2027 NFL Draft preseason positional ratings: Linebackers

Editor’s display: That is the fourth installment of Dane Brugler’s 2027 NFL Draft Summer time Scouting collection. Out of date score: Extensive receivers | Defensive tackles | Running backs

Linebacker isn’t thought to be a “top rate” save on draft weekend, but there isn’t a denying its importance to an NFL protection.

Whilst I don’t mediate we will be aware an off-ball linebacker drafted as early as No. 7 subsequent April, as Sonny Sorts used to be within the 2026 draft, the ’27 elegance may just neatly even be a expertise-rich group. Luxuriate on this earlier draft, lets neatly neatly perhaps be aware a handful of potential high-50 linebackers.

(Tag: An asterisk represents draft-eligible underclassmen. Heights and weights are what NFL groups lately endure on document for each player, in line with league assets.)

1. Sammy Brown, Clemson (6-2, 234)*

Best trait: Explosive pace

Brown is a gradual-sized linebacker and plays fancy one of the fastest guys at the sphere. He moves loose to without headaches free up and power to the soccer, the instruct of his measurement to power through touch without impeding his range. He brings the construct of explosiveness that NFL groups covet at linebacker.

Given his characteristics, it shouldn’t be beautiful to be informed Brown used to be a five-broad name recruit and the easiest maximum likely-ranked player in Clemson’s 2024 recruiting elegance. He’s a dynamic pursuit athlete.

Must enhance: Playmaking talents in coverage

Brown is an above-moderate measurement/pace athlete, however he’s aloof creating his coverage talents. This upcoming season, scouts are keen to note him higher hint path combos in zone coverage and level to advanced coverage angles to endure an affect on passing lanes. As his situational spacing will recover, his coverage consistency and playmaking will transform a energy.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

Necessarily based totally totally most commonly on summer time scouting, Brown is the made up our minds LB1 coming into the 2026 season. A Butkus Award winner in immoderate school, Brown used to be a sizzling commodity as a recruit and spurned his space specific Georgia (and plenty of different diverse excessive-profile methods) to track with Clemson. He speedy lived as so much because the hype as ACC Defensive Rookie of the Yr in 2024, then led the Tigers in tackles (107) as a sophomore, earning first-team All-ACC honors.

Brown is a enormous-time athlete, and that can many times be his basis as a player, however his tackling technique, diagnose talents and motor are all strengths, as efficiently — and they’re proceeding to get better. Clemson has had a defensive player decided on in the primary round of 3 of the former 4 drafts, and Brown is up subsequent in that pipeline.

2. Chris Cole, Georgia (6-3, 235)*

Best trait: Freaky measurement/pace athleticism

Due to his period and play pace, Cole used to be asked to collect a bit of bit little bit of each factor last season coming off the bench for the Georgia protection. Throw at the Alabama or Kentucky tapes, and you are going to be aware him discover space as a meander rusher; towards Texas and Ole Disregard, he fits the tight terminate on deep crossers in coverage.

Cole can play the “Jack” edge carry out suitable as without headaches as line up stacked, the latter of which allows him to turn his hips and flow to the soccer as he defends sideline to sideline.

Must enhance: Take on stout-time starting up snaps

Having averaged 30 defensive snaps in line with sport last season as a sophomore, Cole has plenty of experience, however absolute best one starting up to his name. He’ll transfer right into a extra increased carry out in 2026, because the Georgia coaches discover to maximise his toolsy capacity location. Scouts are keen to note if he is up for it.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

“Wait, who’s No. 9?!”

That quiz appeared in my notes for CJ Allen whilst finding out Georgia’s 2025 protection because of Cole ceaselessly flashed on each tape. Luxuriate in Brown, Cole used to be a five-broad name immoderate school recruit and earned SEC All-Freshman honors in his first Twelve months in Athens. No subject being a reserve last Twelve months as a sophomore, he aloof led the Bulldogs in sacks (4.5) whilst finishing fourth in tackles (59).

Kirby Excellent has sent plenty of productive linebackers to the next level, and Cole desires to be subsequent. NFL groups covet his lengthy, athletic assemble-every factor capacity location at the save.

3. Xavier Atkins, Auburn (6-0, 210)*

Best trait: Rabid pursuit talents

It’s in all probability you can neatly neatly perhaps moreover’t survey the Auburn protection without Atkins drawing your eyes through flashing his nonstop pursuit talents. He skillfully makes instruct of his agility when stacked within the field to maintain himself natty, and his last pace jumps off the veil. His eyes are many times focused at the soccer to replicate and attack.

The final be mindful instance of Atkins’ twitchy, rabid pursuit got here at the Arkansas tape. Quarterback Taylen Green gave defenses grief all season in conjunction with his legs, however he controlled absolute best 14 rushing yards towards Auburn — most commonly due to Atkins’ spying talents. Atkins carried out the sport with 13 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pressured fumble.

Must enhance: How he’s thought to be in spite of his measurement

“I do know he’s smaller, however…” is how virtually each NFL scout began their solution when I asked about Atkins.

Whilst there isn’t grand he can construct about his measurement, there are the type of selection of more than a few issues about his sport that convert the doubters. If he is going to be an early NFL draft select, nevertheless, Atkins should proceed to track that he can conquer the lack of absolute best measurements and be a continuing playmaker.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

After being born and raised in Louisiana, Atkins carried out his immoderate school ball within the Houston space. Although he wasn’t even thought to be a high-50 recruit in Texas, LSU gave him of venture to close abet to his space specific. After one season in Baton Rouge, Atkins jumped into the portal and transferred to Auburn, the save he loved a breakout 2025 season (SEC-handiest 17 tackles for loss; team-handiest 84 whole tackles; 9 sacks).

