3 first-round NFL draft prospects who are perfect for Jets’ defensive scheme

[LIJetsFan]

By  Michael Nania  01/08/2022

Pinpointing first-round prospects in the 2022 NFL draft who fit the New York Jets’ defense

Scheme fit is a crucial factor to keep in mind when evaluating potential additions to a football team. Let’s run through a trio of likely first-round prospects in the 2022 NFL draft who I think are great fits for the New York Jets‘ defensive scheme.

George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

On one side of their defensive line in Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich‘s 4-3 defense, the Jets have Carl Lawson.

The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Lawson is on the smaller side for a defensive end, but his uber-athleticism for the position makes him a perfect fit for the team’s “Leo” role – essentially a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end who can line up on the edge either with his hands in the dirt or standing up, whose primary responsibility is to rush the quarterback.

With the speedy, athletic, pass-rush-first Lawson on one side, it is crucial to have a defender on the opposite edge who is stockier, stronger, and more capable of defending the run.

The Jets had John Franklin-Myers in that role this year, and he did a nice job with it. Franklin-Myers, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds, had himself a solid season in both phases.

Franklin-Myers used his large frame and high-end power to set the edge effectively against the run (he led the Jets with a 74.2 Pro Football Focus run-defense grade) but still created pressure in the passing game at a good rate thanks to his skillful pass-rush technique.

However, Franklin-Myers is nowhere near as dominant of a pass-rusher when playing on the edge compared to when he rushes from the inside.

As a defensive tackle in 2020, Franklin-Myers proved capable of elite pass-rushing efficiency for the position, recording the third-best pressure rate in the NFL among interior defensive linemen (14.4%). He used his plus-athleticism and small frame to wreak havoc against bulkier, slower interior linemen.

But on the edge, Franklin-Myers is far less athletic relative to his position than he is as a defensive tackle. He has shown that he can win battles at a solid frequency as an edge defender (11.6% pressure rate, 30th among 86 qualified EDGE), but his lack of bend, burst, speed, and twitch off the edge limits his ability to make splashy, game-changing plays at the level he can from the inside.

I think the best way for the Jets to maximize Franklin-Myers’ talents going forward would be to move him back inside to the 3-technique defensive tackle position.

If that were to transpire, the Jets would need a new defensive end to take Franklin-Myers’ place as the strong, physical edge-setter opposite Lawson.

Enter George Karlaftis.

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Karlaftis is a powerful, tough defensive end who can handle the vigors of Franklin-Myers’ role, but he also offers athletic upside at the position that Franklin-Myers does not, giving him the potential to match Franklin-Myers’ run defense in the scheme while improving upon his pass-rushing.

Karlaftis had the sixth-most pressures among Power-5 edge rushers with 54 despite playing the 25th-most pass-rush snaps with 335. He also had a 75.1 run-defense grade at PFF that ranked at the 84th percentile among qualified Power-5 edge rushers.

The Purdue product has shown the ability to both squeeze the pocket and bend the corner.

A 4-3 defensive line of Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, and George Karlaftis could keep opposing offensive linemen up at night.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

The Jets asked their cornerbacks to play quite a bit of man coverage this year. New York’s corners played man on 36.4% of their coverage snaps, per PFF, which ranked 13th out of 32 cornerback units. The league average was 34.2%.

So, New York needs a cornerback who can play both styles fairly well.

Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner offers that two-way ability.

Gardner played a nearly dead-even split of man and zone coverage this year, playing man on 49.9% of his coverage snaps and zone on 50.1%. He thrived in both concepts.

In man coverage this past season, Gardner allowed a passer rating of 16.7 on throws in his direction, ranking second-best among the 185 FBS cornerbacks to face at least 10 targets. In zone, Gardner yielded a passer rating of 32.1, ranking eighth-lowest out of 218 qualifiers.

That was no one-year fluke from Sauce, either. Here are his passer ratings allowed by season:

2021: 16.7 man, 32.1 zone

2020: 43.5 man, 21.5 zone

2019: 22.2 man, 59.4 zone

Gardner has a better track record of two-way proficiency than his peers at the top of the cornerback class.

LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. – largely considered the No. 1 cornerback prospect – had a dominant season in both concepts as a freshman in 2019. However, since then, Stingley Jr. has gone through some struggles in man coverage (albeit in a small sample size due to injuries) in LSU’s man-heavy defense. His zone coverage numbers remained strong throughout his career.

