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No off-the-ball linebacker from the last four NFL drafts has been voted to the Pro Bowl, and now teams are hedging their bets on this class, too.
Last month, decision-makers for the Patriots, Titans and Broncos tipped their hands by filling needs at inside linebacker in free agency or, in the case of the Jets, re-signing one of their own.
None of the agreements broke the bank or made big headlines. All four teams looked at the draft class and opted instead to spend freely on proven if not impact-style veterans.
“The Jets paid (Jamien) Sherwood like $15 million a year,” an executive in personnel for an NFL team said. “That seemed to tell me that people didn’t have much faith in this class.”
Sherwood, a fifth-round draft choice in 2021, went back to the Jets on a three-year deal with $30 million guaranteed.
Also in mid-March, Robert Spillane moved from the Raiders to the Patriots for three years and $20.6 million guaranteed, Dre Greenlaw went from the 49ers to the Broncos for three years and $13.5 million guaranteed and Cody Barton went from the Broncos to the Titans for three years and $9 million guaranteed.
Greenlaw has the most starts (56) of the foursome but also has had a reported nine surgeries. The undrafted Spillane (50) will be with his fourth team in eight years. This also will be the fourth team for Barton (43), a third-round draft choice in 2019. Sherwood (23), a fifth-round choice in 2021, had been a special-teams player for three years before he made the most of his first chance to start after C.J. Mosley went down with toe and neck injuries early last season.
Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell seems to be the consensus choice to the first linebacker drafted this year.
“He could go in the top 20,” an AFC personnel man said. “The five after him, those guys are all probably second round to high fourth round.”
League-wide, there’s a distinct need for fresh blood at the position. Of the 20 berths appropriated in Pro Bowl voting from 2020-2024, ten players have been represented. Five of the 10 came from the 2018 draft: Roquan Smith (first round), Tremaine Edmunds (first round), Darius Leonard (second round), Fred Warner (third round) and Zaire Franklin (seventh round). Those five players from the Class of 2018 have gobbled up 13 of the 20 slots over the past five years.
Two of the recent Pro Bowlers, Bobby Wagner and DeMario Davis, remain starters for NFC teams but each will be entering his 14th season. Leonard’s career appears over.
With teams favoring pass rushers and cover guys on the defensive side of the draft, only four conventional linebackers have been first-round selections in the last four years, and none higher than the No. 18 pick.
Jamin Davis, the No. 19 pick in 2021, already is on his fourth team. From the 2022 draft, Devin Lloyd (No. 27) probably has been a shade better than Quay Walker (No. 22). Jack Campbell, the No. 18 choice in 2023, improved from a so-so rookie season.
Defensive coordinators can only hope this class of linebackers approaches 2018. Besides Smith, Warner, Edmunds, Leonard and Franklin, that group also included Leighton Vander Esch, Josey Jewell, Jerome Baker and Rashaan Evans.
An obvious plus for this year’s class is the number of candidates regarded as capable of wearing the green-dot helmet because they’re equipped to call and direct a defense.
“I have six or seven in the top 100,” one scout said. “Only one that isn’t capable of being a green dot is Campbell. (Smael) Mondon and all the others are. (Danny) Stutsman, (Carson) Schwesinger and (Demetrius) Knight are like high-level green dots.”
Underwent surgery for a torn labrum after the combine. “He can roll,” said a second scout. “Plays with range and tackles hard. He’ll take on blocks and can slip ‘em. Best at run and chase. He can run in coverage. Closes quickly as a rusher. Played with good instincts.” Other personnel people didn’t feel his reactions were sharp. “He has a lot of physical traits but I question the instincts part of it,” said a third scout. “Quick twitch, physical, really good size and strength, but the instincts were kind of average. That would be the only thing that would kind of hold me back on him.” A two-year starter, he finished with 184 tackles (16 for loss), 5 ½ sacks and seven turnover plays (the total of interceptions, fumbles forced and fumbles recovered). “He’s like Derrick Johnson from Texas that played for Kansas City,” a fourth scout said. “He wasn’t mentally good but he was so athletic that sometimes when he was wrong he was still right. Campbell is a really talented athlete but questioned his brain. The athlete is dynamic.” The third scout was asked if a linebacker can overcome below-average instincts in the NFL. He replied: “That’s hard. A lot of times the answer is ‘no.’ Sometimes you can improve a little bit. It’s worth taking him at the right spot but not the first round. He’s more like in the 40’s.” Arms were 32 ½ inches; hands were 10 ½, largest at the position. “He put on a show at the combine,” said a fifth scout. “He’s got it all. He’s an inside backer with outside backer flexibility. He’s even got some rush potential people might try to tap into. He’s really only played the spot for a little more than a year so he’s going to get better and better. People question his instincts. I think it was more shifting gears from (Nick) Saban to (Kalen) DeBoer, changing schemes and really being on the field for the first time. I wouldn’t say he was a slow blinker. I don’t think that’s a concern.” Five-star recruit from Erial, N.J. Played wide receiver and defensive end as a senior at IMG Academy.
