The outside linebackers are an
elite class this year led by one of the best prospects in
years A.J. Hawk who is expected to go as high as the top 5.
Amazingly, as many as six outside linebackers are projected
to be taken in the first round alone.
Top
Outside Linebackers
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A.J. Hawk, 6-1, 243, Ohio State:
A three-year letter winner with the
Buckeyes, Hawk is the best LB in the
draft, and will more than likely be a
top-5 pick. His speed, ability to read
what's going on, and coverage skills
will be great assets to him in the NFL.
His toughness will also help him, as
most of the people he will go up against
will be bigger than him. He will be able
to step in and make an impact almost
instantly on most teams.
Hawk lacks elite fluidity in his hips, which will
limit him a bit in coverage in the NFL. He also
lacks ideal lower body bulk and strength to take on
bigger blockers versus the inside run. However, what
he lacks in elite athleticism and base he more than
makes up for with instincts, toughness, speed,
quickness and power. Hawk is at his best when he has
room to roam uncovered, which allows him to best use
his diagnostic skills and high motor to chase plays
down without having to fight through much traffic.
Hawk is an absolute ball-hawk versus the run and he
is a playmaker in the passing game both as a pass
rusher and in coverage. He could probably play
inside or weak-side linebacker in the NFL but we
think he'll fit best at WLB, where he'll be in space
more often. Hawk should be the first linebacker
prospect to come off the board in the 2006 draft.
FoxSports:
Some scouts rate him as best defensive player in
college football. The two-time All-American is
dynamic, disruptive and intense. Won the Lombardi
Trophy and All-Big Ten Defensive Player of the year.
Veteran of 38 starts, Hawk was the first OSU
defender since Steve Tovar (1990-92) to lead the
team in tackles three consecutive seasons. Superb
sideline-to-sideline player who must be accounted
for if an offense hopes to work
2. Ernie Sims, 6-0,
228, Florida State (Jr.): Ernie is a playmaker
with tremendous instincts who is always around the
action. He has sideline to sideline abilities. Sims
was a standout his entire career at Florida State
and should translate that to success in the NFL. He
may need to be in the right system such as a cover 2
system to make a true impact however at the next
level.
Sims is an undersized prospect that played the "Sam"
linebacker position in college but projects as a
"Will" linebacker in the NFL. He has added
significant bulk over the course of the last year
but he still must continue to get bigger and improve
his lower body strength in order to adequately match
up in the NFL. However, Sims' speed, athletic
ability, instincts and explosive tackling skills are
difficult to ignore. He would fit best on an NFL
team that emphasizes speed over size on defense
(Colts, Buccaneers, Bears, etc.). Regardless, Sims
projects as a late-first round pick in the 2006
draft.
FoxSports:
Regarded as the school's finest linebacker prospect
since the Derrick Brooks era (1991-94). Sims was
given jersey No. 34 upon arriving at Florida State
in 2003, a number that was retired in honor of
former Seminole great Ron Sellers, who signed off on
the move. Finished his career with 200 tackles (95
solos), seven sacks for minus-61 yards and 21 stops
for losses of 74 yards. A history of concussions and
a domestic battery charge may drop his stock.
3.
Manny Lawson, 6-5, 240, North Carolina State
:
We project Lawson to transition to a rush linebacker
position. He has the speed and ability to
fulfill a rush end position although he wont be able
to play every down at end in the NFL at end he could
be used in the manner of a Derrick Thomas who was a
linebacker but for all intensive purposes played at
end most of the time.
Lawson will likely need time to either transition to
a rush-linebacker position or to bulk up as a "weakside"
end before he can contribute as an every-down player
in the NFL. Also promising is the fact that Lawson
has bulked up to 241 pounds and still was able to
run the 40-yard dash in the 4.4's. On top of his
playmaking potential as a defensive prospect, Lawson
is a weapon as a kick blocker and cover guy on
special teams, which gives him extra value.
We
expect Lawson to come off the board at some point
during the second round of the 2006 draft.
FoxSports:
Although teammate (defensive end) Mario Williams is
considered a top seven selection, it was Lawson who
was selected the team's Most Valuable Defensive
Lineman in 2005. Projected as an outside linebacker
at the next level, Lawson registered 58 tackles (33
solos) with 10.5 sacks and 19.5 stops for losses in
2005
4. Bobby Carpenter,
6-3, 245, Ohio State
:
Bobby was overshadowed by A.J. Hawk, but is a
prospect in his own right. He was always surrounded
by a lot of talent which alleviated pressure and
didn't allow the opposition to focus only on him
which makes him tough to grade out from film. Bobby
is tough as nails and flies to the ball, a real
playmaker who excels at rushing the passer. There
are questions whether he will ever be the guy on
defense, but he will be a nice starter for sure.
