STRENGTHS
Trent reminds me a lot of Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano. He is a dynamic open-field linebacker with a high football IQ to play multiple linebacker positions in any style of defense. Trent is the type of linebacker who has the speed to go any place on the field in coverage as well as attacking the line of scrimmage. He has good size and is an excellent open-field tackler. Tackling for loss, coverage, and open field tackles is how Trent will impact and be one of your top defensive players. He is perfect as an outside linebacker in a 4/3 defense and is perfect for the new 4/2/5 defenses some teams are playing now. Trent’s speed, quickness, size, high football IQ, and instincts will allow the team that selects him to use him in different positions and in every down and distance situation. If you have to nickname Trent as Bart…because he is smart like Bart, and will do things to get the other team in trouble just like Bart Simpson does. It’s a no-brainer, Trenton (Bart) Simpson.
CONCERNS
Trent does have an ankle injury and that needs to be addressed before the draft. If some teams feel he needs surgery then that could affect his draft status or…it could be leaked that it’s worse than it is and that could affect his draft status. Trent is an open field run to the play, type of linebacker and not a meet-the-block, shed, and tackle-in-the-hole linebacker and that could make some teams feel that he is strictly a systems linebacker who might not fit their system and that would affect his draft status. Also, some teams do not value the linebacker position as high as others positions and that will affect Trent’s draft status too.
BOTTOM LINE: 1.47
Do I value positions over other positions when selecting a player in the draft? The answer is yes but…do I overlook a talented player at a position and draft another position with a less impacting or talented player…no, that’s stupid drafting. Trent is a multi-position player so suggesting I would pass on selecting him because I might need a cornerback rated behind him and I don’t need a linebacker because I’m “set” at the linebacker position, seems to me to be overthinking the process. I do see that type of thinking if Trent was not a multi-position type of player. Please, that needs to be understood before you send the Hells Angels gang at me. My point is Trent is an exception because of his flexibility to play more than one position. He can play all three linebacker positions, all the safety positions, and even play in the slot in coverages against Tight Ends and bigger slot receivers. Trent (Bart) Simpson is an exception to any position rule and value a team might believe in.