2. SMAEL MONDON, Georgia (6-2, 229, 4.60, 2-3): Led the linebackers in the broad jump (10-10) and bench press (25 reps). “Not as good as Quay Walker but a good football player,” said one scout. “Georgia’s done a great job producing linebackers. Second and third round, he’s gone. Really good run-and-chase player. Good interior blitzer. Needs to clean up some things going on behind him in coverage but he’s really good in first-level coverage – being able to read and react. I think he relies more on his athletic ability than his instincts.” Limited to 10 games as a senior due to injury. “He got banged up and missed some time so he really never settled in,” a second scout said. “When he was healthy he was more the will linebacker, the fast-flow type versus a heavy-handed, stack blocks, between the tackles type guy. Now the character’s not great on him but, assuming he gets healthier and gets coached up, I think he’s a starter. Second round.” Finished with 212 tackles (18 for loss), eight sacks ands just one turnover play. “The body has come a long way,” said a third scout. “It took him time. Holding above 220 has always been a challenge. That was a big key for him this year — to get the weight and hold it. He tests out well, at least in a straight line. More early Day 3 guy but could creep up a little higher if people get excited about the testing numbers. I would say he isn’t (a green dot). I think he did make the calls somewhat this year but I don’t think that’s him in the NFL. They say he’s super intelligent, a guy who makes 3.0 (grade-point average) without cracking a book. That’s the problem. He’s not going to put in a lot of effort. It’s the same way he’s been on the field. The guy’s a great athlete but never spent the time he needed in the weight room and the nutritional aspect, things like that.” Started 32 of 51 games. Arms were 31 ¾. “He can run the middle and cover wide-receiver slots,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got hips and feet like a safety. Not a knock-back tackler. Not great getting off blocks. Not an ideal point player but who gives a f--- because his athletic ability is (ideal). Second round for sure.” Five-star recruit from Dallas. Played running back, quarterback and wide receiver in addition to linebacker as a prep.
Last month, decision-makers for the Patriots, Titans and Broncos tipped their hands by filling needs at inside linebacker in free agency or, in the case of the Jets, re-signing one of their own.
None of the agreements broke the bank or made big headlines. All four teams looked at the draft class and opted instead to spend freely on proven if not impact-style veterans.
“The Jets paid (Jamien) Sherwood like $15 million a year,” an executive in personnel for an NFL team said. “That seemed to tell me that people didn’t have much faith in this class.”
Sherwood, a fifth-round draft choice in 2021, went back to the Jets on a three-year deal with $30 million guaranteed.
Also in mid-March, Robert Spillane moved from the Raiders to the Patriots for three years and $20.6 million guaranteed, Dre Greenlaw went from the 49ers to the Broncos for three years and $13.5 million guaranteed and Cody Barton went from the Broncos to the Titans for three years and $9 million guaranteed.
Greenlaw has the most starts (56) of the foursome but also has had a reported nine surgeries. The undrafted Spillane (50) will be with his fourth team in eight years. This also will be the fourth team for Barton (43), a third-round draft choice in 2019. Sherwood (23), a fifth-round choice in 2021, had been a special-teams player for three years before he made the most of his first chance to start after C.J. Mosley went down with toe and neck injuries early last season.
Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell seems to be the consensus choice to the first linebacker drafted this year.
“He could go in the top 20,” an AFC personnel man said. “The five after him, those guys are all probably second round to high fourth round.”
League-wide, there’s a distinct need for fresh blood at the position. Of the 20 berths appropriated in Pro Bowl voting from 2020-2024, ten players have been represented. Five of the 10 came from the 2018 draft: Roquan Smith (first round), Tremaine Edmunds (first round), Darius Leonard (second round), Fred Warner (third round) and Zaire Franklin (seventh round). Those five players from the Class of 2018 have gobbled up 13 of the 20 slots over the past five years.
Two of the recent Pro Bowlers, Bobby Wagner and DeMario Davis, remain starters for NFC teams but each will be entering his 14th season. Leonard’s career appears over.
With teams favoring pass rushers and cover guys on the defensive side of the draft, only four conventional linebackers have been first-round selections in the last four years, and none higher than the No. 18 pick.
Jamin Davis, the No. 19 pick in 2021, already is on his fourth team. From the 2022 draft, Devin Lloyd (No. 27) probably has been a shade better than Quay Walker (No. 22). Jack Campbell, the No. 18 choice in 2023, improved from a so-so rookie season.
