Analysis My List of Top 10 Linebackers in 2025 Draft [OP updated] (2 Viewers)

[Snakehead]

We did a lot of research on Higgins and found that his best fit is in a 4-3 defensive scheme. He doesn't have scheme versatility. He will need some time to further develop and learn the complexities of NFL defensive schemes. He will be a day 2 pick somewhere in the 4th round or maybe in the 5th round. He would be a good developmental project for the Saints. This all depends on when we and if we get a new D-coordinator and what type of defense they run.

Someone, I don't remember who said that Iowa's DT Black eats blockers and holds the line so we'll that it keeps them off Higgins allowing him to do what he does. If he can't stay clean, then I wonder how effective he'll be in the NFL. It also makes me want to draft Black who isn't in the PFF mock database so I can't draft him in there.

 

[Eeyore]

Did anyone notice how slow we were to the edges the linebackers were tonight. The Green Bay RB's were getting 4-7 yards a carry. We need better and faster sideline to sideline linebackers. They didn't fair as well running the ball up the gut most of the night. I don't think I saw Davis and Werner miss so many tackles in a game before. Another poster said when I started this thread "Did I miss something"; Yeah you miss a lot when you don't notice our linebacker play hasn't been consistent this season and we have no speed to the edges. It's time to see what we have in Jaylan Ford, Anfernee Orji, Nephi Sewell, D'Marco Jackson and Isaiah Stalbird. Why did we sign Willie Gay, He doesn't even see the field, not even in relief of Davis or Werner. Doesn't make any sense to me.

Willie Gay played early in the season. I don't know if he's injured or if they prefer to run the legs off of Davis and Werner

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Someone, I don't remember who said that Iowa's DT Black eats blockers and holds the line so we'll that it keeps them off Higgins allowing him to do what he does. If he can't stay clean, then I wonder how effective he'll be in the NFL. It also makes me want to draft Black who isn't in the PFF mock database so I can't draft him in there.

That would be me who said that. I've watched quite a few Iowa games and Black tends to stand out to me. Coaches claim he has the most violent hands they've ever seen in a defensive lineman. IDK what it is about Iowa. But if they're always producing quality NFL defensive players, RB's and absolutely by far consistently come up with the best TE output. No other college likely produces more starting NFL talent at TE which is why I REALLY think we should be going after Luke Lachey if we can't land Tyler Warren. If Lachey had a decent QB, he would likely be talked about in the first round. His output wasn't amazing, but that's mostly because he had a QB that threw the ball like a high school state champion.

 

[B_doggman47]

Someone, I don't remember who said that Iowa's DT Black eats blockers and holds the line so we'll that it keeps them off Higgins allowing him to do what he does. If he can't stay clean, then I wonder how effective he'll be in the NFL. It also makes me want to draft Black who isn't in the PFF mock database so I can't draft him in there.

The guy y'all are talking about is Yahya Black, he's a Sr. 6'5"/317#. He could maybe be someone to look at in this upcoming draft that might be able to help out on the D-Line.

 

[Snakehead]

The guy y'all are talking about is Yahya Black, he's a Sr. 6'5"/317#. He could maybe be someone to look at in this upcoming draft that might be able to help out on the D-Line.

That's him. He needs to be next to Bresee and anchor our D-line.

 

[B_doggman47]

That's him. He needs to be next to Bresee and anchor our D-line.

I'll do some research on him and see what I can come up with.

 

[Snakehead]

I'll do some research on him and see what I can come up with.

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[B_doggman47]

Awesome! Thanks!

Once I get the analysis done on Black, I'll post it in the NT's and DT's thread.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Someone else we need to really looking into from Iowa would be Jermari Harris. Iowa produces really dependable DB's (Cooper DeJean was robbed not going in the 1st round last year). But in 2023 Cooper was injured for most the season and Jermari Harris held down the fort like a mad man in the secondary.

The people really worth looking at from Iowa :

Luke Lachey (TE)
Yahya Black (DT)
Jermari Harris (CB)
Sebastian Castro (S)

This is besides the obvious knowns :
Kaleb Johnson (RB)
Jay Higgins (LB)

 

[B_doggman47]

Here is another linebacker we have ranked in our top 10, Chris Paul Jr. is an in the box linebacker who can play the run and drop off into coverage. He is a little stiff and doesn't have the bend as an edge rusher. Most ranking sites have Paul ranked from #5 to #7, we have him ranked at #8. He has career tackles of 209, 15 TFL's, 8.5 Sacks and 9 PBU's between playing for Arkansas and Ole Miss.

