2017 NFL Draft: Linebacker

2017 NFL Draft Linebackers:

Jarrad Davis-LB-Florida-6’1”-238-1st/2nd Round-94

In a draft with several top end inside linebacker prospects, I’d put my money on Davis being the best NFL player. He was a 4 year player in Gainesville and a 2 year starter at his future pro position of Nickel inside linebacker. If you could mold someone to play that position, this is the guy you would make (maybe 6’3” but come on). Jarrad has sideline to sideline speed, explosive upfield movements, powerful hands for combating blockers, and is a sure tackler. He brings 33.5” arms to the party to bat passes and has all the tools to be an effective blitzer. Slight injury history may scare some teams, he missed 4 games this past fall and an ankle injury kept him from participating at the combine. Let me stress this, he is not a finished product. Davis needs to improve in coverage, gap discipline, and pursuit angles. But the reason I’m so high on him is that by all accounts he’s a very high character player. When you can fill a leadership position like middle linebacker with a high character top notch athlete you jump at the chance. He may drop into the 2nd round but I see him as a mid 1st round prospect.

Reuben Foster-LB-Alabama-6’0”-229-1st-94

I could not believe a Nick Saban kid got kicked out of the combine for fighting with a hospital staffer. Add to that a failed drug test for his pee being clear at the combine. But whatever, shit happens I guess, and we’ll see how that affects his draft stock cuz he was going to be a top 15 pick. Those concerns aside, this guy can absolutely play. He’s the next in the long line of Bama Backers that includes Rolando McClain, Hightower, C.J. Mosley, and Reggie Ragland. Foster, as a collegiate, was as good as any of them winning the Butkus Award in 2016. He’s not the biggest guy, though his playing weight was likely higher than the post-food poisoning 229 lbs he was at the combine. Foster is an athletic linebacker that avoids blocks rather than defeats them. He’s at his best shooting gaps and playing pursuit. As a two year starter on the inside for Nick Saban he comes out as ready as you can be for the NFL. Foster played coverage, blitzed, and did all the little things you expect from a 3 down inside linebacker. He’s had a challenging draft process (shoulder surgery too), but on the field he should be every bit as good as C.J. Mosley who’s an underrated stud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-59rov_vQM

Haason Reddick-LB-Temple-6’1”-237-1st-91

Reddick played on the edge in college, mostly with his hand in the ground. You can see with his size, that’s not going to be an option in the NFL. His 32.75” arms are good for his height, but he won’t be able to set the edge as a 3-4 OLB. Haason is a football player though. He ran a 4.52 in the 40 and jumped 36.5 inches so there’s definitely a place for him. Each team may see their own fit, but I see him as a pursuit linebacker on early downs, think Ryan Shazier or Lavonte David, and an edge rusher on passing downs like Hightower. Now those are lofty names, but I think the Shazier comparison is reasonable, considering Reddick will likely be a mid first rounder. Haason will be a projection to stand-up linebacker, as he only played that spot at the Senior Bowl, but on film he looks very good in coverage. Bottomline, I see him as an athletic off-the-line linebacker with edge rush flexibility and room to improve in all areas.

Zach Cunningham-LB-Vanderbilt-6’3”-234-2nd Round-87

First thing that jumps out is how long and lean he is. Tall for his weight, his 34.5” extendo arms help him keep blockers off his body. He’s a very good athlete running a 4.67 in the 40 and adding a solid 35” vertical. Coming into the draft after his junior season, you may wonder if he should have stayed in school. But after a 1st Team All American nod in 2016 and having started at least parts of the last three seasons, now is the right time. Cunningham is a playmaker on the field. He moves very well in space, has sticky hands on ball carriers, and shows good balance and instincts in pursuit. My primary concern is how lean he is. Definitely could add another 10-15lbs but then what happens to his athleticism. He also has the length to spend time on the outside but that becomes a projection after he played exclusively on the inside for the Commodores. He has very good traits, but a few question marks put him just into the 2nd round.