Rankings and quick lookaheads of all the outside linebacker prospects invited to the 2019 NFL Combine.
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2019 NFL Outside Linebacker Combine Workout: Sunday, March 3
Here we go with the 2019 NFL Combine, with all the breakdowns and analysis of every positive and negative for all of the top prospects. This isn’t that hard. Just simplify it – who can play football well enough to make an impact at the next level?
The bigger breakdowns will come before the NFL Draft, but for now – again, from the college perspective – here are the pre-combine rankings for all of the outside linebackers invited to the big workout.
Before getting into the top five breakdown, here’s a ranking of the best of the rest.
2019 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker Best of the Rest Rankings
Number in parentheses is the projected round drafted pre-NFL Combine.
21. Azeez Al-Shaair, Florida Atlantic 6-2, 231 (7 FA)
Can he return from a torn up knee that cost him the second half of the season? When he’s healthy, he’s a big tackler and disruptive force, but he’s a free agent flier until his knee works.
20. Nate Hall, Northwestern 6-2, 231 (6)
He was a nice all-around college linebacker who did a little of everything right for his entire career, but there’s no wow to his game as a next-level prospect. He’s a try-hard type who might make it on special teams.
19. Blake Cashman, Minnesota 6-1, 226 (7 FA)
Too small, takes a beating, and suffered the consequences with banged up shoulders. He’s a try-hard former walk-on who’ll run through a wall, but he’s missing the tools. He’ll have to be a special teamer.
18. Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas 6-0, 221 (7 FA)
A good volume tackler with 321 stops in his four years, he’s tough as nails and he’ll get in on everything. However, he’s way too small, and he’s purely a special teamer to start without a true NFL spot. Even so, the potential is there to get drafted as a top athlete, and then a D will figure out what to do with him.
17. Andrew Van Ginkel, Wisconsin 6-4, 229 (7 FA)
Yeah, he’s nothing more than a special teamer out of the gate, but despite his lack of size, he could rise up and turn into a dangerous pass rushing specialist with a few key chances.
16. Gary Johnson, Texas 6-0, 216 (7 FA)
He turned into a fantastic all-around defender and leader coming from the JUCO ranks, growing into more of a pass rusher last season to go along with his 90 stops. The tweener size, though, will make him a specialist on the outside after working on the inside under Tom Herman.
15. Jordan Jones, Kentucky 6-1, 220 (7 FA)
Size, size, size. He’s barely at 220 pounds and he’ll likely play more at 215. He’s a tough tackler who’s smooth as glass moving to the ball, but he’s just not big enough to be a regular starter.
14. Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame 6-2, 235 (5)
A good tackler who’ll blast through a wall to make a tackle, he’s not quite an inside linebacker at the next level, and he’s not athletic enough to find a regular spot on the outside. He’ll be drafted, though, as a potential backup in several areas.
13. Jahlani Tavai, Hawaii 6-3, 236 (7 FA)
A tackling machine who finished his career with 390 tackles with 41 tackles for loss, he might not have the tools and the speed, but he’ll hit and produce no matter where he plays in a linebacking corps. However, he has to prove he’s okay after suffering a late season shoulder injury.
12. Cody Barton, Utah 6-2, 227 (7 FA)
He’s undersized, but he plays with his hair on fire. There’s a toughness to his game to go along with the speed to find a spot on the field. He’s a true tweener who’ll make a roster on special teams alone.
11. Otaro Alaka, Texas A&M 6-3, 240 (7 FA)
Absolutely looks the part, absolutely has the right tools, and is absolutely worth a long look for a variety of roles. He’s not really an NFL inside linebacker, though, and will have to be developed into a tweener pass rusher on the outside. He’ll be worth the late pick.
10. Ryan Connelly, Wisconsin 6-2, 237 (5)
A nice all-around defender over the last three seasons, he was steady as a rock and excellent at getting into the backfield on a regular basis. The tools aren’t quite there, but he’s a max effort defender who’ll make a team as a key reserve at either outside spot.
9. David Long, West Virginia 5-11, 221 (5)
A disruptive force who’s great at getting into the backfield as well as making the big stop, he overcomes his lack of raw bulk by working his way behind the line and always getting around the ball. His lack of size will be too much of a problem for some, but his all-around game, quickness and production are enough to get him to push for a potential weakside starting spot.
8. Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington 6-0, 219 (4)
He’s not big enough. He’s missing the power, the bulk, and the ability to avoid getting wiped off the field by any NFL offensive lineman. However, he’s an elite tackling machine who can fill in a hybrid role to take a whole slew of stops. All he did was make 176 tackles last season – he can play.
7. Terrill Hanks, New Mexico State 6-2, 230 (3)
In a draft loaded with undersized ballers who have to figure out a place to play, Hanks breaks the mold with excellent size to go along with enough athleticism to be tried out in a few different spots. He needs some coaching and work to play up to his tools, but unlike others, there actually is something to work with.
6. Chase Hansen, Utah 6-3, 227 (4)
A good enough specialist to be tried out at several spots on a defense, he’ll live behind the line if he’s given the chance. He came up with 114 tackles and 22 tackles for loss in his senior season, with the quickness and want-to to translate into a passing down playmaker at the next level.
NEXT: Top 5 Outside Linebacker Prospects Before the NFL Combine
5. (DE) Christian Miller, Alabama 6-4, 243 (3)
Career Statistics: 56 tackles, 11 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss, 2 broken up passes
Why Christian Miller Is Here On The List: Potential, potential, potential. He’s got the perfect size, the perfect tools, and the perfect … potential. However, he missed most of his junior season with an arm injury, was out for the national title game last year, and wasn’t more than a part of the rotation throughout most of his career.
