4th-7th Round Linebackers to be aware of...

[tynimiller]

So, the sad fact is nearly every scenario I've played out in mock drafts and situational projections...the value rarely is to grab a LB. There is either a bonafide starting caliber Tackle or CB or even an iDL available...and rolling the dice on increased production/growth from Martin and Barnes is what I have to lean on.

That said, I want to highlight a few of my favorite guys that I think 4th round onward should/could be on everyone's radar. In no specific order or ranking:

Kuony Deng - Cal
***** Fisher - Northwestern
Garrett Wallow - TCU
Willie Eubanks - Citadel
Anthony Hines III - Texas A&M


*I'll try to add a quick blurb about each later.

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

KJ Britt and Errol Thompson should be on this list as well. I liked Britt, his 2020 was burned by an injury. Thompson I believe had the unfortunate situation of being on a bad team.

 

[tynimiller]

KJ Britt and Errol Thompson should be on this list as well. I liked Britt, his 2020 was burned by an injury. Thompson I believe had the unfortunate situation of being on a bad team.

Haven't watch a ton of KJ's tape. I didn't include Errol personally because he is far from sideline to sideline type coverage guy which I'd argue we are still lacking. I love his old school tenacious approach to seeking the ball carrier. The dude would attack the ball even if the lineman had bats in their hands.

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

Would you team him up with Martin in the middle, have Martin be the cover linebacker and Thompson be the thumper? Look at Britt in 2018 and 2019, he didn't play enough in 2020. I'm an Auburn fan so I've seen alot of Britt.

 

[GleefulGary]

Would you team him up with Martin in the middle, have Martin be the cover linebacker and Thompson be the thumper? Look at Britt in 2018 and 2019, he didn't play enough in 2020. I'm an Auburn fan so I've seen alot of Britt.

Martin didn’t look anything like a coverage backer his rookie year. I’m sure he’ll get better, but Barnes was a lot better in that aspect.

 

[tynimiller]

Martin didn’t look anything like a coverage backer his rookie year. I’m sure he’ll get better, but Barnes was a lot better in that aspect.

I was a big Barnes fan as many know, but even I didn't foresee his coverage ability. Martin never struck me as a great coverage guy due to proper technique but purely off his athleticism...game slows a touch we might see that switch some and click.

 

[tynimiller]

Would you team him up with Martin in the middle, have Martin be the cover linebacker and Thompson be the thumper? Look at Britt in 2018 and 2019, he didn't play enough in 2020. I'm an Auburn fan so I've seen alot of Britt.

Honestly no, Barnes illustrated much better coverage skills than even I (his biggest fan) predicted he could do when we grabbed him as a UDFA. ATM, I'm picking Barnes as the clear favorite - however another year for Martin being comfortable and fully healthy could have something to say.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

Deng - Not a true ILB, lacks instincts. Will be converted to Edge in the NFL.

***** - As much as I like him he's really just a slightly better Ty Summers, but Summers is still the better athlete in my opinion. ***** will struggle with the speed of the NFL.

Wallow - As a converted Safety he has some plus athleticism to offer. But will he mature into a true ILB? I don't know. Might be worth a shot though.

Eubanks - Tape is good. I'd take a stab in the 6th.

Hines - Is he an effort player or does he actually have talent? I'm not sure.

 

[tynimiller]

Deng - Not a true ILB, lacks instincts. Will be converted to Edge in the NFL.

I disagree, but not wholly, I don't think anyone knows precisely what Deng is going to be at next level...he is a developmental piece irregardless if you put him in middle or outside...his flashes are special, but he also easily dissappears.

***** - As much as I like him he's really just a slightly better Ty Summers, but Summers is still the better athlete in my opinion. ***** will struggle with the speed of the NFL.

No joke, that might be the best way to describe him I've heard. A more athletic Ty Summers, with in my opinion a touch more "edge" to him or aggression. I could easily see ***** being a guy that never pushes for main snaps, but is support depth on a team for 6-8 years...like a Jarret Bush of the LB room.

Wallow - As a converted Safety he has some plus athleticism to offer. But will he mature into a true ILB? I don't know. Might be worth a shot though.

Eubanks - Tape is good. I'd take a stab in the 6th.

Hines - Is he an effort player or does he actually have talent? I'm not sure.

These three I like, but all for very different reasons. Eubanks is for sure the most "polished" or ready to go out the gate IMO despite the small school of Citadel. Dude is far more athletic than his frame should be...love a lot about him and for sure would smile if we nab him Day 3.

Wallow is the most savvy and brain strong of the three IMO. Easily from his days as a Safety, but as quick as his acceleration button is, it is like he is hesitant in coverages despite having the raw ability to keep up with any TE/RB out there. Again I'm a fan Day 3 and like Eubanks not a higher than 5th type guy.

