2019 NFL Draft: Projected First Round after NFL Combine

Everyone knew that LSU linebacker Devin White was a freak athlete coming into the combine, and yet that didn’t stop the masses from double-taking when he ran a blazing 4.42 40-yard dash at 237 pounds.

White has the potential to be a franchise-altering player in the middle of a team’s defense for the next decade. I don’t think he’s going to get outside of the Top 10, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went as high as No. 4 to the Raiders.

White is the evolution of the linebacker position to combat the spread-based, pass-happy modern offenses. White has the speed to move sideline-to-sideline to make plays against the run; the versatility to line up as the occasional third-down pass rusher; and the coverage skills to match up with backs and tight ends in one-on-one situations.

He’s head-and-shoulders ahead of the competition this year at middle linebacker, and the Lions would be thrilled to have him available when they are on the clock. Detroit had the NFL’s 28th ranked defense according to DVOA, and adding a player of White’s caliber, to go along with his locker room leadership, could be what Matt Patrica needs to build up his defense into one of the NFL’s best.

White is the kind of player you can build an entire unit around. If he’s off the board or if the Lions look to go elsewhere, they could target an edge rusher like Florida State’s Brian Burns or Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell to potentially replace Ziggy Ansah, who is likely to leave in free agency. A cornerback would also be tempting, with a pair of players – LSU’s Greedy Williams and Washington’s Byron Murphy – projecting as Pro Bowl talents at the position.