Clemson’s Andrew Booth joins Gardner and Stingley as the three cornerbacks who currently look like surefire first-rounders. Booth comes from a zone-heavy Clemson defense and consistently thrived in zone coverage, but his man experience is limited and his numbers there are only decent.

Gardner might be the Jets’ best bet at cornerback near the top of the draft if they are looking for someone who brings versatility to the table.

Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Athleticism is important for linebackers in the Jets’ 4-3 defense. Just look at all of the additions the Jets have made at linebacker since Saleh and Ulbrich arrived.

Free-agent signing Jarrad Davis is a tremendous athlete, as is mid-season pickup Quincy Williams.

On day three of the 2021 draft, the Jets selected two collegiate safeties in Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen with the intention of converting them to linebacker, where they’d be undersized but offer increased agility and coverage skills for the position thanks to their backgrounds at safety.

Compared to a 3-4 base defense, a 4-3 defense has one fewer linebacker and one more defensive lineman, so there is less overall speed on the field. That’s why it is integral that the linebackers in a 4-3 are rangy enough to make up for that lost athleticism.

While the Jets accomplished their goal of infusing athleticism into the linebacker position, it did not lead to great results because athleticism alone does not lead to great linebacker play.

To be useful, athleticism has to be fused with fundamentals, instincts, and recognition among other things – you know, actual football skills. If those traits are not present, athleticism can actually be a bad thing for linebackers, as it only leads to them having a harder time controlling their movements and thus taking themselves out of plays quicker.

This is exactly what happened to the Jets’ linebackers this year.

Despite their overall athleticism, the Jets’ linebackers had a brutal 2021 season due to their lack of recognition, bad tackling, and poor angles among many other things.

New York’s linebackers struggled both against the run and the pass, but the unit’s woes against the pass were particularly troublesome. Entering Week 18, the Jets are allowing the second-most receiving yards per game to tight ends (66.5) and the second-most receiving yards per game to running backs (54.8).

While run-stopping is equally important for 4-3 linebackers as coverage skills, the 4-3 defense offers athletic linebackers a golden opportunity to shine in coverage. Take a look at what Fred Warner did under Robert Saleh in San Francisco and what Deion Jones did under Jeff Ulbrich in Atlanta. These coaches have proven that they can mold big-time cover linebackers in this defense.

An athletic specimen who also has refined football skills could become a star under Saleh and Ulbrich in this defense.

That’s where Nakobe Dean comes in.

The Georgia product is not just a flashy athlete whose explosiveness pops off the highlight reel. He proved in 2021 that he is a flat-out good football player in all facets of the linebacker position. He has that blend of athleticism and refinement that the Jets need at linebacker.

Dean’s coverage numbers in 2021 are otherworldly. He has allowed 59 yards on 30 throws in his direction, just 2.0 yards per target.

Let that sink in for a moment. The average throw in Dean’s direction yielded two yards! That’s barely more than a quarter of the yardage yielded by the typical average pass attempt. Heck, it’s less than half of the yardage yielded by the average rush attempt.

Among all qualified Power-5 linebackers, Dean is allowing the fewest yards per target (2.0) and the lowest passer rating (31.3) while recording the best coverage grade at Pro Football Focus (91.5).

Dean is a great run defender as well. His run-defense grade of 82.0 at PFF is tied for seventh-best among Power-5 linebackers.

As an added bonus, Dean is a phenomenal blitzer and pass-rusher. He has the third-best pass-rush grade among Power-5 linebackers at 91.5. Dean has 6.0 sacks this season and 28 total pressures on only 107 pass-rush snaps, a pressure rate of 26.2% that ranks third-best among the 26 Power-5 linebackers with at least 100 pass-rush snaps.

Dean can get better when it comes to finishing tackles, but he is solid in that area. His missed tackle rate of 11.7% ranks 66th-best out of 209 qualified Power-5 linebackers.

[HawkeyeJet]

I’ve been saying for awhile how much I like Karlaftis, but my personal opinion aside, I think people better get used to the idea of him at 4 because unless one of the other DE falls, I just don’t really see who else fits at that pick.

[slats]

I’ll continue saying that these guys won’t take a CB high until they prove me wrong. The Edge and LB? Sure. Is Dean currently projected as a potential top ten pick? 
 
