2022 NFL Draft Prospects: Outside Linebacker

4/27/22: In 2021, Dean showed dangerous blitzing ability while coming up with some clutch plays for Georgia. On the year, Dean recorded 72 tackles, two interceptions, five passes defended, two forced fumbles and six sacks. He notched 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2020.

Playing off a phenomenal defensive line, Dean made some big plays for the Georgia defense and showed a lot of ability to drop in pass coverage. Dean plays fast as a sideline-to-sideline run defender who can also come with splash plays thanks to very good instincts and intelligence.

Dean’s stock dipped in the spring because an injury kept him from running the 40-yard dash and he is said to not be a blazer in that test. He also gutted through his pro-day workout even though he was not 100 percent healthy. Combined with him being undersized, Dean could slip to early in the second round during the 2022 NFL Drafgt.

On top of his on-field talent, Dean is know to be a team leader, hard worker, and a player who loves football. Dean also has interviewed well with teams prior to the draft, illustrating his excellent intangibles.

4/27/22: Harris has a first-round skill set, but he did not consistently play up to it in 2021. On the year, he recorded 79 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted. In 2020, Harris notched 79 stops, 4.5 sacks, an interception and two passes batted.

Harris is fast, athletic and strong. That was given proof with an excellent combine workout. He has a lot of upside and could be a good value if he breaks out of his 2021 funk.

7/10/21: Harris notched 68 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two passes broken up in 2020. After an injury to Dylan Moses, Harris was thrust into a larger role and turned in an impressive freshman season for Alabama in 2019. Harris showed a lot of upside and the skill set to improve after gaining experience. He could be a fast riser as an upperclassman. Improving his production in pass coverage would help him.

4/27/22: Ebiketie played well for the Nittany Lions in 2021, picking up 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumble. He was impactful in Penn State’s close wins over Wisconsin and Auburn. Ebiketie has size limitations for the NFL, but some team sources have compared him to Yannick Ngakoue. At the Senior Bowl, Ebiketie showed that he is a fast edge rusher with serious burst around the corner. Given his height and weight, however, Ebiketie is not a good fit as a hand-in-the-ground base end for a 4-3 defense. He would be better off as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

7/10/21: Ebiketie impressed NFL advance scouts with his 2020 performance while playing for the Temple Owls. He totaled 42 tackles with four sacks. For the NFL, Ebiketie is undersized to be a defensive end and probably would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

4/27/22: Bonitto is an undersized edge rusher who has the speed to get after the quarterback. He notched seven sacks and 39 tackles in 2021. In 2020, Bonitto recorded 32 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two passes defended. He helped himself with a good workout at the combine.

Area scouts say Bonitto is undersized and has to show he can play in the stack. They expected him to test well, but they have concerns with his football I.Q. and background. They feel Bonitto is a tweener end/linebacker. Some scouts like Bonitto, but they are not in love.

4/27/22: Chenal broke out in 2021 for the Badgers, recording 96 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. He is a solid built outside linebacker who is capable of getting after quarterbacks on the edge. Some evaluators graded him in Round 2, but a survey of sources returned with most having him as a third- or fourth-round pick.

4/27/22: Ross played well for Michigan in 2021, flying around the field and making tackles. He recorded 106 tackles and two passes defended on the season. Ross looks like a potential fast Will linebacker for a 4-3 defense.

7/10/21: Ross flashed as a run defender in 2018 and then really played well in the shortened 2020 season. He was doing a nice job of making stops in the ground game in the six-game 2020 season with 53. As a senior, it would help him to show more pass-coverage ability and produce some passes broken up.

4/27/22: Malone collected 94 tackles, nine sacks, four passes defended and four forced fumbles in 2021. He had a decent week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

7/10/21: Malone was a dangerous quarterback hunter over the past three seasons for the Hilltoppers. Along with getting after the quarterback, Malone was a solid pursuit run defender, providing a lot of tackles for his defense. In the NFL, Malone could be too undersized to play defensive end and might be better off as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

4/27/22: Clark worked out really well at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, showing excellent size to go along with quickness and athleticism. The combine medical exam, however, revealed that Clark needed neck surgery. The repair is likely to force him to miss the 2022 season and will cause him to slide in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he could turn into a mid-round steal for the franchise that can be patient.

