New York Jets Draft Countdown: Making the Case for OLB Eli Harold

Believe it or not, the 2015 NFL draft is scheduled to last seven rounds.

I only say that to assure you that, despite all the focus on the first round and mock drafts of that sort, the New York Jets (and 31 other teams) have six more rounds to find players that can help their team.

While we're confirming the obvious, I might as well add that the Jets have other needs besides quarterback—just in case you forgot amid the microscopic focus on the quarterback position among prospects in this year's class.

If a signal-caller is need No. 1, then a pass-rushing outside linebacker is arguably No. 1a. 

Quinton Coples has taken some steps forward since entering the league as the 16th overall pick in 2012 and could flourish in Jets head coach Todd Bowles' aggressive 3-4 scheme. Calvin Pace, however, has taken some steps backward as he draws closer to his mid-30s. 

It may be time for the Jets to have the first top-notch outside linebacker they've had in recent memory, and if they can wait until the second round for their pass-rushing force, Virginia's Eli Harold would be a great fit for a number of reasons.

Physical Tools

Harold used the scouting combine as an opportunity to show off his skill set, which will make him an intriguing prospect for teams in need of an edge-rusher.

Workout	Harold	Rank (LB)
40-yard dash	4.60 sec	T-6
10-yard split	1.56 sec	T-1
Vertical jump	35"	T-13
Broad jump	10"3'	8
3-cone drill	7.07 sec	7
20-yd shuttle	4.16 sec	8

The focus of the combine is often squarely upon the 40-yard dash, and Harold posted a respectable 4.6-second finish, but players won't have to run 40 yards in a straight line very often; the real measure of tangible explosiveness is the 10-yard split, which measures how quickly a prospect runs the first 10 yards of the 40-yard dash. Harold's split was 1.56 seconds, a remarkable indication of his high-end burst off the line of scrimmage.

He fell just outside the top five in the 20-yard shuttle with a 4.16-second finish, .01 seconds slower than four prospects who tied for the fourth-fastest time among linebackers.

The Jets were so intrigued by what they saw on tape and in predraft workouts that they invited Harold in for a predraft visit, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Given his immense physical skill set and his versatility across multiple schemes, it should come as no surprise that he has drawn interest from multiple teams—nearly half the league, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports:

With the amount of interest in Harold, the Jets will have to make him the 37th overall selection in the draft if they want to make sure they get him. 

Experience At Linebacker

The concern with a lot of the prospective edge-defenders in the NFL draft is that for many of them, their NFL future is a projection. Many of them are too small to be a true 4-3 defensive end, as they'll have a bull's eye on their chest in the running game, but aren't athletic enough to drop into coverage as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

While it's true that Harold's 6'3", 247-pound frame is a bit small and could be a target on run plays, he's at least moderately experienced at the outside linebacker spot thanks to his time in Virginia's multiple 3-4 scheme.

He also has the explosiveness to beat tackles to the corner, even from a two-point stance.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Harold will "need to improve feel for the outside-linebacker spot," but adds that there's "potential for him to become a quality pass rusher from either outside linebacker spot in a 3-4" thanks to his explosiveness and agility. 

But don't completely write him off as "weak" because of his lack of size. He can bull-rush surprisingly well for a player of his stature, and he has the length (33" arms) to shed blockers, although he needs to work on some of the fundamentals associated with that ability (hand technique, converting speed to power).

Although he's spent most of his career in a two-point stance, he hasn't spent much time playing in reverse or operating in space as a cover linebacker. He'll need more experience in coverage. Although he has the athleticism to make that a part of his game, it's more likely that Todd Bowles will just work around it and focus on highlighting Harold's strengths as a pass-rusher.

At this point, he's a one-trick pony for his speed-rush ability. That being said, a few months in an NFL strength and conditioning program should help him put on the necessary muscle to better hold his ground at the point of attack and shed blocks once he is engaged.