Washington linebacker visiting Rams today Aaron Wilson
University of Washington linebacker Mason Foster is set to visit the New Orleans Saints on Thursday, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.
He's visiting the St. Louis Rams today.
Foster has previously visited the Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins.
Foster recently ran the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds at his Pro Day workout.
According to one NFL scout, he initially had Foster graded as a third or fourth-round selection and now has him graded as a second-round selection.
"He's a tough, instinctive player that consistently gets to the ball," another NFL scout said. "The more tape you watch of him, the more you like him, and the more you realize that he is one of, if not the most, consistent play-making linebacker in the draft."
Foster is an extremely reliable tackling presence who led the Pac-10 Conference in tackles with 163 stops last season.
The All-Pac-10 Conference linebacker and third-team All-American selection played in the Senior Bowl and had a strong week in Mobile, Ala.
The 6-foot-1, 245-pounder ran between 4.65 and 4.69 seconds on his first try and 4.70 to 4.75 seconds in his second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, bench pressing 225 pounds 21 times with a 32-inch vertical leap and a 9-2 broad jump.
Foster finished second in the nation in tackles and led the Pac-10 for the past two seasons.
With strong pursuit and sound tackling, Foster recorded more tackles than any linebacker taken in the first round over the past five years. That includes A.J. Hawk, Patrick Willis and Rolando McClain.
Foster led all defenders with eight tackles at the Senior Bowl.
One NFL scout said he could envision Foster's draft stock rising in a similar manner to how Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was selected 29th overall in 2003 out of Oregon State.
Foster conducted roughly 15 formal interviews at the combine.
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