Phil Steele's Top 20 inside linebackers for 2017 NFL Draft

[bodi]

http://247sports.com/Gallery/Phil-Steeles-Top-20-inside-linebackers-for-2017-NFL-Draft-46287379

20) Christian Sam | 6-1 | 240 | Jr. | Arizona State
19) Michael Rose-Ivey | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. | Nebraska
18) Taylor Young | 5-10 | 225 | RS-Jr. | Baylor
17) Brooks Ellis | 6-2 | 246 | Sr. | Arkansas
16) Calvin Munson | 6-1 | 245 | Sr. | San Diego State
15) Christian Tago | 6-1 | 242 | RS-Sr. | San Jose State
14) Nyeem Wartman-White | 6-1 | 248 | RS-Sr. | Penn State\
13) Richie Brown | 6-2 | 240 | RS-Sr. | Mississippi State
12) Azeem Victor | 6-3 | 227 | RS-Jr. | Washington
11) Zach Cunningham | 6-4 | 230 | RS-Jr. | Vanderbilt
10) Josey Jewell | 6-2 | 230 | RS-Jr. | Iowa
9) Micah Kiser | 6-2 | 240 | RS-Jr. | Virginia
8) Riley Bullough | 6-2 | 230 | RS-Sr. | Michigan State
7) Ben Boulware | 6-0 | 240 | Sr. | Clemson
6) Anthony Walker | 6-1 | 235 | RS-Jr. | Northwestern
5) ) Keith Kelsey | 6-1 | 236 | Sr. | Louisville
4) Hardy Nickerson Jr. | 6-0 | 230 | RS-Sr. | Illinois
3) Kendell Beckwith | 6-2 | 252 | Sr. | LSU
2) Reuben Foster | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. | Alabama
1) Raekwon McMillan | 6-2 | 240 | Jr. | Ohio State



Phil Steele don't know who that is but here's his list

 

[KingintheNorth]

Not a great year for linebackers.

 

[Nightman]

1) Jaylon Smith - ND but doing post grad work at the Star

 

[Macnalty]

We will not sniff a LB in this draft thing before QB,DE,CB,WR, our needs are going to be great. IMO

 

[bodi]

always are but got to build from the inside out - we need a MLB er we can count on

whether or not that comes threw the draft or FA

 

[Plankton]

Raekwon McMillan is going to be a terrific pro.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Keep on eye on Davon Durant at Marshall. Four star recruit out of JuCo who got kicked out of ASU for getting into a fight with his girlfriend.

 

[Leadbelly]

The challenging thing is, with Jaylon Smith viewed as a MLB by Marinelli but not playing at all, the team will have no idea what they have at that spot heading into the next draft.

We'd likely pass on taking potentially great MLBs in Foster or McMillan in RD1 because the team thinks Smith might be the future there. Maybe he is. Maybe he's an OLB. Maybe he loses the athleticism that made him special and he's just meh. Maybe he never plays again. Won't know until camp next year.

 

[bodi]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-look-scouting-ohio-state-lb-raekwon-mcmillan

First Look: Scouting Ohio State LB Raekwon McMillan

Raekwon McMillan, junior linebacker, Ohio State

Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 240 pounds (school measurements)

2015 statistics: 119 tackles (57 solo), 4 for losses (1.5 sacks). Four pass breakups, 5 QB hurries

What I liked: McMillan has ideal size and physicality for the inside-linebacker position. He excels inside the tackle box. He is quick to key/diagnose, and he has the ability to take on guards and lead blockers. He is a thumping tackler with excellent stopping power. His goal-line tackle against Virginia Tech was a great example of how he runs his feet on contact and has knock-back strength. He is very comfortable as a zone dropper against the pass, and he uses his vision/awareness to clog throwing lanes. He uses his size and physicality to compete against tight ends underneath in man coverage. His production is outstanding (he led the Buckeyes in tackles last fall

Biggest takeaway: There's a lot to like about McMillan. I love his size, instincts and physicality. He isn't as twitched up as former teammate Darron Lee (a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets), but he has the tools to be a dominant run defender at inside linebacker. He reminds me a little of former Alabama LB Reggie Ragland, a second-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. Both guys were the quarterbacks of dominant college defenses.

I take him first round - don't know what we got in JS if anything

 

[KDM256]

I expect great seasons from all 4 of these players but if I was building a draft board I would list players in this order, judging off the production/potential I saw last year.
1- Reuben Foster
2- Raekwon McMillian
3- Hardy Nickerson Jr.
4- Kendell Beckwith

 

[Manwiththeplan]

We will not sniff a LB in this draft thing before QB,DE,CB,WR, our needs are going to be great. IMO

what's sad is we literally can go into next year's draft needing starters at all those positions.

 

[bodi]

what's sad is we literally can go into next year's draft needing starters at all those positions.

well IMO you build a defense inside out at least that was in the older days - depends on where we pick at - I would not bed afraid to pick MLBER in the first

but that makes to much sense

 

[Macnalty]

well IMO you build a defense inside out at least that was in the older days - depends on where we pick at - I would not bed afraid to pick MLBER in the first

but that makes to much sense

I agree on the defense but if a QB is remotely available, we must sell the farm to get him.

 

[bodi]

I agree on the defense but if a QB is remotely available, we must sell the farm to get him.

Agreed

 

[DallasBlockersClub]

Phil Steele's Top 20 inside linebackers for 2017 NFL Draft

20) Christian Sam | 6-1 | 240 | Jr. | Arizona State
19) Michael Rose-Ivey | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. | Nebraska
18) Taylor Young | 5-10 | 225 | RS-Jr. | Baylor
17) Brooks Ellis | 6-2 | 246 | Sr. | Arkansas
16) Calvin Munson | 6-1 | 245 | Sr. | San Diego State
15) Christian Tago | 6-1 | 242 | RS-Sr. | San Jose State
14) Nyeem Wartman-White | 6-1 | 248 | RS-Sr. | Penn State\
13) Richie Brown | 6-2 | 240 | RS-Sr. | Mississippi State
12) Azeem Victor | 6-3 | 227 | RS-Jr. | Washington
11) Zach Cunningham | 6-4 | 230 | RS-Jr. | Vanderbilt
10) Josey Jewell | 6-2 | 230 | RS-Jr. | Iowa
9) Micah Kiser | 6-2 | 240 | RS-Jr. | Virginia
8) Riley Bullough | 6-2 | 230 | RS-Sr. | Michigan State
7) Ben Boulware | 6-0 | 240 | Sr. | Clemson
6) Anthony Walker | 6-1 | 235 | RS-Jr. | Northwestern
5) ) Keith Kelsey | 6-1 | 236 | Sr. | Louisville
4) Hardy Nickerson Jr. | 6-0 | 230 | RS-Sr. | Illinois
3) Kendell Beckwith | 6-2 | 252 | Sr. | LSU
2) Reuben Foster | 6-1 | 240 | Sr. | Alabama
1) Raekwon McMillan | 6-2 | 240 | Jr. | Ohio State



Phil Steele don't know who that is but here's his list

Beckwith is very, very good.