2009 NFL Draft Position Rankings
The Outside 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. Aaron
Curry, Wake Forest 6-2, 250
A nearly
perfect prospect, he’s strong, insanely fast and athletic for his size,
smart, and willing to run through a wall to make a play. He’ll have to
learn how to become a blitzer and he needs to learn more how to play in
the backfield. That’s easily correctable. He spent the early part of his
career adding weight after coming to Wake Forest looking like a safety,
and he helped make form a strong defense as the captain and eventual
Butkus Award winner. There’s almost no real knock on him with a
near-perfect combination of size, toughness, leadership, work ethic and
character. He’s the type of all-around versatile linebacker who’ll do a
little of everything and has almost no bust potential outside of a fluke
injury.
CFN Projection: Top Five Overall
2. Brian Cushing, USC
6-3, 245
Rey Maualuga
got all the glory, but Cushing might be the better pro. While he ran a
disappointing 4.64 at the Combine, he was one of the quickest players in
the agility drills and came up with a lineman-like 30 reps on the bench.
He plays even faster than he times with great range and an easy ability
to blow past blockers. The big concern is a ticky-tack injury history
that kept him from being a big-name college superstar. He’s also not all
that strong in pass coverage and, despite his strength, needs to be on
the outside. There’s no questioning his heart or his desire, but he
could be unreliable. He’ll be a killer for around ten games a year, but
will be dinged up/out for a few games a year.
CFN Projection:
First Round
3. Larry English, Northern Illinois (DE)
6-2, 255
He’s
the type of player that no one’s quite sure exactly what to do with, but
everyone wants him. He’s not big enough to be a regular defensive end
and he’s not fast enough to be a star outside linebacker, but he could
flourish in a 3-4 linebacker role or as a 4-3 end if he’s asked to
become a pass rusher. With a full-tilt motor, he needed to be double and
triple teamed on every play after he grew into a star at NIU, and while
his numbers might not have been great, he needed so much attention that
he earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors two years in a row.
More than fine whenever he went against the better talents, he was fine
in Senior Bowl practices, he shouldn’t have a problem going from the MAC
to the NFL.
CFN Projection: Second Round
4. Clint Sintim, Virginia
6-3, 250
He
made himself into a top pro prospect. A good player early in his career,
he took things to another level once it was salary-drive time and showed
he could become a good pass rusher. Able to be used like a smallish
defensive end, and able to move inside if absolutely needed, he’s a
versatile all-around playmaker who should grow into a nice pass rusher
and a good starter. Without a blazing burst and with a lack of speed
he’s not going to be an elite sack artist, but he should be a great
piece of the puzzle and ultra-valuable because of his versatility.
CFN Projection: Second Round
POSSIBLE NFL STARTERS
5. Marcus Freeman, Ohio State
6-1, 235
A
workout warrior, he did it all at the Combine from running a 4.65 40 to
benching 30 reps to leaping 37”
to destroying the shuttle drill, he showed tremendous
athleticism. However, he has had major problems staying healthy, dinged
up with a variety of injuries, and he doesn’t always play up to his
strength. He can be erased by a decent blocker and he needs to be in
space to make plays; he’s simply not big enough. But if and when he’s
healthy, like he was in his off-season workouts, he can be a different
player and a star.
CFN Projection: Third Round
6. Clay Matthews, USC 6-3, 245
One of the hot rising
prospects coming through the off-season draft cycle, Matthews was smooth
as silk at the Combine with decent numbers and great agility for his
size. Very fast off the snap and smart enough to not have much wasted
motion, he’s an instinctive playmaker who’s always working, always
moving, and always doing whatever is needed. Very versatile, he can be
used at any linebacker spot and could even see time as a pass rushing
end in a 4-3. But is he a workout warrior type? He only really produced
for one year and has been more of a try-hard type who went from a
walk-on to a very strong, very athletic NFL prospect in a big hurry.