But the talent is all there to blow up as an NFL pass rusher with a whole lot of coaching and the right conditions. Can he be a run defender? Can he stay on the field at the next level when he couldn’t do it in college? He’s worth the risk.
What The NFL Types Want To See: The tools have to be off the charts. As is, he’s likely a top 100 pick on sheer upside, but he has to become the workout warrior among the linebackers. He has to show that he’s so special and has so many great parts to his game that he might be worth a second round flier.
Bottom Line: There’s a lot not to like. He got banged up, he didn’t do enough against the run, and he certainly didn’t play up to his immense prep hype. But when he managed to get out there, the pass rushing production was outstanding. Pass on him at your own risk … after the top 50 players are off the board.
NEXT: No. 4 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
4. (DE) D’Andre Walker, Georgia 6-3, 240 (3)
Career Statistics: 112 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 27.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles
Why D’Andre Walker Is Here On The List: More of a tweener defensive end than a true linebacker, it won’t matter where he plays – he’s a force who should grow into an outside linebacker who lives behind the line. He’s not necessarily a force of will as a pass rusher, and he’s not going to destroy the Combine, but the upside is immense.
He grew into the job with the Bulldogs, cranking up 13 tackles with 24.5 tackles for loss. Okay against the run, he’ll be functional enough to stay on the field, but his money will be made by hitting quarterbacks.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Can he somehow look powerful? A good bench press doesn’t quite matter enough, and hitting a bag doesn’t really represent anything, but he needs to stand out as a potentially powerful all-around defender.
Bottom Line: He’s hardly a perfect prospect, and he’ll need to show off some sort of a special burst to be assured of a top 100 pick, but pass rushers in this draft with his versatility, size, and upside are missing. Someone will be in love with him after the second round.
NEXT: No. 3 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
3. Vosean Joseph, Florida 6-1, 226 (2)
Career Statistics: 161 tackles, 4 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 7 broken up passes
Why Vosean Joseph Is Here On The List: The size isn’t there, and there’s absolutely no room to get any bigger, but he’s a quick athlete who should dominate the offseason workout circuit – at least in the short drills.
He’s not going to be any sort of a thumper against the run, and he’ll get erased by anyone who can give him a pop. But when he turns it loose, he can be a force who gets in on the run, and should be more of a pass rusher at the next level. Scouts are going to worry about his lack of overall production, but there’s enough to work with to think there’s something big to unleash.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Speed, speed and more speed. He’s strictly a weakside linebacker with the tools to blossom into a much steadier playmaker. He’s got the right quickness to be able to turn the corner in a hiccup, but he’ll need a lot of technique work and coaching. If he’s fast in the workouts, some defensive coordinator and position coach will figure it all out.
Bottom Line: There’s a massive boom-or-bust element to his game. His junior year was fantastic as the light turned on, but he was missing for a few too many stretches. Even so, with his quickness and his athleticism, he’s a risk worth taking.
NEXT: No. 2 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
2. (DE) Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech 6-2, 262 (2)
Career Statistics: 187 tackles, 45 sacks, 67.5 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, 6 broken up passes.
Why Jaylon Ferguson Is Here On The List: Okay, OKAY … he’s really a defensive end. And okay, OKAY … he’s not going to the Combine after a simple battery conviction found from his freshman year got his invite taken away.
As a player, though, he’s a potentially devastating pass rusher worth a big call late in the first round or early in the second. At 262 pounds, he’ll line up as a 4-3 end or potentially as an outside linebacker who moves around where needed. He’s solid against the run, but he’s the all-time NCAA sack leader with a fast first step and the unstoppable ability to close.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Him … not going to the Combine is considered a punishment, but it now means that every team has to come up with workout times and chances to see him in private workouts. It would’ve been nice to have lined him up in the mix of the other top prospects. Fluid athleticism will have to be judged – he’s got the power, but can he move?
Bottom Line: Some guys just have it when it comes to getting to the quarterback. That’s Ferguson. He’s got a frightening blend of power and flash behind the line, and it’s all over when he has a player in his sights. At the very least, he’ll be considered a tremendous specialist.
NEXT: No. 1 Pre-NFL Combine Outside Linebacker
1. (DE) Josh Allen, Kentucky 6-5, 245 (1)
Career Statistics: 220 tackles, 31.5 sacks, 42 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, 8 broken up passes
Why Josh Allen Is Here On The List: He’s not just the top outside linebacker/edge rusher in the draft, it’s not crazy to call him the best player. With his length, speed, and frame, he has room to get a little bigger and stronger, but as is he’s more than fine considering he’s ultra-quick and athletic at his current size.
Certain players have the ability to always find their way into a big play and a key moment, and that’s Allen to the nth degree. Great in pass coverage, great agains the run, and great at getting behind the line and be a special pass rusher if he’s asked to be different-looking Von Miller. Get him on a defense, and he’s the instant star who’ll potentially change a team around all by himself.
What The NFL Types Want To See: Is it possible for him to add a little more weight and power without losing what makes him special? Most teams are going to want him to stay like he already is and then let him roll, but can his frame handle more bulk? That’s nitpicking by looking for something that isn’t there for an almost perfect tweener prospect.
Bottom Line: He’s roughness as heavy as Von Miller and Khalil Mack, only taller. That’s not fair to put him at that level, but … that’s where he might be. The power isn’t quite there like those two all-timers bring, but when it comes to reasonable expectations, yeah, go ahead and put him in that pile.
