2026 Draft: Linebacker

[mayoclinic]

Pipe dream: Arvell Reese - Sonny Styles

Wet dream: Jake Golday - Ben Roberts

 

[Clonamery]

Imagine Ben Roberts and Jake Golday, with Keionte Scott and Treydan Stukes/Zakee Wheatley.

When did Patsfan.com become Pornhub?

 

[mayoclinic]

 

[mayoclinic]

I think I could have a 2027 Texas Tech binky!

 

[manxman2601]

I think I could have a 2027 Texas Tech binky!

If they end up spending as much, and as well, in the transfer portal on their defence as last year, there may well end up being a few again.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't know anything about this guy, but wanted to put this in here so people more knowledgeable can give a breakdown if they so desire.

he just transferred to Ohio State so definitely a name to keep in mind for next year.

 

[mayoclinic]

2026 Draft: Jacob Rodriguez Scouting Report

The top Heisman vote getter of 2025 among Defenders, Rodriguez had a phenomenal final collegiate season. Can the Texas Tech turnover machine continue to wreck havoc in the pros?

www.stampedeblue.com

 

[manxman2601]

Tavai upgrade?

 

[manxman2601]

Check out the snaps to age ratio for CJ Allen.

 

[dliverey44]

Check out the snaps to age ratio for CJ Allen.

I am started to lean towards CJ as our 1st round pick unless we have a shot at Mesidor, which we should. I do not think that anyone will use a 1st on a 25 year old guy. Better yet trade out of the 1st and get an early 2nd to get Mesidor and more draft capital

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Check out the snaps to age ratio for CJ Allen.

Only 20 years old is great (Manx hates me). Kind of light at 235, and not great in coverage. Hard to see him, as a MLB, in R1 IMO, unless his combine is really good. A bit bigger than M Milano but not good in pass defense. Milano was R5.

 

[manxman2601]

Only 20 years old is great (Manx hates me). Kind of light at 235, and not great in coverage. Hard to see him, as a MLB, in R1 IMO, unless his combine is really good. A bit bigger than M Milano but not good in pass defense. Milano was R5.

I don't know how accurate it is, but Robert Spillane is listed at 229lbs. My pushing of CJ Allen is really based upon two things. Firstly I think he's about a perfect a culture fit for Vrabel as prospects get in this draft and the second is his low missed tackle rate - an issue that has plagued us from time to time.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't know how accurate it is, but Robert Spillane is listed at 229lbs. My pushing of CJ Allen is really based upon two things. Firstly I think he's about a perfect a culture fit for Vrabel as prospects get in this draft and the second is his low missed tackle rate - an issue that has plagued us from time to time.

Yes Spillane is 230 to 240 and went undrafted. Most draft guys have CJ Allen early in R2, which seems early to me for a guy that is not strong in coverage. .

 

[stelfans]

I might prefer Trotter and Carter later in the draft. Anyway, as LB go I really hope we can snag Kyle Louis for that hybrid role. Mapu is awful.

 

[manxman2601]

Yes Spillane is 230 to 240 and went undrafted. Most draft guys have CJ Allen early in R2, which seems early to me for a guy that is not strong in coverage. .

I think coverage is an overrated skillset for a middle linebacker. Linebackers rarely play man cover and normally just sit in a zone. A linebackers job is to fill gaps, make the tackle. Instincts, taking on blockers and making the tackle are far more important skills for a linebacker than coverage. It's a nice to have, but not necessarily essential.

BTW, I just checked an we do have the 8th highest graded coverage linebacker in the NFL. Marte Mapu is good, but not indispensable - mainly because he doesn't have the three skills I highlighted.

 

[manxman2601]

I might prefer Trotter and Carter later in the draft. Anyway, as LB go I really hope we can snag Kyle Louis for that hybrid role. Mapu is awful.

Trotter may go higher than Allen. He's very good as a run defender. I think the best all round linebacker, outside of Styles, is Jake Golday. My only concern is whether he's a Jack of all trades and not dominant at any of them.

 

[manxman2601]

I just want to say. When Spillane and Williams were injured, our problem wasn't an inability to defend the pass. It was that teams started running on us with abandon. We went from being one of the best defences against the run to one of the worst.

 

[Clonamery]

Trotter may go higher than Allen. He's very good as a run defender. I think the best all round linebacker, outside of Styles, is Jake Golday. My only concern is whether he's a Jack of all trades and not dominant at any of them.

You think he's jack ****? I think he'd be someone you'd interview to know what he sees on the field.

 

[manxman2601]

You think he's jack ****? I think he'd be someone you'd interview to know what he sees on the field.

I like Golday a lot and I'd be very happy if we drafted him but I don't see him as a MLB 1 to replace Spillane in the long-term like I do Allen. I think he's an Elliss or Tavai replacement.

 

[Clonamery]

I like Golday a lot and I'd be very happy if we drafted him but I don't see him as a MLB 1 to replace Spillane in the long-term like I do Allen. I think he's an Elliss or Tavai replacement.

Cause he can cover.