NFL Draft Profile: Linebacker Nakobe Dean

Nakobe Dean is a junior linebacker from the University of Georgia. Over his three-year campaign in Athens, the Horn Lake, Mississippi native appeared in 36 games, assuming the starting role his sophomore season. Highly touted out of high school, the 2018 Butkus Award winner (for the nation’s best HS linebacker) repeated this award at the collegiate level in 2021, where he was also given the Butkus Award for being the nation’s best linebacker. The 21 year-old declared for the draft after winning the National Championship, and leaves the NCAA as an All-American First Team and All-SEC First Team member. He was also one of four permanent captains for the Bulldogs this season. In addition to his athletic prowess, he was a mechanical engineer major at Georgia, who graduated with a 3.5 GPA in 3 years.

Games Watched: Michigan (2021), Alabama (2020), Clemson (2021),  Alabama-Birmingham (2021), Vanderbilt (2021)

Strengths

Run Defense: Dean is a read-and-react off the ball linebacker who does his best damage working in space. When allowed clean running room, Dean takes proper pursuit angles and has the necessary speed to track down running backs. When he meets the ball-carrier, he consistently finishes with authority and impact. He covers ground quickly and has impressive closing speed while in pursuit. He is regularly “in the mix” and attacking down hill on rushing plays.

Versatility:  Dean was deployed in a variety of ways and is a true three-down linebacker. Very rarely did Dean leave the field, and when he did, it was typically when his opponents schemed empty sets with five wide receivers. However, this doesn’t mean that he is a liability in coverage. It was common to see Dean flex out into the slot and cover the opponents tight ends and wide receivers. He has the short-area quickness to handle these responsibilities.

In a 2020 match-up against the Crimson Tide, Dean was paired up against Devonta Smith in the red zone. Mac Jones identified this “mismatch” and tried to exploit it. However, Dean attached himself to the hip of Smith and prevented the “in-route” from developing. Jones hesitated, and was pressured into a bad pass and turnover on downs.  This was an impressive feat considering Smith’s pedigree as a shifty wide receiver.

In addition, Dean was often utilized as a blitzer. It was common for Georgia to send Dean attacking the A-gaps with running mate Quay Walker.

Pass Coverage:  Dean displayed plus-coverage skills in both man and zone. Of the two, Dean excelled more in zone coverage where he would drop into the middle of the field and key the quarterback. This played to his strengths, since he could see-ball, get-ball when a receiver caught the ball in his vicinity. It also allowed him to monitor the quarterback and negate any potential for a QB scramble.

What impressed me the most is his running back coverage. Two to three times a game, Dean would absolutely take away the possibility of a pass to the flat, or blow up a running back for a tackle for loss on a screen.

The following play exemplifies Dean’s ability to operate in space.

Doing some film work for @FullPressNFL and I'm watching @NakobeDean

The LB shows exceptional range here

Michigan motions its RB to exploit an open-field matchup on a LB

Dean not only takes the proper pursuit angle, but he secures the tackle for a loss on 3rd down#NFLDraft2022 pic.twitter.com/ABEAkdhRtj

— George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) February 19, 2022

Around FPC

NFL: Marvin Lewis on Brian Flores’ Charges: “No Question, It’s Alarming”

NFL: Aaron Donald Is Noncommittal On Future

NFL: Unhitch The Wagon: Chiefs Must Release Anthony Hitchens

Super Bowl: Climb The Ranks: Joe Burrow Continues To Ascend

NHL: NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames

PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 33: Super Bowl LVI Reaction; Rams Clinch Second Title

Weaknesses

Fluidity in Coverage: Although Dean has great straight-line speed, he does struggle to flip his hips and open up in coverage. His change of direction can come off somewhat clunky, and lacks a smoothness you would hope for a modern coverage linebacker. In college, he seemed to compensate and thrive, but I do anticipate this being an early issue in his transition to the NFL.

Undersized: At 6’0, 225 pounds, he doesn’t have imposing size. This may be an issue while in coverage against taller pass catchers.

Disengagement: While Dean excels at sifting through traffic, he does struggle to disengage when blockers get a hold of him. He gets pushed back when an offensive lineman engages with him. He then struggles to spring free and get back into the play.

Dean seems to win off speed as opposed to power, and this will be an area of growth for him. Offensive linemen in the NFL are bigger and more agile than in college, and Dean must find ways to disengage faster.

Stonewalled: Going along with our theme of blocking, Dean was stonewalled more often than I liked when blitzing up the middle. Quite often, a running back or offensive lineman would catch Dean’s pass rush and eliminate him from the play altogether.

Ideal Role

I envision Dean as a weak-side OLB in a 4-3 scheme. This would allow Dean to “play free” and utilize his strengths as a read-and-react linebacker who could also offer something in pass coverage.

Potential Fits

Dean is projected as one of the top linebackers off the board in this year’s NFL Draft. Many have argued that he, and Utah’s Devin Lloyd are the top of class at their position. I expect both players to go in the middle of the first round. While some have suggested that the Washington Commanders select him at pick 11, I find that selection to be a little rich.  He would be an ideal candidate for the Eagles, Patriots or Chiefs in the mid-to-late first.