2019 Nfl Draft Preview: Linebackers

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The Dolphins will enter the season with a respectable linebacking corp. Raekwon McMillan is looking fully healthy coming off a torn ACL that stole his rookie season away, Kiko Alonso is a seasoned vet that certainly is one of our leaders on defense and Jerome Baker is an undersized but athletic linebacker that brings a lot to the table. I am actually pretty excited about the future with Baker and McMillan.

https://www.thephinsider.com/2018/6/27/17493896/2019-nfl-draft-preview-linebackers

If that's our biggest weakness.....

I can't wait for week 1.

Certaintly doesn't hurt to keep an eye on LBs, sooner or later we will kick kiko to the curb, and unless someone else stops up we should be on the look out for top LB talent, whenever we can, its been a sore spot over the years.

So i decided to compare this list to Slimm’s rankings.....

#1- junior, Devin white (best LB he’s evaluated since Kuechly / Willis)

#1- senior, TJ Edwards

#1 rush LB, senior Josh Allen

#16 senior - te’von coney

#1 rush LB, junior - afernee Jennings

#2 lb, senior - Cameron Smith

Unranked, senior - Germaine Pratt

#9 lb, junior - Tre Lamar

Those are the guys discussed in the article but he has a list of some more guys, let’s see how they stack up to Slimm’s

-Jamal Davis, Akron (Sr) ( - )
Andrew Van Ginkel Wisconsin, (Sr) (3 rush LB)
D’Andre Walker Georgia (Sr) (21)
Terrill Hanks, New Mexico St. (Sr) (27)
Nate Hall Northwestern, (Sr) (10)
Ryan Connelly Wisconsin (Sr) ( - )
Charles Wright, Vanderbilt (Sr) (4 rush LB)
Mack Wilson, Alabama (Jr) (2)
Jordan Jones, Kentucky (Sr) (7)
Joe Bachie, Michigan St. (jr) ( 10)
Kendall Joseph, Clemson (Sr) (6)
Terrell Lewis, Alabama (Jr) (2 rush lb)

Travis34 said:

So i decided to compare this list to Slimm’s rankings.....

#1- junior, Devin white (best LB he’s evaluated since Kuechly / Willis)

#1- senior, TJ Edwards

#1 rush LB, senior Josh Allen

#16 senior - te’von coney

#1 rush LB, junior - afernee Jennings

#2 lb, senior - Cameron Smith

Unranked, senior - Germaine Pratt

#9 lb, junior - Tre Lamar

Those are the guys discussed in the article but he has a list of some more guys, let’s see how they stack up to Slimm’s

-Jamal Davis, Akron (Sr) ( - )
Andrew Van Ginkel Wisconsin, (Sr) (3 rush LB)
D’Andre Walker Georgia (Sr) (21)
Terrill Hanks, New Mexico St. (Sr) (27)
Nate Hall Northwestern, (Sr) (10)
Ryan Connelly Wisconsin (Sr) ( - )
Charles Wright, Vanderbilt (Sr) (4 rush LB)
Mack Wilson, Alabama (Jr) (2)
Jordan Jones, Kentucky (Sr) (7)
Joe Bachie, Michigan St. (jr) ( 10)
Kendall Joseph, Clemson (Sr) (6)
Terrell Lewis, Alabama (Jr) (2 rush lb)

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Jamal Davis lines up more at DE for Akron. Although I understand why this guy has him listed as a LB, he projects as more of a stand-up edge rusher at the next level. He simply doesn't have the weight to line up at DE in the NFL. He's a good defender in the MAC. Actually started his career out at Pitt before transferring to Akron.

However, I'd like to see more technical improvements from him as a Senior. I don't like his tackling form, and hasn't developed any pass rush moves to beat better offensive tackles than what he sees in the MAC every week.

Very good athlete with solid quickness, agility, and a nice frame that can support more weight. If he adds more weight, could develop into a nice situational pass rusher as an NFL prospect. But he's already going to be old when he enters the draft. He'll turn 24 before his rookie year begins.

Really like Devin White. Miami doesn't have a difference-maker in their front seven and White looks like he would be that.

With the Dolphins needing a quarterback that complicates things. Does the team stick with Tannehill and/or Osweiller for one more year, or take a chance in a draft that is far from loaded at the position?

