Jonathan Casillas
Birthdate: June 3, 1987
Height/Weight: 6'1 1/8"/228
Position: OLB
College: Wisconsin, 48 games played
College Stats: 199 tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 5 hurries, 4 forced fumbles, 5 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 3 punt returns for 50 yards and a TD (!)
My Take: Casillas was charged with a DUI for driving intoxicated on his moped. I'm honestly not sure if that disqualifies him or not. He's still recovering from surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his knee. Casillas underwent surgery in December and the length of his recovery is concerning. That's one reason that despite a fourth round grade, I think Casillas will be available in the fifth and don't think he becomes a value until the fifth. Poor health and character concerns are two big strikes against Casillas, two strikes that may knock him off Tim Ruskell's board completely.
What he does do is produce, and what he does have is great speed and cover ability for a weakside linebacker. He's an awful lot like Will Herring, but a better, fiercer tackler and a truer, more experienced linebacker. Seattle needs special teams help, and Casillas can contribute on special teams from the moment he's cleared to play, but his potential as anything more is dependent on him playing on a Tampa 2, or Tampa 2 style system. He's not Cato June -- in a good way. June's a fantastic upside for any mid-round linebacker, but Casillas is more like current Colt Clint Session. A little more power and a little more athleticism, but not the same kind of pure coverage skills as June. As far as fifth round picks go, drafting Casillas could net nothing, but late enough in the draft, upside really can annul any kind of downside.


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