LINEBACKERS
Jalon Walker LB/ER Georgia
Jaylon reminds me of a bigger version of Troy Polamalu. Jalon is listed as 6’2” and Troy was listed at 5’9” or 5’10” and was a safety but the truth is, like Jaylon, Troy played all over the field with the instincts of a linebacker and the speed and quickness of a safety. Jaylon can play multiple positions in your front seven and I know in my gut, that he could play as a safety in a two-deep zone situation if you chose to use him that way. Jaylon is very smart and is a leader and because of his high football intelligence, and quick feet, can analyze the crap out of a play as it is unfolding before him. When Jaylon is lined up on the edge he is one of the best in this draft at holding the edge and shedding blocks to make a tackle. On passing downs, he is like a heat-seeking missile causing disruption with his speed into the backfield and making a sack. As an off-the-line linebacker, Jaylon is like a sniper calmly setting up his target and waiting for just the right moment to make his play on that target. He’s not perfect. He is tight in the hips and does struggle on his pass rush to turn the corner but he compensates for that lack of perfection using leverage. Jaylon is a weapon and the biggest concern for the team in selecting him is how the hell to replace his impact on the field if he gets injured. It won’t be easy to find another weapon like him for sure. Talent Grade: 1.27
Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA
Carson is an off-the-ball, impact, playmaking Linebacker. This was his first year starting, and he embarrassed whoever was keeping him off the field with 90 solo takes, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions. Carson plays the game of football with the instincts of a veteran NFL linebacker. He reminds me a lot of the Bills LB Matt Milano. Carson might not be as fast as Matt is but his ability to anticipate, and react to what is happening in front of him is outstanding. He has excellent leadership skills and a high football IQ to be a coach on the field. Carson has that quick twitch reaction agility, that minimizes his lack of pure speed that others may have in this draft but don’t be fooled he still can go sideline to sideline and is very good in coverage. Because of his size and length, he can trail in coverage fooling quarterbacks into thinking he is beat, and still make a play on the ball. My guess is, if Carson runs 4.5 or under on his pro day he will move into the 1st round, anything more he most likely the 2d round. There will be some teams that will question why Carson only started one year, and think that maybe he is a one-year wonder. I think he has first-round talent and a team late in the 1st round would be smart to select him no matter what. But that’s just me. Talent Grade: 1.50
Jihaad Campbell LB/ER Alabama
Jihaad reminds me of former Redskins LB Lavar Arrington. Jihaad has the speed, explosiveness, size, and strength, to play more than one position in the front seven for a defense. He is explosive when he plays on the line of scrimmage in pass-rushing situations. When he plays off the ball, he is decisive and explosive once he deciphers what is happening in front of him in going to the ball. Jihaad has improved his decision-making and quickness to the ball in every game he played this year despite playing different positions in the front seven of the defense. This shows the ability to take what he learns in practice, and from game to game with him, to the next game. This also shows leadership skills that once he gains more confidence in his own game will naturally start to show up on the field. Because Jihaad has been moved around, he hasn’t learned any one position fully. Teams will have to decide his impact position and give him repetitions and more technique work. He has to improve the strength in his hands to control blockers right at him and to shed blockers quicker. He also has to gain better strength in his hands, to improve his tackling. Jihaad is also slow to change directions and needs more core strength to improve control of his body to break down quicker when pass-rushing, finishing, and sacking quarterbacks. All of this will come with more direction in his strength and conditioning and more repetitions on the field.
Talent Grade 1.58
Jeffrey Bassa LB Oregon
Jeffrey is a pure Linebacker with the coverage skills of a safety/slot corner. He is listed at 6’2” 230 lbs and in this day of linebackers, that is big. Jeffrey is quick and has the speed to run from sideline to sideline and limit the run after the catch yardage, which haunts so many teams’ defensive stats. In the open field, he will take on blocks and shed them quickly. Around the line of scrimmage, he is adept at slipping the blocks of those big offensive linemen with his lateral agility to make tackles. He shows leadership skills through his play on the field but will have to improve his communication skills to make the players around him better and not do it all himself. Jeffrey is a bundle of energy and passion but it's his instincts, high football IQ, and overall moxie, added to his athletic talent that make him stand out when you watch him on film. His athletic talent makes me think he can be used as the slot cover corner on some downs and distances. He has been invited to the senior bowl and I have a sneaking suspicion that if I’m correct, Jeffrey will rise up most teams’ boards very quickly. If your team needs an LB who can play the run and cover better than most safeties in the NFL now, I would not hesitate to select Bassa and doesn’t every team in the NFL need a defensive player like that? Think about it.
Talent Grade: 1.61