2017 NFL Draft Prospects: Outside Linebackers

By Charlie Campbell.
Send Charlie an e-mail here: [email protected]
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The top 2017 Outside Linebacker prospects available for the 2017 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2018 prospect. ** – denotes 2019 prospect.

This page was last updated April 26, 2017. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Haason Reddick, OLB/ILB, Temple
Height: 6-1. Weight: 237. Arm: 32.13. Hand: 10.38.
40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2017): 1-2.
4/26/17: In my opinion, Jarrad Davis is a much better prospect than Reddick, but Reddick will probably get drafted higher. Thus, Reddick is rated first.

Reddick is likely to go in the middle or back half of the first round. He is fast, explosive and a dangerous edge rusher. Some team sources graded Reddick in the mid-rounds because of his position change from defensive end to outside linebacker, but there are teams that love him and are considering him in the first round. Reddick’s experience at his NFL position is limited to three practices and one exhibition game.

Reddick came to Temple as a defensive back before being moved to the edge. He was basically a run-and-chase pursuit defender. At the Senior Bowl, Reddick had to move to outside linebacker, but he had a solid week of practice, flying around the field and being around the ball.

In 2016, Reddick totaled 65 tackles with 22.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three passes broken up. He doesn’t have the size to be an every-down edge rusher in the NFL, thus the position change. Reddick’s instincts are a work in progress and some scouts knocked him for getting destroyed in the ground game. Reddick is going to need developmental time in the NFL.

Jarrad Davis*, OLB/ILB, Florida
Height: 6-1. Weight: 238. Arm: 33.5.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2017): 1-2.
4/26/17: The senior collected 60 tackles, two sacks and four passes broken up in 2016. Davis played well, but didn’t generate as much of an impact as he did in 2015. Sources say that Davis has above-average instincts, but is inconsistent with taking on blocks. Some teams tell WalterFootball.com that they have given Davis a second-round grade, but that he is a first-round talent. Part of that was missing three games with leg injuries during 2016.

Davis is a rare linebacker with a great skill set. He is very fast with sideline-to-sideline speed that allows him to cover a ton of ground. He is explosive as a runner and as a hitter with some real shock who surprises offensive linemen and ball-carriers. Davis also is a team leader who loves football. He is the epitome of the field general to call the plays, make the checks, and be a motivator in the huddle. Players who have played against Davis, have told WalterFootball.com that he is the real deal and a terrific player.

Davis shows skills for the passing game and is a dangerous blitzer. In the short to intermediate zone, he does well at picking up receivers and also has shown some ball skills. Davis could be an weapon as an NFL linebacker to neutralize receiving threat tight ends and running backs in man-to-man coverage. In the ground game, he is all over the field as a run defender. Routinely, one would see plays where Davis was phenomenal at quickly reading the play and darting into the backfield to blow the play up. Not only does he explode into the backfield, he flies to the sideline, and throws his body around at the line of scrimmage.

8/13/16: Davis is a strong inside presence who made some clutch tackles for Florida last season. He was an unsung hero of one of the best defenses in the nation and a beast in the SEC Championship. In 2015, Davis totaled 94 tackles with 11 tackles for a loss, four passes broken up, an interception and 3.5 sacks. Davis is fast, physical and instinctive. He is a play-maker who has a real presence on the field.

In the ground game, Davis is all over the field as a run defender. Routinely, one sees plays where Davis is phenomenal at quickly reading the play and darting into the backfield to blow the play up. Not only does he explode into the backfield, he flies to the sideline, and throws his body around at the line of scrimmage.

For the most part, Davis is a good tackler and can hit with authority. He can be a little overaggressive and over pursue, but generally he is sound about getting the ball-carrier on the ground. Davis is very physical when hitting backs, quarterbacks, receivers and offensive linemen.

In the passing game, Davis shows skills and is a dangerous blitzer. In the short to intermediate zone, he does well picking up receivers and also has shown some ball skills. Davis could be even better now that he has some experience. For the NFL, Davis could continue to improve his ability to get off blocks and his pass-coverage skills.

