THE 2019 NFL DRAFT REPORT PRESENTS
A LOOK AT THE MEN IN THE MIDDLE
While there is an abundance of edge rushers certain to secure numerous spots in the first round of the draft, teams looking for a middle linebacker will have to make those selections earlier than anticipated, as just two athletes at this position are projected as first round types - Louisiana State's Devin White, a certain top twelve pick, followed by Michigan's Devin Bush later in the opening round.
In fact, just two or three other inside 'backers are being considered as Day Two talents - Alabama's Mack Wilson, Notre Dame's Te'Von Coney and David Long, Jr., of West Virginia. Day Three could about a dozen other "Mike" guys hearing their names called, but two rising stars that were not even considered prospects prior to the 2018 season are quickly moving up draft boards - Texas San Antonio's Josiah Tauaefa and former Minnesota walk-on, Blake Cashman.
The position could receive a boost if two defenders who performed at other positions shift to inside linebacker. Florida State's Brian Burns is considered a first round talent as an edge rusher, but teams like the Giants, Steelers and Packers have also gone back into the film rooms to see if he could possibly be like Ryan Shazier and have a better career at the second level.
Regarded as too light in the britches for a strong-side outside linebacker role, Florida's Vosean Joseph could make the conversion to weak-side inside linebacker, thanks to his quickness. The Jets tried a similar conversion with another player from Shazier's college, but it has not yet worked out for Darron Lee, who could be trade bait by New York during the draft's third day.
On Day Three, Wisconsin should send both of their inside linebackers to the pros as draftees. T.J. Edwards is the more established of the two, but he's prone to missed tackles, as running mate Ryan Connelly often had to cover for Edwards' mistakes. Outside of Michigan's Devin Bush and the Gophers' Blake Cashman, the Big Ten Conference might not see any of their inside linebackers getting one of the 254 coveted draft picks.
Clemson's duo of Tre Lamar and Kendall Joseph were highly touted prior to the 2018 season, but lost a bit of luster as the Tigers front wall dominated. Further mediocre performances at the NFL Scouting Combine and the school's pro day could see both having to "go fishing" until later action on Day Three. Actually, unheralded Duke star, Joe Giles-Harris and N.C. State's Germaine Pratt will long be off the draft boards before the Clemson pair are considered.
David Long-West Virginia leads the Big Twelve Conference ILBs, but some teams might back off due to size issues. Outside of Long, fringe prospects Joe Dineen of Kansas and Ty Summers of Texas Christian might be drafted, but do not be surprised if they have to audition as free agents for a roster spot.
Outside of Texas-San Antonio sleeper Josiah Tauaefa, Conference USA has a barren list among linebacker draft prospects. The Mid-American Conference could also be bereft of talent at the position, as their "top dog" inside, Buffalo's Khalil Hodge, was not one of the 336 players to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
It will be late during the draft when teams might start considering Mountain West Conference talent at this position, but Hawaii's Jahlani Tavai is drawing keen interest from the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, as both have tacked an early Day Three grade on the unknown talent. Fresno State's Jeff Allison is also on the fringes of the draft, but most felt he would have been better served staying in school another year.
The Pac-12 Conference has several lunch pail types, paced by USC's Cameron Smith, a late second day/early third day talent, but Stanford's Bobby Okereke, Utah's Cody Barton, Washington's Ben Burr-Kirven and Colorado's Drew Lewis are all in contention for the later rounds. Notre Dame's Te'Von Coney jumps out as a third/fourth round type, but no other independent school or small college have much to offer teams, even as potential priority-type free agents.
Devin White leads the Southeastern Conference linebacker group and could be a top ten pick, as Tampa Bay is seriously considering him with the fifth overall selection. Denver (pick ten) and Cincinnati (eleventh) are others that will jump at the chance to snatch White if he falls that far. The first Day Two middle linebacker should be Alabama's Mack Wilson & Florida's Vonsean Joseph's lack of bulk might see him better suited for weak-side inside linebacker later in Day Two. Georgia's Natrez Patrick is a physical tackler who has overcome off-field issues (marijuana), but that could be the reason why he was left off the Combine invite list.
THE NFL TEAM DECISION-MAKERS
Prior to the start of veteran free agency, seven teams identified linebacker as a pressing need while twelve other organizations stated that they needed to add talent to those positions no later than the early stages of Day Three.
At the inside linebacker spot, most expect Tampa Bay to make the first move by using the fifth pick in the draft to select Louisiana State's Devin White. Having lost Kwon Alexander to free agency, the Bucs envision White playing a role that the Falcons have utilized Deion Jones for. If Denver bypasses on a quarterback with the tenth pick, they will strongly consider Michigan's Devin Bush to fill a prime need inside. While White has better range, Bush is an impact hitter and everyone saw that Denver was in shambles during attempts to stuff the inside running game last year.
If Bush gets past Denver, Cincinnati could be his next destination at pick number-eleven. They finally had enough of the often fine Vontaze Burfict, sending him to the free agent market before the Raiders gave him a new deal. They re-signed Preston Brown, but an impact hitter like Bush will go a long way in filling that big void in the middle. If Cincinnati utilizes their first rounder elsewhere, they could address their needs here with Alabama's Mack Wilson in round two.
Green Bay added needed pass rushers to the fold and most expect them to use the 12th pick in the draft on a defensive tackle or tight end. Still, they have been evaluating whether Florida State's Brian Burns makes a better fit at linebacker than he does coming off the edge. They could hedge their bets that Burns slides to them at pick number-thirty (from Saints), but with Burns' eye-opening 2018 season, they would be foolish to let him slip past them, if there at number-twelve.
Pittsburgh continues to search high and low for a replacement for injured Ryan Shazier, but unless a big run on edge rushers and receivers happens before they select at number-twenty, they might see that there is little to offer in value from the middle linebackers left and opt to fill another pressing need at cornerback. Other teams needing to add depth either in the middle or on the outside are Oakland, Atlanta, Carolina, the Giants, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, the Chargers, Kansas City and the Rams.
NFL draft analysis provided exclusively to 92-9 The Game courtesy of The NFL Draft Report...
