In less than a month, the NFL will descend on Indianapolis for the Combine. It’s fair to say draft season is starting to heat up, and with that, I’ve been doing final film evaluations and updating my position rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Linebackers are up next, and this is yet another strong position group in this draft. Only one prospect has a realistic shot at going in the first round, but there are plenty of options on Day 2 for teams looking to upgrade their front seven. Linebacker is a position that’s been devalued in the modern game, but poor linebacker play is catastrophic for a defense. The recent trend of smaller linebackers coming through the college ranks holds true in this class, but there are a few who buck that notion.
If you want to see how these rankings compare to how I ranked this class over the summer, check out the link below. Additionally, my other updated rankings can be found below as well. As always, stay tuned for more 2025 draft content, as I’ll be looking to update all my position rankings over the next few weeks.
Updated Position Rankings:
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends
- Offensive Tackles
- Edge Rushers
- Defensive Tackles
- Cornerbacks
- Safeties
1: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
A five-star edge rusher recruit from New Jersey, Campbell made his mark for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore in a reserve role in 2023. He had 66 tackles and three pass breakups that year, stepping into a starting role as a junior the following season. In 2024, Campbell became one of the best linebackers in the country, recording 119 tackles, five sacks, four pass breakups and 37 run stops. His work earned him first-team All-SEC honors and shot him up draft boards.
At 6-3, 244, Campbell has old-school linebacker size and can line up all over the defense. As mentioned, he played edge defender in high school and rotated into the lineup some at Alabama. But he spent most of his time at off-ball linebacker where his straight-line speed and sideline-to-sideline range were big boons. Rangy linebackers at his size are hard to come by, and Campbell also has great change-of-direction skills. He can both flip his hips in coverage and break down a running back in the open field.
In coverage, Campbell’s skills stand out the most. I like his feel in zone, as he settles in the right spots and can click and close in an instant. When he’s able to keep his eyes on the quarterback, he reads plays extremely well, putting himself in the right spots and playing solid, fundamental football. He might be even better in man coverage, however, taking advantage of his natural athleticism and bend to stay sticky with tight ends and running backs down the field, even showcasing some successful reps against slot receivers.
Because Campbell is newer to the off-ball linebacker position, there are still a few skills he’s learning to refine. This mostly shows up in run defense, where he hasn’t totally learned his run fits yet and has a habit of overrunning plays or being in the wrong gap. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s just frequent enough to be something he needs to work on. Additionally, he gets too caught up on blocks, letting himself be washed out of plays instead of stacking and shedding to stay involved.
A freak athlete with a lot of upside, Campbell is the type of linebacker who sometimes goes in the first round. I don’t know if he will or not, but he’s a surefire top-50 player and someone who could hear their name called on Day 1 if a team decides to prioritize his traits and production in both phases. Linebackers who move the way Campbell does at his size are so rare in the modern game — he has a chance to be the kind of backer that changes what a defense can do, and that is immensely valuable.
2: Cody Simon, Ohio State
A fifth-year senior and former four-star recruit from New Jersey, Simon was a rotational player his first four years in Columbus, seeing a lot of action but not being a weekly starter until 2024. He was still productive after redshirting as a freshman, totaling 143 tackles and three sacks from 2021-2023. As a senior, however, Simon stepped up his game in a major way. During a breakout season in which he made first-team All-Big 10, Simon had 112 tackles, seven sacks, seven passes defensed and a forced fumble, launching himself into the NFL Draft picture.
At 6-2, 235, Simon is slightly undersized, but he has plus athleticism for the position. With true sideline-to-sideline range and the click-and-close speed of a much smaller player, Simon can play across the formation and in a variety of schemes without sacrificing production. Whether he’s triggering downhill, chasing backside, or racing a running back to the edge, his speed is not only sufficient but often excellent. It’s impressive watching him work in run support where he can fire to the ball and wrap up with good technique.
In coverage, Simon has the agility and short-area quickness to thrive. Versatile and reliable, he is equally successful in zone and man coverages. When asked to cover tight ends and backs one-on-one, Simon displays the smooth transition ability to keep with them through their routes and stay in phase. More often, he’s dropping into zones, where his read-and-react ability comes into play. He can trigger on underneath routes and be disruptive, carry a route down the seam or across the field, and play leverage against multiple routes in his area. What’s more, he’s a great blitzer, playing with power and is more than just a straight-line rusher — as evidenced by his seven sacks and 22 pressures as a senior.
