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
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...
69

LB
Michael
Harris

6-0 223lbs 4.65
LB
South Florida   Mascot
South Florida Mascot
223lbs 6-0 4.65 80 710
61.0
Harris is a fast linebacker and former ESPN 300 recruit and has made a few plays as a pass rusher. He made plays behind the line at...
50

LB
Nicholas
Rodriguez

6-0 225lbs 4.60
LB
Missouri   Mascot
Missouri Mascot
225lbs 6-0 4.60 61 544.5
74.0
Rodriguez held up well across the board on a rotational snap count, a quick, instinctive off-ball linebacker whose stout against the run...
46

LB
Robert
Woodyard Jr....

6-0 233lbs 4.63
LB
Missouri   Mascot
Missouri Mascot
233lbs 6-0 4.63 40 334
74.0
Woodyard has been one of the SEC's best run defenders since moving to Missouri. He reads plays quickly, fills downhill with purpose and has...
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...
15

LB
Xavier
Atkins

6-0 210lbs 4.45
LB
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
210lbs 6-0 4.45 15 87.5
84.5
Atkins is one of the most explosive linebackers in the class. He has rare speed, beats blockers to the spot and was one of the most...
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...
64

LB
Dion
Crawford

6-1 243lbs 4.67
LB
Michigan State   Mascot
Michigan State Mascot
243lbs 6-1 4.67 79 702.5
65.0
Crawford is a tough, productive linebacker who has been a tackling machine since moving to Michigan State. He pursues well and has 19 stops...
63

LB
Tylen
Singleton

6-1 227lbs 4.63
LB
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
227lbs 6-1 4.63 57 514.5
66.0
Singleton is a rangy, instinctive linebacker who was a decorated high school player. He flashed his ability with nine tackles in the 2025...
55

LB
Edwin
Spillman

6-1 225lbs 4.65
LB
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
225lbs 6-1 4.65 56 491
72.5
Spillman is a productive downhill linebacker whose anchors against the run, an ascending player who logged fifty tackles and thirty stops...
52

LB
Owen
Heinecke

6-1 226lbs 4.62
LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
226lbs 6-1 4.62 48 383.5
73.1
Heinecke's path to a roster runs through special teams, and the tape backs that up clearly. Watch him on punt and kick coverage and you...
45

LB
Kip
Lewis

6-1 226lbs 4.62
LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
226lbs 6-1 4.62 41 335.5
74.4
Lewis is an experienced, athletic linebacker who has been part of Oklahoma's defense for four seasons. He does his best work as a blitzer,...

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.