Ranking and evaluating the top-10 linebackers in 2025 NFL draft
USA Today23-04-2025
Ranking and evaluating the top-10 linebackers in 2025 NFL draft
The New England Patriots could still use help at the off-ball linebacker position as they continue revamping their defense with faster, more aggressive athletes. Despite bringing in Harold Landry to upgrade the pass rush and getting flashes from Keion White, there's a clear need for more explosiveness and versatility in the second level of their defense.
This class offers a strong mix of true Mikes, modern coverage linebackers and hybrid off-ball/edge types — all of which could complement the Patriots' evolving scheme. Whether they target one in the middle rounds or later, New England would be wise to keep a close eye on this position.
Here's a look at the top off-ball linebackers in this year's class.
10. David Walker – Central Arkansas
David Walker is a linebacker/edge hybrid with elite twitch and explosiveness. He made Bruce Feldman's freaks list and dominated at the FCS level with natural leverage, violent hands and a strong lower-body base. He finishes plays with violence and has a nose for the football.
However, Walker is extremely limited in arm length and has a capped physical frame. He lacks ideal bend, has inconsistent pass-rush plans and dominated lower-level competition, which raises questions about his transition to the NFL. Still, the tools are exciting, and he could contribute as a developmental chess piece.
9. Smael Mondon Jr. – Georgia
Smael Mondon Jr. is a rangy, athletic linebacker with excellent closing speed and impressive coverage instincts. He flashes sideline-to-sideline range and has a knack for blitz timing and diagnosing outside runs. He is battle-tested in the SEC with multiple years of starting experience.
The concerns include durability—he's dealt with injuries in three consecutive seasons, plus his senior year of high school. He's maxed out physically and doesn't have the functional strength to hold up consistently in traffic. Still, on sub-packages and passing downs, he's a valuable coverage option.
8. Danny Stutsman – Oklahoma
Stutsman is a downhill thumper who's at his best working in the box and attacking gaps. He brings physicality and a high motor, showing good instincts as a run defender and the ability to time blitzes well.
His change of direction and spatial awareness are limited, and his pad level can get inconsistent when finishing tackles. He's not a sideline-to-sideline player, but in the right system, Stutsman can be an early-down enforcer who sets the tone inside.
7. Kobe King – Penn State
King is one of the most reliable tacklers in the draft. He is a throwback MIKE with great gap integrity, strong thump in the run game and consistent stack-and-shed ability. He's a natural leader who quarterbacks the defense with poise and control.
He doesn't offer much in coverage and isn't the most explosive athlete, but what he lacks in range, he makes up for in instincts, toughness and reliability. He's a plug-and-play interior linebacker for a team that needs a steady presence.
6. Barrett Carter – Clemson
Carter is a modern linebacker with plus coverage skills and impressive explosiveness. He attacks downhill with control, is disruptive against screens and blitzes effectively when schemed up. He can line up in space and move fluidly against tight ends and running backs.
But Carter occasionally hesitates when reading plays and struggles to disengage from blocks once engaged. He also gets flat-footed in man coverage at times, but his raw athletic traits and versatility make him an appealing WILL linebacker.
5. Chris Paul Jr. – Ole Miss
Chris Paul Jr. is an undersized but twitchy linebacker who plays with his hair on fire. He has exceptional change-of-direction ability and elite short-area burst. He reads plays quickly, blitzes with violence and is a monster on special teams.
He tends to overpursue and lacks length, limiting his ability to stack and shed. When fatigued, his tackling technique slips. Still, Paul brings juice and processing speed that can add value as a high-end third linebacker or coverage sub.
4. Jeffrey Bassa – Oregon
Jeffrey Bassa is a converted safety with top-tier movement skills in coverage. He plays with fluidity and a deep understanding of zone spacing, making him ideal for modern spread offenses. He blitzes well, plays fast and communicates like a seasoned vet.
Concerns include limited play strength when climbing linemen get into his chest, and despite strong positioning, his ball production is minimal. Even so, Bassa has the instincts and athletic profile to be an impactful WILL at the next level.
3. Carson Schwesinger – UCLA
Schwesinger is one of the rangiest linebackers in the class. He flies to the football with elite closing speed and brings special teams value as a three-year standout. He's a loose-hipped mover with the processing speed to match his athleticism.
A scrappy player with a chip on his shoulder — Schwesinger was a walk-on turned starter at UCLA — he embodies toughness and persistence. Granted, he's still raw with his stack-and-shed technique and inconsistent finishing in space, but he's a tone-setter and team captain with upside to be a starting WILL in the NFL.
2. Demetrius Knight Jr. – South Carolina
Demetrius Knight Jr. is a classic downhill MIKE linebacker with strong instincts, violent hands and good zone awareness. He explodes through gaps and hits like a freight train. His leadership and maturity shine, and he's always around the football.
Man coverage is a weakness, and he has a tendency to duck his head and dive at ankles, allowing some elusive backs to slip away. But for teams that run two-gap fronts and need physicality in the middle, Knight is a tone-setter.
1. Jihaad Campbell – Alabama
Jihaad Campbell is the most complete linebacker in the class. He is an explosive, versatile defender with elite closing burst and a pass-rush element to his game. He can line up at MIKE, WILL, or EDGE, with the athleticism to cover tight ends and chase down ball carriers in space.