T.J. Watt*, OLB, Wisconsin
Height: 6-4. Weight: 252. Arm: 33.13.
40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2017): 1-2.
4/26/17: Watt had a strong debut to open the 2016 season with an impressive game against LSU. That set the tone for an excellent junior year, and Watt decided to skip his senior campaign to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He is a good edge rusher who also is very tough at setting the edge in the ground game. Watt would be a perfect fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. In a 4-3 defense, he could be a Sam (strongside) linebacker who rushes off the edge in pass situations. He could gain weight to be a right end as well.

Watt performed well at the combine showing good speed, athleticism and plenty of upside. In 2016, he recorded 63 tackles with 15.5 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks, four passes batted and two forced fumbles. In 2015, Watt was a backup who totaled eight tackles with three passes broken up. He is the younger brother of J.J. Watt and Derek Watt.

Tyus Bowser, OLB/ILB, Houston
Height: 6-2. Weight: 244. Arm: 33. Hand: 10.13.
40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2017): 1-3.
4/26/17: In 2016, Bowser had 47 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass batted. He was a tough edge rusher for Houston. His best fit could come as a 3-4 outside and inside linebacker. In a 4-3 defense, Bowser would fit as a Sam (strongside) linebacker who also serves as a designated pass-rusher off the edge in passing situations. Bowser could go in the early rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft as teams like his speed, explosion, and athletic ability.

Takkarist McKinley, OLB/DE, UCLA
Height: 6-2. Weight: 250. Arm: 34.75.
40 Time: 4.59.
Projected Round (2017): 1-3.
4/26/17: McKinley is a pass-rushing specialist who really blossomed during 2016. He racked up 61 tackles with 18 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles and six passes batted on the season. It is a big improvement over his 2015 production when he had 35 tackle with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes broken up. McKinley was a backup prior to that, but still had 2.5 sacks.

For the NFL, McKinley’s body type would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Some team sources have McKinley graded in the mid-rounds, but the team that likes him early enough to draft him could do so in the first or second round as the hype suggests that some team will reach on McKinley because of his speed-rush potential.

McKinley is a fast, explosive, and high motor as a run-and-chase defender, but he enters the NFL as a one-trick pony speed rusher. He is very fast off the edge with an explosive first-step and excellent closing speed. McKinley is a dynamic speed rusher and dangerous quarterback hunter coming from the backside. However, he lacks pass-rushing moves and is extremely tight. McKinley is purely a speed rusher and needs to learn more moves for the NFL. Long offensive tackles also give him problems getting around them. McKinley has a good motor and gets some sacks on second effort.

In the ground game, McKinkley can get destroyed on some plays. He can get pushed out of his gap and ridden around the field. He is at his best in pursuit using his explosive speed to chase down backs. McKinley is better at trying to fire into the backfield to disrupt runs and then hold his ground at the point of attack. Maintaing gap integrity is going to be a big challenge for McKinley against NFL offensive linemen.

Jordan Willis, OLB/DE, Kansas State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 255. Arm: 33.25. Hand: 10.
40 Time: 4.53.
Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
4/26/17: Willis was one of the stars of the combine’s defensive line drills with a very fast 40 time. He also did well in the field drills, in which he looked smooth and athletic. That performance should solidify him to go no lower than the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Willis caused a lot of disruption and negative plays for his defense in an impressive senior year. In 2016, he totaled 11.5 sacks, 52 tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, three passes batted and three forced fumbles. Willis has good strength to set the edge in rush defense and pass-rush skills off the edge. He could play as a defensive end in a 4-3 or an outside linebacker in a 3-4.

Tim Williams, OLB/DE, Alabama
Height: 6-4. Weight: 244. Arm: 32.75.
40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
4/26/17: We were right on the money projecting Williams to run a 4.68-second time in the 40-yard dash. On the other hand, he didn’t do as well as expected in the field drills.

In 2016, Williams totaled nine sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, 31 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass batted. He put a lot of pressure on the quarterback and really stepped up with some big games against Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State. Williams was very consistent on the season with generating a pass rush and producing sacks.

Williams likely hurt his draft stock in late September with an arrest for carrying a pistol without a permit. Alabama suspended him for the first half of the game against Kentucky as a result. WalterFootball.com, however, was first to report of other off-the-field issues that are hurting Williams’ draft stock as he failed many drug tests at Alabama. Multiple team sources believe Williams could slip to Round 2 and their teams won’t consider Williams in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. They say the severity of his substance-abuse issues are similar to Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory, who was one of the most talented players for the 2015 NFL Draft, yet slipped to the second round. Gregory has had repeated suspensions in the NFL, and teams are worried that Williams could face a similar issue.

