Ty'Ron Hopper, LB, Missouri, 2024 3rd round pick #91

[bud fox]

strange pick imo

with new kicking rules more lbers will be needed, same with the switch to 4-3 base

Definitely.

kick-offs will be loaded with athletic linebackers bigger safeties this year.

[RingoCStarrQB]

Handy Errman did a break-down of Hopper and it sounds like he is a true boom-or-bust pick. He gets himself in position, but the execution (tackling) is his fatal flaw. So either we fix that and he becomes a stud, or we don't and he's basically useless (no ST value without sound tackling).

I guess I don't mind taking a boom-or-bust swing with our bonus Round 3 pick. I wouldn't have taken this particular bet, myself. If tackling is an issue this late in his playing career, I really doubt there is any changing it. And to the extent that tackling can be improved with coaching, I can see it realistically amounting to, like... a ~3-6% improvement. His missed-tackle percentage is at 22(!) and change so he will still be one of the worst tacklers in football if his improvement is by less than a double-digit margin.

I do believe Hafley and Campanile will make a point to coach tackling thoroughly with our whole defense though, so he landed up in the right situation for himself. And if I am wrong, this is potentially a major homerun hit.

Drafting a Division 1 defensive player that can't tackle is borderline "dereliction of Gutey".