Edge/WR would be my preferred first round, but there’s no doubt that the defense needs work. Just don’t see CB as nearly as pressing a need if they can fix the pass rush this offseason. Like to find a ball hawking Safety after the second round, too. 

[YankeeJet22]

No effing way we take a CB in the 1st round. 

Dean should be a target after a trade-down in the 11-15 range. 

I'm good with Karlaftis. 

[varjet]

I just looked at the CBS Mock Draft and I like the players picked after the Jets pick.  That is also when the QBs get picked.  Trading down in this draft makes too much sense. 

[Warfish]

7 minutes ago, slats said:

Edge/WR would be my preferred first round

Agreed.  

7 minutes ago, slats said:

, but there’s no doubt that the defense needs work.

Also agreed.  What is happening here......

7 minutes ago, slats said:

Just don’t see CB as nearly as pressing a need if they can fix the pass rush this offseason.

Wait, stop, we're agreeing too much......

7 minutes ago, slats said:

Like to find a ball hawking Safety after the second round, too. 

OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING WHY ARE WE AGREEEEEEEEEING!!!!!!

[slats]

Just now, varjet said:

I just looked at the CBS Mock Draft and I like the players picked after the Jets pick.  That is also when the QBs get picked.  Trading down in this draft makes too much sense. 

It’s way early, a QB or two will definitely rise. Jags are no lock to take one of the Edge rushers, either, having gone defense in the three first rounds prior to last season (netting Josh Allen in the process). If they’re stuck at that pick, I could see them going with their favorite OT. 

[section314]

I think he makes a valid point about JFM. He belongs inside, he would be a mismatch in there. He played DE this year out of necessity.

[David Goodstein]

If the draft were held today and we picked at 4 and both Trib and Hutch are off the board. I can see us trading 4 to 10 or 11 and get either Dean at LB or Gardner at CB. I can see us getting Hamilton at 7 or if he is gone, Gardner and then follow up with Dean. I can also see trading out of 7 depending on what is offered. Would love to get as many 2nd rd picks as possible. There will be a lot of talent that slides out of the 1st.

 

 

[section314]

3 minutes ago, David Goodstein said:

If the draft were held today and we picked at 4 and both Trib and Hutch are off the board. I can see us trading 4 to 10 or 11 and get either Dean at LB or Gardner at CB. I can see us getting Hamilton at 7 or if he is gone, Gardner and then follow up with Dean. I can also see trading out of 7 depending on what is offered. Would love to get as many 2nd rd picks as possible. There will be a lot of talent that slides out of the 1st.

 

 

If Hamilton is healthy, and the two DE's and Neal are gone, I could see our phone ringing off the hook when we are on clock at #4. But it's very early.,Lots can, and probably will, change.

[TuscanyTile2]

6 minutes ago, section314 said:

If Hamilton is healthy, and the two DE's and Neal are gone, I could see our phone ringing off the hook when we are on clock at #4. But it's very early.,Lots can, and probably will, change.

"The Jets control the draft"

[PLO]

Realistically there's no WR in this draft worth either of our two first round picks. The last two drafts were historic for the position but this one lacks genuine top-end talent. 

[Jet Nut]

6 minutes ago, PLO said:

Realistically there's no WR in this draft worth either of our two first round picks. The last two drafts were historic for the position but this one lacks genuine top-end talent. 

As of today

Its early

[T0mShane]

Karlaftis seems like a dude that the draft community got hyped about after his freshman season but couldn’t let go of their original hypedness even in the face of new evidence.

[section314]

14 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Karlaftis seems like a dude that the draft community got hyped about after his freshman season but couldn’t let go of their original hypedness even in the face of new evidence.

Same with Stingley.

[FTL Jet Fan]

I may be in the minority but I am not as high on Hutchinson as most are. 

[Butterfield]

I don’t see a lot of pass rush moves from Karlaftis. I think Gardner or Dean could be decent picks if they trade down, but I don’t see any of these guys as top to picks.  

[JohnnyLV]

Don't really agree with many of Nania's takes and this one is no exception. It would be shocking if we take a CB before round 3 or 4. Lock down man corners are not high value for this defense. Also Karlaftis is being massively overhyped.  None of the Top EDGE guys are a Bosa type, but people want to believe they are.  That said the Jets may take one of them, but it will be a super risky pick.

