2020 NFL Draft: 3 linebackers who could be the next Fred Warner
Troy Dye, Oregon
Perhaps no player in the 2020 NFL Draft profiles as closely to Fred Warner as Oregon’s Troy Dye, especially in terms of draft stock.
Dye was a productive four-year player at Oregon who, like Warner, excelled not only as a run defender and blitzer but in coverage as well.
At 6-foot-4, 226 pounds, Dye profiles size-wise pretty similar to Warner as well.
Although Dye is not on the same level as Isaiah Simmons in terms of his coverage, Simmons wrecks the curve a little bit and Dye is about as proficient as you could expect a ‘traditional’ linebacker to be in that regard.
He finished his career with the Ducks with 14 pass breakups and five interceptions, and obviously he has the size, range, and athleticism to be able to hang with guys in man coverage, even deep downfield.
He has some pretty natural hands, too:
HIGHLIGHT | Troy Dye makes a fantastic sideline interception. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/xCIt1PVB20
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) September 2, 2018
His productivity and leadership are obvious qualities NFL teams will love, but his ability to cover guys is what teams will covet. At this point, he could be available for the same price — an early third-round pick — as Warner was two years ago.