Some teams may not hold them in as high regard as in the past, but the linebacker position is still incredibly valuable in today's NFL. Players are being asked to do more and more as offenses become more creative. Here are the five best LB prospects in this NFL Draft class:
5. Te'von Coney, Notre Dame
An average athlete, Coney is a smart player with good tackling chops. He is adept both in coverage and against the run, although he does project to be more of a run-stopping ILB in a 3-4. Coney has solid instincts, but he doesn't always trust them, leading to missed opportunities.
He needs to become more aggressive if he is going to be a starter in the NFL. His 6'1″ 240lbs frame is just fine, and his long arms allow him to shed blocks better than other LBs. Coney should be drafted at some point in the third round, with teams hoping his coverage ability translates to the NFL.
4. Germaine Pratt, North Carolina State
What is interesting about Pratt is that he started his career as a free safety before moving to linebacker. This gives him great coverage skills for the position, making him an intriguing prospect. He has good size and athleticism, and is a good tackler, but he lacks refinement as an LB.
Pratt is not a gap-shooter and struggles to diagnose blocking schemes and misdirection. However, those skills can be learned with experience, and his coverage ability will make him an instant starter. He could go in the mid-t0-late second if a team feels like they can improve his instincts right away.
3. Mack Wilson, Alabama
Wilson is a technician at the LB position, refined in most of its aspects. He is a good tackler and very solid in coverage, with the athleticism to make plays from sideline to sideline. What prevents him from joining the top tier of LB prospects is his lack of aggressiveness. He doesn't like to take risks or go for the flashy play. This means he won't make many mistakes, but he also isn't going to be making many stops behind the line of scrimmage.
With his skillset, Wilson should be more disruptive than he is. It's why he won't be a first-round pick even though he could be a top-15 player. Wilson has a very high floor in the NFL, but it's very hard to change someone's mindset, and because of that, he'll be a second-round NFL Draft pick.
2. Devin White, LSU
Whereas Wilson isn't aggressive enough, White may be too aggressive. An RB turned LB, White has a unique perspective on developing runs and blocking schemes, and there are times where he'll knife through the line for a huge TFL before his teammates have even realized what the play is. But because of his relative inexperience at the position, White's LB instincts need work.
His tackling form is poor, as he'll use his arms and hit a ball-carrier high, trying to throw him down and force a fumble instead of wrapping up. Still, White's elite athleticism makes him a great prospect, and his natural strength allows him to shed blocks well, and that skill will improve along with his technique. White has some issues, but he is a surefire top-10 pick, and could go as high as fifth overall.
1. Devin Bush, Michigan
White is considered an elite prospect because of his athleticism. Bush has better tape, is a better player right now, and is just as athletic, even besting White in some drills at the combine. His instincts are top-notch, he is a good tackler, and he just plays fast.
His range is fantastic, he can play man or zone coverage well, and is a good block shedder. He gives an inch and three pounds to White, but that's it. Bush began the NFL Draft process as a borderline first-round player, but now is likely to go in the top-15, and his new team will have gained an excellent outside linebacker.
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