Packers Draft: Top 5 Inside Linebacker Targets

Bruins linebacker Eric Kendricks (6). Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

3. Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Kendricks was a tackling machine in the Bruins defense, amassing a whopping 475 tackles as a four-year starter at inside linebacker.

Kendricks is a smaller, quicker linebacker (6-0, 232) who moves well in space and uses his excellent instincts to make plays on the ball.

He’s perhaps the best linebacker in coverage in this draft, outside of Shaq Thompson, and would be a great fit as a nickel linebacker in the Packers sub-packages.

The biggest knock on Kendricks is that being undersized, he may struggle to get off blocks and hold his ground in the NFL.

Even though he has experience playing in a 3-4 defense in college, he may be a better fit in a 4-3 defense as either a middle or weakside linebacker, where he wouldn’t have to take on as many blockers head on.

Having said this, I am still big fan of what Kendricks brings to a team – both as a player and teammate – and would like to see him play in Green Bay if the Packers can get him in the second or third round.

He has the speed (4.61) and agility to hold up well in coverage and make plays in pursuit.

If Green Bay could find a nose tackle that can take on double-teams and keep blockers from getting to the second level, then Kendricks could be a good fit for the Packers.

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