1. Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech
The Rams need a big-time presence inside to be the take-on linebacker in Wade Phillips’ defense. Tremaine Edmunds has all the physical tools needed to be a dominant force on the inside. He’s 6-5, 253 pounds with excellent speed and powes. He sticks his nose in the trash and often comes out the other side with tackles.
Edmunds is a lion and every back is his prey. There’s no need to run and chase because he hunts his prey head-on with viciousness, leaving a trail of bodies in the wake as he takes out his man. When taking on blockers, Edmunds uses his length and power to stack and shed while keeping his eyes in the backfield. He’d come in right away and help improve a leaky run defense and so much more.
However, Edmunds is more than just an inside linebacker. With his long frame, excellent power and speed comes a fantastic first step off the edge. While he may not be in the same class as some of the other pure edge rushers, Edmunds can line up and play a rush backer in a 3-4 front. His 4.54-second 40-yard dash was one of the fastest among linebackers at the Combine, and his speed translates when he’s asked to blitz or rush from the outside.
With Suh playing the nose tackle spot, Michael Brockers will play the 5-tech and Edmunds would be the perfect outside linebacker to put next to Aaron Donald. Edmunds would bring versatility to a defense where Phillips likes to move pieces around. Just imagine what he’d be able to do with a weapon like the former Hokie — even if it’s a pipe-dream that he falls to them at No. 23.