Here is what ESPN says about him: Tall. Plays too high at times and needs to learn to better protect his lower body. A lot stronger in upper body than lower. Struggles to anchor at the point of attack versus bigger offensive tackles. Will get up the field and disrupt in the backfield. Shows adequate discipline with contain. Can make plays versus the run in pursuit but backside effort is a bit inconsistent. Works hard as a pass rusher all of the time. Motor is a bit inconsistent versus the run. Will give a great effort if he's still in the play but doesn't always chase from backside as hard as he should. Definitely a finesse player. Can be somewhat of a pile inspector (see: Illinois 2010).
If he can't set the edge or hasn't proven that he can than BB will not trade up for him much less draft him at 17. I also watched some tape of him on youtube vs Iowa and Colorado and he seems very strong up top but weak in the legs like Shawn Crable did coming out of college. I also don't like the fact that many of his sacks come as a DT in a 4 man front. He won't be able to get sacks like that in the NFL at his size. He is definitely your classic Boom or Bust candidate that BB has always passed on. I think he fits better as a one gap 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 DE.
I think his work against the run is underrated. He definitely has room to add weight, but 260 is 260, it just looks like a lot more when it's on somebody who is 6-2 than Smith, who is somewhere between 6-4 and 6-5. As far as setting the edge, I think the only other realistic draft prospect with better potential in that area is Quinn. Smith doesn't have the technique to set the edge effectively right now, but he has good bulk, room to add more, plus long arms. Cunningham was the worst OLB at setting the edge in training camp, but was the best at it by the end of the season.
I don't really agree with the whole "finesse player" part. Von Miller is finesse. A lot of college pass rushers' damage is done without even taking on blockers. They go around guys. Smith, on the other hand, actually has pass rush moves. He engages and then sheds blockers. That's a key aspect of the Patriots' scheme. He's not a guy who was getting by on pure athleticism. He has moves and they were effective.
He's definitely a year away from full time OLB duties, but just about every pass rusher in the draft is. In the list of qualities that Bill values in his OLBs, Aldon has the ones you can't gain (height, arm length, athleticism) and has the potential for the ones you can (bulk, technique). There is no finished product at OLB in the draft, so drafting for the future is about the best you can do, and I think Aldon is going to be an elite all around player, wherever he goes.
And I think McCourty is going to be a lot more of a Charles Woodson than a Darrelle Revis. He won't ever be quite the shutdown guy that Revis is, but he'll be a better all-around CB, like Woodson.
