Todd McShay defends Nakobe Dean after NFL Draft slide

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nakobe Dean did not hear his name called on Thursday night, seeing him slide out of the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Widely considered one of the top players in the entire draft because of his leadership in Georgia’s national championship run, he could possibly be a steal for whoever selects him on Day Two.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay may be one of the biggest fans of Dean, continuing to defend him on Friday afternoon. Testing numbers and size has long been the reasons teams are not a fan of the linebacker but McShay is not interested in that argument. He said what was put on film mixed with how mentally ahead Dean is, one team will be getting an elite defensive player.

“I’ve said from the beginning, I am willing to die on the Dean hill and I am dying right now,” McShay said. “I’ve got him ranked No. 19 overall and here we are at the 33rd pick. He might go to 35 or 40. I don’t care where he gets drafted. I just care what he does on film. Just like when I talk to scouts all fall and into the predraft process. Shorter arms, doesn’t have the separation. Yeah, Jonathan Vilma didn’t. Zach Thomas didn’t. He is the blitz instincts of Zack Thomas and the ability to work the edge of a blocker and to get off of blocks.

“When you have size like that, you’ve got to know how to get off of block instinctively. I mean, he graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, and he kind of plays the game like that. understanding the angles and understanding everything he’s doing. He’s two steps ahead of those other linebackers, including Quay Walker, who was a first-round pick last night. So I don’t care if he runs a 4.7 or 4.75, he’s going to play about 4.55 because of his eyes.”

Five Georgia players were selected in the first round but their national championship defensive leader ended up not being one. McShay continues to defend Dean, despite the slide, for those reasons. Testing numbers were not favorable for the linebacker during the NFL Scouting Combine but as McShay has said, he doesn’t care.

Hopefully, it will all come to an end on early Friday night and Nakobe Dean will be one of the first few names announced in the second round.