An in depth and complete scouting report and draft prospect profile of Notre Dame Linebacker JD Bertrand for the NFL Draft.

Prospect: JD Bertrand

School: Notre Dame 

Age: 23

JD Bertrand Measurables:

• Height: 6’1” (NFL Combine)
• Weight: 235 (NFL Combine)

• Bench: 20 reps (NFL Combine)- T-2/7
• Side Note:
  • 5 lbs heavier since the season
  • Hurt…was wearing protective boot at combine
    • Nursing a foot injury since Senior Bowl
  • Non-Participant at Notre Dame Pro Day 

Tape Watched: USC, Ohio State, Senior Bowl

Prospect Grade: 63%

Projected Draft Day: Day 3

Player Comparison: Slightly more athletic Josey Jewell

Best Team Fits: Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots

JD Bertrand Player Summary:

The  Positives

• Plays on his toes
• Thumper
• Trusts his eyes and his reads
  • Blocking scheme recognition really good
• Reliable tackler
• Football IQ and instincts are probably some of the best in the class
• Disruptive yet patient
• Pretty good gap shooter
• Good change of direction
• Strong hands, good punch
• Man coverage isn’t bad underneath

The Negatives

• When he blitzes he lacks any sort of pass rush moves
  • He prefers to bull rush, but can get out muscled by linemen
• Can get a little flat footed in coverage
• Lacks a bit of speed
• Struggles to carry routes vertically 
• Block shedding issues
  • Tries to slip blockers from time to time and gets stuck in traffic
• For someone who looks like he lacks a bit of speed, he doesn’t always take the best angles

Side Notes

• With a little more speed, Bertrand to us would probably be the top ranked LB in the class
• Sack number isn’t indicative of his ability to pressure QBs
  • Made Kyle McCord’s life a living hell, multiple QB hits

JD Bertrand is a pretty highly underrated linebacker in this year’s class. We will admit, Bertrand is lacking a bit of speed, but we also believe that Bertrand has some of the highest IQ and instincts in the class. There are linebackers who lack athleticism who you can tell fall behind because they are slow to process. Bertrand is, for the most part, always at least near the ball carrier because he is quick to diagnose and plays with a high motor. We see him as a Day 2 rather than 3 because with his ability to diagnose we feel you can hide the lack of speed a little bit. It’s similar to Jack Campbell last year where he may not have been the fastest but he was the first LB taken due to his ability to play the position. 

Updated 3/3/24:

• Combine numbers and rank added to measurable portion of profile

Updated 4/11/24: 

• Grade switched from “62%” to “63%”
• Projection switched from “Day 2” to “Day 3”
• “New England Patriots” added to Best Team Fits
  • The injury and lack of being able to test and do field work is hurting his stock, but to us is still Day 2 on tape

Updated 4/18/24:

• Positives Added
  • Blocking scheme recognition really good
• Negatives Added
  • Block shedding issues
    • Tries to slip blockers from time to time and gets stuck in traffic
  • For someone who looks like he lacks a bit of speed, he doesn’t always take the best angles