Cleveland Browns: 2019 7-Round mock draft, Vol. 3
By Peter Smith
Round 4: T.J. Edwards, LB, Wisconsin – 6-1, 242 lbs. (Listed)
- 73 solo tackles (15.4 percent), 11 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, 7 pass deflections in 2018.
The last time the Browns took an extremely productive linebacker from Wisconsin, it was Joe Schobert. His former teammate, T.J. Edwards has been outstanding for Wisconsin in his own right, might be the same size as Schobert, and could potentially be his running mate in Cleveland.
In addition to his elite production in terms of solo tackles, Edwards has intercepted 10 passes and deflected 11 passes over the past three seasons, so the Browns get more size at linebacker while getting someone who has shown the ability to make plays in coverage, much like Schobert.
Edwards is a player that reads and reacts really well, is always moving without much wasted motion and thrives on contact. When he goes downhill, he’s a load as a blitzer or chasing down run plays. His speed doesn’t look great, but it never really seems like he goes to a second gear in the open field either, so he might test faster than his play speed would suggest.
Meanwhile, he does have some pretty good hips, changes direction reasonably well and is somewhat slippery. Edwards is someone that can get off of a block and takes on contact pretty well, but he’s able to take on half the man and take advantageous angles.
In zone drops, Edwards does a nice job getting to his drop and staying active and diagnosing where plays are trying to go and occasionally gets plays for being in the right place at the right time for a big play. Edwards does a nice job with crossers, both slowing them down and then flowing with them. He’s got good ball skills and awareness so he manages to get to more passes than it might look like he’s able.
Edwards looks more like a SAM or MIKE backer, but he gives physicality playing the run and another player that can blitz. He is pretty good at selling fakes too, dropping into zone and potentially making a play if a quarterback doesn’t see him. Edwards looks like an old school linebacker with a boxy appearance, but if his athletic testing is right, he’s got a lot of similarities to Schobert and could be another mid round pick that makes a huge impact.