The best NFL fit for Oregon linebacker Justin Flowe in 2023 NFL Draft

Oregon linebacker Justin Flowe is expected to lead the Ducks’ defensive core alongside teammate and fellow 2023 NFL Draft prospect Noah Sewell. While his numbers on the stat sheet might be a tad disappointing, his professional potential is through the roof entering his junior year with the Ducks.

With many experts putting together their way-too-early mock drafts for next season’s cycle, Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner believes the NFL team that will best utilize Flowe’s talents early and often will be the Buffalo Bills.

“This is a player every team is going to keep an eye on,” Renner wrote. “Once the No. 1-ranked linebacker recruit (ahead of Sewell), Flowe has managed only 60 snaps in two seasons because of injury. That kind of background means it won’t take long for Flowe to start popping up on NFL radars.

“With Tremaine Edmunds an impending free agent, replacing one athletic freak with another cheaper one could be an option.”

Flowers injuries might have forced him out of a lot of playing experience so far through his two years at Oregon, as he’s totaled just 15 tackles and one tackle for loss with the Ducks so far, but entering the 2022 season, he is a clear breakout candidate and could quickly rise up the board with a productive year.

If he can recapture that same magic that helped him put together his impressive high school resume – then you can expect him to have a long, successful NFL career.

Flowe won the prestigious Butkus Award in 2019, which recognized him as the nation’s top linebacker at the high school level. He entered his freshman season at Oregon as a Five Star Plus+ recruit ranked as the No. 5 player in the Class of 2020 (and No. 1 linebacker), according to the On3 Consensus.

Even one healthy season from Flowe would be enough to skyrocket his draft stock. Being a projected first round draft choice with just two complete games of collegiate experience is something that doesn’t happen often in football at all.