In what may be the worst overall draft class heading into the draft in 20 years, teams will struggle after the first round or two to find any real work ready players to fill their needs. I would expect a run at both OLB and ILB in the first two rounds. Here are my updated rankings at the LB position for the 2018 NFL Draft:
1. Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech
Nothing has changed here, but he has slid down one spot on the overall prospect draft board. He is a freakish athlete who should not drop beyond the top ten picks.
2. Roquan Smith, OLB, Georgia
Smith is a fantastic prospect in that he is highly productive and flexible as both an ILB or OLB depending on team need. He is currently the 6th overall rated prospect in the entire draft class.
3. Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State
His stock has been soaring in the last few weeks, and he has worked his way all the way up to a number 13 ranking overall.
4. Rashaan Evans, OLB, Alabama
Ranked number 20 overall on the big board, Evans makes perfect sense to land with a team like the Saints.
5. Darius Leonard, OLB, South Carolina State
There is a huge drop off between Evans and Leonard on the big board (39 spots overall). Leonard is a developmental prospect with long term starter potential.
6. Jerome Baker, OLB, Ohio State
There is yet another massive drop off between where Leonard ranks on the big board to where Baker ranks. Baker ranks as an early fourth round prospect, while Leonard is ranked as a mid to late second round prospect. This is where we start to realize the weakness of this group overall.
7. Fred Warner, OLB, BYU
Warner ranks one spot off from Baker, but Baker is far more athletic. Still, Warner makes plays, and that is what should matter.
8. Tegray Scales, OLB, Indiana
OLBs are dominating the draft board at this point, and Scales was massively productive, but like the others after the first round group, he has drawbacks and limitations.
9. Micah Kiser, ILB, Virginia
Kiser gets a fifth round grade. The previously rated ILB was a mid-first rounder. That's the drop off inside in this class.
10. Josey Jewell, Iowa
He is probably the best of the Day Three LBs, but limited overall athleticism is what holds him back despite an very solid college career. I would definitely grab him in the fifth if he were still there.
For more of my notes and breakdowns on this position, and all of the others, check out my 2018 NFL Draft Prospectus! Get your copy here today: http://bilosports.blogspot.com/p/power-rated-sports-premium-subscription.html
Next: Bilo's Top 10 Defensive Backs For the 2018 NFL Draft
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