Latest news with #XanderMueller
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft prospect profile: Northwestern linebacker Xander Mueller
NFL Draft prospect profile: Northwestern linebacker Xander Mueller Mueller embodies all the cliches of "first one in, last one out." Northwestern head coach David Braun has said as much, while also raving about his leadership. The list of NFL Draft cliches and buzz phrases is long, with certain examples long withstanding the test of time. One classic serving, of this assorted word salad, is "he's just a football player!" It sounds ridiculously reductionist at first, maybe even a bit laughable, but there is actually brilliance in its simplicity. Basically the phrase describes a guy who would be the polar opposite of a "measurables monster." He's the kind of prospect who doesn't jump off the page at you, when it comes to size, speed, jumping ability or anything else that gets tested and measured at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. But these players simply get things done. They just make plays and rack up impressive statistics. And given that the NFL Draft is literally a job search process for football players, isn't this what you should be looking for? At least in theory? It would make sense that experience gets prioritized over potential, but that is not the world of the draft, in any sport. Every draft class contains several "he's just a football player," guys and Northwestern inside linebacker Xander Mueller is a classic example. Influences/Comps The Wildcats' leader in TFLs the past two seasons hails from Wheaton, IL, the same hometown as Red Grange. Given that in 2008 ESPN named Grange the greatest college football player of all-time, and that he's also widely considered the NFL's very first superstar, the "Galloping Ghost" is an influence to all football players who emerge from this small western suburb of Chicago. Mueller stayed close to home to play his college ball, and along the shores of Lake Michigan, at Northwestern University, he blossomed into an all-Big Ten Third Team level performer. The top rated Northwestern prospect in this draft class went on to name some of his player role models. 'The (Tampa Bay) Buccaneers (inside) linebackers, both of them (Anthony Walker and Lavonte David) are studs as well,' he said in an exclusive with "Roquan Smith, I'm from Chicago, so I watch a lot of Bears games, I was watching a lot of him, he's a tough guy." "He's resilient, and he represents himself [in contract negotiations], so he's obviously a very smart player, and that shows on the field," the Wheaton North high school graduate said. "He's a very determined guy, who plays very physical as well." Strengths At Northwestern's Pro Day, he clocked a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and registered a 34.5" vertical jump. While those numbers aren't transcendent by any means, they're also pretty decent for someone his size (6'3", 232). Mueller embodies all the cliches of "first one in, last one out." Northwestern head coach David Braun has said as much, while also raving about his leadership. From what his coaches and teammates have said, he sounds like the perfect prospect in terms of personality and an off-the-field stand point. Scouts from nine different teams met with Mueller at the Tropical Bowl, so his game tape certainly attracts a lot of interest. Weaknesses Unfortunately, inside linebackers are just nowhere near as highly valued, at least in the draft, as their counterparts on the outside. There are several reasons for this, but the over-emphasis on outside pass rushing ability is probably the main one. The creation of the "Edge-rusher" or "Edge" position redefined what a defensive end was expected to do, elevated OLBs and devalued ILBs. Unless you're an ILB who absolutely blows the door off during testing at the combine and/or you have eye-popping TFL and sack numbers, it's just very difficult to be considered a true day two prospect. Mueller falls short in all these categories, and thus, round five or six is probably the ceiling for him. Bottom Line His ability to long-snap could help augment his draft stock, and thus prospects of sticking on an active roster. He might also be a guy who first gets signed to a practice squad, and then gets elevated to the main roster later. Mueller is someone who will not be outworked, and he'll do things the right way too. Because of that ambition and dedication, you just cannot bet against this guy.
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints hosted extremely productive Northwestern linebacker for visit at the Tropical Bowl
Saints hosted extremely productive Northwestern linebacker for visit at the Tropical Bowl The New Orleans Saints have met with many prospects this spring to cover their bases and make sure their big board is ready for the 2025 NFL draft. That has included players from various positions, however, linebackers had been somewhat neglected as they had only a few meetings with prospects at that position. This changed when reports recently came out that the Saints were one of the teams that met with Northwestern linebacker Xander Mueller. In a discussion with Justin Melo of The Draft Network, Mueller reflected on his meetings and which teams he has had the opportunity to speak with so far: "I met with a few teams at the Tropical Bowl in January. I had a few sit-down interviews. I met with the Patriots, Texans, Titans, Chargers, Bears, Raiders, Commanders, Dolphins, and Saints." Mueller missed three games in 2024 with a lower-body injury, but he would still produce at a solid level, picking up 57 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 4 pass deflections, and a forced fumble with a recovery. However, his 2023 season is a better indicator, as in 13 games he had 110 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. His athleticism is hit or miss in many categories, with a 7.07 Relative Athletic Score from Kent Lee Platte. Mueller performed exceptionally well in the agility drills, with a 4.20-second shuttle, and a 6.99-second three-cone drill. The negatives from his scores would be the 10-yard split at 1.69 seconds, his weight at 230 pounds, and his bench press reps with 12. Ultimately he has some of the tools that teams look for in a linebacker prospect, and he has shown high-level production previously. Now it just comes down to whether or not the Saints would utilize a Day 3 pick on him, or keep him as a priority undrafted free agent and see how things fall with other teams.
USA Today
07-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft: Tennessee Titans had Tropical Bowl visit with LB Xander Mueller
2025 NFL draft: Tennessee Titans had Tropical Bowl visit with LB Xander Mueller The Tennessee Titans have overhauled their linebacker corps this offseason. The team has jettisoned all of the players who opened the 2024 season at the top of the depth chart and replaced them with only unrestricted free-agent acquisition, Cody Barton. Otis Reese, Cedric Gray, and James Williams will return, but the Titans could use a few more bodies to add some competition to the room. Though information has been sparse, Tennessee has met with a few linebackers during their pre-draft process. On Sunday, another one of those players was unearthed when Justin Melo reported that the Titans met with Northwestern linebacker LB Xander Mueller at the Tropical Bowl. Mueller is a tough prospect to fully evaluate, and his medicals will be important after he missed large portions of 2024 battling injury. He was a productive performer in 2023, recording 110 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, five sacks, and three interceptions. Experienced at both inside linebacker and edge, he does offer scheme versatility but projects more as an inside linebacker in the NFL. Mueller won't wow anyone with his athleticism but plays with a reckless attitude and has some solid instincts for the position. He might struggle in man coverage against the pass due to a lack of straight-line speed and some stiffness, but he can be a force against the run if given a shot. Currently, he projects as a late-round prospect or undrafted free agent because of injury history and overall athleticism.
