Rankings and what to watch for out of all the outside linebacker prospects invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
2020 NFL Combine: Outside Linebacker
Date: Saturday, February 29: Linebacker
Live Stream: fuboTV (click to watch for free)
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: NFL Network
From the college perspective. here are rankings and quick looks at all of the outside linebackers invited to the 2020 NFL Combine.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest and what to look for.
2020 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted before the NFL Combine.
18. Azur Kamara, Kansas 6-4, 235 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: A good-sized prospect with a decent pass rushing burst, he a true tweener who needs to show off the explosiveness, needed to be more than a special teams flier.
17. Tipa Galeai, Utah State 6-5, 235 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: There’s edge rushing potential after a five-sack season, but he’s not quick enough to be an outside linebacker and not big enough to hang on a line. He’s got the frame, though, and the playmaking resumé to get a look.
16. Khaleke Hudson, Michigan 5-11, 220 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: Way undersized, he’s a quick outside prospect who’ll have to make a roster on special teams. He’ll move and look like the pumped up defensive back that he is. He needs to look and workout like a possible pass rushing specialist.
15. Kamal Martin, Minnesota 6-3, 245 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: How smooth is he? He was hurt throughout the 2019 season with a knee problem, but he still made a whole lot of things happen when he was on the field. As is he wasn’t really all that smooth without the knee, but he can hit.
14. Michael Pinkney, Miami 6-1, 226 (ILB) (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: It stinks that he’s so undersized. He’s a fantastic baller of a linebacker who’ll hit, get nasty, and has the smarts of a veteran who played four years at a high level. He’s missing the tools, but someone will want to give him a shot if he can look quick at all in Indy.
13. Carter Coughlin, Minnesota 6-3, 234 (Free Agent)
NFL Combine What Matters: The guy just made plays. He’s a true tweener without a position, he should run okay but he needs to rock in the shorter drills. He needs to be able to bulk up and still show a pass rushing burst.
12. Casey Toohill, Stanford 6-4, 247 (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: All that matters is his pass rushing ability. He’s not going to beat up anyone, but he looks the part and has the right frame, but he’s a tweener who’ll end up being a specialist if he sticks.
11. Justin Strnad, Wake Forest 6-3, 235 (ILB) (6)
NFL Combine What Matters: Hardly surprising for a Wake Forest player, he’s a very smart all-around player, but he has the speed and the flash, too. He doesn’t have an NFL linebacker frame, and everything has to be fine after suffering an arm injury this season, but he’s versatile enough to make an impact.
10. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee 6-4, 255 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: What is he? He’s not really a defensive end, and he’s not quite refined enough to be sure-thing pass rushing edge guy on the outside, but there’s SO much to like. He looks out of central casting with a sky-high ceiling as a mid-round prospect.
9. Cameron Brown, Penn State 6-5, 233 (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: Can he rock the combine? He’s got great on-field athleticism – he plays fast – and there’s a whole world of upside once he bulks up to around 240ish. A great edge rushing prospect, he can turn into a top 100 pick if he can rip it up.
8. Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State 6-2, 215 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: Just find a spot for him. He’s built like a big safety, he can move, and he’s a big-time producer. He’ll never be a bulky run stuffer, but he might be a tweener in a good way – just get him out there in some role and let him get to the ball. However, he had better time well for his size.
7. Troy Dye, Oregon 6-4, 224 (3)
NFL Combine What Matters: He’s undersized, he’s too thin for a big-time linebacker, and he’ll get steamrolled over by any NFL blocker, but he’s the type of player you want leading your D. He’s a guided-missile who’s always around the ball and in the backfield. In Indy, he has to give scouts who love him a reason to be a must-have.
6. Logan Wilson, Wyoming 6-2, 241 (ILB) (4)
NFL Combine What Matters: One of the best pure tacklers in the draft, now he has to find a real role. His versatility is a major plus, but is his a sideline-to-sideline guy on the inside, or a dangerous pass rusher who can hold his own against the run on the outside? No matter what, he might lead a team in tackles right away.
NEXT: Top Five Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebackers
5. Josh Uche, Michigan 6-1, 241 (EDGE) (3)
Why He’s Here On The List: An interesting mix of skills, he’s not tall enough, and he’s not really a true outside linebacker who’ll get in on 140 tackles at the next level, but he has a burst as a dangerous pass rushing prospect. He might be a tweener of a prospect, but he has the upside in a light year for outside linebackers.
