The linebacker position is often referred to as one of, if not the hardest, to scout in football. The college game being so different, the variety of opposing offenses, and the role linebackers are asked to play contribute to this being the case. However, the 2025 NFL Draft still has plenty to offer at the position, even if it is a weaker linebacker class than usual.
Despite having high-end linebacker prospects in this year’s class like Jihaad Campbell and Jalon Walker, there isn’t the depth that usually populates most draft classes. In 2024, for instance, Edgerrin Cooper, Junior Colson, Trevin Wallace, Marist Liufau, Payton Wilson, and Cedric Gray were selected between picks 45 and 110. This year, though, there looks to be less middle-round talent at the position. The 2025 Two-Point Conversion draft guide only has five linebackers in its top 100 players, one of which, Jalon Walker, could become a full-time edge rusher at the next level.
Let’s get into the top-5 linebackers in the 2025 draft class.
*A quick note before we get started. This list does not reflect what will be on the Two-Point Conversion’s NFL Draft Guide.
1. Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jalon Walker is a twitched-up linebacker who has speed, power, and tenacity. His presence pops off of the screen when watching the Georgia defense – he always seemed to be around the ball making plays. His size (6-foot-1, 243 pounds) will understandably give some teams pause, but he’s a worthy investment with a top-10 selection in this draft class.
Walker is someone who will need a creative defensive coordinator to utilize his talents to the fullest. Someone like Brian Flores or Dan Quinn would likely get the most out of Walker, though the Vikings and Commanders won’t pick until the end of the first round. Still, Walker presents an interesting question: How will he be used in the NFL?
There’s a pretty negative connotation of tweeners in football – typically they’re less successful in the NFL after holding many more responsibilities in college football. Put simply, it’s hard to be good at multiple positions in professional football. Players such as Isaiah Simmons, Jamin Davis, and Haasan Reddick have been hit with the same label, each having very different careers.
Walker, though, should be able to become a full-time edge rusher at the next level if that’s how the team who drafts him views him. But what’s a more likely outcome? It seems as though teams view Walker as a stand-up, off-ball linebacker on early downs while sliding to edge rusher to get after the passer on obvious passing downs.
Whether that role is worth a first-round pick is up for interpretation – especially considering most project Walker as a better edge than linebacker. But for now, he’s our top-rated LB.
Grade: First-Round Pick
2. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Jihaad Campbell is what most people think of when they think of a prototypical modern linebacker. Campbell is one of the best athletes in this draft class. He stands at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, and ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. That’s a rare physical talent, likely the most impressive at the position in this entire draft class.
Campbell is a read-and-react linebacker with elite sideline-to-sideline ability. He can close out on screens, scream towards the passer as a blitzer, and excels in coverage with his length, speed, and traits. While there are some murmurs of Campbell potentially making the switch to edge rusher in the NFL (he was originally recruited to Alabama as such), it wouldn’t make much sense with the skill set that he currently has.
Where Campbell may struggle is against the run – he can struggle to get through blockers, takes false steps, and is more of a see-ball-get-ball defender rather than someone who will diagnose plays before they happen. He could get away with things due to his superior athleticism in college football that he may not be able to get away with at the NFL level.
Campbell is a fit for any team that needs an off-ball linebacker in the back half of the first round – but should ideally be given the freedom to find and affect plays. The Bengals make a ton of sense as a landing spot, especially with new defensive coordinator Al Golden having a background as a linebackers coach.
Grade: First-Round Pick
3. Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Carson Schwesinger is an instinctual linebacker with one of the best stories in the 2025 NFL Draft. Originally a walk-on at UCLA – Schwesinger earned his stripes as a special-teamer, only earning a scholarship in 2022 after a year with the Bruins. He only really saw the defensive side of the field in 2025 (played 17 defensive snaps the year prior), where he flourished in his newfound role – eventually earning All-American honors.
Schwesinger is a high-floor coverage linebacker who racked up 136 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions. He was one of the most productive linebackers in college football. And while he excels in coverage, Schwesinger leaves a bit to be desired in the run game – struggling to fight through blockers. Schwesinger also isn’t quite the level of athlete of either Walker or Campbell and isn’t someone you’d want to man up against RBs in coverage.
Still, the UCLA captain is a more-than-capable NFL linebacker who should be able to find a home on early day two of the NFL Draft. With linebackers being hard to come by, he could even sneak his way into the final few picks of the first round.
The Bills are one team in particular that could take a swing on Schwesinger either late on day one or trade into the early second round for his talents.
Grade: Early Day-Two Pick
4. Demetrius Knight, South Carolina
Demetrius Knight has one of the most interesting profiles of anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has the athleticism, instincts, and experience to make it at linebacker of the next level, but a large part of why his floor is so high comes with Knight already being 24 years old.
Originally recruited to Georgia Tech in 2019, Knight really only came on the scene in 2023 when he transferred to Charlotte. In 2024, with the Gamecocks, he improved to the point where he was the team’s best overall linebacker.
Knight profiles as a late-day two selection – someone who should be able to get on the field early (and could be a starter as a rookie), but also has limited upside as someone who already maxed out their frame. Baking in that he is an older prospect, Knight still is a plus-athlete for the position, and works downhill in the run game as a stand-up linebacker.
While there might be questions about his ability to man up with RBs or TEs, Knight should provide surplus value on his rookie contract and makes more sense for teams closer to competing in 2025.
Grade: Late Day-Two Pick
5. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
If you’re looking for a linebacker on day three of the NFL Draft, you’re going to need to look for players who can fill a role early on while having the traits to develop into something more. Danny Stutsman fits that mold perfectly.
Breaking out as a sophomore for the Sooners, Stutsman almost immediately made an impact. He’s finished each of his final three seasons with over 100 tackles while earning All-Conference honors in his final two college seasons.
Stutsman is an early-down linebacker who should provide value for teams in the run game almost instantly. With the play recognition and athleticism to scream downhill, Stutsman was an elite second-level run defender in SEC competition last season. He also can get some work on later downs as a blitzer, but currently does not have the coverage ability to stay on the field for passing downs at the NFL level.
With only a run-defending role, the reason teams may be interested in taking him early on day three comes from his athletic profile. Stutsman was graded out as one of the fastest linebackers at the 2025 NFL Combine – along with carrying a plus frame at the linebacker position. In theory, he has the athleticism to become a player that is sufficient in coverage.
There are plenty of teams that could use this type of skillset – the Panthers could use a run-defending LB to add to their rotation of Josey Jewell and Trevin Wallace, while he also makes sense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders, as well.
Grade: Early Day-Three Pick
