2021 NFL Draft Preview: LB rankings with NFL comparisons
As we get ready for the 2021 NFL Draft, we will be going through each position to breakdown the top players and give NFL comparisons for how they may translate into the NFL. Considering the NFL is such a role specific league, the emphasis should be less about the ranking and more about the strengths and how they will be used in the NFL.
Below are the top 11 off-ball linebackers in the 2021 NFL Draft.
11. Chaz Surratt, UNC
NFL Comparison for Chaz Surratt: Blake Martinez
Surratt has a see-ball, get-ball mentality and as a former quarterback has a nice understanding of angles. However, he has a shorter arm length and tends to be just a tick late from far too many tackles. He also enters the NFL at age 24 and does not have much experience as a stack linebacker between the tackles.
10. Pete Werner, Ohio State
NFL Comparison for Pete Werner: BJ Goodson
Pete Werner is a smart, experienced starter at multiple linebacker spots on the Ohio State defense. He has great lateral agility and quickness and can be trusted in coverage. However, he finds himself on the ground far too often to be consistently trusted in the box.
9. Jabril Cox, LSU
NFL Comparison for Jabrill Cox: Darron Lee
Jabril Cox transferred from North Dakota State to LSU to improve his draft stock and did just that. He still has issues taking on blockers and will get washed out in the run game, but Cox is fluid in coverage and has great range as a tackler. At the very worst he will be relied on for special teams, but his coverage ability gives him starter upside.
8. Dylan Moses, Alabama
NFL Comparison for Dylan Moses: Kwon Alexander
Moses compares to Alexander favorably in that they are undersized SEC linebackers who had strong college careers but saw too many injuries take a hit on their draft stock. Moses tore his ACL, came back, and played slow on a knee that he shortened his season to heal up. He did not participate in his pro day either. Still, at his upside, this was a play-caller and leader of the Alabama defense as a sophomore. Like Alexander, the injuries will hurt his draft stock and may follow him into the NFL.
7. Monty Rice, Georgia
NFL Comparison for Monty Rice: Anthony Walker
Monty Rice is not a huge linebacker but is rocked up for his size. He has enough flexibility in coverage, but is instinctual reading blocks and clearing gout the trash in the box. He can get on the field early, and while Anthony Walker is not a highly known commodity, he just saw a nice payday in free agency because of his instincts and ability to shed blocks.
6. Nick Bolton, Missouri
NFL Comparison for Nick Bolton: Anthony Hitchens
Nick Bolton plays a lot faster than his tested time. Still, he is a linebacker who can get picked on in coverage when he gets the wrong matchup. Still, Bolton brings a captain mentality who can call plays and man the MIKE role in the middle of a defense. Hitchens makes sense for comparison, but he could be looked at as a Danny Trevathan type now at his older age.
5. Barron Browning, Ohio State
NFL Comparison for Barron Browning: Tyus Bowser
Barron Browning is what you would draw up physically for a linebacker but has not shown enough between the ears to be drafted high. He played an overhang role for the most part and blitzed off of the edge and dropped into coverage.
The Baltimore Ravens highlighted this type of versatility in a role for Tyus Bowser, who has very similar athletic measurements.
4. Jamin Davis, Kentucky
NFL Comparison for Jamin Davis: Zach Cunningham
Jamin Davis burst onto the scene with just 11 career starts and 10 coming last season. Still, he tested off of the charts and shot up boards after a season that included five pass breakups, and three picks including a pick-six. He added our tackles for loss. He finished off his rise with a 42″ vertical jump and 134″ broad jump. He is raw, but that elite athleticism and fluidity in coverage will play.
3. Zaven Collins, Tulsa
NFL Comparison for Zaven Collins: Anthony Barr
Zaven Collins looks like an edge rusher but plays more as a SAM linebacker, similar to Anthony Barr. The two have similar athletic measurables as well. Collins is a scheme fit that is not quite for everyone, but in the right role, he can find the football in space and can cover a lot of ground. That is always valued.
2. Micah Parsons
NFL Comparison for Micah Parsons: Demario Davis
Micah Parsons is a bit raw but is everything you would look for from a MIKE linebacker. He is rocked up with legit speed, agility, and burst. He can plow lineman as he rushes downhill, and his best attribute may be his downhill blitzing and block disengagement. His upside presents a leader of the defense similar to Davis with the Saints.
Next. 5 positions Bears unlikely to draft in 2021. dark
1. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
NFL Comparison for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: Jabrill Peppers/Landon Collins
When a linebacker is compared to a mix of two safeties, it may scratch a few heads, but this is the new NFL. You have to be able to play in space to compete in today’s NFL. JOK played more slot corner than anything else but has the range to tackle, like Collins, and the shiftiness in space when in the box like Peppers. The two have turned into excellent safeties in the box, and however, you define Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a box defender who is best in coverage is perfect for the future of the league.