STRENGTHS
Justin is an athletic, smart, fast, three-down linebacker. He has the speed to be used to cover those sneaky running backs out of the backfield as well as being able to go sideline to sideline to shut down the sweeps and screens. Justin has good instincts and shows leadership skills through his work ethic and the adversity he has had to endure to get on to the field. Athletic-wise, Justin might be the best linebacker in this draft. Justin can play any linebacker position in any style of defensive system. He might be the fastest and there is no doubt in my mind that he is one of the smartest so the question is, why isn’t he being considered as one of the best and rated as an early pick in the draft?
CONCERNS
Why you ask, 2 separate torn bicep injuries, a partial torn Achilles tendon, 6th year of college…that’s why.
BOTTOM LINE 1.89
If you’re just evaluating talent to play a position then Justin is one of the top linebackers in this draft. He might be the only pure linebacker who can play any linebacker position in any style of defense in this draft. Every team in the draft is looking for a linebacker with Justin’s size, athletic talent, and effectiveness against the run and in pass coverage. He simple is a leader and an impact player but, (and this is a big but), his injuries have limited his time on the field to impact, and that is not a good thing. You draft with the information you have in front of you at the time of the draft. The information on Justine is, BUYER BEWARE. I’m telling you if this guy had been on the field instead of in the medical tent, he is a possible 1st round talent that you select in the 1st round. The problem is, he hasn’t been on the field enough to tell you that for sure and, if I’m a GM I can’t put my job and career on the line to select him in the first round. That being said, I would not let him get out of the 2nd round and defiantly not out of the 3rd round for sure. Maybe with different training staff and defensive system, he can stay on the field. Maybe his injuries days are over and he can leave them behind, and maybe Justin will impact better at the next level than he has at the college level. Then again, maybe he can’t pass the physical to get selected to a team. That is a lot of maybe’s but, isn’t the draft full of maybe’s in every round? Too much talent to pass on for too long and when you think, if he can stay healthy, he could be a pro bowl player.
