Darron Lee NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Jets Rookie

POSITIVES

Darron Lee is the best linebacker in the 2016 draft class without a knee issue. As it stands, he’s a legitimate top-20 prospect and one of the best playmakers in the defensive class. A former quarterback in high school, Lee is still putting weight on his 21-year-old frame and is a top upside player.

A three-down player who jumped off the screen on a loaded Ohio State defense, Lee has speed-rushing moves and can get into the backfield with first-step speed and violent hands. He plays with a mean streak and goes after the ball with a nonstop motor. A quick, twitchy player coming downhill, Lee is fast to diagnose and has the athleticism to go get the ball on inside and outside runs.

A true sideline-to-sideline player, Lee has the skill set to play in the slot covering up receivers or tight ends, and from that same alignment he can be a deadly blitzer. NFL teams will also experiment with him as an inside linebacker in 3-4 schemes, at any of the three linebacker spots in a 4-3 and even as a situational pass-rusher.

Lee will only be limited by the imagination of his NFL defensive coordinator. He’s the type of athlete and player to erase one of the offense’s best players.

NEGATIVES

A smaller linebacker, Lee was listed at 218 pounds just one year ago. He’s worked to add size and strength, but he must continue to get bigger and stronger into his career. With just two years of experience at Ohio State, others will be concerned that his production was a result of the talent around him.

Lee was a freelancer for the Buckeyes and must be reined in and taught to play assignment football. He was free to roam and make plays for the last two seasons, so it will be an adjustment for him. With this, Lee must eliminate the times where he overruns the ball and relies on speed and change-of-direction ability to save him.

In college, Lee was often one of the best athletes on the field, which allowed him to make plays without much discipline. And while he’ll still be an elite athlete in the NFL, he’ll have to learn to read and react instead of roaming to the ball.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 232 lbs.

40 Time: 4.47s

3-Cone: 7.12s

Short Shuttle: 4.20s

PRO COMPARISON: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FINAL GRADE: 7.15/9.00 (Round 1—Top 15 Player Potential)