In the 2016 draft, the New York Jets selected Darron Lee with their first round pick, a linebacker from Ohio State. I did not watch a lot of Ohio State games that year, but I remember watching a post-draft show and realizing that Darron Lee was not even the leading tackler on his own team. The leading tackler was a sophomore named Raekwon McMillan. Now, after leading the Buckeyes in tackles again, he is going to enter the NFL draft. Here is my report on the tackling machine:Measurables:
Height- 6'2''
Weight- 242 lbs
Year:
Junior (21)
2016 stat line:
102 tackles (49 solo), 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 5 PDs, 2 FFs
Pros: Raekwon McMillan is a highly instinctual player. He is always around the ball and does a good job of diagnosing trick and option plays. Against the inside runs, McMillan flies downhill with tremendous force and does a good job of shedding blocks and wrapping up running backs. On outside runs, McMillan shows good speed as he is fast enough to prevent the runner from turning the corner and ripping off a big run. No matter where the run is though, McMillan is almost guaranteed not to miss the tackle. He displays good fundamentals when tackling: he flies in with enough force to prevent the runner's momentum without inciting injury or roughness flags on himself. In the passing game, McMillan is best used covering running backs and spying the quarterback. He has enough speed and instincts to keep up with running backs and even break up some passes. When spying, McMillan does a great job of wrapping up the runaway quarterback, preventing big gains and first downs. On top of this, McMillan has pro-typical size for a linebacker. He has a thick frame that will not get mauled against bigger competition.
Cons: During my film sessions, I rarely saw McMillan cover a tight end. He mostly played zone in the middle of the field on passing plays, so he will probably struggle splitting out wide and cover tight ends and running backs man-to-man in the pros. I would also like to see McMillan freeze less when faced with play action. This weakness was exposed during the Oklahoma game, where he took himself out of the play by losing track of who had the ball. It is something that comes with experience, though, so it should not concern teams that much.
Pro Comparison: Jerrell Freeman, LB, Chicago Bears
If there is one word to describe Jerrell Freeman, it is tackling machine. He uses sound technique and does a great job of sniffing out plays using his instincts. He is not an elite coverage linebacker, but he is good enough to be on the field on third down. I see McMillan playing a similar role with his NFL team.
3 teams that could use him: Unfortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, it may be time to start looking for star linebacker Derrick Johnson's replacement. He is 34 years old and coming off of an achilles tendon tear, so it makes sense for the Chiefs to scoop up McMillan. Outside of Kiko Alonso, the Dolphins linebackers are terrible. It is time for them to overhaul the position so they can give that dominant front four support. If McMillan falls into the second round, they 49ers may want to consider selecting him. Navarro Bowman has been plagued by injuries and the retirement of Chris Borland left the 49ers without youth and upside in the linebacking core. McMillan could play next to or in place of Bowman on day one.
Conclusion: Raekwon McMillan is a tackling machine with good size and coverage ability. He is a very safe pick and should go from the bottom half of the first round to the top half of the second round.
All stats from www.sports-reference.com
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