Defensive coordinators can only hope this class of linebackers approaches 2018. Besides Smith, Warner, Edmunds, Leonard and Franklin, that group also included Leighton Vander Esch, Josey Jewell, Jerome Baker and Rashaan Evans.
An obvious plus for this year’s class is the number of candidates regarded as capable of wearing the green-dot helmet because they’re equipped to call and direct a defense.
“I have six or seven in the top 100,” one scout said. “Only one that isn’t capable of being a green dot is Campbell. (Smael) Mondon and all the others are. (Danny) Stutsman, (Carson) Schwesinger and (Demetrius) Knight are like high-level green dots.”
LINEBACKERS
1. JIHAAD CAMPBELL, Alabama (6-3, 235, 4.54, 1-2): Third-year junior. “He is all over the field,” one scout said. “Explosive, nasty. They do everything with this guy. He’s a former D-end. He has got bad intentions. He can blitz, cover. Love this guy. Mid-first round.”Underwent surgery for a torn labrum after the combine. “He can roll,” said a second scout. “Plays with range and tackles hard. He’ll take on blocks and can slip ‘em. Best at run and chase. He can run in coverage. Closes quickly as a rusher. Played with good instincts.” Other personnel people didn’t feel his reactions were sharp. “He has a lot of physical traits but I question the instincts part of it,” said a third scout. “Quick twitch, physical, really good size and strength, but the instincts were kind of average. That would be the only thing that would kind of hold me back on him.” A two-year starter, he finished with 184 tackles (16 for loss), 5 ½ sacks and seven turnover plays (the total of interceptions, fumbles forced and fumbles recovered). “He’s like Derrick Johnson from Texas that played for Kansas City,” a fourth scout said. “He wasn’t mentally good but he was so athletic that sometimes when he was wrong he was still right. Campbell is a really talented athlete but questioned his brain. The athlete is dynamic.” The third scout was asked if a linebacker can overcome below-average instincts in the NFL. He replied: “That’s hard. A lot of times the answer is ‘no.’ Sometimes you can improve a little bit. It’s worth taking him at the right spot but not the first round. He’s more like in the 40’s.” Arms were 32 ½ inches; hands were 10 ½, largest at the position. “He put on a show at the combine,” said a fifth scout. “He’s got it all. He’s an inside backer with outside backer flexibility. He’s even got some rush potential people might try to tap into. He’s really only played the spot for a little more than a year so he’s going to get better and better. People question his instincts. I think it was more shifting gears from (Nick) Saban to (Kalen) DeBoer, changing schemes and really being on the field for the first time. I wouldn’t say he was a slow blinker. I don’t think that’s a concern.” Five-star recruit from Erial, N.J. Played wide receiver and defensive end as a senior at IMG Academy.
2. SMAEL MONDON, Georgia (6-2, 229, 4.60, 2-3): Led the linebackers in the broad jump (10-10) and bench press (25 reps). “Not as good as Quay Walker but a good football player,” said one scout. “Georgia’s done a great job producing linebackers. Second and third round, he’s gone. Really good run-and-chase player. Good interior blitzer. Needs to clean up some things going on behind him in coverage but he’s really good in first-level coverage – being able to read and react. I think he relies more on his athletic ability than his instincts.” Limited to 10 games as a senior due to injury. “He got banged up and missed some time so he really never settled in,” a second scout said. “When he was healthy he was more the will linebacker, the fast-flow type versus a heavy-handed, stack blocks, between the tackles type guy. Now the character’s not great on him but, assuming he gets healthier and gets coached up, I think he’s a starter. Second round.” Finished with 212 tackles (18 for loss), eight sacks ands just one turnover play. “The body has come a long way,” said a third scout. “It took him time. Holding above 220 has always been a challenge. That was a big key for him this year — to get the weight and hold it. He tests out well, at least in a straight line. More early Day 3 guy but could creep up a little higher if people get excited about the testing numbers. I would say he isn’t (a green dot). I think he did make the calls somewhat this year but I don’t think that’s him in the NFL. They say he’s super intelligent, a guy who makes 3.0 (grade-point average) without cracking a book. That’s the problem. He’s not going to put in a lot of effort. It’s the same way he’s been on the field. The guy’s a great athlete but never spent the time he needed in the weight room and the nutritional aspect, things like that.” Started 32 of 51 games. Arms were 31 ¾. “He can run the middle and cover wide-receiver slots,” a fourth scout said. “He’s got hips and feet like a safety. Not a knock-back tackler. Not great getting off blocks. Not an ideal point player but who gives a f--- because his athletic ability is (ideal). Second round for sure.” Five-star recruit from Dallas. Played running back, quarterback and wide receiver in addition to linebacker as a prep.
