2018 NFL Draft Profile: LB Tremaine Edmunds

Here’s the 2018 NFL Draft profile of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds out of Virginia Tech breaking down his strengths, weaknesses, video highlights, and a draft day prediction.

A versatile linebacker possessing a unique blend of size and speed, 19-year-old Tremaine Edmunds is one of the most highly regarded defensive players entering the 2018 NFL Draft.

After a strong 2017 campaign, Edmunds was named an AP third-team All-American, while also being named a first-team All-ACC selection.

Like any player, Edmunds does indeed have areas where he can improve upon, but many teams will likely be taking a close look at him as draft day nears closer. Let’s take a look at his strengths, weaknesses, video highlights and where he’ll end up being selected.

STRENGTHS

What sticks out most about Edmunds is the rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism that he possesses.

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Standing at 6-5 and weighing in at 250 lbs., Edmunds is a rangy player and he’ll likely continue to grow and add more strength at the next level. For a player his size, Edmunds moves incredibly well, owns high-level footwork and has tremendous side-to-side quickness.

Throughout the 2017 season, the Virginia native posted an impressive stat line that included 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

His size and speed allow him to cover a ton of ground and his tackling ability is strong as well, as his agility and ability to work his way out of blocks allow him to make big plays at a high rate. Edmunds is also incredibility versatile, as his physical traits allow him to see success as a rusher, putting pressure on the pocket, but he also has the ability to be successful in coverage against some running backs and tight ends.

WEAKNESSES

Despite his physical traits being top notch, Edmunds does indeed have some weaknesses that he’ll need to work on in order to succeed in the NFL. What sticks out most about Edmunds in terms of his weaknesses are his instincts and his patience and the fact that he’s sometimes depended solely on his athleticism. At times, he can be slow to react to a play, while he has also shown the tendency to jump ahead of himself at other times.

It’s also been said that Edmunds experiences mental lapses at times, taking too much time to react to what’s playing out in front of him.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

DRAFT DAY PREDICTION

While Edmunds certainly has some areas to improve on, NFL scouts should be pleased with the fact that all of his weaknesses can be easily fixed. Due to his young age, it’s also likely that Edmunds will continue to grow and improve, which leads me to believe that he’ll one day become a high-level NFL player.

Edmunds is expected to be drafted in the first round of this year’s draft. He’s versatile, can play at any linebacker spot, and has the ability to make big plays all over the field. Due to these reasons, Edmunds should provide any team in need of a linebacker with a spark not only now, but for years to come.