A little less than a month from the draft (April 29), the editorial staff of touchdownactu offers you its annual “draft sheet”. 80 players, 40 in attack and 40 in defense, among the best university players, who will make your favorite NFL team happy in 2021.
Jabril Cox – Linebacker – 23 ans – LSU
Cut : 1m93
Weight : 104 kilos
Estimated draft position: 2e – 3e tour
Stats 2020 : 10 games, 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 5 passes defended, 3 interceptions, 1 touchdown, 1 fumble recovery.
NFL Comparison: C.J Mosley (New York Jets)
Points forts
– Athletics
– QI Football
– Air cover
A mix of speed and size is what best characterizes this 2021 class of linebackers. And Jabril Cox fits perfectly into this category. An imposing size, equipped with attractive athletic characteristics, the young man is made to play in the second defensive curtain. This clever mix allows him to evolve both in space and around the line of scrimmage. In his only year at LSU, after two productive years at North Dakota State (FCS), he was used in several high school positions, lining up both inside and out. A player with a strong character, he accepted a leadership role during his last year, while successfully managing the transition from the FCS championship to the SEC. Armed with a good football IQ, he communicates well with his teammates to line them up or make adjustments before the snap. Cox quickly identifies actions and reacts quickly after reading to project himself closer to the ball.
For this, he benefits from many very interesting athletic qualities, even if explosiveness remains his number 1 asset. Cox also has solid lateral agility, and although he only offers good, but not great, fluidity when it changes direction, it has enough spring to compensate. Good pure speed, added to fluid hips, these are the keys to his success. Some defenders have excellent explosiveness but max out too quickly and lack the second boost needed to continue a chase. This is not his case. Its radius of action extends from one sideline to the other and it chases the player until the action is over. Given his physical background, he could be an added value in the rush pass if necessary.
Jabril Cox excels at aerial coverage and in the modern NFL, where passes are ubiquitous, a linebacker with his covering abilities is bound to be in high demand. Endowed with good instincts in zone defense, he quickly identifies the layouts of the receivers, while scrutinizing the eyes of the quarterback to disrupt his readings and slide quickly on the field. His 23 passes defended and 9 interceptions in his career are no accident, as he has phenomenal skill in breaking passes. Cox possesses sure hands for his position and uses his size to win disputed balls. Cox can not only cover space and receiving options, but he has also shown individual coverage abilities on tight ends, or running backs used as a safety valve. His future team will probably have to give him a few reps in practice and coach him before setting him up against professional tight ends, but over time he could be a phenomenal weapon to help neutralize receiving tight ends.
Weak points
– Lack of muscle
– Run Defense
– Inexperience
As you would expect, Cox is still relatively raw as a prospect. Coming from FCS and having only spent a year in FBS, he still needs some time to learn. He performed admirably in his only season in the college premier league, but his game was very unstable at times. The linebacker has proven he has a future in the NFL, but teams will have to isolate him a bit before singling him out as a top player.
While he has the strength to take on blocks from tight ends, he struggles to get past bigger, beefier players. When he can’t beat offensive linemen with his athleticism or use his hands to hold them off, he tends to get stuck. Playing in a more physical way could be the key for him to develop his full potential at the next level. Especially on the ground game where he must be more decisive and fully commit to annihilate the actions. He remains a reliable tackler with good positioning, but he is not enough finisher and hard-hitting, conceding a few yards after contact. Cox needs to learn how to better marry patience and aggression, and he can still refine his tackle angles. These minor issues can be fixed, and it is already showing signs of full player.
For the moment, he is still a bit too much of a reactionary player rather than a real instinctive one. It processes information quickly, but generally needs to see the game launch before acting on it. He’s athletic enough to compensate, but that extra setback could be exploited by NFL offenses.
Possible destinations
Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Washington Football Team, Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams
Cox is one of the best cover linebackers in this draft. A humble and intelligent player, he is able to adapt to new situations quickly, as shown by the successful transition from North Dakota State to LSU. This transfer also allowed him to increase his draft stock in the eyes of recruiters. He has minor issues that should be ironed out over time, but his athleticism, which translates directly into excellent covering abilities, can’t really be taught. Coveted in the NFL, this kind of skill will allow him to stay on the field on the 3 attempts. His exact position will be determined by the defense he plays in.
Considered a choice of 2e turn, he has the mentality, the engine and the physical constitution to be an NFL starter. With a fairly high ceiling, he has all the qualities to interest any team in need of the position.