sideline-to-sideline. He excels in coverage and can get after the QB when needed. His tackling technique leaves a bit to be desired and his knee is of concern. If Manning checks out clear from a medical standpoint he could go earlier than expected.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 3-4
Final Grade: 5.7
10. Sean Spence, OLB, Miami
Height: 5110 Weight: 231
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Spence is small and not very strong. He gets lost in traffic because of his size limitations. That said, I love his instincts and can tackle with the best of them. He’s a weak-side linebacker in the pros that could be a contributor early on special teams. Think better Brian Rolle who played for the Eagles as a rookie.
2012 NFL Draft projection: 4-5
Final Grade: 5.7
Best of the rest:
11. Josh Kaddu, OLB, Oregon Final Grade: 5.6
12. Danny Trevathan, OLB, Kentucky Final Grade: 5.4
13. Nigel Bradham, OLB, Florida St. Final Grade: 5.4
14. Emmanuel Acho, OLB, Texas Final Grade: 5.2
15. Tank Carder, OLB, TCU Final Grade: 5.2
16. Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma Final Grade: 5.1
17. Tyler Nielson, OLB, Iowa Final Grade: 5.1
18. Brandon Marshall, OLB, Nevada Final Grade: 5.1
19. Tahir Whitehead, OLB, Temple Final Grade: 5.0
20. Ryan Baker, OLB, LSU Final Grade: 5.0
Click Page Two to see the 3-4 OLB’s
Pages: Page 1 Page 2
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