Drafting a LB in the 1st Round Isn't Working Out Long-Term
Every year, new debates rage on about "positional value" when it comes to where to invest first-round picks in the NFL draft, and off-ball linebackers are often mentioned among the spots where such an investment is unnecessary.
It's not that there haven't been talented and productive linebackers to come out of the first round, but recent history shows the those same teams aren't willing to invest in those same players with second contracts.
Here's a look at the most recent linebackers to be drafted in the first round, and how many of them were re-signed by the teams that picked them at the end of their rookie contracts:
That's four linebackers drafted in the first round over the last 10 yeas who actually re-signed with the same team instead of continuing their careers elsewhere.
Any team that invests a first-round pick in a player they're unlikely to re-sign to a long-term contract 4-5 years down the road might want to re-evaluate that initial investment.