8/13/16: Even though Williams wasn’t a starter in 2015, he had a breakout season for the Crimson Tide. Alabama used him as a situational pass-rusher, and he recorded 10.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 19 tackles in that role. Williams came on really strong to help the Crimson Tide win a National Championship.

The senior is a fast edge rusher with a nose for the quarterback. It will be interesting to see if Williams can evolve into an every-down defender.

Ryan Anderson, OLB, Alabama
Height: 6-2. Weight: 258. Arm: 31.75. Hand: 9.38.
40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2017): 2-3.
4/26/17: Anderson totaled 54 tackles with 17 for a loss, eight sacks, two passes broken up, one interception and three forced fumbles during 2016. He had impressive games with excellent pass-rushing contributions against USC, Ole Miss and many other opponents. Throughout his senior year, Anderson made a lot of clutch plays in crunch time to help create turnovers or splash plays for his defense. He doesn’t have the best skill set, but he is an instinctive football player. Anderson played well at the Senior Bowl and helped himself.

For the NFL, Anderson would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. In a 4-3 defense, he would be a Sam (strongside) linebacker.

8/13/16: Anderson came on strong to close out the 2015 season. He totaled 37 tackles with 11.5 for a loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles. Anderson has versatile size and upside to develop. He should take on a bigger role with Reggie Ragland in the NFL.

Carroll Phillips, OLB/DE, Illinois
Height: 6-3. Weight: 242. Arm: 31.75. Hand: 9.5.
40 Time: 4.64.
Projected Round (2017): 2-4.
4/26/17: Phillips has first-round talent, but he probably will fall to the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. He faced some off-the-field concerns, but those were cleared up in his favor and Phillips was cleared of any wrong doing. WalterFootball.com knows some teams that really like Phillips and have him in play on the second day of the 2017 NFL Draft. In 2016, Phillips recorded 56 tackles with 20 tackles for a loss, nine sacks and one forced fumble.

Phillips is a sleeper prospect who some NFL teams love and others are lukewarm on. The teams that love Phillips say he is super athletic and twitchy. They feel that his speed and athleticism is very similar to Leonard Floyd. Like Floyd at Georgia, Phillips can struggle some on run downs; however, they feel that he is a gifted, natural pass-rushing talent. The teams that aren’t in love with Phillips don’t see him as a high pick, as one could expect.

As a junior, Phillips made 26 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks as the backup to Jihad Ward.

Derek Rivers, OLB/DE, Youngstown State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 248. Arm: 32.75.
40 Time: 4.61.
Projected Round (2017): 2-4.
4/26/17: Rivers ran fast at the combine and showed some athleticism. As a senior, he totaled 58 tackles with 19.5 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass batted. Rivers showed his pass-rush skills with eight sacks as a junior and 13 as a sophomore. He could end up being a second-day pick.

Alex Anzalone*, OLB/ILB, Florida
Height: 6-3. Weight: 240. Arm: 30.88. Hand: 9.13.
40 Time: 4.63.
Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
4/26/17: After some solid play in 2016, Anzalone’s draft stock was dealt a serious blow by a broken arm that ended his season. While sources say that Anzalone is not real twitchy, sudden or explosive, he takes on blocks and uses his hands well. Anzalone is fast in a straight line, but not that quick. He lacks quick twitch, change-of-direction skills. Anzalone is decent in pass coverage, but lacks good awareness in zone. He is viewed as a third- or fourth-rounder who could develop into a starting inside linebacker; however, there are major durability concerns from repeated injuries in college and he may have been flunked medically by some teams.

Anzalone should have returned for his senior year, but the redshirt junior decided to enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He had a solid week at the Senior Bowl, where he showed impressive pass-coverage skills.

Anzalone was very impressive at times during the 2016 season, racking up 40 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two passes broken up. He barely played in 2015 because of a shoulder injury that led to a medical redshirt. Anzalone was a backup and had injury issues during his first two years as well. Still, he can play inside linebacker and also is a dangerous pass-rusher off the edge or when blitzing up the middle.