Carpenter still has room to improve in terms of his
efficiency when taking on blocks as well as a
tackler. He also lacks explosive strength and will
need to get stronger in order to anchor versus the
run as a SLB in the NFL. However, he has a good deal
of upside due to his versatility and size/speed
combo. He can play a backup role at a couple of
different LB positions early in his NFL career and
he also is a proven playmaker on special teams,
where he should be able to contribute right away. In
our opinion, Carpenter is a good value late in the
first or early in the second round of the 2006 draft
FoxSports: Overlooked or unheralded until he
dominated the action during the 2005
Texas-Ohio State game. Carpenter
continued to turn in highlight reel
tackles during the first eleven games of
the 2005 season. However, a fractured
right fibula vs. Michigan in the regular
season finale prevented him from playing
in the Fiesta Bowl. Causes havoc as a
pass rusher, which may earn him a job on
nickel alignments as a rookie.
5. DeMeco Ryans,
6-1, 229, Alabama: DeMeco has an
incredible burst for a linebacker that allows him to
close in in a big hurry. While he's been excellent
in run support, his strength may be dropping back
into coverage, running well with running backs and
tight ends very much like the Chiefs Derrick
Johnson. DeMeco is a guy who has really gotten lost
in all the great linebackers coming out in this
draft. One thing that makes him stand above his
peers in this draft is that he's been such a
high-character guy and a team leader.
Scout:
While Ryans spent most of his time in
college at the SLB position, he showed the
versatility to play all three LB positions. We think
his best fit will be at WLB in the NFL. Ryans lacks
elite speed and he will need to improve his bulk and
strength in order to match up better in the NFL.
However, he plays the game with outstanding
technique and instincts. He is quick, aggressive,
tough and active versus the run. He shows
outstanding tackling skills and he has developed
into a solid contributor in the passing game both as
a pass rusher and in coverage. Ryans has the
physical tools to develop into a playmaking fulltime
starter in the NFL and he is polished enough to
contribute immediately as a rookie. Ryans should be
one of the top-five linebackers selected in the 2006
draft most likely late in the first round.
FoxSports:
Capped consensus All-America season with Cotton Bowl
Defensive MVP honors after a 2005 campaign in which
he posted 76 tackles (43 solos) with five sacks and
twelve stops for losses. Earned Arthur Ashe Jr.
Sports Scholar honors and was an Academic
All-District IV pick. Not as stout at the point of
attack as some of the other top linebackers, but can
run with backs and tight ends in coverage.
Solidified his first-round grade with a strong
showing during the Senior Bowl and at the combine
6.
Chad Greenway,
6-2, 242, Iowa: Chad Greenway is a great
tackler, he will rarely miss a tackle. His speed allows him to drop back into
coverage as well as anyone, and he can run with any tight end in the league.
Greenway should be a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker in the NFL and is
extremely underrated on most draft boards. His speed and aggression may lead him
to over-pursue plays early on in his career, but he just so football smart and
coachable that that wont be a problem for long.
ESPN/Scout:
Greenway projects on the weak-side in the NFL. He
lacks ideal strength and he will need to improve his
ability to disengage from blocks quicker in the NFL.
He also did run well at the combine, which leads to
some concerns about his ability to avoid blockers as
effectively in the NFL. However, Greenway remains an
elite linebacker prospect in the 2006 class because
of his outstanding quickness, instincts and athletic
ability. He is a sideline-to-sideline run-stopper
who also has emerged as a dynamic playmaker in the
passing game both in coverage and as a pass rusher.
Greenway is ready to contribute immediately as a WLB
in the NFL and he should quickly emerge as a
playmaking fulltime starter. In our opinion,
Greenway grades out as a mid-first round prospect in
the 2006 class.
FoxSports:
Fluid athleticism, quickness and uncanny intuition
for getting in on plays. Especially impressive pass
coverage skills with the ability to stay with
receivers even on deep routes. Managed only 16 reps
benching 225 pounds at the Combine, but had some
deducted for lack of form. And any scout who cares
about that obviously didn't watch him play in games
or practice at Senior Bowl, where his
competitiveness, speed and leadership were
conspicuous
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