Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
Like Reed, former Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland dropped out of the first round because of his limited potential as a two-down player at the next level, as he doesn’t have the coverage qualities necessary to effectively contribute in passing situations.
Ragland is a vintage, downhill linebacker, as he prides himself in his ability to take on blocks near the line of scrimmage and force opposing ball carriers to reconsider their running lane in the backfield. Also, Ragland is a forceful tackler that will rarely miss tackles in open space, a necessary trait of a run stuffing linebacker in the middle of a defense.
With the concerns surrounding his lack of speed, Ragland could find it difficult to beat running backs to the edge on outside runs, but his below average speed has proven more costly in coverage. Without great closing speed, Ragland struggles to make plays on the ball when in zone coverage, and he should fail to meet expectations in man coverage against tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.
Fortunately for Oakland, their 2015 fifth round draft choice Ben Heeney is athletic enough to have success in both man and zone coverage, so the Raiders could target Ragland to play in a tandem role with Heeney at inside linebacker. Drafting a two-down player in the first round would have drawn some negative reviews, but Ragland is still successful at what he does best, making him an easy choice if available in the second round.
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