Clark was a tackling machine in 2021, sitting at No. 2 in tackles on the year and shooting up draft boards. In 2021, Clark totaled 136 tackles, two forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks, one interception and two passes defended. He had 63 tackles in 2020 and 49 in 2019 to go along with 3.5 sacks. At the Senior Bowl, Clark had a solid week of practice to help himself with teams.

Some team sources have raved about Clark. They think Clark could be a more athletic and more physical version of Zach Cunningham, who led the NFL in tackles early in his career. Clark is a future three-down starter who is a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine and can contribute well in coverage.

7/10/21: Clark held his own in 2020, forming a nice tandem with Jabril Cox. Clark has the potential to rise taking on a bigger role now that Cox has departed for the NFL. With his size and speed, Clark could continue the LSU tradition of strong linebacker play. He flashed at times in 2020.

4/27/22: In 2021, Hansford recorded 89 tackles, two sacks and four passes defended. He played well for the Aggies.

7/10/21: Hansford was solid in 2020, taking advantage of Anthony Hines III’s decision to opt out of the season. Hanford was solid against the run and showed some blitzing ability, but he needs to improve his pass coverage skills for the NFL. Hansford was wise to go back to Texas A&M for 2021. Similar to teammate Anthony Hines III, Hansford missed the 2018 season with an injury but was back in 2019.

4/27/22: Wells recorded 51 tackles, an interception, four passes defended and 5.5 sacks in 2021. He could be a solid mid-rounder who has backup and special teams potential.

7/10/21: Wells was a solid linebacker for the Buffaloes over the past three seasons. He showed pass rush ability in 2018 and 2020 when he combined for 11 sacks over those two seasons. As a senior, it would help Wells to produce more in run defense and pass coverage.

4/27/22: Beavers was a solid defender for the Bearcats in 2021, recording 100 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and two passes broken up. Beavers improved significantly over his junior and sophomore seasons. That improvement is probably how he snagged his Senior Bowl invitation, but he didn’t particularly stand out in Mobile.

4/27/22: Johnson was a dangerous pass rusher for Texas A&M in 2021, recording 8.5 sacks and 31 tackles. He is very undersized for the NFL, however, making him look like a backup who might fit only as a designated pass rusher. Team sources say Johnson beat up on some bad tackles and really struggled against Alabama left tackle Evan Neal. They don’t see freaky traits of speed and explosion to make up for Johnson’s lack of size.

7/10/21: Johnson flashed some pass-rush ability in 2020, but he also illustrated limitations in the ground game. He could be more of a backup designated pass-rusher in the NFL. Johnson was wise to go back to school and improve before going to the next level.

Johnson contributed some pass rush in previous years, so he could rise now that he has some starting experience, plus he has a good end in Michael Clemons drawing attention on the other side. Johnson’s best fit in the NFL could come as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

4/27/22: Wheat totaled 46 tackles, an interception, seven sacks and two passes defended in 2021.

7/10/21: Wheat lacks length, but he has some strength, quickness, and athleticism on the edge. He showed some pass-rush ability in 2020 with five sacks and two forced fumbles. He also recorded 30 tackles, an interception and two passes defended. Wheat is a thickly built linebacker who might need to drop some weight if he is drafted into a 4-3 system and is playing traditional Sam – strong side – linebacker. He also could fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

4/27/22: In the 2021 season opener, Allen went out for the year with a fractured foot.

7/10/21: During Alabama’s undefeated season and National Championship run, Allen showed some ability to rush off the edge and had some timely rushes for the Crimson Tide. In his first season of extended playing time, Allen had five sacks, two forced fumbles and 33 tackles. It will be interesting to see if Allen can build on his resume now that he some additional experience.

4/27/22: Moon could compete in the NFL to be a backup linebacker and special teams contributor. After Ventrell Miller was injured, Moon moved to inside linebacker. He recorded 49 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss on the year. Moon flashed some edge-rush ability in 2019 with three sacks.

4/27/22: Strachan did not stand out in 2021, recording only 23 tackles, an interception and three sacks.