#8- Chris Paul Jr.- (LB) Ole Miss (6'1"/235#)

Paul has plus instincts and play recognition skills, he can quickly identify blocking schemes and run fits with natural anticipation. He is a textbook wrap-up tackler who brings his feet through contact, demonstrating elite finishing ability in the box. He has a plus downhill trigger with an explosive first step and closing burst to the football in pursuit. Paul has advanced pattern match ability in zone coverage with a fluid backpedal and natural feel for passing windows. He's a quick processor who identifies and communicates offensive keys pre-snap to align defensive fronts. He has strong contact balance and leverage when taking on blocks, he maintains gap integrity against zone runs. Paul has a field general mentality with proven ability to coordinate defensive calls and adjustments. He has three-down value with special teams upside and proven production against SEC competition.
Paul's undersized frame might limit his ability to stack and shed against pro-level offensive linemen. He lacks elite twitch and bend profile as an edge rusher in pressure packages. He can at times take over-aggressive pursuit angles and create vulnerabilities against misdirection and counter plays. Paul can struggle at times to maintain leverage when bigger blockers get into his body. He also has limited lateral range which impacts his man coverage matchups against shifty backs.
Looking at the tape of some of his games, Paul brings immediate value in sub-packages with his advanced coverage traits and quick trigger against the run. His ability to match routes and communicate defensive adjustments stand out on film. Paul's defensive skillset translates to teams running multiple fronts that emphasize speed and pursuit from the second level. He can be a core special teams contributor early with upside to develop into a starting middle-linebacker and he could even play WLB.
While size limitations might restrict Paul's scheme versatility at the next level, his instincts, tackling efficiency and coverage ability profile well in todays passing league. Our tape study reveals a reliable defender in Paul who consistently produced against high level SEC competition.

 

[3ParStillDriver]

Here we go, I hope this is to y'all's liking. Standing at 6'2" and weighing 245#, Walker possesses an ideal frame for the modern NFL Linebacker. With his versatility, He'll be a multi-role linebacker at the next level. He's been timed at 4.50 in the 40, placing him in the 94th percentile for linebackers. He is predicted to go late 1st or early 2nd round.

#1- Jalon Walker- (LB) Georgia (6'2"/245#)
Walker has exceptional athleticism and his versatility allows him to play both inside and outside linebacker positions, offering valuable scheme flexibility for NFL defensive coordinators. Walker is a high motor player with a knack for getting to the QB. He has a strong tackling technique, consistently wrapping up and finishing plays with authority. Walker is effective in pass rushing situations, which is demonstrated by his multiple sack games and consistent QB pressures. He has solid coverage skills, he shows the ability to drop back and disrupt passing lanes. Walker is a high character individual and team leader and also has an impressive football IQ. Walker can also rotate between inside and outside linebacker spots in a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive scheme.
Walker has limited starting experience at the collegiate level, only a (two year starter), potentially impacting his to read and react quickly in complex NFL schemes. His run defense skills, while solid, could use a little refining to shed blocks and maintain gap integrity. He may need a little improvement on his play recognition skills to maximize his athletic gifts. His coverage abilities, while promising, will require further development to match up with NFL caliber TE's and RB's. Walker could benefit from adding more functional strength to stack and shed against pro-level O-linemen.
Walker projects as a high upside linebacker prospect with the potential to develop into a three-down player at the next level. His rare combination of size, speed and versatility will be highly coveted by NFL teams looking to bolster their linebacker corps. Walker's ability to rush the passer from multiple positions adds significant value to his draft stock.
Scheme fit will be crucial for Walker's early success. A defensive coordinator who can utilize his versatility in multiple packages will maximize his impact. His athleticism and motor also make him a candidate for special teams contributions while he refines his skills.
With proper coaching and development, Walker ahs the tools and football IQ to become a dynamic playmaker in the NFL. His high character and leadership qualities, combined with his on-field potential, make him an intriguing prospect who could outperform his draft position.

Did you guys take a look at BYU's Jack Kelly? He started off the season really good.

 

[B_doggman47]

Here's a player that I watched some games of him during the season and in the college playoffs and have to tell y'all, he was all over the place making plays. If he is developed properly with good coaching Cody Simon could be come a playmaker on some teams defense. I know I would take a chance on him. He's played in 58 career games with 32 starts, he has 233 total tackles, 12 TFL's, 5 sacks and 6 passes defended. he runs a 4.50/40 which is pretty much elite and has a 42" vertical The ranking sites we looked at have him ranked anywhere from #7 to #10. We have him ranked at #9. Simon is projected to be drafted in the mid 4th to early 5th. From what we saw in his play, he could go 3rd to early 4th or earlier.

