Giants: Profiling the best prospect for round two of the NFL Draft
The New York Giants made a splash signing this offseason when they agreed to terms with former Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke. Adding veteran talent to a position that was underwhelming, the move is sure to help the Giants defense for seasons to come. But today's NFL requires a room of linebackers that can both fit […]
The New York Giants made a splash signing this offseason when they agreed to terms with former Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke. Adding veteran talent to a position that was underwhelming, the move is sure to help the Giants defense for seasons to come.
But today's NFL requires a room of linebackers that can both fit the run and cover in space, something only Okereke can provide for the Giants. That means they will need to add youth, with the draft being the perfect place.
And there is one prospect, who if all things work out, may just fall into the Giants lap, allowing them to become a formidable defense and take Don Martindale's scheme to new heights.
Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
Sanders is my highest-graded linebacker in the class, with a special mix of tackling, pass rush, and coverage experience, all in a prototypical frame for the modern NFL. Here is my evaluation of Sanders:
One liner:
An extended linebacker with exceptional block shedding and modern measurables for length and athleticism.
Evaluation:
Former edge player that now plays off ball with versatility to swing out to overhang as the will.
Lengthy athlete with extended limbs. Excellent short-area agility to scrape and jump into gaps. Perfect tempo when shuffling Vs outside zone, and knows when to step on the gas and hit the ball carrier.
Impressive block shed vs much bigger guards. Pass rush background shows up in his flexibility, can bend and dip to avoid linemen. Plays with leverage and hand usage to disengage and time up the tackle.
Change of direction and range to cover between the hashes and chase down ball carriers in the open field. Knows his pursuit angles, can and will finish. Mirrors the back's path, breaking on the football in coverage.
Long, but linear profile for a traditional stacked backer. Eyes are still green as an off-ball linebacker. See why he transitioned from the edge and lacks the power to beat anchors.
If he doesn’t dip and dive, once linemen get to his chest, it’s a problem. Uses proper technique but can miss tackles going low. Want more decisiveness in his run-pass reads.
Occasionally guesses wrong on run direction, losing gap integrity and allowing big gains. Can be eluded by quarterbacks as a pass rusher. Tunnel vision when he has a free gap. Makes up for poor shin angles with his lateral quicks, but can false step at times.
Summary:
Sanders is the perfect prototype for modern backers. His movement from edge to an off-ball position has allowed him to better utilize his length and athleticism while maintaining his excellent block shedding.
