3-4 Defensive End/Defensive Tackle

Penn State

6-2 236

40 time: 4.72

Draft board overall prospect rank: #46

Draft board middle linebacker rank: #3

Overall rating: 78* 

            3/28/10: Sean Lee has first round talent, but he won’t go there because of his position and his nasty history of injuries. In addition to the fact that linebackers always seem to fall on draft day, Lee had a nasty ACL tear last year, in addition to other less major injuries that have kept him from his potential in the past. Injuries didn’t stop him from putting up 138 tackles in 2007, to go with 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception and they didn’t stop him from putting up 86 tackles, 2 sacks and a pick this year, though unfortunately he did have to miss three games with an injury. They did cost him all of 2008 though. Lee is the classic Big 10 linebacker and should probably get drafted earlier that he will. He reminds me a lot of James Laurinaitis, who I had a first round grade on last year, though Laurinaitis never has a history of injuries. He’s a very fundamental player who makes good routes to the ball, wraps up well, and hits very hard. He has good lateral mobility, but he’s not a true 4-3 outside linebacker guy with that necessary sideline-to-sideline range, and he’s not quite the thumper that is needed in the middle of a 3-4. He’s solid in coverage as well. He has looked healthy for most of last season and through the Pre-Draft process, but there are huge question as to whether or not that will be the case in the NFL. Even so, with his 1^st round talent, I’d call him a 2^nd round pick, that kind of unspectacular linebacker that holds down the fort doing everything you need him to for 10 year, though he’ll probably go in the 3^rd or 4^th.

NFL Comparison: James Laurinaitis

*For a breakdown of what this means, click here