Brooklyn Hardiman NFL Draft Overview
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 230 pounds
School: Colorado Mesa/Northern Arizona University
Brooklyn Hardiman 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Brooklyn Hardiman is your quintessential NFL linebacker in the modern game. At 6’2″ 230 pounds, he has the required size, and athleticism to make an active roster. He began his college career at the community college level and was able to play well enough to put himself on the map. He quickly proved his value at Northern Arizona seizing a starting role and heading into the 2019 season.
As a senior, he was able to play in 10 games totaling 44 tackles, one sack, one and a half tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. The former safety had a winding career to get where he would finish his career at Mesa State. In 2019 with Northern Arizona he was able to play in 12 games starting six in which he collected 69 tackles and one and a half sacks.
Having played both safety positions, as well as inside and outside linebacker, he displayed his versatility. His background as a safety helps him to be recognized as one of the better coverage linebackers in the draft. These factors did not stop him from also being a force in the pass rush to close his collegiate career.
Strengths:
- Has played safety, linebacker, and special teams. Can cover, rush the passer, and set the edge when called upon.
- 4.0 student his senior year. Held commendable grades throughout college.
- Brings his student’s mentality to the game using film study, and superior knowledge of the playbook to the field each week.
- He has the above-average movement required for a linebacker due to his play as a safety.
Weaknesses:
- Moved around a lot in college. Was not able to settle into one playbook or position.
- Needs to get in an NFL weight room to truly develop as an NFL linebacker.
- Questions about his ability to stack and shed NFL caliber linemen and tight ends in the run game.
- Questions about the level of competition in three of four seasons.
NFL Comparison: Nathan Gerry
Teams With Need At Position: Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons
Projection: 6th Round
Bottom Line on Brooklyn Hardiman
Hardiman is the kind of player NFL teams are seeking out at linebacker in the modern game. We have seen an increase in passing year over year for decades now. This has directly resulted in larger safeties moving to full-time linebacker positions. Hardiman is the latest in a long line of players who have made this move, but he has taken to it as if he belongs there.
You can question the level of competition, but one thing you can not question is his ability to contribute as a starter for three different schools, in three different divisions of college football. He was able to find a niche on each team, and we expect him to bring this trait with him to the NFL.
Hardiman has the small school bias going against most of his career, but teams should see his season with Northern Arizona and see the potential he can bring to the team long term. He is the type of guy who will initially make his living on special teams, and as a rotational depth piece before he likely gets a chance to see what he can do as a starter.
Similar to his NFL comparison Nathan Gerry, it wouldn’t shock me to see him spend time on a practice squad. This would allow him to focus on playing linebacker in yet another new playbook his fourth in as many seasons. This would in turn allow him to attack the weight room like a linebacker.
Catch the Full Interview with Brooklyn Hardiman 4/9/22 on Shady Sports Network
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
