As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Noah Sewell.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Noah Sewell (LB – Oregon)
6’2″ – 253 lbs.
Background:
Five-star recruit whose brother is 2021 seventh overall pick Penei Sewell; father was a coach and two other brothers are current college players. Started five of seven games played as a freshman between the middle and weakside linebacker spots, missing the Washington game and posting 45-6.5-2.0 over 369 snaps. Reprised his starting role in 2021, with an impressive 114-8.5-4.0 over fourteen starts, five of which came in the middle. Also added an interception and two forced fumbles. Output dropped to 56-5.5-1.5 this past year, playing as an inside linebacker.
Positives:
Highly productive with a favorable trajectory. Very thick linebacker built for thumping between the tackles. Was asked to play in different fronts and positions (Oregon often uses only two down linemen, with two stand-up rushers), both as a traditional off-ball linebacker and sometimes showing blitz or working off the edge. Plays the game with toughness and physicality. Reads keys quickly and flows to the ball well, with discipline in his run fits; seemingly always around the ball. Avoids getting washed out too far or over-pursuing and creating cutback opportunities. Some short-area quickness to work through congestion or slip by blockers. Excellent contact balance. Bends his knees, gets extended, and can dig in at the point of attack when taking on blockers in the run game; lower-body strength is very good, and flexibility is at least adequate. Has some thudding power to help set the tone. Controlled footwork when bailing from blitz looks or otherwise dropping into zone. Conservative, patient approach in zone. Has a tight, violent spin move when rushing off the edge. Effective quarterback spy who was frequently used in that role; gets his hands up to bat down passes.
Negatives:
Sort of a throwback style which may not suit every team. Can play a little bit upright at times when flowing laterally. Missed 15.1% of his career tackle attempts and can struggle at times in the open field. Better at taking on blocks than he is at shedding when it’s time to make the stop. Some circuitous routes in pursuit take him out of the play. Reads the quarterback’s eyes consistently but doesn’t always show a great feel for route combinations in coverage. Sits on some routes in zone and doesn’t quite have the stop-start quickness to get back in time. Probably not going to man up on too many opponents in coverage at the pro level. Not the most explosive closing burst as a rusher.
Summary:
A physical, thickly-built linebacker who lacks some of the speed and fluidity of many recent top picks at the position, but who looks right at home diagnosing and flowing to the ball in the run game, showing an impressive combination of instincts/recognition skills, short-area quickness, toughness, and physicality. Would probably fit best on the inside of an odd defensive front, where he’d be able to work primarily between the tackles, but could hold up on the middle of an even front as well.
Projection: Round 2-3
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