With only one season of standout production, there is some concern over Simon being an older, late-breakout prospect. That’s of minimal concern to me, but I do think his lack of ideal size will be picked apart by NFL teams. Unlike other undersized linebackers in this class, Simon’s leaner frame doesn’t appear to cause him issues on tape, so for now I’m going to trust the film on this one.
Simon was truly sensational for the Buckeyes this season, particularly in their run to a national title. He looks like an NFL linebacker on film and at this point he’s firmly a second-round player in my eye. I almost put him at LB1; I think his production in both phases will translate, as will his experience as a defensive quarterback. Teams are going to love his leadership and intangibles and what he can bring to a defense. Firmly in my top 50 at this point, I’m very interested in how Simon tests at the Combine, as I think he could move even higher on my board.
3: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
The cousin of former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall and also related to Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin, Knight’s path to being an NFL prospect was a winding one. Originally a high school quarterback, he spent four years at Georgia Tech, playing as a reserve backer before redshirting as a senior to preserve his eligibility after his head coach was fired. From there, he transferred to Charlotte for the 2023 season, bursting onto the scene with 96 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. Using his final year of eligibility for the Gamecocks, Knight recorded 82 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, two forced incompletions and an interception.
Knight’s first step off the snap might be the best in this class. As a run defender, he can be game-changing for a defense, firing downhill to break through the line and make plays. He shoots gaps and beats blocks without being overaggressive or playing out of position, taking smart angles and using his powerful frame to disrupt the offense’s flow. He’s not afraid to take on blocks head-on if he has to, with many examples on tape of him going through a lineman’s chest to reach a ball carrier or blow up a play.
At 6-1, 246, Knight has throwback NFL size and strength, and it shows up in his game. As a pass rusher, Knight has the speed to be dangerous and the experience to play with the proper timing. There’s a notable pop on contact when he gets his hands on someone, either to tackle them or fight through a block, and it makes him a difficult assignment for running backs on blitz pickup. In coverage, Knight plays his zones smartly and with the experience of a sixth-year player. He can trigger on underneath routes and has the ball skills to create turnovers when presented with the opportunity.
For all his strengths, Knight struggles in man-to-man coverage. His hips can be stiff at times and he doesn’t have great change-of-direction ability, impacting how well he can stay sticky down the field. This can also be a problem in the run game, as when he’s outflanked or faced with a particularly shifty back in the open field, he can get outmaneuvered.
As a two-down thumper, Knight will have a role in the NFL right away. I like his three-down potential, as well, as long as he’s playing zone and not man. He’s experienced and has a year of excellent production in the SEC, quelling any competition concerns after his year at Charlotte. As a Day 2 prospect, Knight offers immediate starter potential for a team looking to upgrade the second level of their defense.
4: Barrett Carter, Clemson
A true senior and three-year starter at Clemson, Carter is a former five-star recruit from Georgia who made a name for himself right away at his new school. As a freshman, he flashed in a reserve role before bursting into the scene in 2022, tallying 73 tackles, eight passes defensed, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions, earning first-team All-ACC and entering his junior year as a draft darling for many. Carter’s 2023 wasn’t quite as flashy, but he still made second-team All-ACC with 62 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception. He chose to return to school for his senior year and it paid off, with Carter making his return to the first-team All-ACC behind 82 tackles, seven passes defensed, four sacks and 30 run stops as the Tigers won the ACC Championship and returned to the College Football Playoff.
At 6-1, 230, Barrett is a bit undersized but makes up for it with plus athleticism. True sideline-to-sideline range and safety-like movement skills let him be a versatile chess piece on defense. The bend and agility he plays with give him special coverage potential, as he can mirror tight ends, running backs, and even some slot receivers one-on-one. When deployed in zone, he has good read-and-react ability, capable of identifying route combinations and receiver tendencies to play with appropriate leverage. When he triggers downhill, he’s a blur, able to break on the ball to make plays.
The speed and power Carter generates when he puts his foot in the ground is eye-catching. Against the run, he closes off the sidelines, beating the back and often the blocking to the point of attack, disrupting timing and rushing lanes. He plays physical in all aspects of his game, meeting tight ends and pulling guards without fear and using his leverage to get underneath their blocks. As a blitzer, Carter showcases and effective speed-to-power game, crushing running backs in pass pro and affecting the quarterback.
