Weeks ago I made a point with Carter's Classroom that the Steelers needed to find Devin Bush's partner at inside linebacker in the NFL Draft. Doing so would allow the defense more flexibility at stopping the run while being able to cover receivers, tight ends and running backs with both their starters.
But the trick to accomplishing that task means finding the right linebacker in this NFL Draft class. Several options will be available for Kevin Colbert to pick at either the Steelers' first round pick at 24, or second round pick at 55. Here's a look at players who should be considered with those picks:
First round linebackers
Micah Parsons, Penn State
Parsons is the undisputed top linebacker of this class. Even after opting out of the 2020 season his natural skills as a tackler, run defender and cover linebacker make him a dynamic threat in the middle of the field. He further confirmed that with his 4.39 seconds run in the 40-yard dash that showed off his impressive athleticism.
But with all that talent and athleticism at 6-foot-3, 246 lbs., Parsons will most likely get picked long before the Steelers' first round pick arrives.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
Owusu-Koramoah is the second linebacker of this class, and is still most likely going to get picked before the Steelers get up to the podium at 24. But if he's there, it would be tempting to draft a player with his athleticism at linebacker.
He might not have ran the 40-yard dash at his pro day, but his 6.80 seconds in the 3-cone drill and 4.15 seconds in the shuttle were both third-best among the linebacker class. At 6-foot-1, 221 lbs., Owusu-Koramoah has the size, speed and instincts of a roaming linebacker to cover the middle of the field.
But where he lacks what the Steelers might need next to Bush is the ability to disengage with blockers in the hole. Owusu-Koramoah isn't that type of linebacker. This was him getting controlled by Alabama tight end Miller Forristall to seal the left side of Alabama's line so Najee Harris can run for 15 yards:
That's the one weakness Owusu-Koramoah has, but it could be important to what the Steelers need this year.
Bush is plenty fast, and pairing him with Owusu-Koramoah could make them the fastest linebacker pair in the NFL. But it could also make them both susceptible to run-heavy offenses like the Browns and Ravens when the Steelers need linebackers to win more at the point of attack.
Zaven Collins, Tulsa
Collins is probably the best linebacker in this class that is most likely to fall to the Steelers' pick. He's not the fastest or the quickest of this year's linebackers, but he's strong and sturdy with the ability to defend around the field and the instincts to be useful in coverage.
Here's a play against Tulane in coverage where Collins comfortably backpedaled to cover a shallow cross by a receiver. But when a following cross snuck underneath Collins, he bursted through the play to make the tackle:
Collins did get to flash a modest 4.67 time in the 40-yard dash, but his consistent tape speaks loud enough.
He's much better at taking on linemen at the point of attack than Owusu-Koramoah, and would be an ideal pair with Bush. His college tape shows a skilled and experienced cover linebacker on zone assignments who could start next to Bush to start the season.
Dale Lolley picked Collins his 4.0 mock draft.
Jamin Davis, Kentucky
Davis is one of the more intriguing linebackers of the class whose pro day significantly boosted his profile. At 6-foot-3, 234 lbs., Davis ran 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash, fourth-best of linebackers, while his 132-inch broad jump was second-best, and his 42-inch vertical jump was the best of the class.
His tape shows an explosive and strong linebacker who can run sideline to sideline and use his long arms to keep blockers from getting to his frame and locking him up at the point of attack. He also looks natural attacking the run and dissecting offensive lines. Watch how he knifed through Florida's line to tie up the running back so a teammate could force the fumble he would recover:
Davis' biggest knock is that he's only played one full season.
His instincts aren't as polished as Collins', but he's got an extremely high ceiling with his speed, size and strength that would make him one of the most dangerous linebackers in the NFL if he were to actualize his potential.
Second round linebackers
Baron Browning, Ohio State
Browning is another raw player who has a high ceiling of potential but must work on being more consistent. He struggles to consistently process offensive lines and attack different blocking schemes, but when things do click for him, he's very tough to stop.
Browning's possibilities are difficult to ignore as a linebacker who can cover around the field, and use his 6-foot-2, 248 lbs. frame to challenge taller receivers and tight ends. Watch him blanket and engage Pat Freiermuth all on his own to swat away a fade route to the end zone:
Browning may have plenty of potential, but he'll need to work on turning that potential into consistent production in the NFL.
Still, that's something that could happen with the talent that would be around him in the Steelers' defense. His 4.58 40-yard dash time, 40-inch vertical jump, 130-inch broad jump, 6.78 seconds in the 3-cone drill, and 4.23 seconds in the shuttle all were among the top five performances of the linebackers in this year's pro days.
That's why I found it hard to pass him up when I picked him in the second round of my 2.0 mock draft.
Jabril Cox, LSU
Cox isn't the most savvy run defender as his aggressiveness can run him out of plays, but he is another talented defender in the middle of the field who can cover and turn big plays against various receiving targets.
At 6-foot-3, 232 lbs., his length lets him challenge taller players and his bulk lets him throw his weight around against the run. While he doesn't always have the best instincts against the run, he does look comfortable reacting in space and playing the ball. Watch how smoothly he turned trailing this tight end over the middle into a pick six:
Even though LSU fell apart after its National Championship season of 2019, Cox still shined in its 2020 defense.
He would be a bigger linebacker with cover skills who could pair with Bush, even if he took some polishing.
Pete Werner, Ohio State
Werner is the second of three Ohio State linebackers in this draft between him, Browning and Justin Hilliard. Browning's athleticism make him a higher priority while Hilliard looks like a later rounds pick that starts off as a special teamer.
While Browning is the most athletic of the bunch, Werner is the more technically sound of the group, especially in the trenches. His best moments happen closest to the line of scrimmage when he can get physical and outwork opponents at the point of attack. He wouldn't be one of the better cover linebackers of this class, but he would be sufficient enough to help with underneath crossing patterns and running backs out of the backfield.
Nick Bolton, Missouri
Bolton is a hard-hitting linebacker who can fly around the box and attack running backs when he gets clean looks. But his tape doesn't show a defender who's learned how to consistently deal with traffic from offensive lines. If his defensive front doesn't keep him clean, often times Bolton didn't make the play.
He also didn't test among the best of this year's linebackers in any of the pro day events, which if he had, would've put him closer to the range of players like Browning and Cox. Couple that with tape that didn't show a confident pass defender, and he falls to the back of the second round prospects.
Cameron McGrone, Michigan
McGrone is a player I go back and forth about as a second round or third round linebacker. He has the size at 6-foot-1, 232 lbs. to pair with Bush and has admittedly looked up to him as his successor in Michigan's defense.
He can aggressively attack the run as a strong tackler who isn't afraid to put his nose into a fight at the line, and he flashes skills to shed blockers in the run game. But like other second round prospects, he lacks consistency in this aspect and would need to develop it into a consistent skill.
McGrone does have cover skills, but not to the extent of Bush's that the defense should expect him to cover seam routes and take on tougher responsibilities. But where he wouldn't be a better cover option for Bush, his willingness to get physical at the line could make him an interesting partner for his fellow former Wolverine.
