NFL Draft 2020: Top linebackers who could help the interior of the Cleveland Browns defense -- Film Review

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson football

Clemson's Isaiah Simmons is one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski have a lot of decisions to make regarding the Browns’ roster ahead of free agency beginning on March 18. There may not be a position group more confounding than Cleveland’s linebackers.

Highlighted by looming decisions on 2017 Pro Bowler Joe Schobert and veteran Christian Kirksey, it remains to be seen what the new regime will do. Schobert led the team in tackles with 133, third-most in the AFC. He started all 16 games in 2019 and recorded back-to-back multiple-interception games in Weeks 11 and 12.

Kirksey was expected to be a pillar of the defense last season but was lost to a chest injury in Week 1. While Schobert is an unrestricted free agent come March, Kirksey is due $8.2 million next season. Cutting him will count $1.2 million against the cap but would save the Browns about $7 million.

If Berry and Stefanski, along with new defensive coordinator Joe Woods, decide to part ways with both then Mack Wilson would be the only Browns linebacker with starting experience. Wilson had bright moments but probably wasn’t ready to be a starter. Pro Football Focus graded him at 43 overall, good for 82nd of 89 ranked players. Five-year pro Adarius Taylor and rookie Sione Takitaki saw limited snaps.

What happens to Schobert and Kirksey will dictate how the Browns prioritize drafting a linebacker. Since it seems unlikely that both return, Cleveland should be in the market for one. Let’s take a closer look at the top linebacker prospects.

Kenneth Murray

Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray (9) celebrates a tackle during a game against TCU last November. AP

Kenneth Murray, 6-2, 243 pounds, Oklahoma, junior

If Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons is being packaged as a safety prospect ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft (which he easily can be) then Oklahoma junior Kenneth Murray is likely the No. 1 linebacker in his class.

Murray had 102 tackles, four sacks and five quarterback hurries as a junior this season. In 42 college games -- all of which he started -- Murray has 335 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He’s tied for the 11th most tackles in Sooner history and was a Butkus Award semifinalist this season.

As nice as his career stats are -- highlighted by longevity and durability -- Murray impressed following the Sooners’ Big 12 championship. After losing to the Sooners in overtime, then-Baylor coach Matt Rhule made a point to share with media that Murray came up to him before celebrating to hug him and praise Baylor’s effort.

Rhule added that Murray did the same thing earlier in the season the first time the teams met.

Such stories carry weight when considering where a prospect sits on a club’s big board. An executive may hear that story and learn something deeper about Murray. Getting a ringing endorsement from an opposing coach as respected as Rhule should help Murray, who is already a projected first-round pick.

On the field, Murray projects as an every-down defender best suited to stop the run and blow up blockers. In a 3-4 scheme, he would fit well as a strongside inside backer. Here are a few plays that highlight his Day 1 talents.

Murray combines his natural instincts with his downhill run-stopping power as well as any in his class. As evident from the first play above, Murray (9) recognizes run by likely reading Baylor’s pulling guard. Rather than overshooting the gap, he is patient and strikes right before the Bears tight end (87) can get him.

Even if the block had reached Murray, his momentum would’ve blown up both the block and ball carrier. He’s powerful when shooting gaps like this. On the next play, Murray uses his closing speed to sack Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer (12). At the snap, it appears he is in man coverage on Baylor’s running back but once he reads sprint out, he blows the play up.

On the last two plays, Murray shows off his open-field tackling and grip strength before breaking up a pass in zone coverage. There is a lot to like about Murray, but it remains to be seen what his ceiling is. He needs to become a more complete pass rusher and a better decision-maker at the next level but that is also common among young inside linebackers.

