Washington Football Team 7-round mock, trading up to the seventh pick
By Ian Cummings
Round 5, Pick 150 – LSU S/LB JaCoby Stevens
Cole Holcomb and Kevin Pierre-Louis were both solid in spurts for the Washington Football Team. However, as the Super Bowl showed, there’s a difference between stability at linebacker and playmaking propensity at linebacker. Lavonte David and Devin White make plays, and having a linebacker who can go beyond filling gaps and playing off of the line is a valuable thing.
In Round 5, that might not be something that comes along very easily. But Washington should keep trying until they have it, and adding more depth is never a bad thing. At this pick, LSU hybrid safety JaCoby Stevens is an intriguing addition with the versatility to make the switch to linebacker. In fact, linebacker might be a better spot for him.
Watching his tape, Stevens is well put together. He measured in at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds at the Senior Bowl, but he could pack on more weight in a primary role as a linebacker. Stevens’ athleticism is a question in the secondary, but in the box, where players don’t have to travel as far, Stevens’ instincts, tackling ability, and ball skills could be valuable.
On one hand, Stevens’ skill set is a bit redundant for Washington, who has Landon Collins serving as a player in a similar mold. But Stevens comes at a much cheaper price, and the Washington Football Team could easily take charge and switch him to linebacker right out of the gate. In the box, he’s rangy and impactful. His best fit could be as a 4-3 linebacker behind a disruptive front four, but he also has enough safety experience to slide back situationally.