Draft Prospects/Linebackers: Beasley vs McKinney vs Thompson

So now lets look at our prospects at the linebacker/pass rusher position. I think the only way we go linebacker in the first is if we already have picked up a guard and a corner in free agency. I picked the three guys who should be there when we pick at 13.



Victor "Vic" Beasley

Clemson / 6-2 / 235 lbs.



STRENGTHS: Beasley may possess the country's best first step. His burst off the ball frequently catches tackles off-balance and he's able to cross their face.

Has the flexibility to be able to duck their reach and turn the corner, showing excellent speed to close. Beasley complements his speed rush with a balanced and tight spin back to the inside and a surprisingly effective bull rush.

Beasley is certainly smaller than scouts would prefer but he is more powerful than he looks, sporting broad shoulders, long arms and well-developed upper body. He's able to sneak his hands under the tackle's reach and can walk unbalanced pass-blockers into the pocket.

Excellent pursuit speed, showing the fluidity to stalk unsuspecting ballcarriers from behind and the explosive closing burst that jar the ball loose. Beasley shows good awareness of the ball, ripping at it when he sees the opportunity and has seven career forced fumbles.

WEAKNESSES: Despite his natural ability as a pass rusher, Beasley does struggle against the run as he seems to lose track of the play at times and will take bad angles or even appear unmotivated when the play flows to the opposite side of the line, and when he takes on blockers too high he's easily swept out of the play.

He offers little in terms of ability to anchor or set the edge with power against the run, as he simply lacks the girth to hold position against tackles and even tight ends at times.

COMPARES TO: Von Miller, Denver Broncos: Like the 6-3, 246-pound Miller, Beasley does not possess the size and strength to set the edge consistently, but few are better off it on their way to the quarterback.



Benardrick McKinney

Miss State / 6-4 / 249 lbs.



STRENGTHS: Value lies with his versatility and raw athleticism. He lines up all over the field for the Bulldogs, taking snaps at middle linebacker, as well as rushing off either edge. His athleticism has been well documented, with McKinney reportedly clocking in the 4.5s and posting a 34-inch vertical jump at 245 pounds.

At his best with the ballcarrier in front of him, where he can use his physical demeanor and battle the big bodies, taking on blocks with active hands and long arms to control the point of attack.

He is a well-built and fluid athlete for his size, showing good lateral agility and very impressive acceleration to track down ballcarriers from behind. He has long arms and good hand-eye coordination to trip up ballcarriers that appear out of his reach and breaks down well in the open field to deliver strong, wrap-up tackles.

WEAKNESSES: Overly reliant on his speed when rushing the quarterback, showing limited hand technique to defeat blocks once engaged. This issue comes into play not only when rushing the passer but also against the run, where McKinney looks to slip past blockers, rather than showing the aggression and strength to truly stack and shed.

Not a sudden mover and lacks ideal range, causing him to struggle with cover responsibilities, and although he's a smart player, he can be late to recognize plays and ends up a step late to the action. Too often McKinney is forced to turn away from the quarterback and sprint to his coverage responsibility. With his back turned to the action, McKinney isn't in position to help should the quarterback scramble or dump off to another target.

OVERVIEW: McKinney bis an impressive athlete for a man his size, but while he's a stout run defender, he isn't as consistent in space. There is a lot to like about McKinney, but there are some concerns that his struggles against the pass will limit him to a two-down thumper role in the NFL.



Shaq Thompson

Washington / 6-2 / 231 lbs.



STRENGTHS: Thompson is an active, aggressive and instinctive defender with excellent agility. He reads the action quickly and slithers his way around would-be blockers to make plays all over the field, demonstrating excellent change-of-direction and closing speed.

Surprisingly effective in his punch to greet and discard offensive linemen, though his lack of ideal size and strength can is evident when blockers can get their hands on him. Very reliable open-field tackler who wraps his arms securely around ballcarriers. He arrives in a flash but isn't an explosive hitter (as his zero career forced fumbles can attest).

His vision and agility could make him an effective blitz threat and these traits stood out during Thompson's time at running back. Despite his inexperience at the position, Thompson shows natural elusiveness as well as the ability to set up his blocks. He has the speed to make the corner and shows good body control and balance to tightrope the sideline and keep charging ahead after absorbing contact.

Natural ball-skills. Articulate and mature.

WEAKNESSES: Looks more like a safety than a linebacker and for some teams will project there - a position he hasn't played since high school. Possesses a slim waist and narrow hips, making it unlikely that he'll be able to pack on significantly more muscle mass onto his frame without losing his quickness.

Can get swallowed up at the line of scrimmage and is forced to take risky angles, at times, to avoid blockers. Wasn't often asked to rush the quarterback at Washington and shows limited technique in this capacity.

Likewise, he relied upon is natural athleticism as a running back and would need some patience to develop the finer aspects of the position - frequently held the ball in the wrong arm and showed limited recognition in blitz pick-up.

COMPARES TO: DeAndre Levy, Detroit Lions - Like Levy, Thompson lacks the size and explosiveness scouts might prefer at linebacker. Fluidity and awareness in coverage at the linebacker position are more important in today's pass-heavy NFL than ever before, making Thompson a potential building block in a 4-3 alignment.



Which one would you rather?

I'm a little undecided on this one but I think I would rather McKinney because of his size and his ability in pass coverage. Could be a staple in our defense for years to come.