Other sources around the Gators program speak very highly of Anzalone as being a hard worker with good character. Even though he was injured, Anzalone was considered a team leader in 2015 and was a vocal tone-setter on the sideline.

Duke Riley, OLB/ILB, LSU
Height: 6-0. Weight: 235. Arm: 30.88. Hand: 9.5.
40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
4/26/17: Riley was a backup before coming on as a senior. He had an impressive game against Alabama and got better as the year progressed. In 2016, Riley totaled 93 tackles with nine for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass batted and one interception. Riley is a fast and physical linebacker who would fit best as a Will (weakside) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.

Anthony Walker*, OLB/ILB, Northwestern
Height: 6-1. Weight: 238. Arm: 30.38.
40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Walker gained 20 pounds prior to the 2016 season, and sources say that cost him some of his speed and explosiveness. He could have used 5-10 pounds to help get off blocks in the NFL, but his 20-pound weight gain appears to be too much. Sources preferred him at the lower weight, and his per-game averages were down. In 2016, Walker recorded 105 tackles with 10 for a loss, four forced fumbles, two sacks, five passes broken up and one interception.

Sources have said they were really disappointed with Walker’s 2016 season and just based on that alone, he would have been a late-rounder or undrafted free agent. However, his sophomore year helps his grade enough that he could go on Day 3.

8/13/16: Northwestern had a good team in 2015 and was led defensively by Walker as he totaled 122 tackles with 20.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, four passes batted, one forced fumble and one interception. Walker reminds me of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David.

Against the run, Walker is tremendous when he goes unblocked. He is very fast to fire into the hole, bolt into the backfield, or get to the perimeter. Walker has good very good read-and-react skills and instincts.

The NFL is a passing-driven league, so Walker’s pass-coverage skills are the first area to scrutinize. He has shown an impressive ability to cover backs out of the backfield, and in the 2015 season opener, he was running stride for stride with the superb, speedy Stanford play-maker Christian McCaffrey on routes out of the backfield. Walker has the ability to cover in man, but really is excellent in zone.

There are some areas where Walker could improve. With his listed size, he could use five to 10 pounds of muscle to help take on NFL running backs. When offensive linemen fire off the ball and get to him, Walker is in trouble. He is good to take the block on, but he struggles to hold his ground or shed the block. That comes back to his size and needing more strength. Shedding blocks is the biggest area that Walker should seek to improve.

Steven Taylor, OLB, Houston
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: In 2016, Taylor totaled 74 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes broken up. As a junior in 2015, he had 92 stops with 18.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. Taylor made 76 tackles as a sophomore and 89 tackles as a freshman.

Taylor is a fast defender who is a dangerous blitzer. He needs to get stronger for the NFL though.

Richie Brown, OLB/ILB, Mississippi State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: On the year, Brown had 102 tackles with 1.5 sacks, four tackles for a loss, two passes broken up and one forced fumble. He is a solid run defender. Brown had a quality week of practice at the East-West Shrine. He wasn’t invited to the combine.

8/13/16: Brown was a contributor as a freshman and sophomore, but he took his game to another level as a junior. In 2015, Brown totaled 109 tackles with 13 for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two passes broken up, and an interception. He was a solid tacker and also displayed good instincts.

With Chris Jones and Beniquez Brown in the NFL, Richie Brown will take on a bigger role in 2016, and he could easily surpass his tackle production from last year. For the NFL, showing pass-coverage ability along with the speed and athleticism to be a three-down starter is critical for the senior.

Josh Carraway, OLB/DE, TCU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 241. Arm: 32.88. Hand: 9.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Carraway totaled 49 tackles with eight sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble in 2016. He is a speed rusher off the edge with some athleticism. Carraway didn’t impress at the Senior Bowl.

8/13/16: In 2015, Carraway had an impressive season for the Horned Frogs with 47 tackles, nine sacks, 11.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and two passes batted. He has the size to fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

Devonte Fields, OLB/DE, Louisville
Height: 6-4. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Fields had 45 tackles with nine for a loss, six sacks and three passes batted in 2016. He played well at times for Louisville, but wasn’t always consistent. Sources say the significant off-the-field concerns with Fields are going to weigh down his draft stock, but that is no shocker given how things went for him at TCU.

