After signing Barnes and the dude from the Colts I doubt we would draft a LB early. Anyone we bring in is only going to see the field on special teams. There is already plenty of competition there after bringing Pittman back.
If you follow the money on the players we signed and re-signed it tells me we don’t plan to draft LB, DT, CB, TE, or QB. We know we need at least 1 DE an OG and a Safety. Based on the contracts given to Skip and Netflix I think OT and RB could be on the table. Another WR is always on the table somewhere.
Paul is probably my favorite draft eligible guy from that defense - him or Pegues - but I think he’s a MIKE in a WILL’s body. He’s super instinctive, which to me is the #1 trait for a successful NFL LB, but he’s just so small. 222 pounds and under 30 inch arms. And if you’re gonna be that small, you better be an elite athlete, because WILL’s one spot where the juice really matters. But he wasn’t an elite athlete:
Honestly if I was him, I would gain ten pounds, sacrifice a little juice, but play my natural spot as a MIKE. Like you said he’s a future wearer of the green dot and I agree. That’s where I think you maximize his gifts. The problem for us is we don’t need a MIKE.
Also I think he’s going by Pooh Paul now.
Cody Simon is a lot like Paul. Super instinctive, leader of men type. And despite being 10 pounds heavier (with arms two inches longer), he tested like a better athlete:
All things being equal, I’d probably still rather have Paul, I really do like him. But it’s the draft and all things aren’t equal. And I’d rather have Simon in the 4-6th rounds than Paul in the 2-3rd. I really wish Paul would have tested a little better at his size.
Carter is kind of the opposite. Super athlete with average instincts. There’s a little Sims to his game (though he didn’t test like it). Excellent blitzer though.
Overall though this class has a lot of excellent WILL options that you don’t have to pay a premium for. Teddye Buchanan, Nick Martin, Karene Reid, Smael Mondon and Jeff Bassa if they fall a little, Kain Medrano, @CuriousHusker’s boy Shaun Dolac, two of my faves Chandler Martin and Jailin Walker, Jackson Woodard, Carson Bruener, on and on. You’re right that it’s a great class to get a WILL
Anzalone was 240 and a better athlete when he tested.
Milano is a much closer comp. They tested really similarly, and at a similar weight too (though Milano had freakishly long arms for his size, a whole 3 inches longer than Paul’s). But that’s why Milano fell into the 5th round as well. If you told me we could get Paul there, I’d be all for it.
I don’t disagree that he’s very smart and capable of wearing the green dot, but he won’t be doing it here over Campbell anyway. Of course it’s never bad to have smart players, but your WILL doesn’t usually wear the green dot. Not that they can’t, but it’s usually a MLB or a safety because it’s easier to yell at the rest of the defensive players from the middle of the field.
There are a lot of good late LBs in this class man. I’d be happy with any of: Paul, Simon, Carter, Buchanan, Karene Reid, Chandler Morris, Nick Martin, Jackson Woodard, Bassa, Matt Jones, Justin Barron, Kiser, Shemar James, Jailin Walker, Aaron Smith… any of them! Some are more likely to hit of course but those cost more. My favorite combo of talent and value has always been Buchanan, but man if Dane’s right he’s starting to get more and more expensive.
