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About the Author: Mark Cook
Mark Cook currently is the director of editorial content and Bucs beat writer and has written for PewterReport.com since 2011. Cook has followed the Buccaneers since 1977 when he first began watching football with his Dad and is fond of the 1979 Bucs team that came within 10 points of going to a Super Bowl. His favorite Bucs game is still the 1979 divisional playoff win 24-17 over the Eagles. In his spare time Cook enjoys playing guitar, fishing, the beach and family time.Cook is a native of Pinecrest in Eastern Hillsborough County and has written for numerous publications including the Tampa Tribune, In the Field and Ya'll Magazine. Cook can be reached at [email protected]
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Top 10 Linebackers In 2018 NFL Draft
1. Georgia ILB Roquan Smith – Junior – 6-1, 236 – 4.51
Sideline to sideline speed is what Smith will bring to the league and whatever team drafts him. He is also very good in coverage and some scouts see Telvin Smith, Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander rolled into one when they turn on the tape. Smith finished his final season in Athens with 137 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
Sideline to sideline speed is what Smith will bring to the league and whatever team drafts him. He is also very good in coverage and some scouts see Telvin Smith, Deion Jones and Kwon Alexander rolled into one when they turn on the tape. Smith finished his final season in Athens with 137 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks.
2.VA Tech OLB Tremaine Edmunds – Junior –
Edmunds brings rare athleticism to a player of his size at his position and some have him rated ahead of Smith because of it. Of course a bigger body means a bigger target for offensive linemen to latch onto. Still if Edmunds can improve his block shedding he could be one the better linebackers in the league, and quickly. Edmunds notched over 100 tackles for the second consecutive season, leading Virginia Tech’s defense with 109 stops.
Edmunds brings rare athleticism to a player of his size at his position and some have him rated ahead of Smith because of it. Of course a bigger body means a bigger target for offensive linemen to latch onto. Still if Edmunds can improve his block shedding he could be one the better linebackers in the league, and quickly. Edmunds notched over 100 tackles for the second consecutive season, leading Virginia Tech’s defense with 109 stops.
3.Boise State OLB Kyle Vander Esch – Junior – 6-4, 256 – 4.65
Expected to be an every down linebacker in the NFL, Vander Esch really burst onto the scene and in scouts eyes after just one year as a full time starter. Lack experience is really the only knock on the Boise State standout and some thing his ceiling is still very high as he can add even more strength and size to an already impressive frame. As a junior he racked up some impressive stats(141 tackles, 8.5 for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups, and four forced fumbles in his junior season) and was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.
Expected to be an every down linebacker in the NFL, Vander Esch really burst onto the scene and in scouts eyes after just one year as a full time starter. Lack experience is really the only knock on the Boise State standout and some thing his ceiling is still very high as he can add even more strength and size to an already impressive frame. As a junior he racked up some impressive stats(141 tackles, 8.5 for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups, and four forced fumbles in his junior season) and was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.
4.Texas ILB Malik Jefferson – Junior – 6-3, 236 – 4.52
Jefferson has all the traits that NFL teams are looking for. Size, speed and the athleticism to be successful. However the main criticism of his game is his instincts, not a good thing to struggle with as a linebacker. Despite this, Jefferson will have chance to be as good as he wants to be moving forward. The physical talent is there as evidenced by his 2017 stats, where he led the Longhorns with 110 tackles (10 for loss, four sacks) and earning second-team Associated Press All-American status and first-team all-conference honors as a junior.
Jefferson has all the traits that NFL teams are looking for. Size, speed and the athleticism to be successful. However the main criticism of his game is his instincts, not a good thing to struggle with as a linebacker. Despite this, Jefferson will have chance to be as good as he wants to be moving forward. The physical talent is there as evidenced by his 2017 stats, where he led the Longhorns with 110 tackles (10 for loss, four sacks) and earning second-team Associated Press All-American status and first-team all-conference honors as a junior.
