Position Breakdown - Linebackers

(Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images)Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images

It's another weird year for the NFL Draft's Linebacker class but for a different reason than in past seasons. This class features a few truly talented players, but even those gifted players are complicating the draft boards of NFL GMs by being 'tweeners'—players who don't fit neatly into a specific position or role. And while the NFL as a league is moving quickly towards "positionless football," (eg. Zach Baun and Kyle Hamilton), are these players hitting the gridiron a year too early?

Below are our *current* consensus linebacker rankings and tiers, with analysis provided by my fantastic cohosts. For more positional breakdowns check out our podcast on YouTube and Spotify! - Aaron Palsgrove

Our Linebacker Tiers

Tier 1: (Top 10 Prospects)

1. Jalon Walker | Georgia

Jalon Walker is a fascinating player to watch. I compare him to Bullet Bill from Mario Kart. If a defensive coordinator. says “See ball get ball”, he locks on like a guided missile. Walker is an elite athlete whose speed and quickness are evident on tape, especially when he's chasing down QBs as a spy.

The 2024 Butkus Award winner has positional versatility as well. He split his time almost equally between off-ball linebacker and edge rusher. But can Walker be good at both? That depends. The South Carolina native is arguably most fit-dependent players in this class. He needs development to recognize plays and in coverage. But he’s devastating as a blitzer, edge rusher, and QB spy. All-Pro level athleticism is there if a coaching staff can pull it out of him. - Tyler Hill

Tier 2: (First Round Prospects)

2. Jihaad Campbell | Alabama

Jihaad Campbell is easily the best pure off-ball linebacker in this class. Great height, weight, speed, length, what more could you possibly want? His physical abilities allow him to cover ground better than other backers. I particularly grew very fond of his vision. There are multiple instances where he uses his peripheral vision to avoid oncoming blocks while keeping his eyes on the ball carrier at all times.

Campbell does a great job of staying disciplined in his gaps which is essential when blitzing and being used in the run game. He can get washed out a tad when blockers do clog the lanes but he still manages to find a way to make a play. I’m finding it very hard not to put him right up there with Walker. - Ryan Wright

Tier 3: (Day Two Guys)

3. Carson Schwesinger | UCLA

Schwesinger is a former walk-on turned captain at U.C.L.A. He earned First-team All-American honors in his last year in Westwood. Schwesinger is a very good athlete and you see it on tape. He flies around both in zone and against the run. His frame is ideal for the position. The former Bruin shines in coverage, especially as the middle zone in Cover 2. Against the run, it’s a bit more dicey. He’ll need to improve on his physicality and block-shedding to be more than a coverage backer. But the upside is there to make him a day 2 pick. - Hill

4. Demetrius Knight Jr. | South Carolina

I'm a sucker for violent, heavy-hitting defensive players. The only reason I have him this low is because of his technical skills on film. He appears to be very smart and knows his role in that South Carolina defense. He does a fantastic job of knowing when he can blitz. I want to see some stickier coverage from him, he almost allows his receiver to catch the ball just so he can make the hit. A good linebacker coach in the NFL will knock some sense into him on that and if all goes well, I think he would be the most likely to get a second contract out of these later-round guys. - Wright

Tier 4: (Late Round Prospects / The Rest)

5. Danny Stutsman | Oklahoma

Danny Stutsman is one of the most pleasant surprises for me in this class. If you close your eyes and imagine a 1990s linebacker—congrats! You see Stutsman, neck pad and all. But the consensus All-American can do more than just thump. He holds his own in zone coverage, he’s not an outright liability. Where he really shines is against the run. Stutsman consistently diagnoses plays, defeats blocks, and makes tackles. To top it all off he tested extremely well, putting up a 9.62 Relative Athletic Score. The quickness in the box really pops. Stutsman will never be a good cover guy. But I think he can be average, and that’s enough to keep him on the field.  - Hill

6. Smael Mondon | Georgia

Mondon was a five-star recruit out of high school, but injuries have prevented him from fully reaching his potential.. Mondon is a very good athlete which helps him be one of the best coverage linebackers in this class. But the speed comes at a cost. According to Kent Lee Platte -- Mondon is in the 22nd percentile for weight. I think this will limit his role in the NFL. If your team needs a sub linebacker to get creative with on passing downs, this is your guy. - Hill

7. Barrett Carter | Clemson

   
   

Carter might be due for a position change. I would love to see Carter get some snaps in at strong safety. Have him drop some weight, work on his speed and agility coupled with some ball skills and you’re looking at a valuable asset to any team in the league. If he stays at linebacker, he could plateau and remain a backup, but I see some potential in him and would love it if he switched positions. He knows where the ball is going to be at all times and has great play recognition. As of now, he’s a day-three pick with a good ceiling pending a positional change. - Wright

7.    Chris Paul Jr. | Ole Miss

It is becoming more and more surprising how Ole Miss didn’t make a title run this year with how loaded their roster was. Mr. 'Pooh' Paul Jr. is known more for his disciplined play style as a weakside linebacker than for his athleticism. His arm length is one that caught my attention and it may impact him at the next level. I view him as a mid-day-three pick who will play special teams and could be used as a backup in some packages. - Wright

8. Kobe King | Penn State

Kobe King embodies the Penn State defense. He flies around and makes plays with his stopping power and sure tackling. King is adequate at shedding blocks. He wins with quickness around guards. The bad news is if an offensive lineman gets his hands on him, it's over. King also gets lost in coverage consistently. But if he’s going to be wrong he’ll be wrong at 100 M.P.H., and coaches can work with that. King can be a useful player, but is a Day 3 player. - Hill

8.    Jeffery Bassa | Oregon

A middle-of-the-pack linebacker, Bassa projects as a weakside backer at the next level, with some experience at safety. His coverage ability is “serviceable”, but he may be a liability on the field in the run game with his poor angles and the fact that he is a little small for his position. Would be a firm day three pick for myself. - Wright