Todd McShay makes bold statement on Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean, ignores the critics

Todd McShay has released his 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0, and it has former Georgia star linebacker Nakobe Dean headed to the Philadelphia Eagles with the 15th overall pick.

“I thought [Dean] was the best defensive player in the country this past year, and I’m talking about Aidan Hutchinson included in that mix,” McShay said. “He was intercepting the ball, pick six there against Florida, sacking quarterbacks sideline to sideline. I love Nakobe Dean and I’ll die on that hill for him, and I would love it if the Eagles get him because they need a linebacker.”

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That’s high praise for McShay to say about Dean, as he has Hutchinson going No. 2 overall to the Detroit Lions in the same mock draft. So why is he so low, if you consider 15th overall low? Standing at just 6-foot and 225 pounds, Dean is undersized for an SEC linebacker, let alone as an anchor to an NFL defense.

“You can tell me all the things that he can’t do ,and we’re going to hear all about that at the combine,” McShay said. “He’s not big enough, doesn’t have long enough arms, doesn’t have a great 40 time. I’m going to trust the tape. The tape is sensational.”

With 72 total tackles (36 solo), six sacks, two forced fumbles and two more interceptions, Dean fell two tackles short of the team’s leaderboard. He trailed only Lewis Cine (73), another Georgia defender that has entered the NFL Draft this season.

The Eagles selection at No. 15 is their first of three in the first round this April. They also hold the 16th and 19th overall picks, and McShay sees Philadelphia selecting fellow Georgia defender Travon Walker at 16 and Arkansas wide out Treylon Burks at 19.

Overall, Georgia is sending 14 athletes to the 2022 NFL Combine alone, and has as many as eight Georgia players could hear their name called off the board in the first round, according to some of the latest mock draft projections. Dean, Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, Lewis Cine, Quay Walker, George Pickens and Derion Kendrick have all been projected as first-round picks by at least one mock draft within the last two weeks, according to the NFL Mock Draft Database.

The 2022 NFL Draft is set to begin on April 28 and conclude on April 30 in Paradise, Nevada.