2015 Draft Profile - Shaq Thompson

If you read my previous post, then some of this information might be redundant. Either way, reading it again won't hurt you. You can just be enamored by Thompson's abilities and versatility once more.

Shaq Thompson is listed as a linebacker who played for the Washington Huskies, but he also played safety and running back. That's a lot of positions to play at, but Thompson did more than just play them. He excelled at them. As a running back, he ran for 456 yards last year and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. That's ridiculous for a defensive player. Oh, he scored two touchdowns as well. On defense he played all the linebacker positions and started at strong safety for a game. His stat line on defense shows an even more productive player: 81 tackles, an interception that he returned for a touchdown, and 4 fumble recoveries, 3 of which he returned for touchdowns.

from: nflcom

But his defensive stat line doesn't show everything. Thompson began his freshman year of college as the Huskies nickelback. Yep, he played cornerback. And he had 74 total tackles. Currently listed at 6 feet tall and 228 pounds, I would imagine he's bulked up a bit since playing cornerback, but he is considered undersized for a linebacker. But his coverage skills, man and zone, are fantastic. At the NFL level he will be able to cover running backs, tight ends, and some receivers. Bleacher Report had an article advising the 49ers to make sure they got Thompson, as they not only need help at linebacker but they need someone who can cover Jimmy Graham. I'm hoping that doesn't happen though, as I want to see Thompson in purple.

The former Huskie put up more reps of 225 during the combine than Anthony Barr did. Barr played a pass rushing linebacker for UCLA at 255 pounds. Thompson is more than 25 pounds lighter. Granted, he didn't have an outstanding 40, but I'm currently of the belief that the 40 isn't very important for elite prospects. He plays much faster and quicker than his 4.66 would lead you to believe.

from: usatodayhss.com

Here's where I'm going to get redundant. I would be ecstatic to pair Thompson with Barr. We'd have an amazing pair of linebackers that would most likely be perennial Pro bowl players. Both are crazy athletic and have versatile skillsets. OK, taking a break from Barr to focus on Thompson. He's said he's a linebacker and I would agree there, but just as we now label some players as offensive weapons and simply as EDGE, maybe we should have a defensive weapon. Thompson could be that.

In our base 4-3 he could play the safety spot opposite Smith. He'd play closer to the line, like the Seahawks' Kam Chancellor, allowing Smith to be a true mid fielder. That would put Hodges as the weakside linebacker and Audie Cole or someone else in the middle.  But when we go with a nickel look, Thompson would drop down a bit farther and play the weakside linebacker spot next to Barr. We'd then bring in Robert Blanton or Taylor Mays or whoever to play the safety spot alongside Smith. Even though our pass defense was surprisingly good last year, in our division plus the increasingly pass happy league, it can't be a bad thing to get more help in coverage. We also spent a considerable percentage in our nickel set last year, so Thompson could realistically take most of his snaps as a linebacker in this scenario. It's one that I would certainly find fascinating.

The other scenario is we draft him as a linebacker and only play him on the weakside, in the mold of Lavonte David. He'd be very good in that position as well, where he isn't asked to take on lineman one on one, but plays more of a mop up role.

from: rantsports.com

In either case, I think Thompson may be a bit of a reach with our first round pick unless we trade back. If we don't, we better get him in the second. If I were Spielman, I would even consider trading up a bit higher to make sure we got him. Then again, if Byron Jones is available at the end of the first or even early in the second, I wouldn't complain about that pick.