The Hog Sty’s Draft Preview Series: Part 1, Linebackers
by Adam Taraschke
With the Senior Bowl behind us and the NFL combine on the horizon we are in the heart of the offseason. The draft is a little more than 2 months away, so I thought I’d take a look at some potential fits for the Redskins come draft day. Today I’ll cover the linebacker position. There are so many different flavors of linebackers in this class. I’ll take a look at players who would be a great fit for the Redskins defense that will be available at different points throughout the draft.
Haason Reddick
College: Temple
Height: 6’2
Weight: 235
Draft Projection: Mid 1st-late 2nd
One of my favorite linebacker prospects I have watched this offseason. Reddick, the former safety, came into his own in his final two years at Temple as a defensive end. However, with Reddick being undersized to play defensive end in the NFL he was asked to stand up and play MLB at the senior bowl. He excelled in coverage and in one on one pass rush. He showed he has the ability to read and react quickly to what the offense was doing. He is a fluid, twitchy athlete with flexible hips and the ability to turn and run with tight ends. Solid tackler with a relentless motor and great work ethic. He has the skill set to rush the passer, cover multiple positions, and make plays sideline to sideline with his speed. He can play any linebacker position on this Redskins defense. He can play the ‘Money backer’ position like Cravens, ‘Mike backer’ like Compton, or the ‘Sam backer’ like Foster and roam the field. I believe he can excel in Manusky’s defense behind an improved defensive line. All in all, Reddick is an extremely versatile player with abilities to have an instant impact in this pass happy league. He will continue to shoot up draft boards and would make an excellent pick at 17th overall on day 1.
Jarrad Davis
College: Florida
Height: 6’2
Weight: 238
Draft Projection: Mid 1st-early 2nd
Davis is a fun prospect to watch. He has tremendous explosive traits with range to match. He is violent as a tackler and when taking on blocks. His instincts are above average, but nothing to write home about. He makes up for lack of instincts with his ability to close on the ball. Plus athletic ability gives him a high ceiling in coverage, but he is at his best attacking downhill. He has the tools to be an outstanding blitzer. He must clean up his tackling and continue to progress in terms of reading offenses to become more consistent. Davis would be a great fit for Manusky’s aggressive style of play. He can play inside linebacker in a 4-3 or a 3-4. He can even kick out to outside linebacker in a 4-3. He needs a little coaching, but has the potential to be an impactful starter in this league.
Zach Cunningham
College: Vanderbilt
Height: 6’3.
Weight: 235.
Draft Projection: Late 1st-late 2nd
Cunningham is a player who will be admired for his potential. He’s flashed brilliance at Vanderbilt, but has coupled that with poor tackling performances and mental lapses. His ceiling is as high as any linebacker in this draft, but he is also one in need of the most work. Cunningham is outstanding in coverage with smooth hips to turn in and run with tight ends and stay with running backs. He is a fluid athlete with great closing speed and plus instincts. He is aggressive when attacking the ball, but sometimes needs to be more controlled. He needs to continue to add weight to his large frame. Bulking up may also help him improve his tackling. He would be a perfect fit for the Redskins playing in a similar role as S’ua Cravens did this past year. He is the best weak side linebacker in the draft and with his high upside would make a great addition in the 2nd round.
Anthony Walker
College: Northwestern
Height: 6’1
Weight: 235
Draft Projection: Mid 2nd- mid 3rd
Walker is an intriguing prospect. He checks my most important boxes when evaluating linebackers: he tackles well, plays hard, and has great instincts. Walker is not the fluid athlete that Foster or Davis is, but he makes up for it with high football IQ and a great nose for the ball. He is adequate in coverage, but quick decisions give him a step up. He is an old school linebacker who can line up and take on blockers and consistently get guys on the ground. Walker would be a great value in the 2nd or 3rd round as a guy who can come in and compete for the starting job one day 1. He is a future NFL starter with leadership qualities. The combine could help or hurt his stock depending on how he tests, but regardless, this man can play in the NFL. My gut tells me Scot would love to get his hands on this football player.
Duke Riley
College: LSU
Height: 6’1
Weight: 218
Draft Projection: Late 3rd –late 4th
Riley fits the mold of the ‘Money Backer’ the NFL has become so infatuated with. He is small for a linebacker at 218 lbs, but he plays with a chip on his shoulder and does not shy away from contact. Riley has outstanding instincts and movement skills. He’s a solid tackler and will only improve as he adds on more muscle. Taking over for current Atlanta Falcon Deion Jones, Riley excelled during his lone year as a starter for the LSU tigers. He is raw in terms of technique and would need to be coached up. However, I think he has the potential to become a high level starter at the next level. He would be a nice fit for the Redskins playing the will backer role Cravens played. With the ability to match up with tight ends and running backs he’s shown he has a place in the new look NFL.
Nick Deluca
College: North Dakota State
Height: 6’3
Weight: 245
Draft Projection: Late 3rd-early 5th
Deluca is a prospect that not many know of, yet. With a great frame and excellent movement skills he is a guy who should shoot up boards come draft day. The knock on Deluca is his level of competition and injury history after missing a solid portion of the 2016 season with a shoulder injury. I came away impressed with his tape. He closes on the ball quickly and reacts just as well. He’s an excellent tackler who can play multiple positions. He is not a rush linebacker, but he can be featured in a blitz heavy system. He dominated the FCS level, which is important when watching players at a lower level of competition. He can play inside linebacker in a 4-3 or a 3-4 front, which would make him a good fit for Manusky’s defense. He is one of my sleepers in this class and would be a high value pick on day 3. With great intangibles I assume he will dominate the interviews and be a favorite of McCloughan. Finding a guy who can compete for playing time on day 3 of the draft is always a good thing.