Dee Winters NFL Draft Overview
Position: Linebacker
Height: 5’-11”
Weight: 227 pounds
School: TCU
2023 NFL Draft: Dee Winters Scouting Report
Through four years with the TCU Horned Frogs, Dee Winters steadily improved with each season. Over his college career, the versatile linebacker played in 10 or more games each year and, by his senior year, was one of the team’s core contributors. His leadership (as a captain) in 2022 was part of the reason that TCU made the National Championship game. In 2022, Winters played 15 games, making 79 tackles with 14.5 for loss. He also got 7.5 sacks, one pick-six, two pass defenses and a fumble recovery. His tackle-for-loss tally was second in the Big 12, and his sack numbers placed him at third. It was Winters’ strongest collegiate year and he was awarded with a First-Team All-Big 12 selection.
2022 was a good year for Winters, but he had shown his worth in both 2020 and 2021 already. The 22-year-old had over 60 tackles in both years and featured heavily with two picks, 14.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. Currently, Winters is a late-round prospect. His skillset is quite unique, however, and he is one of the few coverage linebackers in the class. After a strong NFL Combine performance, Winters likely improved his stock thanks to a 4.49 40-yard dash.
Strengths
- Former safety – demonstrates good coverage skills for a linebacker;
- Rare ability in man coverage at linebacker and can stick with slot receivers, running backs and tight ends;
- Has good speed to keep up on vertical concepts in man coverage;
- Good at shooting gaps in design run blitzes;
- Lots of experience at college level;
- Versatility to play as inside and outside linebacker;
- Secure and solid tackler;
- High character prospect, captain status at TCU
Weaknesses
- Easily blocked at the second level and struggles to shed blocks;
- Struggles in block deconstruction generally;
- Fails to attack blocks with any aggression, can be phased out of run plays easily;
- Unable to rush the passer unless it is a manufactured blitz;
- Hesitation when pulling the trigger on run plays;
- Sometimes shows stiffness in change of direction;
- Undersized for traditional linebacker
NFL Comparison: Jayon Brown
Teams With Need At Position: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
Projection: Round 6
Bottom Line on Dee Winters
Winters is one of the more intriguing linebacker prospects in this year’s draft. He has a unique skillset and has a one-of-a-kind build for the linebacker position. With that said, he has shown that it can work. At the collegiate level, Winters’ production speaks for itself. And, at the Combine, Winters showed that he has (more than) the necessary athleticism to be an NFL player. The raw tools are certainly there but Winters could do with more coaching in run defense and could also bulk up a bit more. Winters’ high character will also be appealing to NFL teams who are looking to solidify their culture. When spending late-round picks, the intangibles are often what set prospects apart.
At the next level, Winters projects as a developmental rookie who could start in a pinch. He has decent technique but will be a liability in the run game (until his run diagnosis is more refined). As such, Winters would likely be a special teamer. As a depth linebacker, Winters would see playing time in obvious passing situations where his coverage ability would be best suited. Given his lack of size, playing him as an inside linebacker would be risky. While Winters has a similar build and playstyle to inside linebacker Jayon Brown, few undersized linebackers have found success on the inside. The likes of Foyesade Oluokun and other undersized linebackers have recently been used more as off-ball outside linebackers. This could be the kind of role that Winters starts off in.
In short, Winters has shown he has the necessary tools to be a contributor at the NFL level. He has good athleticism and decent technique. More coaching is required but Winters could be a very solid depth piece in his first couple of years in the NFL.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
