As we round out the potential picks for the Steelers at inside linebacker, we have taken a look at some of the higher picks, such as Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch, as well as some of the players that might be available late in the draft, such as Shaqueem Griffin and Oren Burks.
Today, we focus on a player the Steelers could expect to be available in the middle rounds of the draft in Texas' Malik Jefferson:
Jefferson has the prototypical athletic build of an NFL linebacker at 6-foot-3, 236 pounds. His 4.52 time in the 40-yard dash was the third best behind Griffin's record 4.38 time and Roquan Smith, who is projected as the absolute best of this year's class of inside linebackers. Jefferson also had the second most repetitions (27) on the bench press among linebackers and had the fourth best broad jump with 125.0 inches.
Athletically, Jefferson is everything you want from an NFL inside linebacker. But his problems are in his instincts and fundamentals as a natural player in the position. When Jefferson is at the point of attack against blockers, he's often easily blown out of the hole and unable to disengage to find his man.
Here's an example against TCU when he was lined up in the middle of the defense and went from twisting to the outside to being completely removed from having a chance to attack the ball carrier:
Jefferson has few techniques for keeping offensive linemen from getting their hands inside his frame. That makes it that much easier to control him at the point of attack and neutralize his athleticism.
Even when he's the one on the attack, when there are blockers in his way, he struggles to fight through them. He doesn't know how to use his athleticism with an aggression and hold his ground and/or fight through blockers to get to his man.
Watch how cautiously he approaches the line and how passively he uses his hands as the running back runs right by his gap for a big gain. Note how he sees the play developing, but cannot get there when seeing linemen in the way:
While Jefferson could potentially learn how to improve these issues in the NFL, these deficiencies are what make him more of a project than other linebackers with physical abilities similar to his.
When I watch Evans attack blockers, he goes on the offensive to win the battle and dictate the terms of how the fight for the gap will proceed. Jefferson looks for ways to wade through those situations, rather than dominate them.
But there's no question when Jefferson sees his target, he can chase him down. Here he is pursuing TCU quarterback Kenny Hill in open space and bringing him down for a sack. When asked to spy a quarterback, he found himself at home when all he had to do was follow his man in open space:
While Jefferson's instincts are somewhat lacking in how to process offenses, he showed flashes of how good he can be when that recognition does occur. If he sees a seam he can attack, he explodes into it and attacks the ball carrier aggressively.
Watch how when he recognizes that a lane exists for him against Oklahoma State, Jefferson explodes through the line and occupies a gap on the other side of the offense to bring the runner down for no gain:
That's the athleticism that will intrigue NFL scouts and keep Jefferson a prospect that some team will at least take a chance on in the third or fourth round, if not earlier.
Watch how quickly Jefferson is able to go from standing in the middle of the field to accelerating into the backfield. He's so quick that the left tackle, highlighted in red, can't even react quickly enough to stop him from getting to Mason Rudolph and force an ill-timed throw that resulted in an incomplete pass:
Jefferson will definitely get his shot in the NFL. But if he's asked to be an immediate starter somewhere, it most likely would be in a place that is struggling to find any consistency at inside linebacker.
If you're looking for a comparison, think of how Bud Dupree plays outside linebacker and how, despite his prototypical build and great athletic scores in the NFL Scouting Combine, he still hasn't found a way to be a consistently productive pass rusher for the Steelers.
Dupree has the physical tools and the athletic ability to burst in open space, but lacks the natural instincts at his position on how to cover and anticipate routes, set up pass rush moves to get to the quarterback and consistently win at the point of attack against the run.
Now apply that idea to an inside linebacker like Jefferson who has to not only rush the passer, but defend multiple gaps against the run instead of just the edge, and cover a more varied group of potential receivers.
The frustration Steelers fans get from watching a first-round pick struggle to find his comfort zone at his position could be what happens if Jefferson is selected. Fortunately, however, Jefferson's current draft stock wouldn't have him as a first-round selection, so that performance would be more acceptable.
