Auburn football: K.J. Britt tells Eagle Maven he’s up for Philly leadership role

When the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around, Auburn football fans will have the opportunity to get several serotonin boosts from hearing the names of former Tigers being called by Roger Goodell. Watching young men realize their dreams being realized is one of the sports calendar’s yearly joys.

This year’s transfer of talent from the NCAA to the NFL will resemble a normal year’s far more than last year’s early-pandemic virtual affair.

While that year’s draft provided something to watch during the deepest, darkest days of COVID-19’s stranglehold on the world, this year’s draft will naturally be more celebratory in nature. The ceremony will take place in person in Cleveland, Ohio, as opposed to over an extended Zoom call, from April 29th-May 1st.

K.J. Britt projects to be one of the first Tigers to hear his name called, and there has been interest from several NFC contenders, including the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Fanbases of other franchises have also seen a fit for Britt for their team.

Britt himself sees a fit in the Eagles linebacking core as one of their signature alpha MIKE’s in their 4-3 schemes. He told Eagle Maven he sees a fit in Philadelphia:

"The Eagles’ new defensive brain trust includes coordinator Jonathan Gannon and linebackers coach Nick Rallis, who both learned under Mike Zimmer in Minnesota. That means they are likely looking for two three-down options who can offer intimidation in the A-gaps but also effortlessly drop off into coverage – think Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.One of the underrated aspects of the position is also the so-called green dot, the player who will be leaned on to communicate the call in the huddle and get the front seven lined up correctly.“I know it’s a big role, I know it’s a big task, but I’m up to it,” Britt told SI.com’s Eagle Maven when discussing the communication role."

Kudos to John McMullen, who does a good job breaking down the x’s and o’s of the Eagle’s coverage. Britt’s one weakness–as McMullen points out–is his pass coverage. While he does a great job tracking his man with the football, his foot speed is lacking when it comes to dropping back in man coverage.

Professional quarterbacks could exploit Britt with slant routes if he doesn’t close the gap at the next level.

Then again, it doesn’t sound like the former Auburn football defensive alpha has any plans of being left in the dust in the NFL.