He still needs to polish his discipline and hand placement, but his rare size-speed combo, instincts and age (just 21) give him true All-Pro upside. He's the kind of defender you build a linebacker room around
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
The New England Patriots could still use help at the off-ball linebacker position as they continue revamping their defense with faster, more aggressive athletes. Despite bringing in Harold Landry to upgrade the pass rush and getting flashes from Keion White, there's a clear need for more explosiveness and versatility in the second level of their defense.
This class offers a strong mix of true Mikes, modern coverage linebackers and hybrid off-ball/edge types — all of which could complement the Patriots' evolving scheme. Whether they target one in the middle rounds or later, New England would be wise to keep a close eye on this position.
Here's a look at the top off-ball linebackers in this year's class.
10. David Walker – Central Arkansas
David Walker is a linebacker/edge hybrid with elite twitch and explosiveness. He made Bruce Feldman's freaks list and dominated at the FCS level with natural leverage, violent hands and a strong lower-body base. He finishes plays with violence and has a nose for the football.
However, Walker is extremely limited in arm length and has a capped physical frame. He lacks ideal bend, has inconsistent pass-rush plans and dominated lower-level competition, which raises questions about his transition to the NFL. Still, the tools are exciting, and he could contribute as a developmental chess piece.
9. Smael Mondon Jr. – Georgia
Smael Mondon Jr. is a rangy, athletic linebacker with excellent closing speed and impressive coverage instincts. He flashes sideline-to-sideline range and has a knack for blitz timing and diagnosing outside runs. He is battle-tested in the SEC with multiple years of starting experience.
The concerns include durability—he's dealt with injuries in three consecutive seasons, plus his senior year of high school. He's maxed out physically and doesn't have the functional strength to hold up consistently in traffic. Still, on sub-packages and passing downs, he's a valuable coverage option.
8. Danny Stutsman – Oklahoma
Stutsman is a downhill thumper who's at his best working in the box and attacking gaps. He brings physicality and a high motor, showing good instincts as a run defender and the ability to time blitzes well.
His change of direction and spatial awareness are limited, and his pad level can get inconsistent when finishing tackles. He's not a sideline-to-sideline player, but in the right system, Stutsman can be an early-down enforcer who sets the tone inside.
7. Kobe King – Penn State
King is one of the most reliable tacklers in the draft. He is a throwback MIKE with great gap integrity, strong thump in the run game and consistent stack-and-shed ability. He's a natural leader who quarterbacks the defense with poise and control.
He doesn't offer much in coverage and isn't the most explosive athlete, but what he lacks in range, he makes up for in instincts, toughness and reliability. He's a plug-and-play interior linebacker for a team that needs a steady presence.
6. Barrett Carter – Clemson
Carter is a modern linebacker with plus coverage skills and impressive explosiveness. He attacks downhill with control, is disruptive against screens and blitzes effectively when schemed up. He can line up in space and move fluidly against tight ends and running backs.
But Carter occasionally hesitates when reading plays and struggles to disengage from blocks once engaged. He also gets flat-footed in man coverage at times, but his raw athletic traits and versatility make him an appealing WILL linebacker.
5. Chris Paul Jr. – Ole Miss
Chris Paul Jr. is an undersized but twitchy linebacker who plays with his hair on fire. He has exceptional change-of-direction ability and elite short-area burst. He reads plays quickly, blitzes with violence and is a monster on special teams.
He tends to overpursue and lacks length, limiting his ability to stack and shed. When fatigued, his tackling technique slips. Still, Paul brings juice and processing speed that can add value as a high-end third linebacker or coverage sub.
4. Jeffrey Bassa – Oregon
Jeffrey Bassa is a converted safety with top-tier movement skills in coverage. He plays with fluidity and a deep understanding of zone spacing, making him ideal for modern spread offenses. He blitzes well, plays fast and communicates like a seasoned vet.
Concerns include limited play strength when climbing linemen get into his chest, and despite strong positioning, his ball production is minimal. Even so, Bassa has the instincts and athletic profile to be an impactful WILL at the next level.
3. Carson Schwesinger – UCLA
Schwesinger is one of the rangiest linebackers in the class. He flies to the football with elite closing speed and brings special teams value as a three-year standout. He's a loose-hipped mover with the processing speed to match his athleticism.
A scrappy player with a chip on his shoulder — Schwesinger was a walk-on turned starter at UCLA — he embodies toughness and persistence. Granted, he's still raw with his stack-and-shed technique and inconsistent finishing in space, but he's a tone-setter and team captain with upside to be a starting WILL in the NFL.
2. Demetrius Knight Jr. – South Carolina
Demetrius Knight Jr. is a classic downhill MIKE linebacker with strong instincts, violent hands and good zone awareness. He explodes through gaps and hits like a freight train. His leadership and maturity shine, and he's always around the football.
Man coverage is a weakness, and he has a tendency to duck his head and dive at ankles, allowing some elusive backs to slip away. But for teams that run two-gap fronts and need physicality in the middle, Knight is a tone-setter.
1. Jihaad Campbell – Alabama
Jihaad Campbell is the most complete linebacker in the class. He is an explosive, versatile defender with elite closing burst and a pass-rush element to his game. He can line up at MIKE, WILL, or EDGE, with the athleticism to cover tight ends and chase down ball carriers in space.
He still needs to polish his discipline and hand placement, but his rare size-speed combo, instincts and age (just 21) give him true All-Pro upside. He's the kind of defender you build a linebacker room around
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