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...
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...
54

LB/ED
Noah
Carter

6-5 250lbs 4.62
LB/ED
Georgia Tech   Mascot
Georgia Tech Mascot
250lbs 6-5 4.62 59 526.5
73.0
Carter is a developmental edge with a thin profile, a reserve who logged just 88 snaps behind Alabama's deep edge rotation but flashed good...
2

LB/ED
Dylan
Stewart

6-5 250lbs 4.60
LB/ED
South Carolina   Mascot
South Carolina Mascot
250lbs 6-5 4.60 2 4.5
91.1
Stewart is a long, explosive edge rusher with the bend and get-off of a top-ten pick, and he has produced disruption since the day he...
65

LB/ED
Cheta
Ofili

6-4 245lbs 4.56
LB/ED
TCU   Mascot
TCU Mascot
245lbs 6-4 4.56 60 528
63.6
Ofili is a fast, well-built edge rusher whose high school production and track background stand out. He has the physical tools to develop...
59

LB
Cole
Sullivan

6-4 230lbs 4.60
LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
230lbs 6-4 4.60 65 573.5
67.1
Sullivan is a ballhawk off-ball linebacker whose three interceptions and nose for the ball are the headline, a breakout sophomore who...
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...
42

LB/ED
Quintavius
Johnson

6-4 255lbs 4.68
LB/ED
Georgia   Mascot
Georgia Mascot
255lbs 6-4 4.68 49 385.7
75.0
Johnson has the build, background and coaching of an NFL edge defender, and Kirby Smart's staff trusted him enough to start all 14 games as...
25

LB
Christian
Alliegro

6-4 245lbs 4.55
LB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
245lbs 6-4 4.55 18 130
81.1
Alliegro is a fast, blitz-oriented linebacker whose pass rush from depth is the standout trait, a downhill closer who stoned Iowa for four...
17

LB/ED
Adam
Trick

6-4 250lbs 4.65
LB/ED
Texas Tech   Mascot
Texas Tech Mascot
250lbs 6-4 4.65 21 142.3
83.3
Trick is a powerful, productive edge rusher who broke out at Miami (Ohio) in 2025. He generated 67 pressures, made 36 run stops and 12.5...
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.