Mack Wilson, Second year: 6–foot-1, 240 pounds
Mack Wilson was a hidden gem in last year’s draft. The more comfortable he was with the scheme and playbook, the better he played throughout 2019. He is the only returning starter in the position group, but his skills are far from being fully developed.
Last season, Wilson played an outstanding 89 percent of the defensive snaps. Being a fifth round pick and nearly playing every snap says a lot about his ability. Wilson gathered 82 total tackles, 57 of those being solo. He also added a forced fumble and an interception to his rookie campaign as well.
One aspect that he desperately needs to improve upon is his pass coverage. He was targeted 69 times and gave up 49 completions for 471 yards, giving up two touchdowns as well. Wilson certainly has the experience from last year, but with a new defensive coordinator, he has a chance to assert himself as the top dawg.
Wilson played well overall in his rookie campaign. He really turned heads in the preseason, which led him into playing in the majority of the regular season. He did get killed in pass coverage last year, but he is a solid tackler and can analyze the offense well.
With the addition of another physical linebacker in Phillips, Wilson has the potential to improve and reach another level of play. In the AFC North, you have to play physical and if Wilson continues to do so, he can be difficult to stop in the next few years.