Few players are as complete at their positions as UCLA's Eric Kendricks. Because of that, he's the top inside linebacker in the draft this year.
It's something of a misnomer that inside linebacker is an undervalued position in the NFL Draft. Since 2012, at least two inside linebackers have been taken in the top 50 picks of the draft. That could happen again this year.
The most likely first-round pick at the position is UCLA's Eric Kendricks. He's a complete linebacker who plays with a lot of range and has good instincts. What sets him apart from the other inside linebackers this year is his coverage ability. He can stick with tight ends in man coverage and has good enough aptitude to play zone. The biggest negative about Kendricks is his size – he's just over six foot – but it doesn't bother him.
"Measurables are one thing," Kendricks said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "But you can’t measure explosion and you can’t measure certain other things that people bring to the table like natural instinct and getting to the ball."
Paul Dawson of TCU had a bad combine. He didn't test well and was peppered with questions about his character. But on the field, he's the real deal. Dawson moves around fluidly and is just a notch below Kendricks in coverage. The Horned Frog is a solid blitzer and can close in a hurry against the run.
Perhaps the best run-stopping linebacker in this year's draft is Miami's Denzel Perryman. He's a thumper who closes on the ball and rarely misses a tackle.
| 1 Eric Kendricks, 6'0, 230 pounds, ILB, UCLA |
| 2. Paul Dawson, 6'2, 230 pounds, OLB, TCU |
| 3. Denzel Perryman, 5'10 5/8, 242 pounds, ILB, Miami |
| 4. Benardick McKinney, 6'5, 249 pounds, ILB, Mississippi State |
| 5. Hayes Pullard, 6'0 1/4, 236 pounds, ILB, Southern California |
| 6. Stephone Anthony, 6'2 3/8, 245 pounds, ILB, Clemson |
| 7. Ben Heeney, 6’0 1/4, 231 pounds, ILB, Kansas |
| 8. Ramik Wilson, 6’1 3/4, 237 pounds, ILB, Georgia |
| 9. Amarlo Herrera, 6’0 5/8, 244 pounds, ILB, Georgia |
| 10. Jeff Luc, 5'11 3/4, 263 pounds, ILB, Cincinnati |
| 11. Bryce Hager, 6’0 3/4, 234 pounds, ILB, Baylor |
| 12. Taiwan Jones, 6'2 1/4, 258 pounds, ILB, Michigan State |
| 13. Mike Hull, 6'0, 237 pounds, ILB, Penn State |
| 14. Trey DePriest, 6’0, 254 pounds, ILB, Alabama |
| 15. Jordan Hicks, 6'1 1/2, 241 pounds, ILB, Texas |
| 16. Zach Vigil, 6’2, 240 pounds, ILB, Utah State |
| 17. A.J. Tarpley, 6'0 1/4, 233 pounds, ILB, Stanford |
| 18. Terrance Plummer, 6’1, 236 pounds, ILB, Central Florida |
| 19. A.J. Johnson, 6'2, 245 pounds, ILB, Tennessee |
| 20. Curtis Grant, 6'3, 240 pounds, ILB, Ohio State |
| 21. Quayshawn Nealy, 6'0 1/4, 237 pounds, ILB, Georgia Tech |
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