Okay, let’s talk about this Xavian Lee kid and what I’m thinking for his draft projection. It’s funny how you stumble onto these guys sometimes. I wasn’t even looking for a linebacker, to be honest. I was actually trying to get a feel for a different team’s offensive line, watching some old game footage from last season.
My First Look at Xavian Lee
So there I am, focused on the trenches, and this blur just keeps showing up. Number, whatever it was, just flying around. At first, I’m like, “Who is this guy making all these plays?” Had to rewind a few times. Turns out, it was Xavian Lee. He wasn’t even the star of that defense, not the one getting all the preseason hype, you know? But he caught my eye, plain and simple.
So, naturally, I had to dig a bit deeper. Started pulling up more specific film on him. You know how it is, you go down the rabbit hole. Watched a good four or five games where he was a key player. I also skimmed through some box scores, just to see if what I was seeing on film matched the numbers. Sometimes the eye test tells you one thing, and the stats tell another, but with Lee, it seemed pretty consistent.
What Stood Out to Me
Here’s what I jotted down in my notes, the good stuff:
- Speed, man. The kid can really move sideline to sideline. That’s the first thing that pops. He covers a lot of ground.
- Instincts. He seems to have a good feel for where the ball is going, especially in the run game. He’s not just running fast; he’s usually running to the right spot.
- Effort. Never saw him take a play off. Chasing guys down from behind, that sort of thing. You love to see that.
Now, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Every prospect has things they need to work on, right? And Lee is no different. I noticed a couple of things that gave me a bit of pause.
Some Things to Consider
For one, his size. He’s not the biggest linebacker out there. I saw him get caught up in traffic a bit, swallowed by bigger offensive linemen. That’s always a concern when you’re projecting to the next level where everyone is bigger, faster, stronger. Can he hold up? Can he shed blocks consistently?
And then, in pass coverage, it was a bit hit or miss. He’s got the athleticism, no doubt, but sometimes he looked a little lost in zone, or a step late reacting to routes. That’s coachable, for sure, but it’s something an NFL team will have to work on with him.
Putting It All Together: The Projection
So, after all that, watching the tape, thinking about his strengths and weaknesses, I started to try and place him in the draft. You gotta consider the linebacker class as a whole too. Is it a deep year? Are there a lot of studs at the top? That all plays into where a guy like Lee might land.
My gut feeling, and this is just me talking from my couch here, is that Xavian Lee is probably a Day 3 pick. I’m thinking somewhere in the 5th to 6th round range. Why? Well, the athleticism is definitely NFL-caliber, and he’s got that motor. Teams love guys who can contribute on special teams right away while they develop, and Lee fits that mold perfectly. He’s got that “see ball, get ball” mentality.
But the concerns about his size and his polish in coverage will probably keep him out of the earlier rounds. Teams might see him as a developmental guy, a potential starter down the line if he can bulk up a bit and refine his game. He’s not a plug-and-play, three-down linebacker from Day 1, in my opinion.
It’s always a bit of a crapshoot with these projections, isn’t it? One team might fall in love with his speed and take him earlier, or he could slide if teams are really worried about him against the run. We’ll see how it all shakes out. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on where he lands. Guys like him, with that kind of heart, are always fun to root for.
