This communal mock draft has made me start to look at Terrell Bernard a little closer. I want to upgrade MLB in the absence of Edmunds, but there are really 3ish prospects in the draft that could get the job done, and I'd even narrow that down to two really... The VALUE is not there to select MLB at 27, and the Bills (like WE did.....) would likely pick the value player at 27, like Jordan Addison or another value pick.
My hope is still that we trade down, and land Jack Campbell, but you have to find a trade partner to do so AND hope that someone doesn't trade AHEAD of us to steal him away. I don't think it's a secret in the NFL world, that the Bills need MLB....
So, I've been thinking about Terrell Bernard. Let's be honest and say he was a reach of a pick in round 3, but he's a Buffalo Bill and has had the benefit of some time being coached in NFL, and has some experience under his belt.
Let's take a look back at the reasoning why Beane thought he was a 3rd rounder, and without TOO many vomit emojis (lol), find some good things to discuss about his play. I'll post some scouting reports below. Looking forward to some mindful discussion.
Discussion Point 1: He's got a PFF grade of 65, which is decent (take that for what you will)
Discussion Point 2: NFL.com (crappy as well) described him as an average backup or special teamer, with the following player profile.
Overview
Undersized sub-package nickel linebacker with special-teams value on the next level. Bernard possesses elite intangibles and teams will be drawn to him because of it. He's resilient, productive and showed a willingness to play through pain. However, Bernard lacks the desired frame and play strength and will face scrutiny surrounding his injury history. He needs space to operate and has the speed for man-cover duties as a pro. If the medicals check out, he should be a Day 3 pick with sub-package value.
Strengths
Scouts rave about his leadership and character.
Never-quit attitude despite adversity.
Film junkie who rang up 100-plus tackles in 2019 and 2021.
Rapid read and response against play-action.
On a continuous quest to go get the football.
Loose and fluid in pursuit and change of direction.
Bends and flattens off the corner as a blitzer.
Speed to cover man targets underneath.
Weaknesses
Slender frame might be maxed out.
Gets caught up too easily in the clutter.
Engulfed by size if he's not proactive.
Struggles to fit and hold a gap.
Knocked off-balance by redirect blocks.
Loses pursuit leverage, allowing back to cross his face.
Angles to runner leave little margin for error as tackler.
Average coverage recognition.
Has had foot, shoulder and knee injuries at Baylor.
Sources Tell Us
"If you don't like Bernard, then you don't like smart team leaders who can run. It's that simple." -- Scout for NFC team
Discussion Point 3: Bleacher Report Prospect profile describes him as a high end developmental prospect
POSITIVES
— Speed in space pops off the film. Highly effective pursuit defender sideline-to-sideline.
— Impressive flexibility and body control. Allows him to change directions and flow in space, as well as turn to make himself skinny when taking on blockers.
— Downhill speed can beat linemen to the spot and wiggle past them to shoot through a gap.
— Impressive turn-and-run speed and change of direction in coverage. Regularly had to carry tight ends up the seam and back across the field on crossers and kept up with them step for step.
— Effective as a blitzer, particularly looping around the edge. Has the speed and bend to be a problem in space and finish sacks with his speed.
NEGATIVES
— Size and weight is a concern. Handily overwhelmed by offensive linemen if they get a hand on him more often than not. Does not take on blocks effectively.
— Not a physical tackler. Struggles to strike through runners and bring them down where they are.
— Eye candy can give him some trouble at times. Regularly comes up too far on play action and fails to regain depth. Shifts, motions and players coming across the line of scrimmage at the snap to block can get him to hesitate.
— Can get lost in the mosh pit against heavier and tighter formations. Does not have the strength or comfort to handle those situations.
— Limited in coverage right now assignment-wise despite his range. Only comfortable turning and running across the field in man or match coverage. Needs to prove more as a zone-coverage defender playing top-down.
2021 STATISTICS
13 G, 103 TOT, 12.5 TFL 7.5 SK, 4 PBU
OVERALL
Terrell Bernard has been a linebacker since the day Baylor recruited him, but he looks and plays like a safety who was converted to linebacker.
The sideline-to-sideline range Bernard shows off is among the best in the class, as is his flexibility and change of direction. Many of his best plays feature him flying across from the opposite side of a run play to shoot through a gap or firing downhill to slip past a blocker into the backfield, Lavonte David style. All of that range and agility shows up when he's asked to cover players in tight coverage as well.
The concerns with Bernard's game stem mostly from size and strength. He is not necessarily unwilling to scrap with blockers, but he doesn't have the length or strength to engage blocks and fight back effectively. Bernard will also need to expand his coverage toolbox in the NFL, though his speed alone should allow him to play some man coverage and consistently make tackles on the perimeter.
Bernard projects best as a weak-side linebacker. As a weak-side linebacker, he would more regularly be protected by seeing runs away from him, allowing him to shoot gaps as a pursuit player or flow over the top to finish plays on the perimeter. Bernard would also be allowed to handle running backs out of the backfield more often than not, which is a good matchup for him considering his athletic traits.
Bernard is not a Day 1 starter, but his speed alone makes him an enticing developmental option.
