We’ve reached the linebacker portion of our pre-draft preview. Today, we’ll look at both true off-ball inside linebackers, as well as players labeled as edge rushers who would be outside linebackers in the Patriots’ defensive system. Some players may be able to play both spots too.
Outside linebacker is pretty straight forward from a Patriots perspective. With Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings entering contract years, and not much depth behind them, it would make sense if the Patriots want to add at that position as a look-ahead. It’s something they’ve done before – they drafted outside linebackers in the top 100 three years in a row from 2019-2021, and in four of five years going back to 2017.
First round OLBs
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 25: Nolan Smith #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs calls to teammates against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
Most of the first-round pass rushers in this class are defensive ends. There is one exception though in Georgia’s Nolan Smith. Smith is expected to be on the board for the Patriots at 14. While edge rusher isn’t one of the Patriots’ “three big needs” (tackle, cornerback, wide receiver), if they’re going to not select at one of those three positions, Smith could very well end up being their guy. The Patriots met with Smith last week.
Drafting Smith would continue the trend of the Patriots targeting Combine standouts. At 6-foot-2, 238 pounds he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and had a 41.5-inch vertical. Those numbers weren’t a surprise either – Smith plays will all of that athleticism on tape.
The biggest knock teams will have on Smith is his production. He had just three sacks in seven games last year, and just 12.5 in 38 career games with the Bulldogs. But as we learned from last year’s class, that’s just the reality of playing on that loaded Georgia defense. There was so much talent, no one player could put up extreme numbers.
Round 2 ILBs
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 19: Trenton Simpson #22 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates a fourth quarter sack against the Miami Hurricanes at Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Not only is there no projected first-round picks at off-ball linebacker, there’s also no consensus first player off the board at the position. Trenton Simpson from Clemson, Drew Sanders from Arkansas, and Jack Campbell from Iowa are the three players in the running, all all three are supposed to go in the early part of the second round.
Simpson, in particular, stands out for the Patriots. He fits that athletic modern prototype of middle linebackers. At the Combine, he ran a 4.43 40 at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds. Not only does he excel at rushing the passer, but spying mobile quarterbacks as well. There’d certainly be a role for him in the Patriots’ defense.
Sanders is also a modern-type linebacker who really excels as a pass-rusher and could play on the edge as well as in the middle. If the Patriots were to draft him that may be the case, given he’s not the strongest tackler and has just one year of starting experience after transferring from Alabama last year.
Campbell is the more traditional, down-hill run stopper the Patriots generally target at the position. At 6-foot-5, 249 pounds he’s a lot to deal with coming downhill against the run. With Ja’Whaun Bentley still on the team though the Patriots have that role filled, and if they’re looking for depth it would make more sense for them to target a player later in the draft.
Round 2 OLBs
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 04: Defensive end BJ Ojulari #18 of the LSU Tigers reacts after a tackle against the Florida State Seminoles at Caesars Superdome on September 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Now we’re getting into the Patriots’ sweet spot – Day 2 edge rushers. Two players to know here are B.J. Olulari from LSU and Felix Anudike-Uzomah from Kansas State.
Ojulari is a stand-up pass rusher who wins with a quick first step, deep toolbox of pass rush moves, and high motor. He’s also coming off of a career year with seven sacks in 12 games. With his ability to get off the ball quickly and bend around the corner at 6-foot-2, 248 pounds, he’d be a logical backup and potential replacement for Uche.
Anudike-Uzomah is more of a power rusher at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds. The fact he’s also a capable edge setter and run defender could make him a fit in New England on the strong side.
Round 3 ILBs
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 3: Henry To’oTo’o #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide directs the defense prior to a play against the Utah State Aggies at Bryant Denny Stadium on September 3, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)
If the Patriots wait until the end of Day 2 to take an off-ball linebacker, there are a couple of players they may view as value picks. Henry To’oto’o from Alabama and DeMarvion Overshown from Texas both were projected top 50, fringe first-round picks had they declared for the draft last year when eligible, but both went back to school and failed to replicate their 2021 production.
