Overview: Tanner Muse
Position: LB/S
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 227 pounds
School: Clemson Tigers
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds
Bench press: 20 reps
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches
Broad jump: 124.0 inches
Tanner Muse 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Tanner Muse turned some heads at the NFL combine, to say the least. The anchor in the back end of the Clemson Tigers defense proved himself to be a high level athlete at the combine. He performed very well, and the athletic measures support what was a very productive senior season for Muse. Over the course of 15 games, Tanner Muse racked up 73 tackles, five pass breakups, and four interceptions for the Tigers. He was selected to the all-ACC first-team and was third-team All-American, while also being a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award.
Despite playing some free safety in college, it is clear watching his tape that Tanner Muse will spend his time in the NFL in the box. Call him a hybrid if that’s what you want to call him, but he just seems more like a linebacker. He’s a little on the small side for an NFL inside linebacker, but his frame is big and he can add more weight if needed. What Muse lacks in size he makes up for in athleticism and physicality.
Strengths
- Great straight-line speed, gets downhill in a hurry in the run game
- Keeps pads low when tackling
- Plays with more physicality than his size would suggest; hard hitter
- Ideal combination of size and athleticism to cover NFL tight ends
- Will provide a lot of special teams production with his straight line speed and physicality
- Smart player, always knows where to be in zone coverage, reads play development well
Weaknesses
- Lateral movement and agility not up to par with straight line speed
- Will not be able to keep up with NFL receivers in man coverage
- Likely will also struggle to cover more shifty running backs
- Lacks the range to play single high safety in the NFL
- Tends to prioritize physicality over technique when tackling
NFL Comparison: Mark Barron
Teams with need at position: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants
Projection: Round five or six
Bottom Line
Tanner Muse is the scrappy kind of player that there’s always a need for in the NFL. He will more than likely be a linebacker in the NFL. His ability to cover tight ends and get downhill to make plays in the run game will find him a spot on a roster somewhere. It is widely expected that he will be a four phase special teams player, too.
The hybrid safety/coverage linebacker position is becoming more popular in the NFL. As the league continues to develop further into a passing league, linebackers need to be able to cover. Smash-mouth, run stopping linebackers who can’t even keep up with less athletic tight ends will become less relevant in the league. As the tight end position trends toward “big receivers,” linebackers will need even more athleticism. Tanner Muse has that athleticism and he can contribute in the run game, too. With his versatility and athletic tools, Muse could end up becoming a late-round draft steal.
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