Matt Rose LB Stanford |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Tackling has been a recurring issue, with 15 misses in 2025 and nine more this fall
• Coverage trails his run defense, with 19 catches allowed on 22 targets in 2026
• Opponents target him in the passing game, with five touchdowns allowed since 2025
• Limited value as a blitzer, with one sack through four games
• Projects mainly as a run-down linebacker without a clear third-down role

Scouting Report: Summary

Rose is the kind of linebacker who makes a defense function, a sharp, well-prepared tackler who finished second in the ACC in stops last season despite playing behind a front that struggled to keep blockers off him. He reads plays quickly, fills downhill with conviction and rarely looks lost, and his best games, like the 14-tackle afternoon against Cal last November and his 11-tackle effort in this year's win over Georgia Tech, show how much ground he can cover when he is kept clean.

However, the tape this season has exposed his limitations. He has missed nine tackles in four games after 15 misses last season, so the issue is not new, and opponents have attacked him in coverage, completing 19 of 22 throws in his direction, including two touchdowns in the opener against Hawaii. He does not add much as a blitzer, so he projects as a run-down player rather than a three-down linebacker.

Overall, Rose is an intelligent, productive linebacker whose instincts and work ethic will earn him a training camp invitation. Expect him to go late or sign right after the draft; he projects as a seventh-round to priority free agent linebacker who would bring smarts and toughness to a special teams room.