Deontae Lawson Scouting Report

Deontae Lawson is a scheme-versatile linebacker who is comfortable playing in the box but also has the speed to flow sideline-to-sideline.

Draft Grade: Round 2 - Winning Starter

Strengths:

High IQ: Lawson does a good job of reading his run keys, which allows him to trigger downhill quickly and make tackles close to the line of scrimmage.

Athleticism: Laswon has both straight-line and lateral speed, which allows him to close to ball carriers quickly and also play effectively in the passing game.

Effective Blitzer: On called blitzes, Lawson has the speed and quickness to get through gaps and disrupt the quarterback.

Scheme-Versatile: Because of Lawson's athleticism and IQ, he can play in multiple schemes and play multiple linebacker positions.

Concerns:

Block Shedding: Lawson allows blockers to climb to him and get hands on. In these situations, he occasionally struggles to shed the block and free himself to make tackles.

Tackling Inconsistency: Lawson has the athletic ability to get to the ball carrier anywhere on the field, but in some one-on-one situations, he doesn’t make the proper tackle.

Injury: Lawson had an injury to end his 2024 season.

Deontae Lawson Summary/Projection:

Deontae Lawson is a multi-year, highly experienced linebacker who has played significant snaps for the Crimson Tide since arriving on campus. Lawson has the athleticism and size to fill a variety of roles within a defense. He’s an instinctual downhill linebacker who flows sideline to sideline in pursuit of the ball carrier.

Against the run, Lawson demonstrates strong football IQ and downhill urgency when attacking the line of scrimmage. He plays with confidence, trusting his reads and attacking gaps decisively to meet ball-carriers near or behind the line. Lawson shows knockback power as a tackler and consistently limits forward progress. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, he offers a solid tackling radius, aided by his length and range. He’s capable of bringing down ball-carriers with arm tackles when necessary.

Inside the box, Lawson shows the ability to beat blocks by slipping over the top or working underneath to reach his run fit and make a play. On perimeter runs, he’s a fluid mover with the acceleration and short-area burst to close space quickly and finish tackles near the sideline.

On passing downs, Lawson brings value in multiple ways. First, he’s an effective blitzer who times up pressures well and has the athleticism to bend tight angles with the closing burst to reach the quarterback. In coverage, Lawson is most effective in zone. He consistently gains depth in his drops, reads route concepts, and keys the quarterback’s eyes to put himself in position to make a play on the football.

The biggest area for improvement in Lawson’s game is his ability to shed blocks. When he’s able to beat linemen to the gap, he’s highly disruptive. However, when offensive linemen get their hands on him, he can be slow to disengage, allowing ball-carriers to reach the second level. Improving his upper-body strength and block deconstruction technique would elevate his ability to play through contact more consistently.

Overall, Lawson is a well-rounded linebacker prospect capable of contributing in both 3-4 and 4-3 defensive schemes. His blend of instincts, range, and versatility gives him the tools to develop into a reliable and productive NFL linebacker.