Since some of us pound the table for a LBer at 27, and some of us pound the table to wait, I’ve been curious to where the top LBers have been drafted over the last few years.
Now, quick note: Every single website has different rankings for the same player and this year is no different. Draft Network loves Cap Jack yet NFL.com has a few ‘backers ahead of him. For ease of access I used nfldraftbuzz.com since they made it easy to pull up their rankings/ratings and where the player got drafted.
I also tried to focus on 4-3 LBers.
2021:
Mica Parsons: projected to go top-5, went 12th.
JOK: projected to be a top 10, picked 52nd. Javen Collins: projected to be a mid-first, went 16th.
Nick Bolton: projected to be a mid-1st, went 58th overall.
2022:
Nakobe Dean: projected a mid-1st, went in the 3rd round.
Devin Llyod: projected mid-1st, went 27th.
Brandon Smith: projected mid-2nd, went in 4th round.
Christian Harris: projected late-2nd, went round 3 pick 75.
Terrel Bernard: He was a projected 5th rounder who went top 100.
It definitely looks like LB value is really dictated by a teams scheme fit, and every scheme is different. It may be a reach for someone, but if a linebacker fits this defense really well they should take him as long as McBean is comfortable with it.
A few LBer projections from NFLdraftbuzz:
Jack Campbell: Late first
Drew Sanders: 3rd round
Trenton Simpson: Early second