#9- Cody Simon- (LB) Ohio State (6'2"/235#)

Simon has plus athleticism for the linebacker position, showcasing impressive straight-line speed and change of direction ability in space. He's an instinctive player who quickly reads plays and consistently puts himself in position to make stops. He's a versatile defender with experience at all three linebacker positions, offering scheme flexibility for NFL defenses. Simon is a reliable tackler who wraps up well and rarely misses, demonstrating solid technique and closing speed. He shows good aptitude as a blitzer, displaying good timing and burst when rushing the passer from various alignments. Simon is comfortable dropping into coverage with fluid hips and adequate depth awareness in zone assignments. He's a durable player who suited up for 58 career games, proving his ability to stay on the field and contribute consistently. He is a high character individual and a natural leader.
Simon lacks ideal size and length for an NFL linebacker, which might hinder his ability to stack and shed against O-Linemen. There is still room for improvement in translating his physical tools to on-field impact. He has limited starting experience over his collegiate career, which might raise questions about his readiness for a full-time role in the NFL. He needs to improve in run defense, particularly in maintaining gap integrity and disengaging from blocks more consistently.
Simon offers intriguing upside as a developmental linebacker with plus athleticism and versatility. His range and ability to play in space make him an attractive option for defenses that prioritize speed and coverage skills from their second level defenders. Simon is best suited for a 4-3 defensive scheme where his athleticism can be maximized, with the potential to contribute in sub-packages early in his career. While Simon may not have the ideal frame for an every-down NFL linebacker, his football IQ, instincts, speed and tackling ability suggest he could outperform expectations with proper coaching and development. Despite losing his starting job at one point, he showcased resilience and continued to contribute, demonstrating the mental toughness required at the next level.
Ultimately, Simon profiles as a late round selection with the potential to carve out a role as a core special teamer and situational defender to start his career. His combination of athleticism, versatility and character make him an interesting developmental players for teams looking to bolster their linebacker depth. With continued improvement in taking on blocks and honing his playmaking instincts, Simon could evolve into a valuable playmaker in specific defensive packages at the next level.

 

[B_doggman47]

Did you guys take a look at BYU's Jack Kelly? He started off the season really good.

Yes we did but he won't be draft eligible until 2026, So he has another season of development. His draft stock right now is going up. He'll probably be a 1st or 2nd rounder by the 2026 draft.

Jack Kelly- (LB) BYU (6'2"/240#)

These are his career stats as of now: Tot. Tkls- 54, Solo- 35, Assists- 19, TFL's- 10, Sacks- 5, QB Hits- 14, FF- 2, INT's- 1, Passes Defended- 1.
He is a player to follow and keep an eye on. I also like his teammate Ben Bywater. He's my sleeper pick.

 

[B_doggman47]

Higgins is another multi-role linebacker on our list. From the research and game tape we watched on Higgins, his best fit will be either MLB or WLB in a 4-3 defensive scheme. He is a tackling machine and makes plays all over the field. Higgins has amassed 217 tackles over 45 games. He has shown consistent improvement each season. His draft projection is the late 4th or early 5th rounds.

#10- Jay Higgins- (LB) Iowa (6'2"/232#)

Higgins has good sideline to sideline motor, he put up put up some gaudy tackle numbers, he was routinely cleaning up plays all over the field. Higgins is a textbook wrap-up tackler with minimal whiffs, serving as a reliable last line of defense against the run. He has very good coverage skills for an off-ball linebacker, showing the chops to hang in nickel packages at the next level. Higgins is stout at the point of attack, consistently winning the leverage battle and stuffing inside runs with authority. He's a natural field general, quarterbacking the defense and earning the trust of the coaching staff as a team captain. He's a high-floor prospect who brings it every snap, logging double digit tackles in most games. Higgins could be a special teams ace early in his career, offering immediate four-phase value as he develops into a defensive contributor. His football IQ is off the charts, displaying uncanny anticipation and always seeming to be around the ball.
Higgins lacks the ideal bulk for an inside-linebacker, potentially struggling to stack and shed against NFL caliber road graders. His straight-line speed is pedestrian, potentially limiting his ability to recover if caught out of position. He has minimal production as a blitzer, raising questions about his ability to impact passing downs as more than a coverage defender. He is a one-year wonder as a full time starter, leaving us to wonder if he can replicate his production consistently at the next level. Higgins may need some time to adjust to adjust to NFL offensive complexities after thriving in Iowa's relatively straightforward defensive scheme.
Higgins fits the mold of a potential three-down WILL in a 4-3 front, who can also play middle-linebacker at the next level, with the instincts and coverage ability to stay on the field in sub-packages. His tackling prowess and run stuffing ability should translate almost immediately, he could be a day one contributor against the run and on passing downs.
Higgins tweener size and average athleticism may limit his scheme versatility, but he is tailor-made for a 4-3 defense that can protect him with a stout front four. His special teams experience will be his ticket onto the field early as he acclimates to the speed of the pro game.
While Higgins may not possess the elite physical traits that scouts drool over, his production, football acumen and well rounded skillset make him a high-floor prospect likely to come off the board some time on day two. Higgins could outplay his draft position thanks to his tackling reliability and diverse skillset.