7/10/21: Strachan broke out for Georgia State in 2020, really impressing NFL advance scouts. He showed dangerous edge-rushing ability, recording 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 41 tackles. It will be great to see how Strachan performs against better competition in the SEC and if he can play true outside linebacker. Strachan is undersized to be an every=down edge rusher in the NFL and will have to be an off-the-ball linebacker who rotates in as an edge rusher in obvious passing situations.

4/27/22: Fox was disappointing in 2021, recording 33 tackles and nine sacks. He has some skills as a blitzer, but he needs to become a better run defender for the NFL.

7/10/21: To open 2020, Fox played well against Syracuse and Boston College. He was not as good in the following games, but he put together a decent season overall. Fox played outside linebacker for the Tar Heels in 2019, but he was their leading sacker with 6.5. Fox has a strong build and could be a 3-4 outside linebacker candidate for the NFL. As a senior, it would help him to show more production in run defense as well as the ability to drop into coverage.

4/27/22: Anderson was charged with rape in November and turned himself into the police. He has vehemently denied the accusation, and some team sources believe Anderson is innocent and could get acquitted. If Anderson is exonerated, he could return to being an early-round pick, but right now, it looks like he would be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent until his legal situation is resolved. Anderson had an impressive pro-day workout, and his lawyer is seeking the dismissal of the charges.

Multiple team sources who said they had spoken to recent Georgia staffers and recent former teammates of Anderson all reported those around the Bulldogs program were surprised and didn’t believe he was that kind of guy. He had the reputation of being a good guy and teammate. As Deshaun Watson and others have proven, however, nobody knows for sure what people will do privately. Some team sources are wondering about the timing as the incident occurred the night before the Georgia game versus Florida. Sources are wondering why Anderson was at home and not at the team hotel. They wonder and question if he snuck out after curfew and bed check, so Anderson’s situation is a huge mess for his draft stock. If he is innocent, this could be a situation like La’el Collins’, where a first-round talent becomes a late-round steal.

In 2021, Anderson totaled 32 tackles and five sacks despite limited opportunities. He was a dynamic pass rusher and showed improved run defense. Anderson looked significantly better against the run in the games against Arkansas and Kentucky. Early on, WalterFootball.com caught up with a director of college scouting from a playoff team that is one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, and here is what they had to say about Anderson prior to the off-the-field trouble:

“Talk about holding a guy back; Georgia is definitely doing that. You’re correct in his get-off being reminiscent of Von Miller at Texas A&M. Anderson should be a top-10 or top-15 pick if he keeps playing like he did against Clemson.

“He’s only 230 pounds and really struggles to add weight because of a high metabolism. That’s why Georgia says they don’t start him. [Shrug emoji]”

A director of player personnel sent the following on Anderson earlier in the year: “I think he’s a first-rounder; I haven’t done enough tape to finalize how high, but he has all the traits.”

Not all evaluators were high on Anderson because of him being a backup and rotational player. Here is what one area scout said about Anderson around the same time, “I think he goes in the first, but I wouldn’t take him in the first because of his run defense and he’s just a designated pass rusher. He is a freak athlete though and a special pass rusher. He is going to be freak at the combine and pro day. I wouldn’t take a guy that high that isn’t a three-down starter, but someone will take him up there though.”

7/10/21: Some NFL advance scouts had Anderson with the highest preseason grade of any player on their preseason watch list. That tells you a lot about what they think of Anderson’s skill set considering he enters his senior year having only been a rotational player and never having been a three-down starter. In 2020 as a part-time designated pass rusher, Anderson was tremendous at putting heat on the quarterback, collecting 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass batted. He only recorded 14 tackles for the season, however, because Azeez Ojulari played over him on run downs.

Anderson is tremendous pass rusher who produces quarterback pressure at an insane rate. Anderson looks like a bolt of lightning off the ball with his amazing first-step. Off the snap, it is as if he has been shot out of cannon as he explodes upfield with shocking speed. On top of being very fast, Anderson shows an uncanny ability to bend his long frame. The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder needs to get stronger and improve his run defense for the NFL, but he looks like he has the potential to be a lethal pass rusher who produces some big sack totals and makes a lot of game-changing plays to limit passing attacks.