2024 NFL Draft: The Linebacker Class

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

1. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M - 6'3, 230 pounds
2. Payton Wilson, NC State - 6'4, 238 pounds
3. Jeremiah Trotter Jr, Clemson - 6'0, 230 pounds
4. Junior Colson, Michigan - 6'3, 247 pounds
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina - 6'2, 235 pounds

Just like with the running class, we're expected to see a linebacker off the board, starting in the second round. Cooper is the only one who could go in the late first round. This is not a seen as a deep class. Fourth round is when we start to see the linebackers getting drafted.

Other names we could see are Ty'Ron Hopper (Missouri), Tyrice Knight (UTEP), and Curtis Jacobs (Penn State).

 

[shopson67]

1. Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M - 6'3, 230 pounds
2. Payton Wilson, NC State - 6'4, 238 pounds
3. Jeremiah Trotter Jr, Clemson - 6'0, 230 pounds
4. Junior Colson, Michigan - 6'3, 247 pounds
5. Cedric Gray, North Carolina - 6'2, 235 pounds

Just like with the running class, we're expected to see a linebacker off the board, starting in the second round. Cooper is the only one who could go in the late first round. This is not a seen as a deep class. Fourth round is when we start to see the linebackers getting drafted.

Other names we could see are Ty'Ron Hopper (Missouri), Tyrice Knight (UTEP), and Curtis Jacobs (Penn State).

I think you could see Wilson off the board first if his medicals check out. That's the big risk with him.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Edgerrin Cooper
- 22 years old, Will be 23 in November.
- Played for Texas A&M between 2020 and 2023.
- Named Consensus All-American and First-Team All-SEC in 2023
- In 2023, he had 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass deflections.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Payton Wilson
- 23 years old. Will be 24 in April.
- Played for NC State between 2018 and 2023.
- In 2023, he was awarded the Chuck Bednarik Award, Butkus Award (top linebacker), Unanimous All-American, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
- Named All-ACC in 2020 and 2023
- Torn his ACL in 2018 and 2020. Only played in two games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury.
- In 2019, he was arrested for underage drinking, using a fake ID, damaging property, and resisting arrest. He apologized for his actions and thought it was wrong of him to flee from the cops.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I like Cooper but Seattle would need to trade back and acquire a 2nd rounder. If Colson is there in the 3rd I'd also be happy with that. Colson isn't an amazing athlete and I don't think he'll blow up plays often like a HOF linebacker (Lewis, Willis, Urlacher, Wagner come to mind), but he is EXCELLENT in coverage and play recognition. Something that Seattle hasn't had since KJ Wright and a younger Wagner who could run 40 yards down the field. It'd be nice to see Seattle snag a linebacker that can actually cover tight ends as we've been abused by them and anything over the middle of the field for years.

 

[shopson67]

I like Cooper but Seattle would need to trade back and acquire a 2nd rounder. If Colson is there in the 3rd I'd also be happy with that. Colson isn't an amazing athlete and I don't think he'll blow up plays often like a HOF linebacker (Lewis, Willis, Urlacher, Wagner come to mind), but he is EXCELLENT in coverage and play recognition. Something that Seattle hasn't had since KJ Wright and a younger Wagner who could run 40 yards down the field. It'd be nice to see Seattle snag a linebacker that can actually cover tight ends as we've been abused by them and anything over the middle of the field for years.

I think you could fill that coverage need later with someone like Jackson Mitchell (UConn).

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

I think you could fill that coverage need later with someone like Jackson Mitchell (UConn).

Don't know much about him... but just looking at a few sites he's not ranked anywhere close to Colson in coverage. Colson also has pretty good pre-snap play recognition and leadership qualities.

 

[shopson67]

Don't know much about him... but just looking at a few sites he's not ranked anywhere close to Colson in coverage. Colson also has pretty good pre-snap play recognition and leadership qualities.

For sure, and he's a day 3 pick. Wouldn't need to manufacture a pick via a trade down though.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Junior Colson
- 21 years old. Will be 22 in December.
- Born in Mirebalais, Haiti.
- Father died when he was seven. Placed in a Port-au-Prince orphanage.
- Adopted at age eight by Steve and Melanie Colson and moved to Tennessee a year later.
- Played for Michigan between 2021 and 2023.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

For sure, and he's a day 3 pick. Wouldn't need to manufacture a pick via a trade down though.

I agree. Colson is being projected in the 3rd to 4th round.

 

[Iggloo]

I like Cooper and Colson a lot. Cooper would be perfect as an off-ball LB in this scheme. Philly has two second rounders, including the 50th overall pick, and that's where I expect them to take a LB.

 

[PDay8810]

I agree. Colson is being projected in the 3rd to 4th round.

3rd round in Dallas sounds good to me.
Thumper needed

 

[shopson67]

3rd round in Dallas sounds good to me.
Thumper needed

I'd love him for the Rams too...

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Jeremiah Trotter Jr
- 21 years old. Born on Christmas Eve.
- His father was a linebacker for the Eagles, Redskins, and Buccaneers, and inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame.
- Played for Clemson Tigers between 2021 and 2023
- Named First-Team All-ACC in 2023.

 

[WNY_FOOTBALL_DUDE]

Cedric Gray
- 21 years old. 22 in October.
- Played for North Carolina between 2020 and 2023.
- Named First-Team All-ACC in 2022 and 2023

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

For sure, and he's a day 3 pick. Wouldn't need to manufacture a pick via a trade down though.

Yeah, I would like to see him available with one of our 3rd's. As Shark said, we need a guy that can fit in pass recognition and cover TEs and RBs down field more. Brooks is awful in that regard and Wagz just got too slow but is gone now. Since K.J. Wright left, our LBs have been shit in the pass game.

 

[shopson67]

Yeah, I would like to see him available with one of our 3rd's. As Shark said, we need a guy that can fit in pass recognition and cover TEs and RBs down field more. Brooks is awful in that regard and Wagz just got too slow but is gone now. Since K.J. Wright left, our LBs have been shit in the pass game.

I meant that Jackson Mitchell was a day 3 pick, under the radar type. Colson is probably a 3rd rounder, as you are noting.