Prospect Profile: LB Nakobe Dean

Nakobe Dean, linebacker from Georgia, is committing to this year’s NFL Draft after his junior season. Dean was a five-star prospect coming out of high school (Horn Lake, Mississippi) and was ranked 19^th overall nationally.  

Dean played 15 games in the 2021 season, standing out by recording 72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Dean stands in at 5’11 1/4” and weighs 229 pounds.

Projected as a late first-round pick, Dean has something that not many at his position can bring and that’s a relentless motor – he’s not afraid to bull rush into any situation and make the big play.   

Nakobe Dean is one of the most athletically-gifted linebackers in this year’s draft. He’s efficient in defending the run, as he’s a great tackler who can weave through blockers and wrap up runners. He’s quick to jump and get a read on run concepts and shows a talent for shooting gaps and finishing plays with violence.

One downside to Dean’s game is that he’s undersized, which could cause him problems in defending tight ends from either his “Mike” or “Will” linebacker position. But, his quickness and reaction could help him in guarding smaller threats underneath. Here’s a clip of Dean covering a WR on the outside:

Some reasons the Buffalo Bills would go linebacker with the 25^th pick in this year’s NFL Draft is because of their contract situation. Tremaine Edmunds’ contract will expire after the 2022-2023 season, which would leave a big hole in the linebacking core if the Bills front office chooses not to resign him. Edmunds played solid in the 2021-2022 season but that doesn’t mean the Bills shouldn’t always be looking for a future upgrade in the middle of their defense.

Latest mock drafts

Mel Kiper: Nakobe Dean drafted 18th to the Eagles. Daniel Jeremiah: Dean drafted 32nd to the Lions. Todd McShay: Dean drafted 21st to the Patriots.