CFN Projection: Second Round
7. Cody Brown, Connecticut
6-2, 245
While
he’ll be considered for defensive end duty, he needs to be a regular
linebacker. Ultra-tough, very aggressive and a big hitter, he’s a
tone-setting player who’ll make several highlight reel plays when he
gets a head of steam. However, he’s not an NFL pass rusher despite his
quickness. Linebacker-sized, he plays much bigger with good strength and
a long frame. Now he has to find a role and he has to settle in and
become a consistent factor off the line. He might need a little work,
but he’s a safe pick as long as he has a fire lit under him.
CFN Projection: Third Round
8. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati
6-4, 255
Part
lineman, part linebacker, Barwin has tremendous speed, running a 4.59 at
the Combine, and showing stunning athleticism for a player of his size.
He was far, far quicker than Aaron Curry and was just as quick than all
the other linebackers outside of Marcus Freeman in the shuttle drill.
He’s not all that strong, at least not strong enough to be a regular on
the line, and he needs a lot of technique work, but he has the fire and
the aggressiveness to make himself better. There’s a high upside as a
potentially lethal pass rusher with a little bit of time.
CFN
Projection: Third Round
9.
Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida
6-2, 245
A big-time producer who fought
through a series of issues off the field to become a leader and the type
of player you want in a locker room. Strong, he plays bigger than his
size and isn’t afraid to mix it up and stick his nose in to make a big
play. He’ll fight through the nicks and bumps and will have to be
really, really hurt to not get in the lineup, but he’s limited by
average athletic ability and a lack of size. Even so, he’ll work to make
a roster and could be a star on special teams before he gets his chance
to shine as an outside linebacker.
CFN Projection:
Fourth Round
10. Kaluka Maiava, USC 5-11,
229
If only he was a little bit
bigger. Way undersized, he tries to make up for it with tremendous
strength and blinding quickness, but his weight room numbers don’t
necessarily translate to the field. He runs better than he times and
looks effortless when he cuts and changes direction. He’ll get
steamrolled over and will have a hard time holding up if he’s asked to
be a three-down starter, but he could be a great value pick. He didn’t
get the pub of the other USC linebackers, but he was every bit as
valuable last year. As long as he’s not used to do more than become a
part of the rotation on the weak side, he should be a nice contributor
for a long time.
CFN Projection: Fourth Round
11. Nic Harris, Oklahoma (S)
6-2, 235
Too
slow to be a defensive back and not quite big enough to be a linebacker,
Harris is a true tweener who’ll have to create a niche for himself right
away. Even so, with his toughness, build, ad pass rushing ability, he
should be able to hold up well on the outside. Now he has to become a
linebacker. He has to get a lot stronger, evidenced by the mere 15 reps
on the bench at the Combine, and he’ll have to play a lot faster in an
NFL camp than he timed after running a glacier-slow 4.86. He’s a good
football player who’ll be nice in space and will struggle when run at,
he should be a good producer with nice upside. Hardly a sure thing, he’s
still a good flier to take a chance on.
CFN Projection:
Fifth Round
12. DeAndre Levy, Wisconsin
6-2, 235
He’s
not all that big and he has to get a lot stronger, but he’s a speedy
defender who gets to the ball from anywhere on the field and keeps good
gains from being big backbreakers. He’s never going to hold up and stuff
the run at the line and he’ll get erased when a blocker is able to lock
on, but he moves well and could be a major producer if he’s surrounded
by tough linebackers in a 3-4. If nothing else, he could be a great
special teamer and he should be able to grow into a pass rushing
specialist.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
BEST OF THE
REST
13. Ashlee Palmer, Ole Miss
6-2, 225
A tremendous athlete
who hits well and is strong in pass coverage, he has the ability
to be like another safety in passing situations and he has the
burst to become a pass rusher. What he doesn’t have it size,
checking in at around 225 pounds and not likely to get much
bigger. As long as he’s not asked to take on blockers on a
regular basis and can roam free to get to the ball, he should be
a very productive steal in the mid to late rounds. However, he
has to want it. He has to become the type of player who’ll eat
and sleep football, and he has to overcome his size with a
spark-plug type of attitude.
