2009 NFL Draft Position Rankings
The Inside Linebackers
2009 NFL Draft Post-Workout Rankings
Quarterbacks
|
Running Backs |
Fullbacks |
Receivers |
Tight Ends
Centers |
Guards |
Off. Tackles |
Def. Ends |
Def. Tackles
Inside LBs |
Outside LBs |
Cornerbacks |
Safeties
By
Pete Fiutak
- 2009 NFL
Prospect Rankings
Quarterbacks |
Running Backs |
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends |
Off. Tackles |
Off. Guards |
Centers
Defensive Ends |
Defensive Tackles |
Inside LBs
Outside LBs |
Safeties |
Cornerbacks
THE FRANCHISE
1. Rey
Maualuga, USC 6-2, 249
A Yeah, But player.
Yeah, he’s not fast, but he always seems to be around the ball. Yeah,
he’s a bit smaller than originally thought, but his peerless hitting
ability and toughness more than makes up for it. Yeah, he doesn’t have
the best range, instincts, or quickness in pass coverage, but the guy is
a flat-out football player. Yeah, he had a rocky career at times at USC
when it came to off-the-field issues (many stemming from the loss of his
father), but he was the unquestioned leader of a phenomenal defense. A
big-time playmaker for the inside, and the inside only, he’ll run
through a wall to succeed and become an NFL star. While he was a bit
overrated because his highlight reel hits overshadowed times when he was
merely average, and he had a phenomenal supporting cast around him, he
should be able to step in and start right away as long as he’s next to
some athletic, playmaking running mates.
CFN Projection:
First Round
2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
6-2, 245
Stunningly mediocre at the
Combine, when he was expected to blow the quickness, speed, and agility
drills off the charts, his stock has dropped to a low point considering
he likely would’ve been taken in the top ten had he left a year early.
After a breakthrough sophomore season when he seemingly made every play
possible against the run and the pass, he got by more on reputation, at
least when it came to the award-types, than big-time production. While
he filled the stat sheet, he wasn’t quite the difference maker the
numbers indicated. Strong when he was in space and able to roam to the
ball, he had problems when attacked and blocked. Even so, he was the
leader of a fantastic defense, especially against the run, and has
absolutely no bust potential, unless he gets hurt. He’ll make a ton of
tackles and will be a fan favorite, but he’s not going to be a special
all-around star.
CFN Projection: First Round
POSSIBLE NFL STARTERS
3. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
6-2, 252
Any and all concerns about his
athleticism following a knee injury were answered at the Combine when he
ran a 4.67, vertical jumped 35.5”, and was more than fine in the shuttle
and cone drills. While he doesn’t always play as big as he is and he’ll
have to be more physical at the next level, he’s more than a year
removed from the knee problem and could let it rip once he gets into an
NFL camp. On his raw skills alone he’s more than worth the risk as a top
middle prospect, and he could be fantastic in a 3-4 system when he’d be
able to move around in space.
CFN Projection: Third
Round
4. Scott McKillop, Pitt
6-2, 245
There’s no questioning his
collegiate production, his toughness, and his instincts that made him an
All-American, he doesn’t have the raw skills to be anything more than
decent starter who’ll need to be flanked by excellent outside producers.
While he didn’t do much to excite anyone in some of the off-season
workouts, he was a bit of a stunner at the Combine running better than
most of the star prospects, lifting 225 pounds 27 times, four more than
Rey Maualuga and five more from James Laurinaitis, and jumped out of the
stadium with a 35.5” vertical leap. Does it all translate to the field
at an NFL level? That remains to be seen, but he’s a good enough
football player to make himself a starter with a little bit of work.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
5. Darry Beckwith, LSU
6-0, 235
A leader and a star on a
national champion, Beckwith has the attitude and the experience to grow
into a good starter. However, he went from being a hot prospect who was
an underground favorite to challenge Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis
for the top inside linebacker slot, but his mediocre workouts ended all
of that. He played at LSU far faster than he timed in quickness and
agility drills at the Combine and doesn’t have the basic physical
talents to be anything more than a decent starter. This isn’t an Ali
Highsmith situation, Beckwith won’t fall completely off the map, there
appears to be a hard ceiling on what he’ll become.
CFN
Projection: Third Round
6. Gerald McRath, Southern Miss 6-3, 230
(Jr.)
Very fast
and very productive, he tore off a 4.49 at the Combine, best among the
linebackers, and was lightning quick. However, his 19 reps on the bench
showed his big problem: strength. He has a big problem taking on
blockers and will have a real problem holding up in the middle. With his
size and quickness he’ll likely end up as an outside defender, but he’ll
show great range if he stays on the inside. Is he durable enough to last
a full season? He doesn’t have the size or the toughness to take much of
a pounding, but he’ll come up with some big stats when he gets on the
field.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
7. Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia
6-1, 235
Sort of pigeonholed as an
inside linebacker, Ellerbe could become fantastic if he moves to the
outside. One of the most athletic inside prospects in the draft, he has
tremendous range, flies to the ball, and has no problem in pass
coverage. He’s not all that physical and he’s not the most instinctive
playmaker, so if he’s able to run and chase down the play, he’s fine. If
the play comes right at him, he’s in trouble. He can be powered over.