5. Alabama OLB Rashaan Evans – Senior – 6-3, 234 – 4.63
Evans, like many Bama recruits was highly regarded coming out of Auburn, Alabama before choosing the Crimson Tide, but had to sit and wait behind tons of other talent. To his credit he played special teams and worked hard as a back u before becoming a full time starter. Evans flys to the football, but sometimes can over pursue and is susceptible to the cut backs. As a senior for Saban and the Tide he tied for the team lead with 74 tackles, But led Alabama with 13 tackles for loss, while collecting six sacks, and breaking up three passes.
Evans, like many Bama recruits was highly regarded coming out of Auburn, Alabama before choosing the Crimson Tide, but had to sit and wait behind tons of other talent. To his credit he played special teams and worked hard as a back u before becoming a full time starter. Evans flys to the football, but sometimes can over pursue and is susceptible to the cut backs. As a senior for Saban and the Tide he tied for the team lead with 74 tackles, But led Alabama with 13 tackles for loss, while collecting six sacks, and breaking up three passes.
6. Georgia OLB Lorenzo Carter – Senior – 6-6, 250 – 4.5
Gerogia fans will tell you Carter never lived up to the hype after signing with the Bulldogs out of high school, still the NFL is intrigued with the measurables that Carter possesses. Players his size shouldn’t run as fast as he does, but the same size that impresses also hurts his game scouts will tell you. Carter’s height doesn’t allow him to have a strong base and he can get off balance sometimes. He also isn’t known for being a solo tackler, instead more of a start a pile tackler. Still the good makes NFL teams drool when they see his speed and long stride make up a ton of ground in a few steps. Carter finished his senior season with 44 tackles, five sacks, 13 pressures in 13 games for the Bulldogs.
Gerogia fans will tell you Carter never lived up to the hype after signing with the Bulldogs out of high school, still the NFL is intrigued with the measurables that Carter possesses. Players his size shouldn’t run as fast as he does, but the same size that impresses also hurts his game scouts will tell you. Carter’s height doesn’t allow him to have a strong base and he can get off balance sometimes. He also isn’t known for being a solo tackler, instead more of a start a pile tackler. Still the good makes NFL teams drool when they see his speed and long stride make up a ton of ground in a few steps. Carter finished his senior season with 44 tackles, five sacks, 13 pressures in 13 games for the Bulldogs.
7. UCF OLB Shaquem Griffin – Senior – 6-1, 227 – 4.38
Griffin was one of the best stories in college football, overcoming the odds of only having one hand to become one of the top playmaking linebackers last year in helping the UCF Knights go undefeated and beat Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Last year, he racked up 74 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. Griffin was clocked at 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, making the 6-foot-1, 223-pound defender one of the fastest players in the draft.
Griffin was one of the best stories in college football, overcoming the odds of only having one hand to become one of the top playmaking linebackers last year in helping the UCF Knights go undefeated and beat Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Last year, he racked up 74 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. Griffin was clocked at 4.38 in the 40-yard dash, making the 6-foot-1, 223-pound defender one of the fastest players in the draft.
UCF LB Shaquem Griffin – Photo by: Getty Images
8. USC OLB Uchenna Nwosu – Senior – 6-3, 251 – 4.65
Nwosu had prototypical size and athleticism to succeed at the next level after a solid career playing for his hometown Trojans. He could be a three-down linebacker although it appears teams are looking at him as a 3-4 pass rusher after his 2017 season at USC where he finished 75 tackles (47 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Nwosu had prototypical size and athleticism to succeed at the next level after a solid career playing for his hometown Trojans. He could be a three-down linebacker although it appears teams are looking at him as a 3-4 pass rusher after his 2017 season at USC where he finished 75 tackles (47 solo), 11.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, one interception and one fumble recovery.
9.Virginia ILB Micah Kiser – Senior – 6-2, 240 – 4.66
Kiser is a banger but lacks some traits that NFL front offices crave including not ideal hop flexibility and is prone to missing some tackles he should make. With that said his production is college was excellent as he earned first-team All-ACC honors with 145 stops (50 solo), 9.5 for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries as a senior for the Cavilers.
Kiser is a banger but lacks some traits that NFL front offices crave including not ideal hop flexibility and is prone to missing some tackles he should make. With that said his production is college was excellent as he earned first-team All-ACC honors with 145 stops (50 solo), 9.5 for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries as a senior for the Cavilers.