I think we need WR, TE and linebacker far more that EDGE, so I love Dean but it seems like we either need to overdraft him or find a trade down which is much more difficult to do without elite talent at the top or elite QBs like last year. 

[RedBeardedSavage]

[bla bla bla]

2 hours ago, HawkeyeJet said:

I’ve been saying for awhile how much I like Karlaftis, but my personal opinion aside, I think people better get used to the idea of him at 4 because unless one of the other DE falls, I just don’t really see who else fits at that pick.

Agreed, Karlaftis or Trade Down feel like the most beneficial at 4.

I love all 3 of these players but I also love the idea of taking our choice of the WRs at 7. There are a lot of ways JD can go for sure.

[derp]

The JFM Karlaftis thing is interesting because it’s the only way Karlaftis makes sense personnel wise. That said, the 49ers have an edge who kicks inside who’s bigger than JFM and also less dynamic outside than inside. That may be their thing. They also may prefer bigger guys there because they value edge setting and control there and the short armed Karlaftis may not fit that so well. If they do want to draft a bigger edge and kick JFM inside, which is a really interesting idea, they may want Travon Walker for that role too.

The idea that Karlaftis is the only guy who makes sense at 4…he’s far from a consensus top five pick. I think every set of rankings I’ve seen that’s not from a mock draft machine - Brugler, Kiper, McShay, Miller - has Karlaftis ranked between eleven and nineteen. Doesn’t mean they’re all right I just don’t get the thought that he’s the only guy who has value at 4.

Agree they don’t seem to value corner and there are bigger fish to fry.

Dean is smaller than LB’s who usually go top ten but in a weak class overall if he tests as crazy athletic as he looks…could make sense. 

Overall I do know the defense needs help and was the first unit but I think they’re going to value if not prioritize supporting the young QB’s development - which is trending the right way but not at for example Justin Herbert rookie year status. Still expect an edge but have a hard time seeing them not going one offense one defense in the first stanza this year. I do expect defense to get a little more love in free agency.

Think the thing that’ll make or break Saleh is the clear belief of this defensive coaching staff that they can find under the radar guys who fit what they want to do in the back seven really well and so they can fill that later. A guy like MCII is a great example of success there. A little early but the S->LB conversions less so. Guys like Ryan and Bowles seemed to want first rounders at every position…except edge and maybe ILB for Ryan.

If they can pull that off it’s way easier to draft and develop and getting significant contributors on day three is huge. We haven’t seen that in over a decade. If they overreach the team is going to continue to get crushed defensively. I’d like to see them one more year in of bringing in their guys and with better pass rush.

Back to the one offense one defense - it’s a little hard to find a path to two offensive guys. Defense easy to assume edge. Corner is possible but they haven’t shown it’s a priority.  Same with Hamilton at safety. Could see a DL double dip. Maybe they fall in love with Dean or Lloyd. All seem like stretches. The FA period will show us a lot about what they want to do.

[derp]

1 hour ago, T0mShane said:

Karlaftis seems like a dude that the draft community got hyped about after his freshman season but couldn’t let go of their original hypedness even in the face of new evidence.

If they make the JFM kick inside move, which would be interesting, Travon Walker makes more sense for this scheme IMO. Just a guess.

[T0mShane]

2 minutes ago, derp said:

If they make the JFM kick inside move, which would be interesting, Travon Walker makes more sense for this scheme IMO. Just a guess.

Those Georgia DL are interesting cases. Are they that good because they’re just that good, or are they that good because they play next to Davis? 

[Jethead]

8 minutes ago, derp said:

If they make the JFM kick inside move, which would be interesting, Travon Walker makes more sense for this scheme IMO. Just a guess.

Walker gets his showcase Monday night. He's a baller.

[TheClashFan]

20 minutes ago, johnnysd said:

Don't really agree with many of Nania's takes and this one is no exception. It would be shocking if we take a CB before round 3 or 4. Lock down man corners are not high value for this defense. Also Karlaftis is being massively overhyped.  None of the Top EDGE guys are a Bosa type, but people want to believe they are.  That said the Jets may take one of them, but it will be a super risky pick.

