2018 NFL Draft Prospects – Outside Linebacker

2018 NFL Prospects - Outside Linebacker

2018 NFL Mock DraftDraftGeek’s Mock Draft

 

2018 NFL Draft Prospects by Position:

Offense

Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Offensive Guard | Center

Defense

Defensive Tackle | 3-4 Nose Tackle | Defensive End | Outside Linebacker | Inside Linebacker | Cornerback | Safety

Extra: Sleepers

 

2018 NFL Draft Outside Linebacker Ranking

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Tremaine Edmunds1. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech

Height: 6-4 Weight: 236 lbs

Elite level awareness and recognition that is gifted operating in the open field. If he has any noticeable weakness at this point, it is that he sometimes allows his phenomenal instincts to lead him too quickly, and can sometimes take an initial false step… Full Profile

Harold Landry - 2018 NFL Draft2. Harold Landry, Boston College

Height: 6-3 Weight: 250 lbs

A big, fast, premium edge pass rusher, best suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 or a pass rush specialist in a 4-3… Full Profile

 

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Lorenzo Carter3. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia

Height: 6-6 Weight: 242 lbs

A lean, well balanced defensive end that uses his length well to gain a leverage advantage on blockers… Full Profile

 

2018 NFL Mock Draft4. Uchenna Nwosu, USC

Height: 6-2 Weight: 240 lbs

A natural leader on the defense, Nwosu is a converted safety that has the awareness of a defensive back, but is growing into a strong side linebacker’s body… Full Profile

 

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo5. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma

Height: 6-2 Weight: 240 lbs

A quick-footed edge pass rusher in a 3-4 or a pass-rush specialist defensive end in a 4-3, Okoronkwo has a flair for speeding past offensive tackles… Full Profile

 

Jerome Baker - 2018 NFL Draft6. Jerome Baker, Ohio State

Height: 6-1 Weight: 215 lbs

In today’s NFL, there is a demand for hybrid linebacker / safety type players that can handle the mismatches presented by offensive coordinators… Full Profile

 

Jeff Holland - 2018 NFL Draft7. Jeff Holland, Auburn

Height: 6-1 Weight: 249 lbs

An off the edge, pass rushing outside linebacker that thrives off of getting into the offensive backfield… Full Profile

 

Malik Jefferson - 2018 NFL Draft8. Malik Jefferson, Texas

Height: 6-3 Weight: 232 lbs

Settling on the outside for the 2017 season, Jefferson should be able to showcase his elite range and aestheticism… Full Profile

 

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Dorian O’Daniel9. Dorian O’Daniel, Clemson

Height: 6-1 Weight: 215 lbs

An extremely versatile, off the ball linebacker, O’Daniel is a rangy, playmaking linebacker that isn’t a matchup liability in today’s NFL… Full Profile

 

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Trevon Young10. Trevon Young, Louisville

Height: 6-4 Weight: 233 lbs

Coming off a hip injury, Young is showing flashes of being an elite pass rusher off of the edge… Full Profile

 

 

 

Example Draft Considerations:

  • First trick is determining the position in the NFL- if possibly a defensive end. Most 4-3 DE’s are fairly long and built, but some 4-3 DE’s in certain systems are “designated pass rushers” or “pass rush specialists”, that might come in on 3rd down or any obvious passing down. That is generally a smaller, speedier defensive end that could be a liability against the run.
  • Primary skills to evaluate:
    • Ability to drop into coverage (including covering matchup nightmares like speedy tight ends and running backs that move into the slot to receive).
    • Run stopping ability.
    • Blitzing ability (or general pass rush ability).
    • “Sideline to sideline” agility and range.
    • Can “break down”, which is a tackling technique of stopping before you tackle someone so you don’t get beat by last second moves.
    • Number of sacks / INT’s, TFL’s
    • Most of the OLB’s in the scouting reports are either middle linebackers in 4-3’s or OLB’s in 3-4… the skillset is often pretty close. Guys that are destined to play strongside or weakside in a 4-3 are generally a tier below and skew strongly to either better against the run, or better in coverage.

 

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