10. Ohio State OLB Jerome Baker –Junior – 6-1, 221 – 4.53
Baker projects to be a 4-3 weakside linebacker at the next level and his tape shows speed to fly to the football. He doesn’t possess ideal size but his quickness and toughness can make up for some of that. Baker led the Buckeyes with 72 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups in 13 starts a s a freshmen to close out his career in Columbus.
Baker projects to be a 4-3 weakside linebacker at the next level and his tape shows speed to fly to the football. He doesn’t possess ideal size but his quickness and toughness can make up for some of that. Baker led the Buckeyes with 72 tackles, eight for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three pass breakups in 13 starts a s a freshmen to close out his career in Columbus.
Best Of The Rest
11.Memphis ILB Genard Avery – Senior – 6-1, 248 – 4.58
Avery started all 13 games during his senior season, earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors with 80 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He also started all 13 games of his junior season the year before. He’s a little stiff in his movements, but athletic when he gets going in a straight line.
12.BYU OLB Fred Warner – Senior – 6-3, 227 – 4.64
In his junior season, Warner earned first-team All-Independent honors with 86 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions. As a senior, he started all 13 games as a leader for the Cougars with 87 tackles, nine for loss, and five PBUs. Warner has been a starter for BYU for the last three seasons. With his size and athleticism, he could be one of those “big nickel” safety players who can get close to the line or drop back in coverage.
13.Iowa ILB Josey Jewell – Senior – 6-1, 233 – 4.82
As a redshirt freshman, Jewell played in 11 games with 51 tackles. He was the MVP of the team in that year’s bowl game with 14 tackles. In 2015, he started every game at middle linebacker, leading Iowa with 126 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. In his junior year, Jewell was a finalist for the Butkus Award as CFB’s best linebacker as well as the team’s MVP and second-team All-Big Ten. He had 124 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, nine pass break-ups. in his final season, Jewell finished his career as a first-team AP All-American and first-team All-Big Ten in his senior year with 134 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups and one forced fumble.
14.Vanderbilt OLB Oren Burks – Senior – 6-3, 233 – 4.59
Burks started his contributing role for Vanderbilt as a safety in 2014 before moving to linebacker. He’s the typical “tweener” player who needs to go to the right defense who knows how to use his versatility and make sure he’s not just lost without a position.
15.Auburn OLB Jeff Holland– Junior – 6-2, 249 – 4.79
Holland was a first-team All-SEC honorable mention in 2017 with 45 tackles, 13 tackles for losses, 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. He’s a smart linebacker/pass rusher hybrid who could fit well in the right 3-4 system.
16.Clemson OLB Dorian O’Daniel – Senior – 6-1, 235 – 4.61
In 2017, O’Daniel made second-team all-conference, leading the Tigers with 103 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, as well as three pass breakups in 14 starts. He’s a smaller, faster linebacker who can be used in coverage, but the lack of size will hurt him as a run defender in the NFL.
17.Ole Miss OLB Marquis Haynes – Senior – 6-2, 235 – 4.67
Haynes is much more of a pass rusher than a traditional outside linebacker. He nearly had double digit sacks in all four years at Ole Miss and also had 12 career forced fumbles. He’s a situational pass rusher, but he could be a very useful one in the right rotation.
18.South Carolina State OLB Darius Leonard – 6-2, 234 – 4.7
2016 was Leonard’s year. He earned MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors that season with 124 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and four forced fumbles. He’s a faster athlete for his size and will likely be a WILL linebacker at the next level. He thrives in space, not taking on blocks.
19.Washington State OLB Hercules – Junior – Mataafa 6-1, 234 – 4.76
It’s har to project where Hercules Mata’afa is going to play in the NFL because in Washington State’s smaller defense he actually played as their defensive tackle. He doesn’t have the size to do that in the NFL, and after the Combine might not have the speed to play linebacker. He’ll be a unique fit for a team.
20.Wisconsin OLB Leon Jacobs – Senior – 6-3, 230 – 4.48
Jacobs has played as both an inside and outside linebacker before. He’s a long, athletic player who can use his range to be quick off the edge and pursue well. He has the athleticism to play the position, but the instincts aren’t always there. That might come with time, or it might not.
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