I think we need WR, TE and linebacker far more that EDGE, so I love Dean but it seems like we either need to overdraft him or find a trade down which is much more difficult to do without elite talent at the top or elite QBs like last year. 

Agreed. I do like Hutchinson and would take him at 4 if he were there, but he won't be.  However, I really hope JD can get a nice trade back with that pick.  It seems like there's a lot of value in this draft from the middle of the 1st round through the 2nd.  All the edge guys are scary...lots of bust potential, but it is a desperate team need.

Maybe some team gets hard for a QB and decides to reach all the way to #4 to get who they want.  Fingers crossed.

JD needs to take more high floor guys in rounds 1-3 b/c his 2020 draft looks mighty bad right now.  Upside guys like Becton, Mims, and Zuniga are busting hard.

 

 

 

[derp]

3 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Those Georgia DL are interesting cases. Are they that good because they’re just that good, or are they that good because they play next to Davis? 

I think door three is are they that good because they rotate so heavily and they’re all fresh. I assume they get a lot of snaps without Davis since he’s on the field well under half their defensive snaps. I see 235/609 in SEC play for him.

Flip side is the low snap count depresses all of their counting numbers. Walker looks like he’s going to test like a freak. Wide range kind of prospect.

[HawkeyeJet]

9 minutes ago, derp said:

 

The idea that Karlaftis is the only guy who makes sense at 4…he’s far from a consensus top five pick. I think every set of rankings I’ve seen that’s not from a mock draft machine - Brugler, Kiper, McShay, Miller - has Karlaftis ranked between eleven and nineteen. Doesn’t mean they’re all right I just don’t get the thought that he’s the only guy who has value at 4.

 

I don’t say that about Karlaftis because of his value.  I say it because I can’t see Douglas taking a corner or WR that high, and I quite honestly don’t see them taking an OL either.  Unless they get rid of Becton, I just don’t see it.  So that leaves DE or Safety.  Throw in that I believe Karlaftis is the exact type of edge they want across from Lawson, to me it seems far and away the most likely pick.

[derp]

Just now, HawkeyeJet said:

I don’t say that about Karlaftis because of his value.  I say it because I can’t see Douglas taking a corner or WR that high, and I quite honestly don’t see them taking an OL either.  Unless they get rid of Becton, I just don’t see it.  So that leaves DE or Safety.  Throw in that I believe Karlaftis is the exact type of edge they want across from Lawson, to me it seems far and away the most likely pick.

I guess a couple things. Generally I think we just disagree here and I’m honestly picking on you less and the people I don’t recognize as much more who I think are just getting this from the mock draft machine. I know you’ve thought it out and I respect that we’ve just come to different conclusions.

One is JFM already plays the edge across from Lawson and he’s signed for a long time - granted they can get out of the deal. So they may want to kick him inside - they also may just like him in that role. They’ve also got Lawson coming off a major injury and with only two years left on his deal. And this defense rotates heavily. They could kick JFM inside - I personally think the cleaner path is getting a pass rusher behind Lawson so that they can roll JFM on the edge and then kick him inside on passing downs with Lawson/draft pick outside. Then the draft pick takes over for Lawson. Kind of akin the role I presume Dee Ford was brought in to play in SF. I also think someone like Karlaftis would benefit from being kicked inside on passing downs and I guess you just limit the ability to do that a little when you have two edge to DT types.

The other is I just don’t see Karlaftis as a consensus top ten prospect right now so while I could see the kick inside idea I don’t exactly know why guys like Leal and Walker - also not consensus top ten prospects - get eliminated from that discussion but he doesn’t. I also look at Armstead and JFM and think edge setting and gap control are a big part of what they want in that role and I could see that more from someone like Walker where I see Karlaftis as a bowling ball always in attack mode and I while I see the appeal it doesn’t quite jive in my head.

Like I said I think you and I just don’t quite see things the same way and that’s okay. If Karlaftis was legit a top five or six guy on the board I’d see it more I just think when the logic is I’m down to an edge making sense and they’re going to kick JFM inside and this is the guy who fits the role so they’re going to reach to the mid first round to take him with the fourth pick…any little thing in that logic chain breaking ends it.

I also say this feeling the same way about Burks at 7 that you do about Karlaftis at 4, very similar thought process in terms of need/priorities/fit. I don’t actually think they’ll take Burks at 7. So maybe disagreeing with you here is a bit of misdirected disagreeing with myself, who knows. If so I apologize haha.

