Published
April 18, 2024, 8:00 a.m. ET
The Post’s Ryan Dunleavy gives his top 10 linebackers in this year’s NFL draft, based on evaluations and conversations with people around the league:
1. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M, 6-2, 230
Want sacks? He had eight. Want coverage?
Edgerrin Cooper AP
He can man-up tight ends and backs (eight pass breakups over last two seasons). Want tackling?
Ball-carriers felt his 83 stops last season. Knack for spying dual-threat quarterbacks.
Guilty of over-pursuit.
2. Junior Colson, Michigan, 6-2, 238
Big, physical run-stuffer who sheds blocks and finds crevices to sniff out the ball.
Wrap-up tackler won’t let many get away.
Adequate enough in pass coverage over the middle to be a three-down player.
Zero interceptions in 43 career games.
Junior Colson Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
3. Payton Wilson, North Carolina State, 6-4, 233
All the physical and mental attributes to be a first-rounder.
Extensive injury history but returned from all to win 2023 Chuck Bednarik (college football’s top defensive player).
Tackling machine still has his speed and range. Alcohol-related arrest in 2019.
4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, 6-0, 228
Needs no introduction after his father’s Pro Bowl career with Eagles.
Instinctual and powerful player who always is first on the scene.
Creates disruption as a blitzer. Always under control but concerns about his size and coverage ability.
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina, 6-1, 234
North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray looks to tackle Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis during a game last season. AP
Filled the box score with a third straight 100-tackle season, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception in 2023.
Charges downhill and takes the correct angles.
Might get swallowed up by bigger-body blockers.
6. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State, 6-2, 233
Best season was 2022 (12 of 120 tackles for loss) Always plays at full speed — sometimes overrunning the ball to be stuck arm-tackling — and can run in space with a tight end.
Slow-breaking on intermediate routes.
A throwback football junkie.
7. Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State, 6-2, 233
Led SEC in sacks (10) and tackles (137) last season, upping two-year total to 25 for loss.
Nathaniel Watson Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Owns the box, but less of a factor in edge pursuit and in spread coverage.
Twice arrested (DUI, assault). Can be lured into personal fouls.
8. Trevin Wallace, Kentucky, 6-1, 237
Polarizing prospect whose alluring traits include footwork, physicality, quickness and range.
Will let small gains become bigger because he is going for the ball.
Possibility to grow into a three-down player with better down-and-distance recognition.
9. Curtis Jacobs, Penn State, 6-1, 241
Noticeable closing burst, especially behind the line of scrimmage (24 career tackles for loss).
Curtis Jacobs Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Broad-jumped 10-feet, 4-inches.
Could be a two-down defensive player if field awareness doesn’t improve in coverage — but also a core special-teamer.
10. Jordan Magee, Temple, 6-1, 228
Turned down FCS offers to play college quarterback.
Three-year starting middle linebacker who never asked off punt coverage.
Accelerates into ball-carriers. Looks for ways around blocks rather than through them.
Underwent biceps surgery last November.
Late Riser
Steele Chambers, Ohio State, 6-1, 226
Former running back still thinks like a ball-carrier, showing a nose for the ball, especially sniffing out screens. Packs a punch but doesn’t always wrap ball-carriers. Athleticism suits coverage versatility once he learns how to better read quarterbacks’ eyes.
Falling Fast
Marist Liufau, Notre Dame, 6-2, 234
Attended Hawaii school known for producing NFL talent. Never runs out of energy despite covering tons of ground. Lives the “all-11-to-the ball” tackling mantra. Too many missed one-on-one tackles when he is impatient. Reactive more than instinctive.
Small-school wonder
Tyrice Knight, UTEP, 6-0, 233
Lined up all over the formation and collected 140 tackles. Better as a blitzer than in coverage. Was allowed to freestyle more than he will be in most NFL defenses. Not easily juked, shook or faked.
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2024-04-18 12:00:00
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