His stock dropped a bit after a mediocre senior year, but that was
partly due to a knee problem. Once he gets into an NFL camp, and
assuming he’s healthy, he could turn out to be a major find if he’s put
in the right spot.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
8. Jason Phillips, TCU
6-1, 235
Tremendously productive,
Phillips was an all-star over the last few years for a fantastic Horned
Frog defense. Extremely tough, he plays though injuries and he’s able to
get in on every play on sheer want-to. A mediocre athlete, he’s not
going to fly all over the field and he’s not going to be used much as a
blitzer, but he’ll be a major stat producer in a 3-4 alignment and he
won’t miss any tackles. While bumps and bruises haven’t bothered him,
he’ll have a hard time staying healthy with is smallish size and history
of never being afraid to shy away from contact in any form.
CFN
Projection: Fourth Round
BEST OF THE
REST
9. Worrell Williams, California 5-11, 250
Not all that
fast and not tremendously athletic, he needs plays to be funneled into
him and he’ll clean everything up. While he has a brother in the league,
Denver Bronco star D.J. Williams, he’s not nearly the same caliber of
talent. He jumped well at the Combine, but his 40 time was slow. A
blow-‘em-up hitter, he can be an intimidating force when he gets a
chance at a big shot. To make it at the next level he’ll have to be far
more consistent and will have to do a better job of shedding blocks.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
10. Antonio Appleby, Virginia
6-4, 245
The big knock on him is a lack
of character and passion for the game, but everything else is in place.
He looks right out of central casting with the size, the frame, and the
quickness, but he needs work to go along with his athleticism. If
someone can light a consistent fire under him, he could be one of the
biggest steals of the draft. His upside is too great to ignore, but it’s
going to take a little while to unleash his potential. He might not have
that kind of time and will have to impress early on in camp.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
11. Joshua Mauga, Nevada
6-2, 245
The guy looks like an inside
linebacker with his size, bulk, and toughness, but he had a problem
staying healthy and he doesn’t always play up to his skills. He has the
quickness and the speed to chase things down, but he’s too slow to react
to anything that isn’t coming his way. While he’ll play through
injuries, he suffered a pectoral muscle last year and fought through it,
he’ll get shoved around way too much against power running teams and
isn’t quite physical enough. Even with his athleticism, he’s an inside
linebacker and needs to be in a 3-4 system with good talents around him.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
12. Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic 6-1,
242
The one-time
Boston College Eagle turned into a tackling machine for FAU. He’s not
all that big and he’ll have problems getting caught up in the wash
against strong running teams, but he’ll do anything necessary to be an
NFL player. He has the drive, the desire, and the toughness, but he’s
just not strong enough to be a big-time star. Even so, on want-to he’ll
make himself into a good player, whether it’s on special teams or
somewhere in a linebacking corps. He’ll come up with a few monster hits
in camp that’ll make him a fan favorite.
CFN Projection:
Sixth Round
13. Stanley Arnoux, Wake Forest 6-0, 230
Very fast and
very athletic, but undersized, Arnoux was a great running mate next to
Aaron Curry and came up with a very productive career. He doesn’t always
use his speed and will have to learn how to become a blitzer, but he
could grow into a killer on special teams if he’s willing to put in the
work. He’s a good character, high intensity player who’s always moving
and always trying to make things happen, but his lack of bulk will be a
limiting factor.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
14. Michael Tauiliili, Duke 5-10,
235
Way undersized but ultra-productive, he tackles everything that moves
and is great at chasing down everything and he never misses a stop.
There’s a big character question mark after a few off-the-field issues,
but his aggressiveness and attitude tends to translate well to the
field. He has a big attitude, in a good way, and he tries to overcome
his lack of size be being the toughest guy on the field. Too small to be
a regular in a 3-4, he needs to be part of a 4-3 and he’ll end up
getting run over too often. However, he could be a tough player to cut.
CFN Projection: Free Agent
15. Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan 6-1, 250
There might not be anyone in the draft who’ll work harder or do more to
become an NFL player than Holtzclaw. He doesn’t have any athletic
ability, and he’s purely an inside linebacker, but his instincts are
flawless and he doesn’t miss a tackle. Functionally strong, he’s able to
fight through blockers to make plays and he’ll do anything a coaching
staff asks of him. While he was a four-year start for EMU, he’ll likely
have to make a team on special teams. He’ll do it.
CFN
Projection: Free Agent
ON THE RADAR
16. Anthony Felder, California
6-3, 250
17. Mortty Ivy, West Virginia
6-2, 240
18. Rashad Bobino, Texas
6-3, 250
19. Pat Maynor, Stanford
6-3, 250
20. Derek
Nicholson, Florida State 6-3, 250
21. Reed Williams, West Virginia
6-3, 250
22. Brett Warren, Virginia Tech
6-3, 250
23. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
6-3, 250
24. Brit Miller, Illinois
6-3, 250
25. Joe Mortensen, Kansas
6-3, 250
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