As an undersized linebacker, Carter has some natural disadvantages that do pop up on tape sometimes, most notably in run support. He can get bodied by bigger blockers in the run game, struggling to disengage and get back in the play. If he doesn’t beat the play to the edge or shoot the gap before the blocking is set, he’s liable to get washed out of the action. In coverage, Carter doesn’t display notable ball skills at the catch point. Despite being in the right position frequently, he doesn’t always time his jumps and swipes correctly, leading to catches for the offense. He can get lost in zones occasionally, as well, losing control of his area and letting crossers and comebacks go uncontested.
Carter never quite took the step from great to elite in his college career, despite being on that trajectory after his sophomore year. He struggled in coverage as a senior, though his tape in previous seasons was so good I’m willing to look past it. Coverage results can be fluky and vary year-to-year, even for the best defenders, and you want to bet on the guys with traits. Carter has those in spades, and as a Day 2 prospect, could factor into the starting lineup early in his NFL career.
5: Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
A 6-1, 235-pound linebacker from Georgia, Paul spent three seasons at Arkansas to start his career. He totaled 137 tackles and six sacks during his time with the Razorbacks, transferring to Ole Miss for his senior year. In one season with the Rebels, Paul recorded 86 tackles, four forced incompletions, four sacks, 36 run stops and an interception, earning second-team All-SEC honors and a Shrine Bowl invitation for his efforts.
Paul’s best work is done against the run, where he can explode downhill to pressure and make plays. With textbook tackling form and excellent read-and-react ability, he puts his foot in the ground and gets moving as a play is developing, before the blocks are set. He has a ton of production in the backfield and around the line of scrimmage as a result, with his first-step acceleration beating most linemen to the spot.
That acceleration extends when pursuing ball carriers and chasing plays from the backside or behind, with a lot of effort tackles on his tape. In coverage, Paul is best deployed in zone, where he can use his field vision and football IQ to generate turnovers and ball production. When playing underneath zones, Paul’s ability to crash crossers and manage multiple routes into his zone maximizes his skill set. He can do some work in man-to-man, especially when asked to cover down the seam.
Where Paul struggles more is in the open field. He doesn’t really have the range to cover sideline-to-sideline or to defend deeper routes downfield. Notably, he doesn’t have the smoothest hips either, with some stiffness in his movements that limits his ability to be a consistent man-cover defender. Additionally, as an undersized linebacker, he gets blocked out of plays at times. To compensate, Paul tries to beat blockers to the mark, and often does. But this leaves him vulnerable to cutbacks and counters, something of a persistent — though not common — issue on his tape.
While he has some limitations to his game, Paul is a plus run defender with some real coverage chops. He’s not someone you need to hide or scheme around in coverage, and can be a real benefit in zone schemes. I like him as someone with starter-level upside in the third or fourth round, and he should have a chance to contribute in the NFL right away.
6: Jay Higgins, Iowa
A fifth-year senior and former three-star recruit from Indianapolis, Higgins has blossomed into one of the most productive defenders in Hawkeyes history. After playing in a reserve role for three seasons, he stormed onto the national stage in 2023, stuffing the stat sheet with 171 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. In 2024, he recorded 124 tackles, five passes defensed, a sack, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions, earning back-to-back consensus first-team All-Big 10 honors.
Standing at 6-2, 232, Higgins is a little short by NFL standards, but he packs a real punch. He flies all over the field, is one of the surest tacklers in the class and has the range to make plays anywhere. When he reaches the ball carrier, he’s a sure tackler, with one of the best tackling forms I’ve scouted. Runners aren’t escaping his grasp once he gets his hands on them, and he can secure tackles against much bigger players. At the point of attack, Higgins is a master of fighting through blocks to make plays, meeting pulling linemen in their chest and out-leveraging them, or simply beating them to the spot.
Higgins is an elite coverage defender. He has good movement and change-of-direction skills, but he excels in coverage primarily because he plays smarter than everyone else. A master of manipulating leverages in zone coverage, he reads and reacts with the best of them, keeping strong eye discipline and cutting off throwing lanes. Some of his ball production is lessened in man schemes, but he has the agility and speed to hang tough in man assignments, staying sticky against backs and tight ends.
Being both undersized and only an average athlete does raise questions about Higgins’ ceiling in the NFL. He can get washed out by the blocking scheme when linemen get their hands on him, and he will occasionally lose footraces to the edge. It hasn’t been a major issue in college, but it has the potential to be in the NFL when he faces better athletes week in and week out.
