Photo Credit: Chase Stevens, Associated Press
Welcome back to my final grades for the 2022 draft. We are getting so close to the draft, you can almost taste it- what does a draft “taste” like? What does this draft taste like? Anyways, if you missed yesterday’s articles, you can find them by clicking the hyperlink.
On to today’s position group, the linebacker class is solid this year, dare I say, it might even be considered “deep”. It’s become passé to talk about how off-ball linebackers aren’t as valuable as they once were and how they’re the “running backs of the defensive side of the ball”, but a good off-ball linebacker can be your defensive QB, making sure everyone is where they’re supposed to be and being a leader of sorts.
Let’s get into the final grades.
First Round Grades
1. Devin Lloyd, Utah Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Weakside LB in a 4-3 or ILB in a 3-4
Devin Lloyd has the chance to be Utah’s first front seven defender selected in round one in seemingly forever and it’s easy to see why. He’s great against the run, he’s good in pass coverage (4 picks last year) and he’s shown good promise as a tertiary pass rusher (8 sacks). He’s well-rounded as a whole and if you come across his turf in the open field, you better make sure you have a tight grip on the ball because he’ll hit you so hard he’ll change your eye colour. I feel like he’s safely a first-round pick in spite of his positional value. He’s not a hyper athlete, but he’s no slouch.
Second Round Grades:
2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia Red Flags: Size-athleticism profile Player Comp: Super Charged Dre Greenlaw
Ideal Role: WILL LB in a 4-3
Yes, Nakobe Dean profiles as smaller than you’d like and not as athletic as you’d like, but I assure you, those limitations don’t show on film. Why? Simply put, the kid’s a genius, on and off the field. He studied mechanical engineering at Georgia and was the defensive leader on one of the best defenses in college football history, ensuring that defense with 11 future NFL players on it was always aligned in the right place and holding everyone accountable. He’ll go in round two, but he’ll be a key contributor on defense and special teams early in his career.
3. Terrel Bernard, Baylor Red Flags: Injury history (shoulder and knee injuries) Player Comp: Kwon Alexander
Ideal Role: Do-it-all backer
Yes, I know I’m much higher on Bernard than you’re likely used to seeing, but his range is better than any other linebacker in this class and he’s coming off a season with 7.5 sacks despite missing a few games due to injury. When you can get a player who can be a valuable pass rusher and has the sideline-to-sideline range reminiscent of your cell phone provider- teams are going to find that valuable. His injuries are going to ding him to the point he’ll be selected on Day 3, but he’ll be a tremendous value for whoever gets him.
4. Christian Harris, Alabama Red Flags: None Player Comp: Patrick Queen
Ideal Role: WILL LB
Harris is the prototypical linebacker in terms of speed profile and being more of a “smaller” linebacker. Where I have my reservations about Harris is in his processing speed. He’s not a very instinctual linebacker and chooses to let the play unfold in front of him rather than anticipate. He also can get fooled on options and play actions due to suboptimal reading. I’ve been burned in the past by LBs with “bad eyes” and while I wouldn’t say Harris’ eyes are bad, he needs to clean up his processing, otherwise he’ll too often be a dog chasing cars.
5. Chad Muma, Wyoming Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Sub LB in year one, SAM linebacker after more development
At 6’3 240 and with good lateral agility, Muma is everything you could want in a Day 2 linebacker. He can be an impact player in stopping the run and in defending the pass. I think he needs to go to a team with a 4-man front as I feel he’s best playing as an outside backer and could struggle being a middle linebacker in a 3-4. His biggest area that needs improvement is his strength at the point of attack. If he falls in a defense where the defensive line can keep him clean, he’ll be a menace.
6. Leo Chenal, Wisconsin Red Flags: None Player Comp: Brian Cushing
Ideal Role: 3-4 ILB
Third Round Grades:
7. Quay Walker, Georgia Red Flags: None Player Comp: Germaine Pratt
Ideal Role: 4-3 WILL Linebacker
8. Darrian Beavers, Cincinnati Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental LB in a 4-man front
9. Damone Clark, LSU Red Flags: Spinal fusion surgery- will miss rookie season Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Developmental MIKE Linebacker
Fourth Round Grades
10. Channing Tindall, Georgia Red Flags: None Player Comp: Willie Gay Jr.
Ideal Role: Developmental WILL
11. Brandon Smith, Penn St. Red Flags: Lack of development from ’20 to ‘21 Player Comp: Martez Wilson/ Leighton Vander Esch
Ideal Role: Sub Package backer
12. Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma Red Flags: None Player Comp: Jerome Baker
Ideal Role: MIKE in 3-Man front
Fifth Round Grades
13. JoJo Domann, Nebraska Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Coverage linebacker
14. Mike Rose, Iowa State Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: 4-3 Mike
Sixth Round Grades
15. Jesse Luketa, Penn State Red Flags: Character (Penn State hazing scandal of 2019) Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: LB who plays DE in sub-packages
16. Jack Sanborn, Wisconsin Red Flags: None Player Comp: None
Ideal Role: Early down linebacker, run-stuffer