7 inside linebackers the Panthers could select in the 2022 NFL Draft
Carolina Panthers could select Brian Asamoah (Oklahoma)
Measurements:
- Height: 6-foot-0
- Weight: 226 pounds
2021 Stats:
- 80 tackles
- 3.5 tackles for loss
- 1 sack
- 73.8 PFF grade
The quick and twitchy Brian Asamoah showed off his athletic ability throughout his last season at Oklahoma. The slimmer linebacker has the flexibility to play either in the middle or as a 4-3 outside fit which is the sort of versatility the Carolina Panthers obviously look for in their college recruits.
His first step is fast. Asamoah gets near top speed within a couple of steps and can see where the run is going well, which is matched by pursuit angles and elusiveness through traffic allowing him to get to the ball carrier.
In zone coverage, Asamoah drops to his zone quickly. His awareness of opposing routes, combined with his twitchiness, lets him cover a lot of the field. He reads the game well from the middle linebacker spots, but the prospect has trouble getting vision in the backfield when lined up outside the tackle spots.
Despite his speed, Asamoah’s lack of size and physicality against blockers gets him pushed around easily. That opens up large gaps for runs to go through on occasions.
If his quickness fails to evade hand contact, he is in trouble. This weakness holds back Asamoah from being selected earlier in the draft.
Asamoah’s draft stock of an early Day 3 pick has kept steady since the end of the college football season. If Carolina were to select the former Sooner in this area, it would be because of his versatility and ability to play well in both zone and man coverages.