Patriots Draft Profile: Mike Vrabel Should Love This Prospect

Mike Vrabel has a specific vision for the linebackers he’s willing to bring to New England.

The Patriots are prioritizing athleticism over size as they put together a roster for new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams. Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens are two examples of that, but for as much as they’re expected to contribute, we have a feeling there will be more moves made to round out that group.

Teddye Buchanan is the exact kind of player they should be looking for.

New England won’t be prioritizing off-ball linebackers moving forward, but that’s why this player feels like he’s such a fit. We expect there to be at least some attention paid to that side of the ball late in the draft, so let’s learn a little bit about one possible target.

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OVERVIEW

Buchanan originally started his career at UC-Davis, putting together some gaudy statistics (30 games, 190 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight interceptions, four sacks) before transferring to California.

The Golden Bears immediately plugged him into the starting lineup after he arrived, seeing him become one of the best coverage linebackers in the nation during his lone season. Buchanan finished the year with 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks — eventually being named first-team All-ACC.

NFL SCOUTING COMBINE

Buchanan’s value is entirely tied to his athletic ability, which was on display at the combine. Kent Lee Platte gave him a 9.62/10.00 RAS, which ranked among the best of any linebacker who has tested at the combine since 1987.

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 233lbs
Hand: 9 3/8″
Arm: 31 3/8″

40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds
Vertical Jump: 40″
Broad Jump: 10′ 5″
Bench Press: 26 reps

STRENGTHS

We already told you he was a good athlete, but we have to reiterate that just so you know how serious we are.

Buchanan’s ability to cover space laterally cannot be overstated, which helps him against both the run and in the passing game. We haven’t seen many linebackers who can recognize route concepts and take intermediate routes away quite like he can, either, helping him rack up pass deflections and interceptions across two different levels of college ball.

It’s unlikely that he will find an immediate role defensively, but there’s no doubt that he’ll make an impact on special teams right away. Buchanan is disciplined, fast and aggressive, which gives him a high floor for someone expected to be selected on Day 3,

WEAKNESSES

Buchanan isn’t quite there as a tackler, which is why we have a difficult time seeing him get defensive reps immediately.

We also don’t love his propensity for triggering early and getting caught in the trash, but that’s something that can be coached out of him. Buchanan ultimately has the physical tools to find success, but his processing in the run game and lack of experience in a power program are big question marks.

WHAT SEPARATES HIM?

The Patriots likely won’t target defense until very late in the draft, which means they’ll essentially be tossing darts at the board.

Buchanan separates himself as one of those potential dart throws because of his intangibles. New England isn’t going to find a better athlete at the position, but when looking deeper than that you find an instinctual player who has a knack for forcing turnovers and making life difficult for opposing offenses.

Can you do much better than that when talking about a developmental prospect?

We love him, and based on what we’ve heard lately, it wouldn’t be surprising if those in charge down at One Patriot Place do too.

If you’d like more individual profiles, check out the full series.