Linebacker Rankings 2023 NFL Draft

Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) scrambles against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during the second quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) scrambles against Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during the second quarter in the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

LINEBACKER PROSPECT RANKINGS 2023 NFL DRAFT

The 2023 class is pretty strong and contains some impressive athletes. Our list includes players officially listed as OLB's but who are predominantly edge rushers. However, we regard the top traditional linebackers as Clemson's Trenton Simpson and Oregon's Noah Sewell - both have a chance to hear their name called on day one of the draft.

Former five-star prospect Trenton Simpson is an athletic freak who despite weighing in at 240lbs reportedly runs a sub 4.4 forty-yard dash. He also hits like a truck although didn't make the expected step up in production in 2022 and may be viewed as a slightly risky pick.
Noah Sewell brother of Detroit Lion Penei Sewell also possesses impressive athletic talents, he, however, is a more polished overall defender and a safer pick.
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LAST UPDATED: 03/25/2023

Player Rankings - Linebacker

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
65

LB/ED
Chase
Lasater

6-2 236lbs 4.62
LB/ED
Eastern Kentucky   Mascot
Eastern Kentucky Mascot
236lbs 6-2 4.62 84 520
50.0
He’s effective in pursuit when chasing down backs as a run defender, and Lasater has the athleticism to cover a lot of ground when dropping...
64

LB
Derrick
Smith

6-2 220lbs 4.88
LB
Western Kentucky   Mascot
Western Kentucky Mascot
220lbs 6-2 4.88 80 502
54.0
Closes quickly on relatively immobile quarterbacks. A consistently heavy hitter who flashes explosiveness and the ability to separate the...
63

LB
Jaylen
Moody

6-2 225lbs 4.50
LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
225lbs 6-2 4.50 81 503
54.0
Reads quarterbacks eyes and reacts quickly to targets in zone coverage. Moody has a compact build, but Moody is a crafty edge player who...
62

LB
Nick
Anderson

5-10 225lbs 4.63
LB
Tulane   Mascot
Tulane Mascot
225lbs 5-10 4.63 75 467.7
57.2
Anderson understands angles and takes very good paths moving downhill. He shows good ability in coverage, with the agility to mirror backs....
61

LB
James
Patterson

6-0 232lbs 4.75
LB
Buffalo   Mascot
Buffalo Mascot
232lbs 6-0 4.75 85 527.3
58.4
Combines very good instincts with above-average reaction skills. Almost always finds the ball in traffic. Patterson shows good quickness...
60

LB/ED
Caden
McDonald

6-3 240lbs 4.96
LB/ED
San Diego State   Mascot
San Diego State Mascot
240lbs 6-3 4.96 83 516.7
58.5
Good key and diagnosis skills. Quickly locates the ball and shows no wasted motion in getting there. At least adequate lateral agility to...
59

LB
Troy
Brown

6-1 220lbs 4.74
LB
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
220lbs 6-1 4.74 65 373.7
58.9
Brown shows good quickness off the line of scrimmage and flashes the violent hands to win around the edge. He has an excellent feel for...
58

LB
Isaac
Slade-Mataut...

6-1 236lbs 4.76
LB
SMU   Mascot
SMU Mascot
236lbs 6-1 4.76 82 509.3
59.1
Slade-Matautia shows good quickness off the line of scrimmage and flashes the violent hands to win around the edge. Looks the part. Good...
57

LB
Forrest
Rhyne

6-1 233lbs 4.75
LB
Villanova   Mascot
Villanova Mascot
233lbs 6-1 4.75 78 472
60.0
Reads the quarterback to anticipate and is a candidate to play outside. Possesses strong upper body to be explosive and create turnovers...
56

LB/ED
Jordan
Wright

6-5 231lbs 4.71
LB/ED
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
231lbs 6-5 4.71 70 423.8
60.9
A bit stiff but makes the clean open-field tackle. Good effort in pursuit. Ferocious against the run and very good in coverage, is...
55

LB
Hayes
Maples

6-2 228lbs 4.55
LB
Southern Miss   Mascot
Southern Miss Mascot
228lbs 6-2 4.55 79 495.3
61.2
Has the combination of size and athleticism worthy of development. Maples will always try to plow into the largest piles and has a good...
54

LB
Bo
Bauer

6-2 235lbs 4.65
LB
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
235lbs 6-2 4.65 74 467.3
62.4
Closes quickly on relatively immobile quarterbacks. A consistently heavy hitter who flashes explosiveness and the ability to separate the...

2023 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Linebacker

We've compared players post combine 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.

For a much improved viewing experience (with more players) please view on a larger screen.

2023 NFL Draft Athleticism Chart - Linebacker

We've compared players 40 times and weight and charted them on the scatter chart below. You'll find the 40 time on the Y-axis and on the X-axis the weight in pounds.
The exceptional athletic freaks (determined by the combination of speed vs weight) will be found at the top right of the chart while the less impressive athletes will be sitting towards the bottom left.