Hines III is grossly the one with highest ceiling of the list IMO. He will jump out at you on plays at times and you hit the nail on the head - is it his techniques making the plays or purely his effort? If he is going to meet success at the next level it cannot be just one or the other...

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

I was a big Barnes fan as many know, but even I didn't foresee his coverage ability. Martin never struck me as a great coverage guy due to proper technique but purely off his athleticism...game slows a touch we might see that switch some and click.

So what you I and GleefulGary are all thinking is if we're going with Martin we have to get Britt or another coverage ILB. If we're going with Barnes we can take a guy like Thompson.

I've seen as well people discuss ***** Fisher, and while I like the pedigree of being coached by Fitzgerald while not doing anything in the NFL being THAT type of guy at MLB/ILB I look at Fisher and think he's almost too big to be an ILB. 6'4 250? To me that's a giant ILB or a small OLB, more so a small OLB.

 

[GleefulGary]

Just get a good LB and let the rest figure itself out. Don’t overthink it. Every starting LB needs to have capable coverage skills these days.

 

[tynimiller]

So what you I and GleefulGary are all thinking is if we're going with Martin we have to get Britt or another coverage ILB. If we're going with Barnes we can take a guy like Thompson.

I've seen as well people discuss ***** Fisher, and while I like the pedigree of being coached by Fitzgerald while not doing anything in the NFL being THAT type of guy at MLB/ILB I look at Fisher and think he's almost too big to be an ILB. 6'4 250? To me that's a giant ILB or a small OLB, more so a small OLB.

It isn't a Barnes or Martin decision, both will be a Packer in 2021.

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

It isn't a Barnes or Martin decision, both will be a Packer in 2021.

I wasn't clear and I apologize I was talking in the starting lineup, not just the roster as a whole.

 

[easyk83]

I was about to say Jack Sanborn but he's returning to Wisconsin... damnit.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

Why would you want another ILB who can't cover?

Wisconsin's defense is greater than the sum of its parts. When Leonhard comes to be our DC watch them decline hard.

 

[Half Empty]

Wisconsin's defense is greater than the sum of its parts. When Leonhard comes to be our DC watch them decline hard.

Maybe too early, but this seems to be internally inconsistent. The first sentence indicates that Leonhard is getting more out his players than they should produce on pure talent. Given that the Pack seems to have some deficiencies in the line, probably at iLB, and definitely at CB #2, wouldn't the forecast be for improvement if coached by a guy who gets more than the sum?

 

[ct7412]

It's fun to speculate on late round draft picks, but what La Fleur perceives he needs can make the selection process baffling. Heck, I never heard of last year's 3rd round pick, Josiah Deguara, until after they picked him. So likewise, my pick for a 4th round LB has received little pub. He is a LB/S hybrid - Divine Deablo from Virginia Tech.

 

[tynimiller]

It's fun to speculate on late round draft picks, but what La Fleur perceives he needs can make the selection process baffling. Heck, I never heard of last year's 3rd round pick, Josiah Deguara, until after they picked him. So likewise, my pick for a 4th round LB has received little pub. He is a LB/S hybrid - Divine Deablo from Virginia Tech.

Few of us spoke about Deguara here, he was actually one of my favorite H Back TEs in the draft...granted I don't remember any of us grading him higher than 4th.

Also Lafleur isn't the main person drafting, Gute is. I'd actually bet hard hard cash on the fact that if MLF was picking Love would be on another team.

 

[PikeBadger]

Why would you want another ILB who can't cover?

Wisconsin's defense is greater than the sum of its parts. When Leonhard comes to be our DC watch them decline hard.

Let me see If I have this right. The coach continually field a defense greater than the sum of the abilities of it’s players and that same quality would result in failure in Green Bay?

who is writing your script?!?!

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

Maybe too early, but this seems to be internally inconsistent. The first sentence indicates that Leonhard is getting more out his players than they should produce on pure talent. Given that the Pack seems to have some deficiencies in the line, probably at iLB, and definitely at CB #2, wouldn't the forecast be for improvement if coached by a guy who gets more than the sum?

Let me see If I have this right. The coach continually field a defense greater than the sum of the abilities of it’s players and that same quality would result in failure in Green Bay?

who is writing your script?!?!

"Them" would refer to Wisconsin. Do I have to give a class on deductive reasoning?

 

[Half Empty]

Aha. Since the discussion was about the Pack hiring Leonard, apparently more than one of us took "them" to be them. A communicative skills class would negate the need for Reasoning 101.

 

[PikeBadger]

"Them" would refer to Wisconsin. Do I have to give a class on deductive reasoning?

Gotcha. I thought you were one of the anti-Leonhard people here. My mistake.

 

[tynimiller]

"Them" would refer to Wisconsin. Do I have to give a class on deductive reasoning?

I took it as the other way as well honestly.