Linebacker Rankings 2027 NFL Draft

70 linebackers ranked

LINEBACKER RANKINGS 2027 NFL DRAFT

This is the deepest linebacker class we have graded. Five sit inside our top thirty-two, more than in any of the previous six years, and two are inside the top six.

Texas's Colin Simmons leads it after winning the SEC sack title with ten sacks and 59 pressures, having already become the first Longhorn to take national freshman of the year. Notre Dame's Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is the off-ball counterweight, a Butkus Award finalist in high school who lined up in the slot and on the line as a chess piece before a season-ending knee injury in November. South Carolina's Dylan Stewart, the top-ranked edge recruit in his class, forced three fumbles and generated 37 pressures as a sophomore.

The two jobs sit side by side here and they are not interchangeable. Simmons and Stewart rush the passer off the edge; Viliamu-Asa is a true off-ball defender who covers, fills and lines up in the slot. The pass rushers carry the higher grades.
LAST UPDATED: 11/03/2026

Player Rankings - Linebacker

# Player Pos H/W/S Team Weight Height 40YD AVG POS RANK AVG OVR RANK Rating Summary
58

LB/ED
Desmond
Umeozulu

6-6 255lbs 4.90
LB/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
255lbs 6-6 4.90 73 621.5
68.0
Umeozulu is a long, developmental edge whose 78-inch frame and four-star pedigree are the selling points after a quiet college career at...
49

LB/ED
Elijah
Rushing

6-6 290lbs 4.85
LB/ED
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
290lbs 6-6 4.85 52 394.5
74.0
Rushing is a traits-and-pedigree bet, a former five-star with a massive 275-pound frame and 78-inch length who has barely played behind...
56

LB
Joe
Barna

6-4 280lbs 4.79
LB
Illinois   Mascot
Illinois Mascot
280lbs 6-4 4.79 47 379.5
70.4
Barna is a big, physical lineman who has moved from outside linebacker to the defensive line this season. He plays with power, anchors...
33

LB
Matt
Rose

6-2 230lbs 4.78
LB
Stanford   Mascot
Stanford Mascot
230lbs 6-2 4.78 27 201
78.9
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...
28

LB
Austin
Romaine

6-2 240lbs 4.75
LB
Texas Tech   Mascot
Texas Tech Mascot
240lbs 6-2 4.75 32 241.5
80.8
Romaine is a downhill thumper whose stout against the run, a productive two-time all-conference linebacker who piled up forty-one stops and...
57

LB/ED
Zina
Umeozulu

6-5 272lbs 4.73
LB/ED
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
272lbs 6-5 4.73 58 526.5
70.0
Umeozulu is a big, powerful edge defender who has grown into a bigger role at Texas this season. He sets the edge well, has not missed a...
66

LB
Justin
Cryer

6-1 241lbs 4.70
LB
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
241lbs 6-1 4.70 81 733
62.7
Cryer is an experienced, productive linebacker and a fixture in the Texas lineup. He has an interception against Ole Miss and a sack...
53

LB
Keon
Wylie

6-2 228lbs 4.70
LB
Virginia Tech   Mascot
Virginia Tech Mascot
228lbs 6-2 4.70 50 393
73.0
Wylie is a rotational off-ball linebacker whose run defense gives him a role on early downs, a flexible piece who can drop or rush and...
44

LB
Rolijah
Hardy

5-11 228lbs 4.70
LB
Indiana   Mascot
Indiana Mascot
228lbs 5-11 4.70 44 363.5
74.8
Hardy is a productive, instinctive linebacker who has been a key part of Indiana's defense for two seasons. He reads runs quickly, finishes...
37

LB
Amare
Campbell

6-0 230lbs 4.70
LB
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
230lbs 6-0 4.70 36 278
77.3
Campbell is a high-volume, downhill linebacker who led Penn State with eighty-three tackles and forty-eight run stops, a productive run...
14

LB/ED
Teitum
Tuioti

6-3 263lbs 4.70
LB/ED
Oregon   Mascot
Oregon Mascot
263lbs 6-3 4.70 14 86.2
84.7
Tuioti is a heavy, powerful edge who sets the edge against the run and pushes the pocket as a rusher. He led Oregon in sacks, tackles and...
11

LB/ED
Princewill
Umanmielen

6-4 244lbs 4.70
LB/ED
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
244lbs 6-4 4.70 8 55.6
84.9
Umanmielen is a bendy, productive pass rusher who ranks among the most disruptive players in the SEC this fall. He has 10 sacks and 29...

2027 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.

2027 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.