The 2025 NFL Draft class is starting to take shape, and that means we’re getting a clearer picture of some of the top prospects and the position groups with the most depth.
The running back, tight end and offensive tackle positions seem to be the deepest and strongest on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, the edge defender group is as deep as we’ve seen in several years, dominating the projected top 50. There are also more impact defensive backs this year than a year ago, with plenty of options on all three days of the draft, specifically on Days 2 and 3.
Here are PFF's top linebacker prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, along with some initial scouting notes courtesy of lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema.
For the full ranking of draft prospects, along with their three-year player grades and position rankings, click here.
1. LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
PFF Big Board Rank: 13
Campbell has the ideal build and athletic ability to play any linebacker spot, but he projects best to a Mike or Sam LB in 4-3 schemes or a Mike/EDGE in a 3-4. He must continue to develop anticipation and strength, but he has the mold of an All-Pro player.
2. LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
PFF Big Board Rank: 25
Walker is a physically and athletically gifted player who presents box presence versatility as an off-ball linebacker. His anticipation and pass-rush profile in its current form are lacking for consistent impact in the NFL. He must improve how he approaches rushing the passer or his off-ball instincts to be worth a top-50 selection due to age and potential.
3. LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
PFF Big Board Rank: 52
Knight will be one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he is a mature player with good processing and fundamentally sound tackling. His run-defense angles can be a bit overaggressive, but you'll take that trade-off due to how well he moves in coverage and when pursuing ball carriers.
4. LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
PFF Big Board Rank: 53
Schwesinger is light for an NFL linebacker, but his elite processing speed and intelligence give him starter and impact ability as a Mike or Will linebacker for a 4-3 defense.
5. LB Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
PFF Big Board Rank: 83
Paul needs to add some mass to his frame, but he can eventually become a starting Will linebacker in the league, thanks to his athleticism and intelligence.
6. LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
PFF Big Board Rank: 110
If you want a thumping downhill linebacker, Stutsman is your guy. He's too often a liability in coverage, though, which could limit him to early downs at the next level.
7. LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
PFF Big Board Rank: 123
Bassa is an intriguing former safety who now has a home at the linebacker level. Despite his lower weight for the position, he is not shy about making contact or doing dirty work. He is a smooth mover but does lack some twitch, which can be mitigated with continued improvement in anticipation. A vocal leader at Oregon, he could be a nice coverage linebacker in any scheme.
8. LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
PFF Big Board Rank: 148
While he needs to get stronger, Carter is an athletic, versatile defender who can be a valuable chess piece for a defense as a weakside linebacker.
9. LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
PFF Big Board Rank: 152
Kiser is an experienced linebacker with adequate athleticism who projects as a solid depth option at either WILL or MIKE. His instincts and versatility also make him a strong candidate to contribute on special teams early in his NFL career.
10. LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
PFF Big Board Rank: 155
If Mondon's mental speed can catch up to his physical speed, he can be a starting-caliber linebacker. Until that happens, he projects as an impact special teamer who can play in a rotation.
11. LB Kobe King, Penn State
PFF Big Board Rank: 189
King looks and plays like a true middle linebacker, with a strong frame and reliable tackling. He lacks starting-level athleticism, and if he's even a tick late to process, he's likely losing that rep. Still, he could be a solid depth piece who isn't shy about meeting the position's physical demands.
12. LB Shemar James, Florida
PFF Big Board Rank: 190
James boasts athleticism and physicality at the linebacker position, but those movement skills haven't translated to production. He is slow to read and diagnose plays, leaving him behind in coverage and when fitting the run. However, his traits show up as an effective blitzer, which could lead to a 3-4 outside linebacker transition.
13. LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
PFF Big Board Rank: 205
Simon is a traditional inside linebacker who would play best in a 3-4 with a fellow inside linebacker next to him. His length and overall athletic limitations likely make him a rotational and reserve linebacker who plays soundly to round out a depth chart.
14. LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
PFF Big Board Rank: 225
Lindenberg was a multi-position athlete in high school before settling in at linebacker for Minnesota. He's quick with solid recognition and communication skills, but his lack of ideal size and top-end speed may limit his ability to carve out a consistent role at the next level.
15. LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
PFF Big Board Rank: 243
Higgins is an incredibly smart and productive player who has gotten everything he can out of his talent while at Iowa. His 92.2 overall grade and 94.5 coverage grade since 2022 both rank among the elite FBS players at the position. Unfortunately, Higgins' lack of size and speed means he must be perfect with his technique and reads. That lack of tools could be magnified in the NFL and limit him to a depth/special teams role.
16. LB Teddye Buchanan, California
PFF Big Board Rank: 252
Buchanan is an experienced player who posted a 77.5 overall grade in his lone season at Cal after spending four years at UC Davis. He needs to be more consistently physical in the run game, but he has enough speed and athletic traits to be a backup/special teams contributor.
17. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
PFF Big Board Rank: 263
Dumas-Johnson is a former four-star recruit who was a part of Georgia's back-to-back national title teams in 2021 and 2022. He spent his final season at Kentucky, where he continued to produce defending the run but struggled to a 54.7 coverage grade. Dumas-Johnson could be a late-round, early-down option for a team that needs to improve against the run.
18. LB Karene Reid, Utah
PFF Big Board Rank: 274
Reid's father, Spencer, played linebacker in the NFL, and you can see that he passed down his knowledge of the position to his son (87th percentile run-defense grade in 2024). Karene Reid has excellent instincts to go along with a motor that just won't quit, though his below-average size and lateral quickness may limit him to being just a special teamer at the next level.
19. LB Jailin Walker, Indiana
PFF Big Board Rank: 280
Walker was one of many former James Madison Dukes who followed head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana, and the jump in competition didn't seem to affect him. Walker earned an 82.7 PFF grade, showing off elite speed and burst for the position as a downhill player. His lack of size is a problem when taking on blocks, and he isn't the most agile in coverage either, but Walker can be an impact special teamer who comes in to spell the starting linebackers.
20. LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
PFF Big Board Rank: 284
Medrano is built more like a strong safety than a true linebacker, but he tested out as an elite athlete with outstanding speed and explosiveness. His 20.7% career missed tackle rate is in the 0th percentile. Play strength will always be a question, but Medrano can match up against tight ends in man coverage and will need to impact special teams.
21. LB Eugene Asante, Auburn
PFF Big Board Rank: 288
Asante is a fast, athletic linebacker who played both inside and outside linebacker positions in college. However, he is on the thin side at 223 pounds. His 84.2 PFF pass-rushing grade ranks fifth in the draft class.
22. LB Gaethan Bernadel, Stanford
PFF Big Board Rank: 291
Bernadel has been a starter at Stanford for two years after transferring in from FIU. He was a solid player this past season, earning 70.0-plus grades both as a run defender and in coverage. He has poor size and athletic traits for the position, though, and will likely need to be an impact special teamer to make a roster.
23. LB Greg Penn III, LSU
PFF Big Board Rank: 297
Penn was a three-year starter for the Tigers who is a smart player overall and a reliable tackler (7.5% missed tackle rate in 2024; 86th percentile). However, he lacks size and is a below-average athlete overall. He projects as a special teamer in the NFL.
24. LB Aaron Smith, South Carolina State
PFF Big Board Rank: 298
Smith made strides in his game in 2024, showcasing his quick downhill trigger and lateral quickness in the run game (86.5 PFF run-defense grade). That same trigger gets him into trouble, as he can overrun plays and struggle to disengage blocks once latched. He projects as a Will linebacker but deficiencies in coverage and recognition will leave him fighting for a roster spot.
25. LB Nickolas Martin, Oklahoma State
PFF Big Board Rank: 307
An injury cut short Martin's 2024 season, after he earned All-Big 12 honors the year prior. His athleticism helped him excel at rushing the passer (84.4 PFF grade) but didn't show up against the run (63.2 PFF grade). Despite volume tackle numbers, he struggles to fit the run and locate the ball, putting him out of position and causing him to miss tackles (15.5%).
26. LB Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
PFF Big Board Rank: 313
Dolac doesn't have the prototypical build of an NFL linebacker and lacks the twitch to be a reliable second-level defender at the next level. However, his admirable journey and determination to reach this point could make him a late-round pick or priority UDFA signing.
27. LB David Gbenda, Texas
PFF Big Board Rank: 319
Despite six seasons at Texas, Gbenda was largely a role player, clocking just over 1,100 defensive snaps. His 87th-percentile or better marks in PFF run-defense grade and run-stop rate show a baseline to build on in run fits, but his struggles scraping and finishing tackles (12.7% missed tackle rate) will likely leave him in the undrafted range.
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