2020 NFL Draft: What Dylan Moses decision means

Dylan Moses elected to return to Alabama for another season rather than head to the NFL, here we dissect what it means for the 2020 draft.

Dylan Moses will not be part of the 2020 NFL Draft class, with the Alabama linebacker electing to return to the college game for another year after missing all of 2019.

Moses suffered a serious knee injury before the start of the season and, instead of heading to the NFL on the strength of his 2018 tape, decided to put another year of film out there before turning pro.

Even with his injury, Moses likely would have been in the first-round conversation, and his move to eschew the 2020 draft leaves the linebacker position looking thin.

Outside of Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, there is no linebacker worthy of being considered in the first round. Moses’ decision to return to school removes the possibility of him being a backup option for teams who miss out on the versatile Simmons.

Because of his athleticism and his duplicity, Simmons, who can operate at linebacker and safety, is the prototypical modern-day defender. Even if Moses had declared, Simmons would probably have been the first linebacker off the board.

With Moses staying in school, the clamor among linebacker-needy teams to add Simmons is likely to increase. While it is not considered a premier position in the modern NFL, the demand for linebackers who have the ability to cover tight ends, running backs and wide receivers is growing, as evidenced by the Pittsburgh Steelers trading up for Devin Bush in 2019.

Moses staying in school will increase the focus on Simmons and the chances are increasing that, by the time the draft rolls around in April, the Clemson stud will be the focus of a significant draft-day trade.