The 2026 NFL offseason is here and that means it’s time for mock drafts, draft profiles and everything that goes with them. So without further ado, here’s one of many Draft Profiles for the 2025 NFL draft.
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
HT: 6’4
WT: 240 lbs
Accolades:
- First-team All-Big 12 (2025)
Video:
Pros:
- Athletic Profile: Golday’s 6’4″ frame and sub-4.6 speed make him a freak athlete, checking all boxes for a modern NFL linebacker.
- Closing Speed: He has a sudden, violent closing burst in open fields, allowing him to quickly erase cushion and catch ball carriers or quarterbacks.
- Contact: Golday fires into contact with pop, showing knockback power against tight ends and fullbacks.
- Range: His sideline-to-sideline speed and pursuit angles are impressive, chasing plays down from the backside and recovering quickly.
- Tackling: He wraps up reliably in space, finishing most tackle opportunities with solid fundamentals.
- Pass Rush: Golday’s defensive end background gives him a developed pass rush repertoire, creating pressure on third downs.
- Motor: He plays with consistent energy, pursuing every play with urgency, especially in critical fourth-quarter moments.
- Blocking: Golday takes on blocks with proper hand placement, improving his ability to stack and shed.
Cons:
- Zone Coverage Awareness: Golday struggles with zone coverage, drifting from assignments and getting manipulated by route combinations.
- Power vs. OL: He gets overwhelmed by ascending OL, lacking functional power to disengage or counter blockers.
- Run Diagnosis: Golday’s instincts lag behind his athleticism, causing him to arrive late at the fit point.
- Lower Body Strength: His lean build limits anchoring ability, getting washed out by power blocks.
- Backfield Vision: Golday’s eyes get stuck, failing to read QB vision and anticipate throws, leaving passing lanes open.
Summary:
Golday’s got the physical tools to be a difference-maker, but his processing speed and technique need work. He could develop into a three-down defender with the right system and coaching. However, adjusting to a traditional NFL defense from Cincinnati’s 3-3-5 scheme will be a challenge. Golday needs to improve his zone discipline, keys, and strength vs. blockers.
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