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Buffalo Bills: 2016 Draft Linebacker Options Part II

By Dennis Moody

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sammy Watkins (Clemson) shakes hands with Roger Goodell after being selected as the number four overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sammy Watkins (Clemson) shakes hands with Roger Goodell after being selected as the number four overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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2016 Draft Linebacker
Nov 28, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Dominique Alexander (1) celebrates during the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma won 58-23. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 224 lbs

Projected Round: 2 or 3

Dominique Alexander was an inside linebacker in Oklahoma’s 3-4 defense last season. He led the team in tackles with 104 according to SportsReference.com.

For an inside linebacker, he possesses good agility and speed. He has good hips and recognizes routes well which allows him to excel in coverage situations.

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He has a compact frame since he is not very tall and he does not shy away from contact. He is a scrappy player who can find a way to make a tackle even if it’s not pretty.

He contributed on special teams in college and it’s likely that whatever NFL team drafts him would expect him to do the same for them.

He lacks ideal size for an inside linebacker at the NFL level. He might do better in the NFL as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 system based on his skill set and body type.

He is effective against both the run and pass, but he may not be as effective against the run with the larger and more powerful backs in the NFL. He ended up on the ground often during his career and was unable to set his feet in order to stop downhill runners from plowing through him. He will need to find a solution to this whether through better technique or by bulking up if he wants to succeed at the NFL level.

So that’s it for these five linebackers. To check out our previous article where we analyzed linebackers Myles Jack, Reggie Ragland, Darron Lee, Kentrell Brothers and Jaylon Smith please click here.

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