Broncos Prospect Profile: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

There isn’t much not to love about the University of Alabama’s outstanding inside linebacker Reuben Foster on the field. As a unanimous first-team All-American, Butkus Award winner and Pro Football Focus’s No. 1 linebacker in the country, it isn’t a surprise that Foster is a top-10 talent in the draft.

As the seventh best prospect in the entire draft, and the No. 1 linebacker, Foster would certainly be off the board before Denver’s first-round pick at No. 20 overall if it weren’t for off-field and injury concerns. The linebacker could be drafted in the first 10 picks, while he could also slide to the second-round.

Strengths

At 6-foot-1, 228 pounds, the Alabama product has the rare ability to go up against 300-pound offensive lineman to stop the run just as well as cover a slot receiver in the middle of the field. After losing 20 pounds last summer, Foster was one of the most athletic and fast linebackers in the country last season. He possesses the toughness and strength to play as an inside linebacker and the athleticism and speed to play outside.

Along with having the ideal skill set, Foster knows how to translate it to the field. Not only is he a huge hitter, he is a dynamic playmaker in every aspect of the game. Outside of stuffing the run and shutting down the pass, Foster is an excellent blitzing inside linebacker.

Weaknesses

The only glaring weakness in Foster’s game is his tackling technique. While this doesn’t hurt his performance on the field, it sometimes keeps him off the field. He occasionally lowers his head when he tackles, which has led to a few stingers throughout his collegiate career.

On the injury front, Foster also had rotator-cuff surgery early in the offseason. While he should be fully recovered for the start of training camp, there is a concern that Foster may require a second surgery to his shoulder, which could keep him out for part of his rookie season.

Foster can sometimes rely on his athleticism too much and not diagnose a play on time. Although his speed typically makes up for this slow decision making, it can hurt him against play-action.

Another reason why Foster could fall is his off-field concerns. He was sent home from the combine after a heated argument with a medical staff member and failed his drug test due to a diluted urine sample. The growing, and potentially unanswered, questions surrounding Foster’s character could have the elite talent take a big fall in the draft.

How he fits in Denver

While it’s uncertain if John Elway will be able to land Foster, he would be a near perfect fit for the Broncos’ defense. Almost immediately, Foster would address the two weakest parts of Denver’s defense: stopping the run and defending against running backs and tight ends in the passing game.

In the Broncos’ 3-4 defensive scheme, Foster would be a versatile inside linebacker that could stay on the field in nickel packages. The addition of Foster alongside Brandon Marshall, Shane Ray and Von Miller would make for the best young linebacking core in the league.