K.j.
Britt.
K.j.
Britt.
Auburn· 6'0"· 235 lb· 4.76s 40
"A 6'0", 235-pound Auburn thumper with 69 tackles and 10 TFL in 2019 before a 2020 thumb surgery cost him nine games — a Round-5 downhill MIKE bet on SEC production over Combine athleticism (5.49 RAS)."Pre-draft read
Plays as a downhill, stack-and-shed MIKE linebacker, prioritizing run defense and functional coverage. He aligns at 4.5-5 yards depth, staying square, reading guard-tackle keys quickly, and triggering on inside-zone and gap runs. He meets climbing linemen with heavy hands and low pad level, showcasing take-on strength to two-gap a center or backside guard, keeping his outside arm free to force spillage. His tackling technique involves hitting through the near hip, wrapping, and finishing. His range on outside-zone to the boundary is average.
Coverage is a limitation; his hip flip out of a zone drop is stiff, and he does not carry vertical seams cleanly, allowing quick backs to uncover on Texas and angle routes. He profiles as a base-down thumper who also provides three-phase special teams value.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers run a multiple defense with a one-gap 3-4 and 4-3 front, emphasizing disciplined reads and stout run defense.
Year 1 core special teamer who can develop into a two-down thumping run defender at MIKE in base packages and be a consistent A-gap blitzer.
A Fangio-style two-high defense that prioritizes coverage versatility and open-field range over downhill run-stuffing at the linebacker position, or a wide-9 attacking front that uses smaller, faster off-ball linebackers.
Britt's downhill run-stopping prowess and leadership fit the Buccaneers' defensive identity, while his coverage limitations align with a two-down role, complementing their existing coverage specialists.
K.J. Britt — Auburn Tigers Linebacker Career Highlights
Full Auburn career reel — downhill A-gap triggers, stack-and-shed reps against SEC guards and the 2019 tape that carried his pre-draft evaluation.
K.J. Britt, MLB-Auburn: 2021 NFL Draft Preview
Pre-draft breakdown of take-on strength, run keys and the coverage limitations that pushed him into the Round-5 conversation.
K.J. Britt Year 3 Highlight Mix
Buccaneers Year-3 tape showing his transition from teams-core rotational MIKE to a starting-caliber base-down thumper next to Lavonte David.
Britt presented as a run-first MIKE linebacker whose evaluation largely hinged on his 2019 tape, which showcased significant take-on strength, active hands, and leadership as Auburn's green dot. His reliable tackling and ability to shed blocks at the point of attack made him a compelling prospect for teams seeking a physical presence in the middle.
The context of his collegiate career included a breakout 2019 season where he recorded 69 tackles and 10 TFL, demonstrating his effectiveness when fully healthy. However, a thumb injury and subsequent surgery limited him to just two games in 2020, significantly impacting his senior season and leaving evaluators to rely heavily on prior film. Auburn utilized him as a core special teams contributor.
Evaluators consistently projected him as a mid-to-late Day 3 pick, valued for his run defense and special teams upside, acknowledging his limited ceiling in pass coverage. Despite humble pro day testing numbers, including a 4.76 forty, he was ultimately drafted in the fifth round, fitting the consensus expectation for a captain-type thumper with SEC production and strong leadership traits, despite coverage limitations.
- 01
Take-on Strength
Anchors and sheds climbing guards and centers with heavy hands and low pad level at the point of attack.
- 02
Downhill Trigger
Reads guard-tackle keys quickly, closing the near-A gap before the back can bend it back on runs.
- 03
Tackling Reliability
Wraps and finishes through the near hip, rarely lunging or arm-tackling, maintaining a strong tackle rate.
- 04
Special Teams Value
Used as a core four-phase teams contributor on both kickoff and punt coverage, demonstrating closing speed and hands.
- 05
Leadership & Communication
Served as a two-year Auburn captain and green-dot MIKE, setting fronts and making checks with command.
- 01
Coverage Limitations
Stiff hip flip out of a zone drop; cannot carry vertical seams cleanly, allowing quick backs to uncover.
- 02
Sideline Range
Below-average lateral speed and a long-strider gait mean outside-zone runs reach him before proper leverage.
- 03
Modest Testing Profile
Modest pro day numbers, including a 4.76 forty at 6'0", 235 pounds, resulted in an average 5.49 RAS.
- 04
Limited 2020 Sample
A thumb injury and surgery limited him to two games in 2020, relying heavily on 2019 film.
Relative Athletic Score (Kent Lee Platte) benchmarks combine/pro-day numbers against every measured prospect at the position since 1987. 10.00 is elite; 5.00 is average.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.76sp50
- Vertical
- 32.5inp50
- Broad jump
- 118inp50
- Three-cone
- 7.38sp50
- Shuttle
- 4.40sp50
- Bench
- 24repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Auburn | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | Auburn | 13 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | Auburn | 13 | 68 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | Auburn | 2 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | — | 42 | 117 | 2.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
A special-teams-first Day-3 linebacker whose NFL career becomes a mix of core four-phase teams value and spot base-down starts when injuries force him onto the field.
The plausible ceiling — a downhill, tackle-machine MIKE who is a limited coverage piece but plays every base-down snap and racks up 100+ tackle seasons behind a good front.
The bust outcome — a downhill college MIKE whose coverage and lateral range never translate, and who is out of the league after a couple of teams-only rotational years.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Pre-draft context. Britt was the emotional signal-caller of an Auburn defense — an SEC captain who inherited the green dot from Deshaun Davis and produced a breakout 2019: 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and second-team All-SEC recognition as the Tigers' downhill MIKE. His senior year was a disaster of timing: a thumb injury and subsequent surgery limited him to two games in 2020, wiping out the tape most scouts wanted for his re-evaluation. He tested modestly at his Auburn pro day — 6'0", 235 pounds, 4.76 in the forty, a 32.5-inch vertical and 24 bench reps for a 5.49 RAS — which confirmed the "average athlete, above-average player" scouting label. Boards had him graded as a mid-Day-3 downhill run linebacker with clear four-phase special-teams value.
NFL fit — Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The organization drafted him to develop behind Devin White and Lavonte David and to earn snaps immediately on teams. He collected a Super Bowl LV ring as a rookie contributor, then spent 2022 and 2023 as a rotational MIKE and core teams piece, logging heavy special-teams snaps and occasional base-down defensive work when White missed time. When Devin White's snaps dwindled in 2023 and he left in free agency in 2024, Britt inherited the starting MIKE role, played 15 games and finished with a career-high 90-plus tackles.
Retrospective. Britt's NFL life has followed the pre-draft blueprint almost exactly: a special-teams stalwart with enough downhill instincts to fill in at MIKE, whose ceiling has always been capped by coverage limitations and modest range. Tampa Bay let him walk in 2025 and he signed with the Miami Dolphins as a rotational thumper and teams captain. For a Round-5 pick who logged 43 defensive starts, a Super Bowl ring and two starting seasons as a MIKE, this is a clean role-player hit — not a bust, not a starter-level Return-on-Investment win.