NFL Mock Draft 2016: Pre-Free Agency edition

LB. Ohio State. Darron Lee. 12. player. 15. <p>It might be jarring to see Darron Lee’s name associated with a team this high in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he is one of the fastest rising prospects in the entire class. Lee ran a blistering 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine in Indianapolis, and that combined with his frightening athleticism on tape makes this a reasonable slot for the former Buckeyes linebacker.</p> <p>New Orleans could make an argument for adding a player at, quite literally, every level on their defense, but a play-making linebacker would be a huge for the Saints. Ideally, New Orleans could be targeting a player like Myles Jack, but that looks unrealistic, and Lee can serve as a similar force in that he can cover tight ends in routes while simultaneously acting as a sideline to sideline terror in stopping the run.</p> <p>Make no mistake, this would be a “reach” compared to what Lee put together on tape, but he is a prospect that is a late-bloomer based on the fact that he played quarterback (!) in high school and did not settle in as a linebacker until later in college. The Saints were an abject disaster on defense during the 2015 campaign, and in a spot where they can add anyone in the front seven, Lee’s upside might be as high as anyone available in this particular mock.</p>