8/13/16: Fields would be a little higher in these rankings if it weren’t for the off-the-field issues that could weigh down his draft stock. Playing for TCU in 2012, Fields took the Big XII by storm as a First-Team All-Big XII pick and the Big XII Freshman of the Year. That breakout season saw him notch 10 sacks, 53 tackles, 18.5 tackles for a loss, four passes batted, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Fields then missed the next two seasons with an injury and having to sit out as things fell apart for him at TCU. He transferred to Louisville for 2015 and was dreadful in the first half of the season. In the first six games of the year, Fields had only .5 sacks. However, midway through the year the switch was flipped and he went on a tear to close out the season with 10.5 sacks in the final seven games. Fields totaled 64 tackles with 22.5 for a loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes batted in 2015.

There is no doubt that Fields is very fast off the edge. He has a quick first-step and gets upfield. Fields uses his speed and agility to turn the corner and get pointed to the quarterback. Fields’ closing speed is tremendous as once he is free, he eats up ground in an instant to get to quarterbacks in the pocket or running backs in the ground game. With how fast Fields is in pursuit, he can make plays in the pass rush and ground game that other edge rushers are incapable of making.

There are a number of areas for improvement though for the NFL. Fields definitely has to get stronger. He can get pushed around in the ground game. When offensive linemen engage him, he can struggle to maintain his gap and shed blocks. Fields is in trouble when runs come downhill straight at him. Adding strength would also help his pass rush as Fields could use that to help get blockers hands off of him.

Fields definitely needs to develop more pass-rushing moves for the next level. Right now, he is getting by on his speed and athleticism.

Avery Moss, OLB/DE, Youngstown State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 263. Arm: 34.25.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: In 2016, Moss recorded 59 tackles with 17.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks and three passes batted. He has some speed and athleticism on the edge.

Dylan Donahue, OLB/DE, West Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 248. Arm: 30.25.
40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Donahue had excellent production for West Georgia the past two seasons and was impressive at the NFL Scouting Combine. As a senior, he totaled 67 tackles with 20 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks and one pass batted. Donahue recorded 53 tackles with 17.5 for a loss, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2015.

Connor Harris, OLB/ILB, Lindenwood
Height: 5-11. Weight: 241. Arm: 28.75. Hand: 9.25.
40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Playing in Division II, Harris was a tackling machine with 138 stops as a senior, 184 as a junior, 152 as a sophomore, and 126 in his full freshman season. He had two interceptions in each of the past three seasons, too. Harris didn’t stand out at the Senior Bowl or combine.

Jordan Herdman, OLB/ILB, Simon Fraser
Height: 5-10. Weight: 238. Arm: 29.88. Hand: 8.13.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2017): 4-6.
4/26/17: Herdman had a strong collegiate career with impressive tackle totals during the past three seasons. As a senior, he made 113 stops after 133 as a junior and 165 as a sophomore. Herdman didn’t impress at the Senior Bowl though and didn’t get invited to the combine.

Ejuan Price, OLB/DE, Pittsburgh
Height: 5-11. Weight: 241. Arm: 32.75.
40 Time: 4.84.
Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
4/26/17: Price is a fast edge rusher who will have to transition to outside or maybe inside linebacker in the NFL. He was a terror in the pass rush as a senior with 13 sacks, 45 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, three force fumbles and one pass broken up.

As a pro, Price might fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has speed off the edge with functional strength to fight off blockers, but he has a crippling lack of length. Some team sources aren’t convinced there is a good position for him in the NFL.

As a junior in 2015, Price totaled nine sacks with 13 tackles for a loss and 26 tackles. He could have a medical red flag with teams as he missed the 2014 season with a chest muscle injury from the offseason. He also took a medical redshirt while missing the 2012 season from a pectoral injury. Those missed seasons will result in Price being a bit older as he will be 24 in his rookie season.

Vince Biegel, OLB, Wisconsin
Height: 6-3. Weight: 242. Arm: 32. Hand: 9.13.
40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
4/26/17: Biegel recorded 44 tackles with six tackles for a loss and four sacks in 2016. He played well for the Badgers.