What The NFL Types Want To See: He’s got to look like more than a one-trick prospect. Does he have any coverage skills whatsoever? Just how quick is he in the short drills and how smooth does he look? He’s a flier of a late Day Two pick who has to cement his spot in the first three rounds.
Bottom Line: There’s a huge boom-or-bust aspect to his game, but there’s enough in place to take the chance just after the second round. At worst, give him a shot as a pass rushing specialist who can get in the backfield and screw things up.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
4. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama 6-2, 252 (EDGE) (3)
Why He’s Here On The List: Underappreciated as a solid all-around producer in his final three seasons, he was steadier than it seemed as a reliable pass rusher who had to be accounted for whenever he was on the field. There’s no questioning his heart or his ability as simply a good football player, but he’s missing a few of the superstar tools to push in to the second round. However …
What The NFL Types Want To See: He has to workout like a top 50 pick. He might not be quite tall enough, and he might be a tweener, but he has to show off the quick-twitch abilities that showcase the necessary NFL tools. You don’t play for four years on the Alabama defense without having the stuff, but there has to be something freakish about his raw skills.
Bottom Line: More steady than sensational, it’s hard to get too fired up about a standup double of a pass rusher, but he’s the type of player every D needs – every defensive coordinator will make a case for him from the late second round until he’s gone. He’ll do a little of everything right, and he’ll be a steady starter who won’t make a whole lot of mistakes.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
3. Zack Baun, Wisconsin 6-3, 240 (2)
Why He’s Here On The List: Very, very good, and still improving. he’s a tough, productive all-around outside linebacker who lived in opposing backfields with a knack for coming up with the perfectly-timed play to end a drive. Too quick around the edge, he might not start out as a pure pass rusher, but he can be used that way.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Do you care that he’s 6-3, 240 and not around the 250ish range as a more of an end than an outside linebacker? He plays fast and explosive, and now he has to look the part among the other linebacker options. If he can be smooth, he might move into the late first round.
Bottom Line: It doesn’t hurt that TJ Watt went from Wisconsin havoc-wreaker to NFL superstar in a flash. Baun isn’t Watt, but he’s not all that far off in terms of late-first round potential with the pass rushing upside to step in immediately and be a factor. No, he might not be quite big enough to be a normal NFL pass rusher, but he’ll get into the backfield in any scheme.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
2. K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU 6-4, 250 (EDGE) (1)
Why He’s Here On The List: To nitpick, he’s a wee bit bigger than Wisconsin’s Zach Baun with the idea combination of strength and frame. He looks like what you want in an NFL pass rusher who can work in just about any way on the outside. Tough against the run, too, he can do it all. He’d be a no-brainer top 20 pick, but …
What The NFL Types Want To See: How are his legs? He was knocked out for the year right away with a knee injury as a sophomore, and he was a bit banged up at times last year. He got past the torn ACL in a hurry and looked just fine, but the medical evaluation will be his biggest barrier.
Bottom Line: He’s what you want – if he’s 100% healthy and you don’t worry about him staying that way. Coaches love him, he can rush the passer, and he’ll get his nose dirty when it’s time to deal with the power teams. He’d easily be No. 1 on this list, but …
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson 6-4, 230 (Top ten overall)
Why He’s Here On The List: This can be said for Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and – if you think he’s healthy and you’re not freaked out by his history – Tua Tagovailoa, but it applies to Simmons, too. He might be the best player in the draft with the type of freakish tools and skills everyone wants.
Best of all, he’s still a work in progress as gets more and more time logged in as a pure linebacker, but that’s even a positive. The defensive back skills are there from his time as a big safety, and it’s all coming together as a special linebacker who’s still scratching the surface.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Just blow it up. Be angry if he’s not the most impressive linebacker working out in Indy. As is he’s a top ten pick, but he could move into the top five if he runs and moves like a 230-pound defensive back.
Bottom Line: Someone out there will wonder where he belongs, and the answer is simple – anywhere. So what if he’s not a fully-polished linebacker? So what if he might not be an ideal thumper for the inside, or a fully-refined NFL caliber pass rusher quite yet? In the new world of an NFL with a new wave of offenses that highlight quarterbacks that can move, he’s the antidote.