Patrick Queen, 6-1, 227 pounds, LSU, junior

Following the Tigers’ national championship, Queen didn’t know if he should declare for the draft. Queen was third on the team with 85 total tackles, 12 for loss, three sacks and an interception. In the title game, he had eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - LSU v Oklahoma

Louisiana State's Patrick Queen celebrates after a sack during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl last Dec. 28. Getty Images

Eventually, Queen met with family and LSU coach Ed Orgeron and decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the draft, joining LSU safety Grant Delpit.

Queen projects as a late Day 1 linebacker, but could solidify his first-round status with an impressive pro day or combine. His sideline-to-sideline speed pops on tape. He’s likely an every-down defender who can play a traditional middle linebacker spot or thrive as a strong side backer in a 3-4.

He thrives at the second level and displayed that during the Tigers’ championship run. Whether it was making tackles downfield, dropping into coverage or playing man defense at times, Queen can do it all as an athletic defender competing in space.

When comparing him to Murray, the most glaring difference is experience. Queen only started 16 games in his LSU career, playing behind several teammates over the past three seasons.

Here are some plays that highlight why Queen is a likely Day 1 selection.

Queen played one of his best games in the championship game. With the spotlight on Isaiah Simmons, Queen made a case as the best defender on the field. He helped limit Tigers QB Trevor Lawrence to under 240 yards passing. Clemson didn’t have a skill player record over 100 yards rushing or receiving.

His ability to move sideline-to-sideline was on full display, as shown in the first play above. Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) takes an outside handoff and cannot find a seam. As Etienne waits, he eventually runs out of sideline and into Queen (8), who makes a powerful stand-up tackle. Queen shows off his patience and scrapes his blocker perfectly to meet Etienne.

On the last play, Queen sniffs out a Clemson checkdown pass and blows Etienne up. Though it appears LSU was in zone, Queen’s quick first-step allows him to get to the Tigers back much quicker than Lawrence probably anticipated.

There is a lot to like about Queen. However, his lack of experience and ultimately his inability to win a starting spot prior to a few games into his junior season will be red flags every front office should be looking into.

Isaiah Simmons, 6-4, 230 pounds, Clemson, junior

When discussing Clemson’s do-it-all defender, it is important to first understand how he was deployed by the Tigers this season.

Check these numbers out:

  • Of his 822 snaps this season, Simmons lined up in the box as a traditional linebacker 299 times (36 percent), according to Pro Football Focus.
  • He served as Clemson’s deep free safety 132 times (16 percent), and as a defensive end or edge rusher on 116 snaps (14 percent).
  • Most impressively, Simmons lined up in the slot as a souped-up nickel corner 262 times (32 percent), proving more than capable of defending the nation’s best tight ends and slot receivers in space.

As the numbers show, Simmons can play anywhere. Which is why defining him as a linebacker or safety is pointless. Pro Football Focus gave Simmons a 92 coverage grade this season, meaning he locked up the nation’s best tight ends and slot receivers. He scored 85 overall or higher in pass rushing, run defense and tackling. Simply, he doesn’t have a weakness.

To read about how he projects as a safety, check out this story from last week on the top safety prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. Below are some plays that highlight Simmons’s effectiveness as a linebacker.

There isn’t much to dislike. As a safety, he is the best in his class. The same can be said as a linebacker. At his size, he projects as an every-down player who can do it all.

In the first play above, Simmons plays a spy or robber position as the Tigers drop seven defenders for the Cardinals’ four routes. With no real threat to his assignment, Simmons lets the play develop before crushing Louisville for a third-and-long sack.

The next three plays are examples of Simmons’s athleticism. Often he was just more talented than the linemen or running backs blocking him and faster than the quarterbacks. Finally, against South Carolina on a first-and-10, Simmons stuffed the Gamecocks back in the A-gap before pushing him back.

Usually, Simmons spent his Saturday afternoons overpowering blockers and proving too fast and too big for ball carriers to juke him. Simmons is as much a “can’t miss” prospect as there is in this class.

What’s next?

Later this week, we’ll look at other linebackers the Browns could consider on Day 2 of the draft.

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