8/13/16: Biegel was a solid defender for Wisconsin in 2015. He had 66 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. Biegel contributed nicely after Joe Schobert had a huge start to the season. As a sophomore, Biegel contributed 56 stops with 7.5 sacks.

Hardy Nickerson, OLB/ILB, Illinois
Height: 6-2. Weight: 232. Arm: 32.
40 Time: 4.78.
Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
4/26/17: Sources say that Nickerson could be draftable late in the 2017 NFL Draft. He totaled 107 tackles with 5.5 for a loss, two sacks and two interceptions in 2016. Nickerson could be a backup linebacker and special teams contributor in the NFL.

8/13/16: Nickerson has transferred to Illinois for his senior year to play for his father and new Illini head coach Lovie Smith. Previously, Nickerson had been a solid linebacker for California, where he had 112 tackles with one sack in 2015. Nickerson totaled 70 tackles with two for a loss and an interception in 2014. The previous season, he totaled 64 tackles.

Nickerson needs to elevate his game as a senior. He is the son of former Steeler and Buccaneer great Hardy Nickerson.

Brooks Ellis, OLB, Arkansas
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240. Arm: 31.75.
40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
4/26/17: Ellis was as solid run defender for the Razorbacks as he totaled 83 tackles with seven for a loss, one sack and five passes broken up on the year. Ellis had 102 tackles as a junior.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB/ILB, Tennessee
Height: 5-11. Weight: 230. Arm: 32.25.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Projected Round (2017): 6-FA.
4/26/17: A shoulder injury ended Reeves-Maybin’s season in September. He totaled 20 tackles and two for a loss for his year. Team sources have told me that they are targeting Reeves-Maybin as an undrafted free agent.

8/13/16: In 2015, Reeves-Maybin had 105 tackles with six sacks, 14 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and four passes batted. The junior broke out during the regular season in SEC play with impressive games against Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama. Reeves-Maybin (6-0, 225) has shown good instincts and the speed to run sideline-to-sideline.

Blair Brown, OLB, Ohio
Height: 5-11. Weight: 238. Arm: 31.25.
40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2017): 6-FA.
4/26/17: Brown had a big senior year with 128 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He is undersized for the NFL.

Peter Kalambayi, OLB, Stanford
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.80.
Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
4/26/17: Kalambayi had 45 tackles with six for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 2016. He made a couple of sacks against Kansas State when he was virtually unblocked.

8/13/16: Kalambayi had an impressive sophomore season with 32 tackles, 9.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks in 2014. However, he didn’t really build on that as a junior with 52 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes batted. Kalambayi needs to improve his pass rush and run defense as a senior.

Matt Milano, OLB, Boston College
Height: 6-0. Weight: 223. Arm: 32.
40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round (2017): 7-FA.
4/26/17: Milano collected 58 tackles with 6.5 sacks for Boston College as a senior. He had 60 tackles and the same amount of sacks as a junior. Milano could be a backup linebacker and special teams player in the NFL.

Deon Hollins, OLB, UCLA
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2017): FA.
4/26/17: Hollins was out for a few games with an injury, but returned to the field. He totaled five tackles, two sacks and a pass batted in 2016.

8/13/16: Hollins plays some defensive end for UCLA, but he will have to move to outside linebacker in the NFL. Hollins put up nine sacks as sophomore, but last year that total dipped to 2.5 with 18 tackles on the season. He needs to bounce back as a senior.

Jabari Ruffin, OLB/ILB, USC
Height: 6-3. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2017): FA.
4/15/17: Ruffin made two tackles during the 2016 season.

8/13/16: Ruffin notched 11 tackles in 2015 before going out for the year with a knee injury. He could earn more playing time in 2016 as a replacement for Hayes Pullard. Ruffin was on track to start for USC in 2014 before a torn knee ligament ended his season early. He’s a player to watch in 2016, but he has to stay healthy.

Nyeem Wartman-White, OLB/ILB, Penn State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 236.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2017): FA.
4/15/17: Wartman-White totaled 14 tackles in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury. Scouts said they liked Wartman-White before the injury.

8/13/16: Wartman-White made two tackles in the 2015 opener against Temple before suffering a season-ending injury. He had 75 tackles with 3.5 for a loss for in 2014.