NFL draft LB rankings: Reuben Foster has competition at top
As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY Sports will release its positional rankings with one post every weekday. Next up, a breakdown of the linebacker class ...
1. Reuben Foster, Alabama
6-0, 229
Foster was the top-ranked linebacker before the NFL scouting combine, and he remains there even after being sent home early after a verbal altercation during the medical checks. That punishment kept Foster from being able to complete his slate of interviews and from participating in on-field drills, but his film and college production at Alabama should be more than enough to make him the No. 1 inside linebacker drafted, perhaps as high as in the top 10. Foster is an excellent tackler but also has the speed and athleticism that should allow him to hold up in pass coverage – a critical skill set teams seek when drafting a linebacker in the first round.
2. Haason Reddick, Temple
6-1, 237
Reddick is the draft's fastest-rising linebacker, in part because of a spectacular series of workouts at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine, where he ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. The question about Reddick is that he projects to linebacker in the NFL after playing as an undersized defensive end at Temple. But he has all the physical traits and athleticism that should have NFL teams convinced he can make the switch. He already has pass rush skills (and had 10.5 sacks as a senior at Temple) and his pre-draft workouts have shown he should have the coverage abilities teams covet.
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3. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
6-3, 234
If college production matters, Cunningham has a strong case for himself. He led the SEC in tackles last year as a junior and also recovered four fumbles, both signs that he always manages to be around the ball. Also helping Cunningham’s case to be a first-rounder is how easy it is to picture him in any defensive scheme. He’s versatile enough to play weakside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but he could also move to the inside for a team running a 3-4. And with so many NFL teams running some sort of hybrid scheme, Cunningham could be plugged into a variety of different roles.
4. Jarrad Davis, Florida
6-1, 238
Davis declined to participate in on-field drills at the scouting combine in order to maximize his recovery time from the ankle injury that cut his final season at UF short. But he appears to have done enough in his pro day workout at Florida – including a 4.56-second 40-yard dash – to answer any linger questions about his health, which should give teams confidence he’ll be able to display the same sideline-to-sideline coverage range in the NFL that he did in college.
5. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
6-2, 240
There is no questioning McMillan’s college credentials after his three years as a starter at Ohio State, but he has spent this spring trying to prove that he can quickly transition to the NFL, just like former Buckeyes defensive teammates Darron Lee and Joey Bosa did a year ago. The knock on McMillan was about his athleticism, with questions about if he had the speed necessary to stand out in the pros. He helped answer that with a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine, third-best among linebackers in Indianapolis.
6. Anthony Walker, Northwestern
6-1, 238
When Walker weighed in at the scouting combine at 238 pounds, it showed he had heard one of the biggest questions about himself and was willing to answer it. Walker played at closer to 250 pounds at Northwestern, and that extra bulk would likely hamper his speed and fluidity in an NFL defense. But if he can manage to keep a slightly leaner frame, he projects as a prototypical middle linebacker.
7. Kendell Beckwith, LSU
6-2, 243
Beckwith suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament late in his senior year, so an NFL team will have to draft him based on his college film and interviews alone. That injury is certainly a setback for his draft stock, though he told reporters at the scouting combine that he has already started running and that he expects to be healthy in time for training camp.
8. Elijah Lee, Kansas State
6-3, 228
Lee didn’t get an invite to the scouting combine, so he didn’t get to measure himself directly against the other top linebackers in this draft class. But expect teams to give him a hard look after a solid career at Kansas State, including more than 100 tackles and two interceptions last year. Lee is slightly undersized, which might have teams concerned about his ability to hold up against the run. But given how often teams are utilizing sub passing packages, having a smaller, faster linebacker is becoming increasingly valuable, which could increase Lee’s stock.
9. Alex Anzalone, Florida
6-3, 241
Anzalone certainly looks the part of an NFL inside linebacker and he performed well at the scouting combine. But a team is largely going to have to draft Anzalone on his potential after an injury-plagued career at Florida. He missed the last five games of the year of the Gators (in his only season as a starter) because of a broken arm, and also dealt with shoulder issues earlier in his career.
10. Ryan Anderson, Alabama
6-2, 253
Anderson was extremely productive in college, and recorded nine sacks last year while playing alongside other talented front seven players, including Foster and Tim Williams. But Anderson faces plenty of questions in the draft process regarding his athleticism. He hasn’t help alleviate those concerns yet, especially after running a slower 40 yard dash at his pro day in Tuscaloosa (4.84 seconds) than he did at the NFL combine (4.74).
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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
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