Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Draft: Breaking down the inside linebacker prospects

Washington State Cougars running back Theron West (24) is tackled by Southern California Trojans linebacker Hayes Pullard (10). James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Tier Three

12. Hayes Pullard, USC (6-0, 240)
13. Mike Hull, Penn State (6-0, 237)
14. Jake Ryan, Michigan (6-2, 240)
15. Amarlo Herrera, Georgia (6-1, 244)
16. Martrell Spaight, Arkansas (6-0, 236)
17. Bryce Hager, Baylor (6-1, 234)

The Skinny: It’s out of this group you could add some quality depth to your roster, and maybe even find a few key special teams contributors.

Pullard comes from a big program and held up well against the offensive firepower in the PAC-12. However, I’m not sure he’s more than just a role player at the next level.

Hull and Ryan are tough, gritty players that play with great instincts against the run. They’ll drop to the middle rounds, however, because they’re only mediocre athletes and could be liabilities in coverage.

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Amarlo Herrera (52). Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Spaight is a downhill player who is tough at the line. He flashes moments of explosiveness, but has never quite put it all together to be a true impact player on defense.

Herrera may be my favorite player out of this group. He tends to get overlooked because of the talent that was in Georgia’s front seven.

However, he’s a very instinctual player who is surprisingly very good in coverage. He could afford to play a little stronger, but he’s a mid-round player with good upside.

Although talented, many believe Hager is just not a good fit on the inside in a 3-4 defense. He really struggles to disengage from blocks, but he can make plays if kept clean.

Next: Tier Four