2026 Draft: Linebacker

mayoclinic · Apr 4, 2026

204, then.

manxman2601 · Apr 6, 2026

manxman2601 · Apr 6, 2026

One-If-By-Sea · Apr 6, 2026

manxman2601 said:

Absolute Alien!!!!

Are we talking about @manxman2601 or @mayoclinic ?

bakes781 · Apr 6, 2026

mayoclinic · Apr 6, 2026

Pair him with S VJ Payne. 6'3" 210#, 34" arms. 4.0 speed, 1.57 10-split.

mayoclinic · Apr 6, 2026

Here's a good complementary for Jake Golday:

Leighton Vander Esch RAS

Leighton Vander Esch was drafted by Cowboys with pick 19 in round 1 in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Boise State. He recorded a Relative Athletic Score of 9.98, out of a possible 10.0. RAS is a composi…

ras.football

manxman2601 · Apr 6, 2026

6.81 3-cone for Justin Jefferson

mayoclinic · Apr 6, 2026

3/100 faster than Jake Golday.

Gimme both.

rabidfireweasel · Apr 6, 2026

manxman2601 said:
Just watching Daniel Jeremiah takling day 2 prospects they like. No real surprises until they get to linebacker. DJ says Justin Jefferson is a 3rd round, maybe 4th round prospect which is way higher than his current rankings.

I think he goes in that range. I would be very surprised to see him last in round 5. I was at the Alabama Vandy game (my son goes to Alabama, and that game was parents weekend), and he was just everywhere. Clearly, the best player on a very, very hot field.

I think a lot of teams are looking for tough, smart, productive players in round 4.

manxman2601 · Apr 7, 2026

Wesley Bissainthe, LB, Miami

With Mapu gone, the possibility of double dipping at LB has increased so I thought I'd take a look at Bissainthe.

There's plenty of reason to NOT draft him.

1. He's undersized (6-1, 225) and not very athletic.

2. Grades aren't great (65 run defense, 66 coverage)

3. 16.5% missed tackle rate.

normally I'd reject him outright for the above but in his favour.

1. Has a connection to Alonzo Highsmith.

2. He can hit!

Versus Mendoza

DaBruinz · Apr 7, 2026

manxman2601 said:
Wesley Bissainthe, LB, Miami

With Mapu gone, the possibility of double dipping at LB has increased so I thought I'd take a look at Bissainthe.

There's plenty of reason to NOT draft him.

1. He's undersized (6-1, 225) and not very athletic.

2. Grades aren't great (65 run defense, 66 coverage)

3. 16.5% missed tackle rate.

normally I'd reject him outright for the above but in his favour.

1. Has a connection to Alonzo Highsmith.

2. He can hit!

Versus Mendoza

If Mapu is gone, (haven't seen it on the Pats Website., then I would be looking at guys who have a big Special Teams background and may not have gotten a lot of playing time on their respective defense.

I mentioned way back I thought the Pats would double dip at LB as well as Edge and TE. I would love it if the Pats came away with a combo of Rodriguez and Murdock..

Ethan Burke, Michael Taaffe, Lorenzo Styles, and Josh Cuevas could be in play.. VJ Payne, Robert Spears-Jennins, Lander Barton, Jackson Kuwatch, and Caden Fordham could also be in there.

DaBruinz · Apr 7, 2026

I know that College awards don't mean much, but Jacob Rodriguez is only the 3rd College player in history to with the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. He also won the Lombardi Award for Best Defensive Lineman or Linebacker and the Pony Express Award (with David Bailey) . Rodruiguez was also 5th in Heisman trophy voting.. The Pony Express Award was founded by Eric ****erson and Craig James recognizing the sport's most outstanding tandem of players, regardless of position, who exemplify teamwork and selflessness.

To me, this kid exemplifies what you want in LB leading the team on the field and would be a great transition From Spillane.

manxman2601 · Apr 7, 2026

DaBruinz said:
I know that College awards don't mean much, but Jacob Rodriguez is only the 3rd College player in history to with the Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award. He also won the Lombardi Award for Best Defensive Lineman or Linebacker and the Pony Express Award (with David Bailey) . Rodruiguez was also 5th in Heisman trophy voting.. The Pony Express Award was founded by Eric ****erson and Craig James recognizing the sport's most outstanding tandem of players, regardless of position, who exemplify teamwork and selflessness.

To me, this kid exemplifies what you want in LB leading the team on the field and would be a great transition From Spillane.

Lance Zierlein gives him the Carson Schwesinger comp who only went 33rd overall and won the defensive rookie of the year award. Throw in almost an almost identical athletic comp to Luke Kuechly and pick 31 doesn't seem so ridiculous.

Oh God! Now I'm talking myself into it.

mayoclinic · Apr 7, 2026

I imagine that was a hard sell for you.

manxman2601 · Apr 7, 2026

mayoclinic said:
I imagine that was a hard sell for you.

People have promised me J-Rod, Stukes and Scott today. It's been a good day.

mayoclinic · Apr 7, 2026

I love Rodriguez. Would not be upset. I just love other guys even more.

mayoclinic · Apr 7, 2026

Manx:

If you could have only 1 out of JRod, Stukes, and Scott, who would you pick?

It could come down to that, at the most. 0 for 3 very likely (all lijely 33-60 range), getting any more than 1 very challenging.

manxman2601 · Apr 7, 2026

mayoclinic said:
Manx:

If you could have only 1 out of JRod, Stukes, and Scott, who would you pick?

It could come down to that, at the most. 0 for 3 very likely (all lijely 33-60 range), getting any more than 1 very challenging.

Stukes or J-Rod. I love Scott but find it harder to see how he gets meaningful snaps. Stukes and J-rod are future starters whereas Scott will likely always be a role player. Stukes would be my choice just because he's more likely than J-Rod to be there at 63. Ask me tomorrow and you'll likely get a different answer.

I'll put you through the same torment. Scott, Golday or Louis.

mayoclinic · Apr 7, 2026

1. Stukes > Scott > JRod for me. Not because they are better players in that order, but because of fit. We already have Robert Spillane and Marcus Jones, Stukes has the cleanest complementary role. If JRod were not somewhat redundant in the short term with Spillane he would probably be the pick. Still tough to call.

2. Turnabout torture is fair play. Golday > Scott > Louis. Love all 3. Golday and Louis have a cleaner role than Scott, but Scott as a Devon Witherspoon attack missile is intriguing as heck.

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2026 Draft: Linebacker

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