CFN Projection:
Sixth Round
14. Zack Follett, California
6-2, 235
A football meathead,
but in a good way (sort of), he’s an ultra-aggressive hitter who
fights to make every play. Strictly a strongside linebacker, he
plays bigger than his size by taking on any blockers and tossing
them aside. He showed decent athleticism in off-season workouts
and he jumped 37” up, tying Aaron Curry for the best among the
linebackers at the Combine. The downside to his physical play
was his injury issues. He’ll always be dinged up, but that’s how
he plays.
CFN Projection: Fifth Round
15. Jonathan Casillas, Wisconsin
6-1, 225
A terrific athlete
who’s all over the field all the time, he’s one of the fastest
linebackers in the draft ripping off a 4.5 in the 40. Great in
pass coverage, he’s able to stay with backs in pass patterns
without a problem and he’s able to avoid blocks by getting
around them before anyone can lock on. He can only be on the
weakside and he can only survive in space. His money will be
made in passing situations and will struggle when plays are run
right at him. However, he has the tackling ability to be a big
producer in the right system.
CFN Projection:
Fifth Round
16. Russell Allen, San Diego State
6-3, 235
A major-league hitter,
he’s an intimidating force who brings a huge pop when he gets a
little room to roam. He has good all-around athleticism and
quickness, but he’s not an elite enough athlete to overcome his
lack of bulk. There isn’t much room to get a lot bigger, but
he’s still tough enough and strong enough to hold up against the
run. He made a ton of plays for a woeful Aztec defense and often
had to do a little of everything by himself.
CFN
Projection: Seventh Round
17. Moise Fokou, Maryland 6-1 233
While he won’t be a star defender, he should be a terrific
special teamer and a good enough backup to sit on a roster for a
long time. He plays faster than he is, but his lack of a top-end
gear to go along with a lack of bulk will limit on what he can
become. He’s not strong, benching 225 pounds a mere 12 times at
the Combine, but he ran a 4.65 and was fluid in the agility
drills. If he hits the weights hard and gets bigger and
stronger, he could be a steal.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
18. Lee Robinson, Alcorn State 6-2 250
He needed to stand out at the
Combine and didn’t. He was too slow (4.71), not quite quick enough, and
didn’t show enough to warrant more than a late flier. He has good size
and was ultra-productive at the lower level, but he needs a ton of work
and will require a lot of patience. With his size and his work ethic, he
could be a good producer in time. Will he get the chance to be a regular
linebacker? Not really. He’ll have to shine on special teams right away.
CFN Projection: Sixth Round
19. Corey Smith, Cincinnati 6-0, 220
Not all that big, he doesn’t
have the size to be a regular starting linebacker and he doesn’t have
the speed to move to safety. He plays faster than his timed speed and is
always around the ball, and he can play either outside position. Mostly,
he’ll make a name for himself on special teams after starring for the
Bearcats. With a history of being hurt, he won’t be able to last a full
16-game season and will have to live through on-going problems with his
shoulder.
CFN Projection: Seventh Round
20. Robert Francois, Boston College
6-2, 245
With a
good blend of decent speed and a high motor, he’s a playmaker who could
be a nice fit on someone’s weak side. He needs plenty of work on his
technique and needs more on-field time to develop his instincts and his
ability to react quicker. However, he’s a good playmaker who tackles
well and is worth a long look.
CFN Projection:
Seventh Round
ON THE RADAR
21. Solomon Elimimian, Hawaii
5-11, 225
22. Johnny
Williams, Kentucky
6-3, 250
23. Orion Martin, Virginia Tech
6-3, 250
24. Quentin Cotton,
East Carolina
6-3, 250
25. Anthony Heygood, Purdue
6-1, 225
26. Stephen
Hodge, TCU 6-0, 234
27. Dave
Philistin, Maryland
6-0, 230
28. Kevin Akins, Boston College 6-2, 220
29. James Holt, Kansas 6-2,
225
30. Clayton Mullins, Miami Univ. 6-1, 240
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