Player: Noah Sewell
School: Oregon
Measurables:
- Height: 6’1.5”(NFL Combine)
- Weight: 246(NFL Combine)
- 40: 4.64(NFL Combine)
- 10 Yard Split: 1.57(NFL Combine)
- Bench: 27(NFL Combine)
- Vertical Jump: 33”(NFL Combine)
- Broad Jump: 9’7”(NFL Combine)
- 3 Cone: DNP
- 20 Yard Shuttle: DNP
- Other Notes: Ran slower than I would’ve thought. His bench matches the strength he shows on tape, but the rest of the testing was unimpressive. He hurt his stock in my eyes
Graded Position Specific Traits:
- Run Support: 6.75/10
- Tackling- 7/10
- Field Vision: 6.75/10
- Man Coverage: 5.5/10
- Zone Coverage: 6/10
- Blitzing: 6.5/10
- Block Shedding: 6.5/10
- Range: 5.75/10
Prospect Grade: 50.75/80; 63.4%- Starter with potential to be a great starter
Projected Draft Day: Late Round 2- Early Round 4
Player Comparison: Dont’a Hightower… in the right scheme
Player Summary:
Noah Sewell is a really good linebacker prospect this year. One of the first things I noticed about Sewell was that he pretty heavily plays the run first. You can tell he’s trying to get downhill, if you watch him he’s on his toes and he’s leaning forward. His first step is always forward or lateral. The biggest issue I’ve noticed with his style of play is that on pass plays, at times he will be a step late or a step behind. If we are being honest it may not even be the style of play, it very much could be a speed issue because Sewell does show inconsistent speed on tape.
Much like with his speed, his tape flashes his ability to be a sideline-to-sideline playmaker. It’s just not quite consistent enough for me to call him a sideline to sideline player just yet. Sewell does show that he is a strong player though. He is pretty good at shedding blocks, but could be even better. He does a good job of extending his arms to prevent lineman from getting into him. Sewell is a pretty big linebacker and he definitely uses his size to his advantage as I didn’t really see him get driven off the ball. He can definitely hold his own.
I wouldn’t say Sewell has elite level vision, but he does see the field well. The biggest issue for him is whether he is going to be able to get to the play which again goes back to his ability to be a sideline-to-sideline player. The only other real note I have for Sewell is that he has inside-outside versatility. He doesn’t have an arsenal of pass rush moves, but he does a really good job of setting the edge. He has shown an ability to put pressure on opposing QBs, but it’s not what he does best by any means. If his speed shows to be an issue as an off-ball backer in the pros, I could see him finding a home as an OLB particularly in a 3-4 scheme.
UPDATE 3/11:
Sewell didn’t stand out at the combine. His day wasn’t the worst, but it certainly wasn’t that good either. Sewell is going to have to find his niche in the NFL. It could be more as an OLB in a 3-4 scheme now than in an off-ball backer role. NE would love this kid I think. I switched Sewell’s draft projection from Mid-Late Round 1 to Late Round 2- Early Round 4.