Where Drue Tranquill Fits With The Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have a talented defense but lack depth at linebacker. They tried to answer this by drafting Drue Tranquill in the 4th round of the 2019 NFL Draft but have yet to see how he develops. The Chargers may have found their linebacker of the future but he is unlike most linebackers in the NFL. He was used as a hybrid linebacker/safety at Notre Dame and showed flashes of brilliance at both positions. Hybrid players are becoming more common in the NFL and positions are becoming less definable. Is Drue Tranquill the answer the Chargers have been looking for at linebacker?
Background
He was a 247 four-star recruit at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He recorded 75 tackles, four sacks, and an interception as a senior in high school. He showed his versatility by rushing for 1,420 yards, receiving another 348 yards and scored a total of 33 touchdowns in that same season.
He played in 10 games as a freshman at Notre Dame with three starts. He finished his freshman campaign with 33 tackles and an interception. His sophomore season was riddled with injuries as he played in just three games with a single start before tearing his ACL midway through the season. Due to this unfortunate event, he was granted a medical redshirt.
He was finally able to play to his potential as junior starting all 12 games and recorded 79 tackles and an interception. The following year witnessed him accomplish even more with 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and one interception.
Due to his medical redshirt, he was able to return for a fifth season the following year. His final collegiate season saw him record a career-high 86 tackles and 3.5 sacks along with four passes defended.
Skills
His greatest skill is his nose for the ball. He was versatile enough in college to be used as a safety and a linebacker and was a physical force at both positions. He has the ability to do a little bit of everything as a linebacker and can even cover receivers from time to time. He can also contribute on special teams where he has demonstrated his ability to take advantage of a muffed punt. He is a classic case of leading by example due to his many abilities on the gridiron.
Potential
The Chargers certainly don’t have anyone of his caliber at linebacker. This jack of all trades can be a real asset for the Chargers if they use him properly. The lone player on the roster who compares to his versatility is strong safety Derwin James, who also has a history of being used as a hybrid safety/linebacker. With the addition of Tranquill, the Chargers will have two players on defense who can play multiple positions.
Unfortunately, this does not mean that Tranquill is the answer the Chargers have been looking for at linebacker. While he is a good player, he does not have enough history at linebacker to indicate how good he can become in the NFL at that particular position.
However, in chess vernacular, the Chargers essentially drafted another Queen which is the most powerful piece on the board. He may not become what the Chargers covet for a standard linebacker in the NFL but he can add tremendous value to the Chargers defense due to his versatility.