To’oto’o in particular stands out as a Patriots fit. In 2021 he transferred from Tennessee to Alabama and in his first year in the system Nick Saban had him calling the Crimson Tide’s defense (the college equivalent of the green dot). His football IQ is his best trait but he’s a good athlete as well – although he didn’t test as well as expected at the Combine. At 6-foot-1, 227 pounds he’d probably play mostly on passing downs in New England, but there’s certainly be a role for him on the Patriots.
Overshown is one of the best athletes in this draft at the linebacker position. A converted safety, he can both rush the passer and cover, but he’s at his best when he’s getting after the quarterback. He’s a player who could be used both on and off the ball in New England. Overshown has considerable special teams experience as well.
Daiyan Henley from Washington State is another athletic linebacker who could be a special teams contributor while rounding out his game. His play style is similar to Overshown, but he’s not as polished of a player.
If the patriots are looking for a traditional downhill linebacker in this spot, Noah Sewell from Oregon would be the guy. Ay 6-foot-1, 246 pounds he’s a force coming down hill but isn’t as effective of an east-west defender.
Round 3 OLBs
COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 20: Zach Harrison #9 of the Ohio State Buckeyes plays against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
As we’ve highlighted a number of times in this series, the Patriots haven’t taken a player from Ohio State since 2012, but there are a number of reasons that could change this year. If it does, one of the players the team could target is Zach Harrison. Between his size (6-foot-5, 274 pounds) and explosiveness, he can set the edge with power. He’ll enter the NFL primarily as an early-down player, with upside as a pass rusher.
Byron Young from Tennessee is more of a prototypical Patriots draft pick. A JUCO transfer who has started two years for the Vols, Young is already 25 years old. Since 2017 the Patriots have had the oldest average draft age in the NFL, so they wouldn’t necessarily see that as a knock. Young is able to win with a very quick first step and high motor at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, and doesn’t quit on plays even when beat initially. He was highly productive in the SEC, recording 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in 26 career games.
One other name that has gotten a lot of attention from a Patriots perspective in the pre-draft process is Andre Carter from Army. Back in fall, there was speculation that Carter could be the first top 50 draft pick from a Military Academy in the modern era after a 14.5-sack season in 2021 put him into the national spotlight. However, he has struggled in the pre-draft process both at the Senior Bowl and Combine. There’s still a lot to like in this game in terms of upside because of his length and athleticism, but he’s look more like a project player than initially expected. That could push him towards the end of Day 2.
Day 3 ILBs
Dec 17, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) reacts after sacking Louisville Cardinals quarterback Brock Domann (19) during the first half at Fenway Park. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
If the Patriots wait until Day 3 again to make their off-ball linebacker pick, they’ll still have options. And with the gap between the top-100 players and the rest of the position not as wide as in recent years, that may be the ‘value’ play.
The two athletic three-down linebackers that stand out at this point in the draft are Dorian Williams of Tulane and Ivan Pace of Cincinnati. Pace in particular should get the Patriots’ attention with his production alone. He’s been one of the busiest linebackers in the nation the last two years. In 2021 when playing at Miami (OH), he recorded 125 tackles in 13 games with 13 for a loss and four sacks, while breakup up three passes. In 2022 he stepped up a level in competition when he transferred to Cincinnati, and his numbers improved with 136 tackles in 13 games with 20.5 TFLs and nine sacks, as well as four pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Pace flies around the field and seems to have a knack for constantly being around the ball. Where the Patriots may have pause with him though is his size – Pace measured in at 5-foot-10, 231 pounds at the Combine. He played for DeMarcus Covington at the Senior Bowl.
Later on Day 3, Mo Diabate should be an option for them. Diabate began his career at Florida but then transfered to Utah, where he filled the role 2022 first-round pick Devin Lloyd had the year before. A very high IQ player, Diabate worked with the Patriots at the Shrine Bowl, and said he was comfortable with the play-calling and communication assignments that come with his position in the Patriots’ defense.
