Selecting linebackers in 1st round no sure thing for NFL teams seeking next Micah Parsons

As the Pittsburgh Steelers can attest, selecting an inside linebacker in the first round of the NFL Draft is a risky proposition.

For every standout player such as Devin White, there is at least one — if not more — Devin Bush who still is trying to reach his potential.

White was the top player at his position in 2019, and he was picked No. 5 overall by Tampa Bay. The Steelers traded up 10 spots to select Bush with the No. 10 overall pick. While White contributed to Tampa Bay winning the Super Bowl in his second season and was named to the Pro Bowl in his third, Bush’s second year was cut short by injury, he struggled mightily in his third and is in danger of not having his fifth-year option exercised in May.

In 2018, the year after Ryan Shazier’s spinal cord injury, the Steelers watched the top three inside linebackers go off the board before they had a chance to pick. Two of those three — Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds and Chicago’s Roquan Smith — had their fifth-year options exercised last year. Rashaan Evans, who went to Tennessee at No. 22, underachieved and didn’t have his option picked up. He will play for Atlanta in 2022 on a one-year, $1.75 million deal.

“I would never want to take a linebacker in the first round,” said New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, who noted there are exceptions. “Tremaine Edmunds was sitting there, and I wore his jersey to the draft. He’s a unicorn in the linebacker world.”

Every team is searching for that unicorn — that generational talent worthy of a high draft pick.

The latest example is former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. Several of the 11 teams that passed on him last year surely regret Parsons going to Dallas at No. 12. All he did in his rookie season was record 13 sacks, amass 30 quarterback hits and finish third in the league with 20 tackles for loss. He was the only rookie to be picked as a first-team All-Pro, and he finished second to T.J. Watt in defensive player of the year balloting.

Two other linebackers taken in the first round last season didn’t fare quite as well. Zaven Collins went No. 17 to Arizona and made just six starts. Jamin Davis started eight games after he was selected by Washington two picks later and eventually was shifted outside.

“You never want to say no to any position group,” Saleh said. “Obviously, there are premium positions when you look at quarterback and edge rusher and corner and O-line. Those are the easy ones to check off, but you can never say no to a unicorn and someone who has a tremendous talent and clearly is the best possible player you can take at that time.”

Parsons is a prime example of the ever-evolving linebacker position. He didn’t just stay in the middle of the Dallas defense, moving to the edge on occasion so he could show off his pass-rushing skills. He also used his speed to excel as a sideline-to-sideline defender against the run and pass.

The Cowboys contemplated a position switch for Parsons this year, but coach Mike McCarthy recently shot down that speculation, noting Dallas didn’t want to mess with a good thing.

“With the way offenses are now spreading everybody out, you’ve gotta be able to play in space,” said Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew, a former cornerback. “Athleticism is really important. … Linebackers have to be able to cover. There are very few guys now that are two-down run-stopping linebackers. I played with those guys back in the ‘90s. Those guys are disappearing. Now, you’ve got to be able to be an athlete and make plays in space.”

Two players in the 2022 draft class — Utah’s Devin Lloyd and Georgia’s Nakobe Dean — have first-round grades and believe they can carry on what Parsons brought to the league last season.

“That’s inspiring for a lot of players, seeing what he did,” Lloyd said. “He had a special season, and a lot of teams are looking for linebackers like that.”

Lloyd helped Utah win the Pac-12 championship and was a first-team All-America selection and conference player of the year. A two-time Butkus Award finalist, he totaled 22 tackles for loss, intercepted four passes and had a team-high 110 tackles to go with eight sacks.

Lloyd, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 235 pounds, is aware enough to know his chance of developing into a star hinges in part on how he plays in coverage when matched up against athletic tight ends and running backs.

“That’s where the film study comes in,” he said. “Understanding what type of route concepts teams like and understanding where to be, how to beat them to that point. Athletic ability helps as well, but it’s understanding angles. That’s one thing I’ve come to realize over the last few years is it’s angles, angles, angles — understanding how to beat your opponent to the angle, understanding who can get there the quickest and most violently.”

Dean is a bit undersized at 6-0, 225 pounds, and his NFL.com comparable player is the Steelers’ Bush. In helping Georgia to the national championship, he had 72 tackles, including a team-high 10.5 for loss. He added six sacks, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He was named first-team All-American and beat out Lloyd for the Butkus Award given to the nation’s top linebacker.

“When you talk about the center of your defense and having that intelligence, the toughness, the leadership, he’s got all that stuff in spades,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I think he’s outstanding. He can cover. You see him mirror backs. He’s a real crafty blitzer. In my notes, I wrote ‘This guy does everything fast.’ There’s nothing he does that isn’t fast.”

Top 5 linebackers

1. Devin Lloyd, Utah, R-Sr., 6-3, 235

In three seasons, Lloyd specialized in making stops behind the line of scrimmage. He totaled 43 while displaying speed and strength needed for the position.

2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia, Jr., 6-0, 225

Dean became just the third player to win the Butkus Award in college as well as high school, a feat matched only by former Notre Dame linebackers Manti Te’o and Jaylon Smith.

3. Christian Harris, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 232

A three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, Harris had 79 tackles, including 12.5 for a loss, in his junior season. He also had 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

4. Chad Muma, Wyoming, Sr., 6-3, 242

As a junior, Muma averaged 11.8 tackles per game — making 72 in six starts during a covid-shortened season. He was just as good as a senior, compiling 142 tackles and intercepting three passes in 13 starts.

5. Troy Andersen, Montana State, Sr., 6-4, 235

He played running back and quarterback at the FCS school before shifting to defense. After a year off in 2020 because of the pandemic, Andersen was Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second in FCS with 147 tackles. He also ran the 40 in 4.42 seconds at the NFL Combine.

Best fit for Steelers, first day

Devin Lloyd, Utah

The Steelers added Myles Jack in free agency and are committed to Devin Bush for one more season, so there’s no reason to add to the position in the opening round. In this hypothetical, Lloyd gets the nod because he is taller and heavier than Dean.

Best fit for Steelers, second day

Channing Tindall, Georgia

The “other” linebacker prospect for the Bulldogs isn’t too shabby. Tindall didn’t start in his final season at Georgia, but he still finished third on the team with 67 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss, and had 5.5 sacks.

Best fit for Steelers, third day

Brian Asamoah, Oklahoma

A redshirt junior, Asamoah led the Sooners with 90 tackles in 2021. He had four for a loss and forced two fumbles. He started 19 games over his sophomore and junior seasons.