What rookie LB Keishawn Bierria can bring to the Denver Broncos
What can rookie linebacker Keishawn Bierria, a sixth-round pick, bring to the Denver Broncos in 2018? We take a look at the rookie…
In the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos added depth to the linebacker position by selecting Washington Huskies senior Keishawn Bierria, a starter for the past four seasons.
We all know by this point that the Broncos valued leadership in this year’s draft, but what specifically was it about Bierria that made him a valued prospect in their minds?
Bierria visited the Broncos’ facility prior to the 2018 NFL Draft and apparently made quite an impression.
Over the course of the past three seasons, Bierria racked up 240 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
He tied a school record in 2016 with five fumble recoveries in a single season, an incredible figure and evidence that Bierria is often in the right place at the right time.
When a player starts and plays in over 50 games at the collegiate level, they become known for their consistency. That’s exactly what Bierria was known for as a member of the Huskies.
As he developed over the past five years (including his redshirt year), Bierria proved he was capable of making big plays both defensively and on special teams.
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His production took a dip from the 2016 season to 2017, but I think what we saw from him from 2015-16 is largely what got him drafted.
During those two seasons, Bierria was playing on one of the best defenses not only in the Pac 12 but in the entire country. Washington’s surge in the 2016 season was due to great team defense being played week in and week out, and Bierria was a huge part of that.
As much as anything, the Broncos need players who understand how to play their role on a defense that is loaded with talent. Bierria took advantage of the talent around him, made plays when the opportunities were given, and he became an asset despite his lack of elite speed.
He is not the most athletic linebacker in the world, but he does a good job reacting to plays and obviously takes his film study seriously.
This is not a player you necessarily want to match up one-on-one in coverage on a tight end or running back. He doesn’t have the make-up speed or short-area quickness to be a matchup type of player, but where he was at his best was attacking the ball and playing North and South.
I want to see Bierria mix it up a little bit more for the Broncos than he did this past season at Washington. I think in many respects, he reminds me of Todd Davis as a player who can attack the line of scrimmage and be effective in the run game.
He needs to identify the quickest path to the football possible, and learn to take better angles, but this is a player I think can be an asset for depth for the Broncos going forward.
A year or two down the line, he could be a top rotational linebacker or spot starter.