No

Name

Pos

Hgt

Wt

College

Exp

Draft Projection

1

Patrick Willis

ILB

6-2

242

Ole Miss

Sr.

1^st Round

Upside: Wills is a strong, instinctive player with great speed. He’s a

Willis is a tremendous player that will be an immediate star in the NFL.

great tackler and is always around the ball. He’s a versatile player that can play inside or outside linebacker. He has a fast motor and gets after the quarterback. Willis is a hard worker and has developed into a great leader.  

Downside: Willis has to improve his coverage skills. He tends to tackle high and doesn’t go low. He has to shed blocks better and react quicker.

Steuber Says: Not only is Willis a great player with a lot of talent, he's also a great person. He’s overcome a lot of tragedy in his life that has made him stronger. He's a leader on and off the field and a player others look up too. Willis has all the tools to become an instant All-Pro.

2

David Harris

ILB

6-2

243

Michigan

Sr.

2^nd Round

Harris has all the physical tools to be a successful player at the next level.

Upside: Harris is a great instinctive linebacker who has excellent awareness on the field. He’s a great tackler who’s always looking to knock out the opposition. Harris has nice speed and is able to make plays in the backfield. He plays with a revved up motor and gives maximum effort.

Downside: Harris has to play better in coverage and stay disciplined. He has to improve his pass rushing ability and get to the quarterback. He has to get off blocks better.  

Steuber Says: Harris only started two years at Michigan , but in those two seasons he was very productive. He’s a tremendous physical specimen with excellent tools. He has all the intangibles to become a great player.

3

Buster Davis

ILB

5-10

240

Florida State

Sr.

2^nd – 3^rd Round

Davis is one of the most underrated linebackers in the draft, because of his height.

Upside: Davis is an instinctive player who's always around the ball. He’s an excellent tackler who's always looking to make the big hit. He gets after the quarterback and can make a lot of plays in the backfield. He’s an aggressive linebacker that possesses great speed and quickness. Davis is a great leader that understands his position and is very productive.

Downside: Davis’ size is a concern. He lacks the ideal height for a linebacker and gets lost in the shuffle occasionally. He doesn't have great speed, but has good quickness to make big plays. He's been labeled a "system" defender, meaning he's not a fit for every team.

Steuber Says: The biggest question about Davis is his size. He's a very productive player, but may not have the same kind of effectiveness at the next level. What Davis lacks in size, he makes up for in desire. 

4

Brandon Siler

ILB

6-1

241

Florida

Jr.

2^nd – 3^rd Round

Siler was a very good college linebacker, but was he a product of the system and the talent surrounding him?.

Upside: Siler is a tremendous run defender. He’s a strong player that is able to hold his ground against bigger linemen. He plays with a fast motor and is a very good tackler. He’s effective as a blitzer and makes plays in the backfield.

Downside: Siler has good, but not great speed. He doesn’t have great instincts and gets lost in the shuffle. He has to stay disciplined in coverage and improve his ball skills.

Steuber Says: Siler is a nice prospect, but he may not be as good in the pros as he was in college. He may be looked at as a system linebacker and may have benefited from the talent around him. Siler is a very good run defender, and that will help him at the next level.

5

H.B. Blades

ILB

5-11

236

Pittsburgh

Sr.

3^rd Round

Blades has excellent instincts, but his height may hurt him at the next level.

Upside: Blades is an instinctive player that reacts quickly to a play. He has a nose for the ball and is a consistent tackler. He plays well against the run. He’s a hard worker who has a great desire for the game.  

Downside: Blades doesn’t have great speed and lacks the lateral quickness you’d like to see out of a middle linebacker. He may struggle to defend some of the running backs at the next level. He has to develop his pass rushing ability to become a complete linebacker. Blades has to shed blockers better; he gets caught in the shuffle.

Steuber Says: Blades is the son of former NFL safety Bennie Blades. Blades’ height is a concern, but he’s an instinctive player who can overcome his lack of height. Blades, in the right system, can become a consistent player at the next level.