There is no such thing as a perfect NFL prospect. No matter how talented a player is coming out of college, he still has weaknesses. Whether it is because size, athletic ability or intelligence, there has yet to be a player coming out of college who has checked every single box.

With that being said, it is possible to build the perfect linebacker prospect using players from this draft class alone. This linebacker would be able to defend the run like Bobby Wagner and be able to cover like Luke Kuechly, essentially he would be the ideal NFL prospect at the linebacker position.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at how you could construct such a player with this year’s draft class.

Size: Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

When you are building the ideal linebacker prospect, you want a player that has enough size to come down and challenge the run in close quarters, but not too much size that it would affect his ability to play sideline-to-sideline. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 245, McKinney has the prototypical size for the position.

McKinney has a tall, but well-proportioned frame with strong and dense legs that give him the ability to generate a great deal of power. As a prospect, McKinney leaves a lot to be desired, especially in regards to his instincts, but when you see a player like McKinney get off the buss there is not a lot to complain about.

Instincts/Mental Processing: Eric Kendricks, UCLA

To be an effective linebacker in the NFL, a player must be extremely cerebral. They have to process a ton of information in a matter of seconds. They must get the rest of the defense in position and at the same time, they must read their keys and diagnose what the offense is trying to do.

In this draft class, there is no player who does that better than UCLA’s Eric Kendricks, whose brother Mychal is a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kendricks properly reads his keys through the guard into the backfield, which allows him to be always be around the ball. Whether it’s a screen, outside zone, counter or inside dive, Kendricks diagnoses it quickly and usually makes the play.

Athletic Ability: Shaq Thompson, Washington

With the proliferation of spread offenses, it has become paramount that linebackers have the ability to cover a significant amount of space in a short period of time. It is extremely beneficial for a defense to have a player who has the athleticism to play sideline to sideline.

At the linebacker position, there is no better athlete than Washington’s Shaq Thompson. Whether coming downhill or moving laterally, Thompson is a fluid athlete with incredible play speed. Thompson has the quickness, hip fluidity and long speed to cover running backs out of the backfield or tight ends down the seam. He has incredible change-of-direction skills and he closes in a hurry. Athletically, there is no play on the field that Thompson cannot make, which is exactly what we are looking for.

Coverage Ability: Paul Dawson, TCU

In 2013, 67 percent of passes traveled less than nine air yards. This stat illustrates the importance of underneath coverage in the NFL, which falls directly on the linebacker’s shoulders. Whether it is the hook, curl or flats, linebackers have to be adept to cover in today’s NFL.

One player who thrives in this area is TCU’s Paul Dawson. This year, he allowed only 35.7 percent of passes against him to be completed, which is truly remarkable. He’s an efficient mover in space who understands his responsibilities in coverage. He can play in man or zone coverage and gives his defensive coordinator a lot of flexibility. Oftentimes, Dawson frustrates quarterbacks because he eliminates his hot read or dump off pass, which leads to mistakes.

Tackling Ability: Denzel Perryman, Miami

Not only do linebackers need to be able to bring down ball carriers on a regular basis, but they need to have a sense of physicality and set the tone for their respective defenses. Linebackers who can pack a punch are a huge plus to their defenses.

Miami’s Denzel Perryman is the epitome of a linebacker who establishes a physical presence at the second level of the defense. Perryman tackles with good pad level and leg drive to deliver some huge hits. He is a running backs worst nightmare and he instills fear in opposing offenses.

Playmaking Ability: Shaq Thompson, Washington

The NFL is a league run by playmakers, whether it be on offense and defense, the best teams have players who seem to always make big plays. On defense, these players usually cause turnovers and the elite playmakers turn those turnovers into points.

Washington’s Thompson is the embodiment of a playmaker. Whether it is snagging an interception, causing a fumble or making an important tackle, Thompson seemed to be the one always making the huge play for Washington. As a former, and sometimes current, running back, Thompson has excellent ball skills and the ability to take any turnover to the house as he had four touchdowns on defense this past year. Normally, when you talk about a player being able to score from anywhere on the field, it is about a running back or wide receiver; however, Thompson has the same ability, but on defense.