There are also a couple of hybrid linebackers expected to go late on Day 3. Not hybrid in the sense of inside/outside, but in the sense of linebacker/safety. Dee Winters from TCU and SirVocea Dennis from Pittsburgh are both on the smaller side of the position, but can both rush the passer from the edge or off the ball, as well as contribute in coverage. And for the Patriots’ meme crowd, Dennis was a high school lacrosse player.
In terms of the downhill linebackers on Day 3, Anfernee Orji is a player the Patriots are already familiar with. He was a standout when they worked with him at the Shrine Bowl.
Day 3 OLBs
Nov 19, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Yasir Abdullah (22) reacts during the second half against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cardinal Stadium. Louisville won 25-10. Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
What kind of player are the Patriots looking for? More of a project, or more of an NFL-ready talent? That could decide which player they target at outside linebacker on Day 3.
In terms of the more NFL-ready players, K.J. Henry from Clemson and Yasir Abdullah from Louisville stand out. Henry is a former top high school recruit who didn’t quite maximize his projection at the college level. The Patriots have a history of targeting such players later in the draft or in free agency, hoping to tap into the initial potential. Henry is a strong-side edge setter who has some upside as a pass rusher, so he could be a replacement for Jennings. NFL.com describes him as a “community-oriented team captain with high personal character.” He was on DeMarcus Covington’s team at the Senior Bowl.
Abdullah is a high-motor edge rusher who played at the Shrine Bowl. He’s always hunting the football and is the epitome of a ‘play ’till the whistle’ player. He also has special teams experience.
If the Patriots want to tap into the real upside players, they could look to a couple of SEC rushers – Brenton Cox from Florida and Robert Beal from Georgia. Cox, who worked with the Patriots closely at the Shrine Bowl, is a top 150 talent who broke out in 2021 with 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 13 games. However, teams may be weary of the fact that he’s been dismissed from two programs – Florida and Georgia – in the last four years. The Patriots got a chance to speak with him extensively in Las Vegas, so they should be as familiar with his situation as any team. If they’re comfortable with what happened, he could end up being a steal in the later rounds.
Beal, like Henry, is a former top high school recruit. However, he never really cracked the incredibly deep and talented edge rusher rotation at Georgia. Still, his 6.5 sacks in just 172 pass rush snaps in 2021 suggest there’s still plenty of room for him to grow his game.
One other player to watch is Isaiah Land from Florida A&M. Watching Land on tape, he certainly looks like he should be going higher than the middle or later rounds of Day 3 where he’s projected. In 2021, he has 19 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in just 12 games. However, he played that season at just 215 pounds at 6-foot-4, which would make him a significant outlier size-wise at the NFL level.
Land has put on mass since, and weighed in at the Combine at 236 pounds. However, it’s always a question when players add significant weight of whether they can maintain their explosiveness and agility with a bigger frame. If the Patriots think he can, it’d make sense for him to be on their draft board.
UDFAs
RALEIGH, NC – SEPTEMBER 17: Donovan Smith #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is sacked by Isaiah Moore #1 of the NC State Wolfpack during the first half of their game at Carter-Finley Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
As will be the case with most positions, the UDFA projections are heavy on Shrine Bowl players. At middle linebacker, the Patriots reportedly like both North Carolina State linebackers, Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore. On the outside Jeremy Banks from Tennessee and Truman Jones from Harvard both stood out as potential Patriots fits.
One other potential Patriots UDFA is Bumper Pool from Arkansas. Pool – who legally changed his first name from James when he turned 16 – did just about everything in his five-year career with the Razorbacks. The two-time All-SEC linebacker is Arkansas’ all-time leading tackler, was a five-year starter, and played extensively on special teams the entire time. With that much production and experience at an SEC program, don’t be surprised if the Patriots find a role for him.
