5 later-round edge rushers the Detroit Lions could target in 2022 NFL Draft
4. Amare Barno, OLB, Virginia Tech
Barno ran a blazin’ 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine, the best time among the defensive lineman this year and the fastest 40 at the position since 2003. He came in at a little under 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, and his 37-inch vertical and 10-foot, 11-inch broad jump were also high-end numbers.
After posting 43 total tackles with 16 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2020, Barno’s production dropped in 2021 (3.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss in 10 games). That is an automatic concern, to some degree.
Relative Athletic Score (RAS), the creation of Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb on the Twitter), was of course a very high mark for Barno. Based on RAS, the comps for him are Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings and Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers.
Amare Barno comps to Danielle Hunter and Brian Burns athletically, largely due to his weight, but that kind of speed on the outside is kinda nuts.https://t.co/UxrCkwY3CM pic.twitter.com/dcrHOHQM1K
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 6, 2022
3. Jeffrey Gunter, OLB, Coastal Carolina
Over his final three seasons at Coastal Carolina, Gunter totaled 35 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and nine forced fumbles. His 4.7-40 at the combine was a high-level number, as was his 35.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump. His Relative Athletic Score brought a throwback comp–Willie McGinest.
Time machine time, Jeffrey Gunter compared well to Willie McGinest from an athletic standpoint.https://t.co/RpVZO91q7Q pic.twitter.com/2QjgQrF0ow
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 6, 2022
As a pure high-motor, athletic threat off the edge, with work to do as as a run defender, Gunter could help the team like the Lions in a situational role right away while contributing on special teams.