Since at least 2017, the Chargers have seemingly had a different primary starting linebacker or duo in every year.
2023: Eric Kendricks
2022: Drue Tranquill
2021: Kyzir White
2020: Kenneth Murray/Kyzir White
2019: Thomas Davis/Denzel Perryman
2018: Denzel Perryman/Jatavis Brown
2017: Denzel Perryman/Hayes Pullard
The linebacker play in recent years has been slightly better, moving more to a single starter under Brandon Staley than having a Mike/Sam duo under Gus Bradley, but the issue of consistency remains. Kendrick’s is not a long term answer at 31 years old, and Kenneth Murray has failed to build on a mostly positive rookie season. He is now headed toward first round bust territory and potentially the final season wearing powder blue. The Chargers drafted Washington State alum, Daiyan Henley, to develop into a capable starter, and hopefully a player that can become a mainstay at the position.
Physical Metrics
At the NFL Combine, Henley measured in at 6’0 7/8 and 225 pounds, making him one of the smallest and lightest linebackers you’ll see drafted in any year. His play style is all speed and agility. He ran a 4.54 40-yard-dash, which is exceptional. The NFL is moving toward smaller, faster linebackers who can cover large areas of field in pursuit quickly, with plus coverage ability. He also has long 33” arms that help at batting down balls. He showed great explosion in his vertical (35”) and broad jumps(1005). While small, Henley is ultra athletic for the position he plays.
Statistics
(Six years and still just 23 years old)
2017 - 1 TKL
2018 - 1 TKL
2019 - 5 TKL | 4.0 TFL |
2020 - 49 TKL | 0.5 TFL
2021 - 94 TKL | 2 TFL | 4 INT | 3 FR | 2 TD
2022 - 106 TKL | 12 TFL | 4 SK | 1 INT | 3 FF | 2 FR
Film Analysis
Henley is a charged up athlete with great speed to chase down ball carriers. He plays with gap discipline, scraping close to the line of scrimmage and rarely out of position. He uses his agility to beat blockers and dip into gaps to clog up holes. While he may not have the prototypical play strength to go take blockers on head on, he has great instincts to be a formidable run stuffer.
Henley is a grab-and-drag tackler who keeps missed tackles at a minimum. He missed 5 total tackles last season for Washington State which accumulates to 5.2% of his attempts. He also had a knack for being disruptive with 40 STOPs in back to back seasons. One under rated area of his game is his ability to generate turnovers with three forced fumbles and five interceptions over the last two years.
Henley has shown the ability to be versatile. He was a high school quarterback who transitioned first to wide receiver at Nevada, then nickel/safety, before finding a home at linebacker. His position versatility should translate to being a positive coverage linebacker, though his instincts will need to develop further as a hooks and curls specialist. He was also Washington States gunner on punts and played an important role to their special teams units.
Henley’s size disadvantage will be a major talking point early in his career. He carries a cut up, low body fat frame, but the size disadvantage of being 100 pounds lighter then many offensive lineman will lead to him getting washed out of the run game. He generated 18 pressures and three sacks last season, but his pass rush needs to continue to be refined. There are inconsistencies to his abilities as a blitzer, and NFL offensive lineman will win easily head up. Not a player you want in short yardage situations, and running-backs will churn out extra yards on contact.
Expectations
Daiyan Henley is projected to be third on the depth chart behind Eric Kendrick’s and Kenneth Murray to start his career. Henley could leap Murray, though it will not matter much with how often the Chargers play 5-1-5 (5 DL - 1 LB - 5 DB), though Murray is primed for a bigger role as he enters his forth professional season. Athletically, Murray still is an enticing option and has been in the same system for three seasons while Henley will likely be asked to play a core-4 special teams role while the training staff gets him on a bulk regiment. For this reason, Henley likely will not see the field often enough to be a significant contributor.
Projected Stats
12 TKL | 1 FR (Special Teams)
Comentarios