Atkins became round around the entrance seven, from inside of stacked to the begin air edge, and it’s going to probably be sharp to note his carry out create in 2026 beneath a logo contemporary Auburn teaching group. No subject his alignment, he’s proven he can flow to the soccer and close to fancy a ton of bricks. His NFL projection is a tad subtle because of his measurement and usage, however Atkins is successfully-liked across the league.

4. Tony Rojas, Penn Pronounce (6-2, 234)*

Best trait: Rangy athleticism

Penn Pronounce is known for generating freakish athletes, and Rojas belongs in that conversation. Necessarily based totally totally most commonly on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks Tick list,” the Virginia local runs within the 4.3s within the 40-yard flee, plus has a 37 1/2-lumber vertical and a huge jump of 10 feet, 5 inches. That athleticism totally translates to the sector in Rojas’ overall range and pursuit talents.

It’s in all probability you can neatly neatly perhaps moreover be aware his athletic characteristics towards a handy guide a rough offense at the Oregon tape. The primary clip finds his last burst to the begin air; on the second one, Rojas doesn’t discover outmatched when asked to turn and hotfoot in coverage with Kenyon Sadiq and his 4.3 pace.

Must enhance: Go back to pre-harm construct

Rojas produced secure tape last September previous than suffering a torn ACL during be aware, an injury which sidelined him for the relief of the 2025 season and 2026 spring practices. Reviews coming out of the program this summer time are particular that Rojas is progressing efficiently and needs to be a actually an important percentage of the protection this season. Can he convey jointly the save he left off? How grand rust will there be?

2027 NFL Draft outlook

A productive linebacker and working abet in immoderate school, Rojas made up our minds to point of interest on protection in school and earned All-Colossal Ten honors as a sophomore starter for the Nittany Lions. He used to be on a equivalent pace last season previous than his ACL injury derailed his junior Twelve months, and Penn Pronounce for bolt felt his absence towards UCLA, Ohio Pronounce and plenty of different diverse fighters down the stretch.

Masses should meander suitable for Rojas to reside as so much as this immoderate preseason score — he desires to close abet wholesome, maintain wholesome and proceed to acquire on his limited pattern of 2025 tape. Time will account for, however Rojas has the athletic tools and competitive power to be an early-spherical prospect when at stout efficiently being.

5. Whit Weeks, LSU (6-2, 225)

Best trait: How he maneuvers round blocks

The primary takeaway from Weeks’ tape is his excessive-energy play style. Whilst he loves to play snappy and physically, he moreover remains beneath maintain an eye fixed on and divulges a 6th sense for what is able to occur. Those instincts wait on him anticipate blockading angles, permitting him to location up various maneuvers round potential roadblocks between him and the soccer.

Weeks’ capacity to elude blockers illustrates each his tantalizing athleticism and soccer instincts.

Must enhance: Rob-on energy

He has a knack for fending off blocks, however Weeks is inconsistent escaping as soon as blockers discover their hands on him. He has shorter hands with absolute best reasonable pop, so scouts are hoping to note advanced play energy and shed efficiency on his 2026 tape, specifically given how in overall he blitzes and works downhill.

2027 NFL Draft outlook

The end-ranked senior linebacker in my ratings, Weeks introduced himself as a long run early-spherical NFL prospect with an All-SEC sophomore season in 2024. He used to be anticipated to be a percentage of the 2026 NFL Draft after his junior Twelve months, however a damaged ankle plagued him all over the 2025 season and brought on his go back to Baton Rouge for one last season.

Weeks is a really entertaining linebacker with the athleticism and instincts that can translate efficiently to the unswerving sport. As a two-Twelve months group captain, his passionate technique to soccer off and on the sector is one different strong selling level that can communicate to unswerving coaches. Weeks is predicted to be a Day 2 draft select.

Most sensible 20 senior linebacker chances:

1. Weeks
2. Arion Carter, Tennessee (6-1, 240)
3. Cade Uluave, BYU (6-1, 231)
4. Suntarine Perkins, Ole Disregard (6-1, 216)
5. Kip Lewis, Oklahoma (6-1, 223)
6. Raylen Wilson, Georgia (6-0, 227)
7. Owen Heinecke, Oklahoma (6-2, 227)
8. Isaiah Glasker, BYU (6-5, 238)
9. Rasheem Biles, Texas (6-1, 225)
10. Xe’ree Alexander, Washington (6-2, 237)
11. Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame (6-2, 232)
12. Kam Robinson, Virginia (6-1, 238)
13. Jordan Hall, Michigan Pronounce (6-3, 249)
14. Caleb Woodson, Alabama (6-2, 234)
15. Isaiah Jones, Indiana (6-1, 225)
16. Jaylen Sneed, Notre Dame (6-1, 225)
17. Antonio Watts, Louisville (6-0, 225)
18. Daymion Sanford, Texas A&M (6-2, 230)
19. Jeremiah Telander, Tennessee (6-1, 235)
20. Ben Roberts, Texas Tech (6-3, 245)

Most sensible 10 draft-eligible underclassmen:

1. Brown
2. Cole
3. Atkins
4. Rojas
5. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame (6-3, 230)
6. Luke Ferrelli, Ole Disregard (6-3, 230)
7. Payton Pierce, Ohio Pronounce (6-2, 225)
8. Myles Graham, Florida (6-0, 229)
9. Rolijah Hardy, Indiana (5-11, 225)
10. Ty’Anthony Smith, Texas (6-1, 220)