Someone as reliable as Higgins is going to have fans in coaching staffs around the league. I don’t mean to imply that he’s a solid but boring prospect, either — Higgins is probably the best coverage linebacker in this class right now. But this is a game of projection, and he lacks high-end traits along with some up-and-down play against the run. Higgins is the kind of midround pick I’d want my team to draft, however, as he’s just a good football player across the board.
7: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
A 6-1, 226-pound senior from Salt Lake City, Bassa was a four-star recruit who converted from safety to linebacker at Oregon. After playing rotationally as a freshman, he moved into a full-time starting role as a sophomore, becoming the Ducks’ defensive signal-caller and impressing with his production. As a junior, Bassa was named second-team All-Pac-12, with 71 tackles and a pick-six against Texas Tech, winning defensive MVP honors in the Fiesta Bowl. Though his senior season was hampered by an early injury that cost him three games, he still totaled 54 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and three forced incompletions.
As you might expect for an undersized linebacker with a safety background, Bassa excels in space. He has quick-twitch hips and a sharp football mind, allowing him to read and react to plays as they develop. Between his plus burst and agility, he’s lockdown in coverage, roaming underneath routes to make plays and turning and running with tight ends down the seams. When deployed in zones, Bassa can clamp down on routes while also keeping his eyes in the backfield, maximizing his skillset.
Bassa is a plus blitzer as well, utilizing good timing to disrupt protection schemes and give himself opportunities on the quarterback. There are techniques good blitzers tend to use, and Bassa is one of them, with a refined skillset that comes into play when rushing. In run defense, Bassa knows how to stack and shed blockers, allowing him to wrap up the ball carrier faster. He has a quick trigger downhill and is rarely beat to the sideline, knifing through gaps between blockers to make tackles. With true sideline-to-sideline range, he can cover a lot of ground with safety-esque speed.
Bassa’s lack of size does show up at times on tape. There’s a lack of pop on contact with Bassa’s play, as he doesn’t have the strength or effective mass to move blockers around the line of scrimmage. He can get caught up in the wash at the second level, with climbing guards able to get their hands on him and lock him up. It remains to be seen if Bassa is big enough to hold up against the run at the NFL level.
At the Senior Bowl last week, Bassa did his part to answer some of these questions. He played stout against the run and his speed and flexibility were clearly translating, but his struggles on tape did pop up again at the All-Star event. Bassa’s home in the NFL might just be as a sub-package coverage linebacker, but that role is still valuable in the league. If he can add some play strength, he could become an every-down player, as well.
8: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Originally a walk-on in 2021, Schwesinger earned a scholarship in 2022 and stepped into a starting role as a senior in 2024. He exploded when offered the opportunity to prove himself on the field, recording 136 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions, four sacks and a forced fumble, earning consensus first-team All-Big 10 recognition and declaring for the draft after the season.
For a former walk-on, Schwesinger has remarkable athletic upside. He plays fast with sideline-to-sideline range and the ability to trigger downhill in the run game. When he puts his foot in the ground, he beats blockers to the spot, creating havoc at the point of attack and making tackles. Despite being just 6-2 and 225 pounds, Schwesinger plays well in traffic. With plus contact balance and the agility to fight through the line, he plays hard and secures stops in the box.
In coverage, Schwesinger has the flexibility and the awareness to excel. Quick feet and coordination between his eyes and his body let him track the ball in the air and make plays on it. In zone, he displays excellent route recognition and matchup skills, blanketing underneath routes when he can keep things in front of him. As a blitzer, Schwesinger is exceptionally dangerous, with the juice to get home to the quarterback and impressive production to back it up.
Another undersized linebacker, I question how much of Schwesinger’s run game production will translate against the maulers he’ll face in the NFL. Already in college he gets caught up on contact a lot, struggling to break free from pulling guards and even tight ends when they lock him up. I’m also a little uneasy with how Schwesinger bails in deeper coverages, seeming to lack the speed or confidence to play more controlled and giving up some of the advantages he had with his positioning.
Schwesinger is a fantastic story of a former walk-on working his way up to an all-conference level and legitimate draft prospect. His years of special teams experience should help him land a roster spot, even if he struggles in a regular role on defense early on. As a midround pick, he can help in a depth role with the chance to earn a larger role over time.
