This yr’s class of off-ball linebackers isn’t a powerful go well with of the 2025 NFL Draft, but it surely provides some high-end prospects that ought to hear their identify referred to as on the primary two days. The general depth of the place this yr is fairly skinny, so if a staff desires to bolster the linebacker corps, they higher deal with it early.
A bunch of SB Nation’s draft analysts from our 32 NFL staff communities ranked their prime LBs within the draft and this prime 10 is the results of these cumulative rankings.
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Additionally receiving votes within the prime 10: Kobe King (Penn State), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Kentucky)
10. Cody Simon, Ohio State
Simon took benefit of his final yr as a Buckeye. The staff captain had an eye-popping 112 tackles, together with 12.5 TFLs and 7 sacks. He’s a well-seasoned school soccer participant who appeared to have issues click on for him this season. His skill to diagnose performs and get to the soccer was vital in Ohio State’s playoff run.
9. Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Kiser is a sixth-year senior who performed a faculty file 70 video games for the Preventing Irish. His athleticism leaves one thing to be desired, however his expertise and soccer IQ assist him make up for it. Seemingly solely a two-down LB and particular contributor on the NFL degree.
8. Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Mondon has boom-or-bust potential; he wants time to develop and put all of it collectively on the NFL degree. He was a top-30 five-star recruit popping out of highschool and has the pedigree to emerge as an eventual starter if he can course of the sport at NFL velocity.
7. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
A high-volume tackler on the inside linebacker place who had three straight seasons with over 100 tackles. Stutsman is your prototypical inside-the-box downhill defender. He will get the job performed with excellent play recognition and block shedding.
6. Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
“Pooh” is greatest suited as an out of doors linebacker in a scheme that doesn’t ask him to play a lot man-to-man protection. Paul Jr. is a certain tackler who exhibits good burst to shut in on ball carriers and has a knack for locating the proper run match.
5. Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Bassa is a three-down linebacker who performed inside at Oregon however has the athleticism to play outdoors within the NFL. Bassa suits the mildew of the brand new age weak-side linebacker, providing succesful protection expertise and a few juice as a blitzer.
4. Barrett Carter, Clemson
Carter has a stable really feel for the sport on the linebacker place and has the athletic traits to be a sideline-to-sideline three-down participant. Carter is at his greatest when his agility and quickness are allowed to shine as a blitzer or QB spy.
3. Demetrius Knight, South Carolina
Knight tied with Carson Schwesinger for probably the most second-place votes, however was barely edged out. Knight has an enormous body and makes use of it to unleash violent hits towards his opponent. Tailored for motion contained in the field, his aggression and willingness to struggle by means of site visitors make him a great match for a staff that wants an inside LB.
2. Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
The previous walk-on changed into an All-American for UCLA in his fourth yr. Schwesinger is a rangy backer who’s adept in zone or man protection. He ought to discover the sector as a beginning LB early on, but when he doesn’t, he has expertise being a special-teams ace.
1. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Campbell was our unanimous prime participant at off-ball linebacker. The previous top-15 recruit is at his greatest when dashing the passer or in protection, the place his 6’3” body and superior athletic talents can take over. His particular ability set will seemingly see him land within the first spherical of the NFL Draft, and he ought to immediately enhance any staff’s protection.