Would love to see the team follow the talent and find at least one difference maker.

Slimm. I was curious. Is Devin White a better choice for the Dolphins than the D-lineman in the draft. We badly need some youth at DE. But a stud MLB is something we haven't had in forever. I guess I'm asking if you would take a DE over White if you had your choice.

studsatele said:

Slimm. I was curious. Is Devin White a better choice for the Dolphins than the D-lineman in the draft. We badly need some youth at DE. But a stud MLB is something we haven't had in forever. I guess I'm asking if you would take a DE over White if you had your choice.

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You'll probably end up counting the DE's I'd take over Devin White on one hand and still have a couple of fingers left - and they'd all be underclassman.

Devin White is a special linebacker. You'll still be able to find quality at DE to help you later, it's a deep class. You can't find another Devin White after he's gone. He single handedly got LSU back in the game against aTm with a forced fumble that was returned for a TD with about 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter Saturday night. As good as he already was, he's still getting better every week.

Good question.

It just seems to me that this would be a great year to really address the front 7. Try to stabilize the o-line. I'd like to extend Tunsil and Howard. Use next season to cultivate the team in general and the 2020 draft to get the QB. I know this is all fantasy and whatnot. The team has other issues from top down. Its just what I'd like to see as far as building the actual field product. I appreciate your reply Slimm.

studsatele said:

It just seems to me that this would be a great year to really address the front 7. Try to stabilize the o-line. I'd like to extend Tunsil and Howard. Use next season to cultivate the team in general and the 2020 draft to get the QB. I know this is all fantasy and whatnot. The team has other issues from top down. Its just what I'd like to see as far as building the actual field product. I appreciate your reply Slimm.

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Agree wholeheartedly. That would be my strategy as well. Maybe defense in the first two rounds and then concentrate on that offensive line. Take a developmental quarterback somewhere, but don't reach in round one.

Think Ted makes great point about asset allocation in this thread. Between FA and draft, there isn’t a LB that comes close to White. Makes him even more valuable.

DE/ DT is also a need but there are a number of guys who could do the job well. FA you have possibly Flowers- Clark- Eagles DE- others I’m sure. Draft another 5 or so root rated guys as well.

TedSlimmJr said:

You'll probably end up counting the DE's I'd take over Devin White on one hand and still have a couple of fingers left - and they'd all be underclassman.

Devin White is a special linebacker. You'll still be able to find quality at DE to help you later, it's a deep class. You can't find another Devin White after he's gone.

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But can you find another Tillery if he's gone? Because if they don't go all in on a qb, I was thinking:

1. Tillery
2. Stick, Grier (late 2), Stidham (3)
3. Coney, Bailey, Long, Takitaki

skillkills said:

But can you find another Tillery if he's gone? Because if they don't go all in on a qb, I was thinking:

1. Tillery
2. Stick, Grier (late 2), Stidham (3)
3. Coney, Bailey, Long, Takitaki

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Kong Suh has probably been the dirtiest player in the NFL since he entered the league, and Jerry Tillery makes Suh look like a choir boy. He's a walking talking personal foul in the NFL with the way they protect quarterbacks unless he completely changes.

That said, I have a high grade on Tillery - but not a top 15-20 grade.

That's disappointing to hear. I have to admit I very rarely watch full games to evaluate prospects so I wouldn't know about his negative tendencies. Mostly rely on condensed youtube clips.

The reason I was zeroing in on him this early on is that I was looking for a DE in the 270 - 290 range or even a tall DT/DE hybrid who could replace one of our DEs. I believe the weakness on that defensive front is both the scheme and the fact that they're smaller than ideal at around 250-260 lbs. The wide-9 already has the line spread out too widely. A misdirection or a cut by a RB and and the dline is easily out of position without the mass or strength to recover. This is what happened to too many games where they didn't even provide any resistance and allowed the opposing teams to run all over them.

Of those who fit, Tillery would be there. The first full game I saw of Davis was against Oklahoma and he struck me as a dumb player from his reactions. His cut-ups to me aren't impressive. Ferrell's the same. Zach Allen's a late first rounder at the earliest. Gary I could get on board with but he won't immediately contribute as a pass rusher as he needs work and I don't trust the coaching staff to develop him by year two.