Donte Hightower and Kyle Van Noy are back but look at their age. The Patriots don't have a linebacker waiting in the wings and owner Robert Kraft doesn't want to go shopping in free agency and over pay for possible worn out goods. Thus I give you three linebacker prospects.
Dylan Moses Alabama 6'2" 235lbs
Nfl.com draft score 6.21
Intelligent leader who's pretty aware of what's happening on the field but shows a bit of inconsistency with play recognition. Has good size, Instincts, and athleticism for the position. Able to track down and pursue ball carriers. Good lateral movement and solid tackling. Shows good speed and acceleration. Nickle/weak inside linebacker who is Inconsistent Man/zone coverage. Attacks the run well but struggles with blocking. A decent blitzer who can also play the edge. Could use to add twenty pounds of muscle and work on his strength training. ACL Injury history and concern over mental recovery from the injury.
In 35 games 192 tackles with 21.5 tackles for loss. 6 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. 4 passes defended and 2 interceptions.
Cameron McGrone Michigan 6'1" 235lbs
Nfl.com draft score 6.10
Athletic, 34 weak inside or 43 middle linebacker. Good run defender with play recognition. Quick to accelerate to the ball with decent lateral ability but only average pursuit ability displayed. Solid blitzer but could use to put on some weight and get some strength training in to help with block shredding. Can cover backs and ends but is inconsistent with both man and zone coverage. Can get grabby in coverage leading to flags. Needs to work on his mental processing skills. Limited game experience, may need a year to develop. Tore both ACLs, one in 2017 and one in 2020.
16 games 91 tackles, 11 for loss. 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass defended.
Baron Browning OSU 6'3" 245lbs
Nfl.com draft score 6.27
Athletic linebacker who has Ideal size and plays with a high Motor. Quick moving with good speed. Hits hard forcing fumbles. Good in pursuit and a solid tackler. Versatile can play multiple linebacker rules including the edge. Shows a lot of inconsistency in his play, including with his play recognition, instincts, and coverage skills. Needs to improve on his blocking shredding. Mental processing might be a cause for concern. Still raw with concerns over game time experience. Shoulder injury in 2017. Developmental player who should see time in year one. Could be a candidate for a position change due to athletic ability.
32 games, 109 tackles with 19 tackles for loss. 7 sacks with 2 forced fumbles and 2 recoveries. And 2 passes defended.
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