[65 Toss Power Trap]

1 hour ago, T0mShane said:

Karlaftis seems like a dude that the draft community got hyped about after his freshman season but couldn’t let go of their original hypedness even in the face of new evidence.

Where do you think he should be drafted? 

[LIJetsFan]

I thank the football gods that our mods started The Gallows and now most of the freaks who ruined threads seem to be gone.  That being said.....

I just love being able to find OP topics that interest me and then seeing all you guys here who know much more about the game than I do discuss and dissect them. 

Well done guys, thank you.   Go Jets!  

[Beerfish]

So Joe Douglas tell us about your first four picks of the draft.

"We'll we were going to keep to the plan and keep building the offense that we have neglected for 10 years, but then our defense was was stink bad under our new defensive head coach that we just can't have him being embarrassed yet again so we have to throw our plan totally out the window and go all defense."

[Lith]

3 hours ago, slats said:

Is Dean currently projected as a potential top ten pick? 

I think a lot will depend on how he measures at the combine.  He is listed a 6'0" 225.  If he measures smaller than that, then no, I don't see him as a top 10 pick.  I love the kid, think he will probably run sub 4.5, his ability to read plays and react is elite.  Takes good angles, very good pass defender, but I don't see an LB who may be sub 6'0" as a top 10 pick.

If he measures at above 6' and say 230 lbs, then lets go get our Darius Leonard.

[Scotty Wooty Doo Doo]

Trading back to grab an extra 1st and grabbing Dean , Gardner and a WR

Sent from my SM-G996U using JetNation.com mobile app

[PepPep]

I mean, all three prospects are great but a few different factors come into play. Where are the Jets selecting? Are they staying at 4 an 7. Would I want Karlaftis and Gardner at 4 and 7 without a trade down? Who are we passing on? 

Assuming Neal, Thib and Hutch go top 3 and trades are off the table, at 4 I am looking to take Ojabo or Karlaftis. I think the Jets DO need a Pass Rusher. Their whole defense is predicated on an elite pass rush. Even with Lawson coming back, they need someone to complement him on the other side. Lets also not forget that Fat., Shepherd and K.Phillips are Free Agents and the Jets have an out with Rankins which can save them 5mil. So there will be some re-shuffling of the D-line. And with Karlaftis and Ojabo, you just don't know where they will go. I think one of them will def. go top 5. If there is a combine it will boost both of their stock.  

Its possible the Jets fall in love with Hamilton but I doubt it. He's an elite prospect and the need is there. I could see Saleh pound the table for him. But Pass rusher, to me, makes the most sense here. 

Gardner (or CB for that matter) seems way too early at 4 or 7. Not so much because of the system. But because the Jets have a number of promising young CBs who they are trying to develop. Hall, Echols, Carter, Pinnock, Guidry. You can argue the talent is not top elite- but so what. CB is not a priority. 

Dean is also early at 4 or 7. If the Jets traded down maybe. But its really difficult to predict trade scenarios. If we are looking at any LB, Lloyd seems to be a higher upside prospect. I think he would be just as good of a fit. He's athletic, versatile and no slouch against the run. He is a smart LB and would probably take over nicely for Mosley as the leader of this defense after next year. But again, at 4 or 7 it feels like a major reach.  

So if we end up with a Pass rusher at 4 like Karlaftis or Ojabo I am going with a top o-lineman- Ikem Ekwonu: OT/OG. Plug and play RG with LDT being a FA. He can also slide to RT if Becton or Fant are sidelined with injury. 

Now, since we are talking DEFENSE and that would be a requirement- sure, give me Hamilton, Gardner, or Lloyd at 7.

[sec101row23]

3 minutes ago, Lith said:

I think a lot will depend on how he measures at the combine.  He is listed a 6'0" 225.  If he measures smaller than that, then no, I don't see him as a top 10 pick.  I love the kid, think he will probably run sub 4.5, his ability to read plays and react is elite.  Takes good angles, very good pass defender, but I don't see an LB who may be sub 6'0" as a top 10 pick.

If he measures at above 6' and say 230 lbs, then lets go get our Darius Leonard.

Agreed, although Leonard measured 6’2” 235 at the combine, he has more length than Dean does, but Leonard did t run sub 4.7.