9: Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Kiser has been on the draft radar for a while, as he’s excelled in a rotational role since arriving in South Bend. A fifth-year player, he put up big numbers throughout his career but wasn’t a full-time starter until 2024. He broke out in 2021, with 45 tackles, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two pick-sixes, stuffing the stat sheet across the board — something of a theme with him during his career with the Fighting Irish. This past season, Kiser stepped up as a starter and recorded 90 tackles, two sacks, two forced incompletions and two forced fumbles.
Measuring in at 6-1, 227, Kiser is a fantastic straight-line athlete. His speed is a problem for offensive linemen to handle. When he triggers downhill, he beats blockers to the spot, crashing into the backfield for big plays. It’s not just pure speed that makes Kiser so dangerous, however, as he matches that with solid, fundamental tackling techniques. He has one of the lowest missed tackle rates in this class, backing up what I see on tape.
As a blitzer, Kiser can rush gaps and play with lane integrity to avoid granting the quarterback free escape lanes. When tracking the ball, he plays like a heat-seeking missile, blowing up actions and chasing down plays from the backside. In coverage, Kiser has great ball skills for a linebacker, getting his hands up to knock away passes and creating turnovers at a high rate. All his experience playing special teams will only increase his value to an NFL roster, as well.
The problem for Kiser is that he’s not much of a lateral athlete. He struggles to flip his hips in man coverage and can lose contain on the outside when faced with jukes and cutbacks. In zone coverage, he lacks the awareness to properly track routes through his area, limiting his ability to disrupt receivers at the catch point or chase them down for a tackle. He’s undersized, too, bringing his fit in the NFL into question.
Undersized run-thumpers at linebacker aren’t often all that successful in the NFL. Kiser has some coverage limitations and his size would indicate that he’ll struggle in the box in the league. That said, he’s an excellent run defender, and his strengths made an impact at the Senior Bowl. I’m not quite sure what to do with Kiser, but he can certainly find a role on an NFL team.
10: Kobe King, Penn State
A three-star recruit from Detroit and the twin brother of Packers CB Kalen King, Kobe had a later breakout but might end up being a better prospect than his brother. After redshirting as a freshman, he totaled 100 tackles across two seasons as a rotational player for the Nittany Lions, stepping into a larger role as a starter in 2024. As a senior, King enjoyed a breakout season, making second-team All-Big 10 behind a 97-tackle, three-sack effort, adding a forced fumble and three passes defensed. Penn State made the College Football Playoff semifinals, and King was instrumental during their run.
Checking in at 6-1, 248, King is an elite run defender. If you want a two-down thumper, look no further. He stops ball carriers on contact, stonewalling them at the point of attack and preventing them from using their momentum to gain extra yards through the tackle. He has the speed to beat rushers and blockers alike to the spot, outracing the blocking scheme to make plays in the backfield before the play develops. When a blocker does make contact with him, King has the functional play strength to effectively stack and shed, holding his ground and making tackles through blocks, or fighting around them to still affect the play.
In 2024, King took over as Penn State’s on-field defensive play caller and the veteran savvy he displayed in that role will be appealing to NFL squads. In the open field, he employs a reliable tackling form and rarely bites on fakes, making plays other linebackers wouldn’t. The power and aggression King plays with will be appealing to coaches, as you just love to see his blend of tenacity and toughness in the box.
Coverage is more of a challenge for King, as he doesn’t have the hip flexibility to match tight ends or running backs in man. He loses his man in one-on-one coverage a little too often, taking an extra step or two to make a cut or change his direction and ends up a step behind the play as a result. In zone, King has more potential, but he’s still learning zone principles and struggles to locate routes entering his space, especially if he has to keep track of multiple receivers. Additionally, I have some questions about his straight-line speed, as there were times were running backs were able to beat him to the sideline and cut upfield.
King provides something all NFL teams need: forceful, excellent run defense from the linebacker position. No matter how much the league as a whole may have devalued it, no team can get away without having it. That said, NFL offenses will exploit King’s lack of one-on-one coverage skills if he’s on the field in passing situations, where they can use motion to isolate him against a shiftier back or slot receiver for easy yards. Right now, King’s best role will be on early downs, but he has potential as he continues to grow more comfortable in coverage. I expect he’ll be a fifth-rounder who can contribute on special teams early on, but he can develop into a more reliable every-down player.
The post Updated 2025 NFL Draft Rankings: Linebackers appeared first on NFLTradeRumors.co.