49ers big board for 2020 NFL Draft: Bowl games edition
829. . Linebacker. Crimson Tide . Dylan Moses. 9. player
Pros:
- In terms of size and mobility, there isn’t a better linebacker in the draft
- Explosiveness and pursuit speed are incredible for a man his size
- Great tackler, can bring down people much bigger than himself with his power and speed
- Is a true three-down player
- Great anticipation means he can penetrate into the backfield
- Can cover RBs and TEs
Cons:
- Can be susceptible to play action, as well as routes developing behind him
- While not a liability, does sometimes have problems diagnosing routes in zone coverage
- Tore his ACL this year
Adding to the list of players who would be sure first rounders if they weren’t injured, Dylan Moses projects to be a very special player at the next level.
It cannot be stressed enough that Moses is an incredible specimen. He’s athletic, strong, fast and plays with a rarely matched intensity. He’s able to defend sideline to sideline and he’s one of the best tacklers in the draft.
His burst is the best in the draft too. He’s able to exploit gaps and get into the backfield as evidence by his 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks for Alabama in 2018.
His size and speed means he can go with RBs and TEs in man coverage, and he’s sufficient in zone coverage as well. He projects to be a true three-down player for the team that drafts him.
Moses isn’t a perfect prospect, however. Like most inexperienced linebackers, he is susceptible to biting on play action because he’s so eager to make a play. He also lacks awareness if routes go behind him.
The 49ers don’t have a need on the surface for another linebacker, however the talented Kwon Alexander unfortunately suffered another injury in his career, and the lack of a true athletic linebacker has affected the defense since. Moses would serve as a player who can develop behind Alexander and serve in a rotation to lessen the load Alexander has.
Draft range: First/second round
Despite suffering an ACL tear that made him miss the entire season, Moses still projects as a likely first-round selection due to his insane potential and physical gifts.
There is a small chance Moses could slip past into the second round, however teams are likely to feel comfortable taking him on Thursday night.