Potential Cowboys Target: Tremaine Edmunds

I started the draft process with dreams of Roquan Smith, the linebacker from Georgia.  Sometimes our dreams aren’t realistic.  I wanted to be a Top Gun pilot.  More Iceman than Maverick, which I’m sure says something about me.  I ended up doing radio and typing words.

And so it goes.  The dream probably won’t be available when the Cowboys hit the clock at #19 in the first round.  But linebacker is a need for this football team, so we continue our search.

I’d like to introduce you to Tremaine Edmunds from Virginia Tech.

The numbers on the season say 108 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended.  He does it all at the linebacker spot.  He’s actually more of a fit for the Cowboys than Roquan would be; at 6’4 245 lbs, he has the frame to play the middle linebacker spot so that Sean Lee can stay where the Cowboy want him (on the weak side).

Edmunds would be a great pick for the Cowboys because he’s a do-it-all linebacker.  In the league today you have a lot more value if you’re a three down player.  Against the run, he has the quickness to beat offensive linemen to the spot and be a penetrator who ruins plays.  He also has speed to get sideline-to-sideline and bring down backs.  He doesn’t miss many tackles, and has the ability (although he’s not always consistent doing it) to bring some pop when he finishes.  He has an ability to work through the trash (dodge blockers and other defenders) on his way to the ball.

Against the pass, he’s comfortable dropping in zone and will sometimes be split out in the slot and asked to cover a wide receiver.  That’s pretty impressive athleticism for a linebacker.

People like gifs, so here you can see him running, which is part of sports:

Measurables, via NFLDraftScout.com:

Height:  6042 (six feet, 4 and a quarter inches)

Weight:  250

Estimated 40 time:  4.82 (he runs better than that)

Strengths:

• Versatility.  Can play the middle or weak side linebacker spot.
• Balance.  Does a nice job on the move, naturally working around blockers.
• Speed.  Gets sideline-to-sideline in the run game well.
• Reliable tackler in space.
• Coverage.  Makes plays in the pass game covering in the slot and in zone.  Have seen him carry receivers all the way up the seam.
• As a downhill player, fills quickly and will beat linemen to the spot to penetrate.
• Times blitzes/stunts well.
• Body.  Has good length for the position.
• Was a good ‘spy’ on QBs for Virginia Tech.
• Upside.  He will be a 20 year old NFL rookie.

Weaknesses:

• Needs to be a better take-on player.  With his frame, he needs to develop in to a guy that can shock and disengage from blockers.
• Instinctually average.  At times he diagnoses and flows immediately.  At other times (see vs. Miami) he can lose the ball in the backfield.  During multiple big plays against Miami, he was pursuing someone who didn’t have the ball.
• Occasionally a high tackler.
• Needs to be more consistent with run fits.

Picking in the mid- to late-first round means there might not be any first round graded players left on your board.  Edmunds will be one of my last guys with a first round grade, and I’d call it a win if he ends up with a star on his helmet.