NFL insider compares Nakobe Dean to NFL legend ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

Nakobe Dean has been the conversation of much debate throughout the 2022 NFL Draft process. Some believe the former Georgia star is talented enough to be a top ten selection, while others are of the opinion that Dean is a late first or early second round pick.

Evidently, Chris Mortensen of ESPN sees a lot of Dean in a former NFL star. The Georgia product has some similar qualities to Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Ray Lewis. The legendary Ravens linebacker was also undersized coming out of Miami in the 1996 draft, something he believes parallels with Dean.

“@NakobeDean is not a ‘workout warrior.’ He bypassed running the 40. He’s standing on his film. He’s undersized and off-ball linebacker,” tweeted Mortensen. “Remember the 1996 draft. Ray Lewis was undersized LB and ran two 40’s in the 4.6 range. He was the 26th pick by @Ravens in that draft.”

Nevertheless, Georgia faithful will be wondering what NFL teams are missing in Nakobe Dean. Throughout his time with the Bulldogs, the linebacker was a leader, play-maker and important piece to a title-capturing team. Luckily for Dean, it only takes one team to see his immense potential — and Chris Mortensen has no say.

Todd McShay on Nakobe Dean: ‘I personally think he’s one of the best 20 players in this class.’

Furthermore, ESPN NFL Draft gurus Todd McShay and Mel Kiper recently debated the question of the top linebacker available in draft. The clear top two are Dean and Devin Lloyd of Utah. While Kiper joins many talent evaluators in giving Lloyd the slight nod, McShay has been clear about how he feels about the Georgia linebacker, even though his opinion hasn’t meshed with the latest concerns he’s hearing from NFL teams.

“Nakobe Dean, I knew I had a higher grade than most people,” the ESPN NFL Draft guru said. “And I personally think he’s one of the best 20 players in this class. Maybe one of the best 15. But there’s concern about the arm length. Concern about the speed, and concern about the measurable not matching up to the production in college.”

Dean closed out the 2021 campaign with 72 tackles, just one more than the 71 he recorded in 2020. He was a playmaker in every sense of the word to help UGA capture a national title, finishing the year with six sacks, six pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and even found the endzone once last season.

Las Vegas currently pegged Dean as the third favorite to be the first Bulldog drafted with odds at +1500. He’s slated behind defensive tackle Jordan Davis (+275) and the clear runaway favorite from last year’s dominant Georgia defense, Travon Walker (-350). In the latest mock draft by McShay agreed Walker will be the first UGA player taken with the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions.