Who are the linebackers who’ll matter in the 2020 NFL Draft, and what’s the college perspective on all of the top prospects?
2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings
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It’s not the best of years for linebackers.
Many of the top ones fall into the edge rusher category, and the ones on this list are mostly tweener types who don’t necessarily fit a set role. There’s terrific value later, and a few great ones at the top, but not a whole bunch in the middle.
From the college perspective, here are the top linebackers in your 2020 NFL Draft, starting with the ones who’ll be in the mix, and then diving into the five who’ll actually matter over the next ten years of the pro football world.
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15. Cameron Brown, Penn State
Size: 6-5, 233
The Good: Very tall, very long, and with an interesting skill set that doesn’t really fit a set type, he was a nice all-around producer for the Nittany Lions over his four years with 198 tackles with 4.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss and 11 broken up passes. There’s room to get bigger, but as is he’s physical and can bring the pop.
The Not-So-Good: The pass rushing production wasn’t there with just two sacks in each of the last two years. He’s not really an edge rusher for the next level, and he’s not built like a normal outside linebacker.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Take him for the upside. Can he become a pass rusher? Can he offer a little of everything as an outside linebacker? There’s just enough to his game to make a late-round call that he’ll bring his experience and hitting ability to become a nice part of a rotation, and maybe a whole lot more.
Projected Round: Fifth
14. Darrell Taylor, Tennessee
Size: 6-4, 267
The Good: There’s a chance he could grow into an edge rusher, or he’ll be used as a big outside linebacker with the upside to become a devastating pass rusher. It took a little while, but he grew into a fantastic pass rusher making 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss over his last two years. The skills are all there, but …
The Not-So-Good: Considering he has the tools, he wasn’t quite as consistent or productive as he should’ve been. A true tweener, he’s likely going to be seen as a swing backup in a few spots if he doesn’t crank up the plays in the backfield right away.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: A great shot for the stars, he’ll likely fall deep into Day Three with the possibility of becoming a real, live pass rusher who can take over games. If he can finally put it all together, look out.
Projected Round: Fifth
CFN in 60: 2020 1st Overall Draft Pick Odds
13. Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
Size: 6-0, 234
The Good: A true quarterback for a linebacking corps and a defense, he got on the field right away for Miami and ended up with 356 tackles with 12 sacks and 46.5 tackles for loss in an ultra-productive career. A thumper who wraps up everything that comes his way, stick him in the inside and let him take care of everything against the run.
The Not-So-Good: Way slow and a bit smallish, he’s compact and built well, but he doesn’t have NFL speed to do anything outside of the hash marks, and there’s not going to be anything happening in pass coverage. The next-level tools aren’t there, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: No, he might not have the physical traits most NFL teams will want, but he’s a football player – a coach will look for any reason to get him on the field. Blow off everything else – he’ll produce.
Projected Round: Fifth
12. Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech
Size: 6-0, 240
The Good: With good size and excellent speed, he’s got good enough tools to play in the league, and he’s got the experience and production to be ready right away. A four-year starter, he finished with 360 tackles with 6.5 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. All the abilities are there to be even better at the next level.
The Not-So-Good: Even though he can run, he’s not much in pass coverage and he doesn’t do too much was a pass rusher. He can get behind the line – 20 tackles for loss last season – but don’t expect him to be a regular at getting to the quarterback.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s got enough to be a big-time factor as an inside linebacker – don’t even think of throwing him on the outside and asking him to get into the backfield. The tools are terrific and the upside is there to be an outstanding get outside of the top 100. If he’s around in the fourth round, jump all over him – he’s the value starter everyone is looking for.
Projected Round: Fourth
11. Troy Dye, Oregon
Size: 6-3, 231
The Good: The type of defender everyone wants, he’ll sniff out every play, has the range to get to the ball, and will be a leader and coach on the field from the moment he gets out there. An ultra-productive four-year starter for the Ducks, he made 391 tackles with 13 sacks and 41.5 tackles for loss. Fast and athletic enough to be decent in pass coverage, he always knew where the ball seemed to be going with 14 broken up passes and five picks.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not quite built for this. He’s tough, and he played 48 games in college, but he’s a tall, wiry defender and not really a thumper. It’s all optics more than anything else, but he just doesn’t look the part of a normal NFL linebacker. There’s a chance he ends up playing at around 225 if he doesn’t work to bulk up.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: A really, really tough call, he’s worth it early on Day Three mainly because of his uncanny ability to think and know the game. His biggest impact might be as a coach one day, but until then, go ahead and take the shot that he could turn into a volume tackler who ends up being too good to take off the field.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings Top Ten
2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings Top Ten
10. Logan Wilson, Wyoming
Size: 6-2, 241
The Good: A pure tackler who gets in on everything, he was a high-end four-year producer for Wyoming with 409 tackles, seven sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. Throw in his ten picks, and he can fill up a stat sheet. With his experience, he’s ready from Day One.
The Not-So-Good: He’s missing the raw athleticism to be more than a tackler on the inside. Don’t expect him to be a pass rusher on the outside, and he’s not going to do much of anything in pass coverage at the next level.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’s not that slow. He might not have elite speed, but he’s a ball player who’ll sit on the inside and clean up all the messes. If he’s surrounded by athleticism on the outside, he’ll be a fantastic value pick with the upside to become a team’s leading tackler.
Projected Round: Fourth
9. Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
Size: 6-1, 224
The Good: A monster over the last two seasons, he made 197 tackles with 6.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss with 15 broken up passes. He’s got the strength to overcome his lack of bulk, he has a brilliant feel for the game, and he’ll be great in space. Expect him to be all-around the ball.
The Not-So-Good: He’s way too small. There’s not enough mass to put him on the inside, and he’s not necessarily a next-level pass rusher. The only way this works is to surround him with bulk, let him fly around, and hope he can get in on everything.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll take some creativity to find the right home for him, but he blew up as a top prospect in the scouting world as someone who just knows how to play. No, he won’t fit in a set role, but that might be okay – just let him make tackles.
Projected Round: Third
8. Evan Weaver, Cal
Size: 6-2, 237
The Good: A tackler’s tackler, he put up ridiculous numbers over the last two seasons, following up a 155-stop junior season with 181 tackles as a senior He’s not a pass rusher, but he got behind the line for 8.5 career sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He’s not great in pass coverage, but he broke up 11 passes with two picks. If there’s a play to be made, he’ll do it.
The Not-So-Good: How much do you care about the raw tools? He doesn’t have a whole lot of quickness, explosion, or speed. He doesn’t have the right body type and there’s absolutely nothing about his game that looks pretty, except …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Evan Weaver wants to tackle you. He wants to tackle your family, your friends, and everyone you’ve ever met or come in contact with. He wants to tackle everything, and he just might do it. Don’t draft him, let him slip, and you’ll be kept up at nights worried that he’ll end up tackling your entire team when he gets the chance.
Projected Round: Fifth
7. Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
Size: 6-2, 256
The Good: When he was on, he could be a force of will on an Alabama defense full of those types of players. He’s got the right game of a hybrid edge rusher who can work as a do-it-all outside linebacker, coming up with 193 career tackles with 14.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss, turning into more of a playmaker behind the line over his final two seasons. He’s got the combination of strength and quickness to keep on working and getting into the backfield.
The Not-So-Good: It seems like he should be a killer NFL pass rusher, but that might not be his role. He was terrific over his Bama career, but he’s not quite the freakish type of athlete associated with most star defenders under Nick Saban.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: To be fair, he did get better as his career went on, finishing up with a quietly strong senior campaign. However, there was something a bit missing. He’s a great all-around prospect who’ll instantly fit in as a productive starter, but he might not be the flashy disruptive force some might be hoping for.
Projected Round: Third
6. Malik Harrison, Ohio State
Size: 6-3, 247
The Good: A stat-sheet star for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, he made 156 tackles with six sacks and 25 tackles for loss with eight broken up passes. Part of the mix for four years, he’s experienced to go along with all the right tools. The explosion and good enough 4.66 40 speed are all there.
The Not-So-Good: The knocks are mostly cosmetic. He’s not the most efficient of tacklers when he has to get to the ball, he’s a wee bit rangy, and he’s not going to be the pass defender you might want in an all-around linebacker.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He never, ever, ever, received enough credit for all he did for the Ohio State defense. Chase Young and Jeff Okudah were the superstars, but Harrison did all the dirty work when those two were being erased or avoided.
Projected Round: Third
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings No. 5
2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings Top Five
5. Josh Uche, Michigan
Size: 6-1, 245
The Good: Try to ignore what he’s not and just get into what he is and what he can be. He’s got a great burst, he’s a pass rusher from wherever he works, and he’s got the upside to find a role right away as a disruptive force who can take over games on pure passing downs.
He only made 52 tackles in his four years, but he cranked up 14.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons as he grew into the job. He’s more then athletic enough with the strength to be a problem – even if he doesn’t quite look the part.
The Not-So-Good: What is he? He’s not really built to be an edge rusher, and he’s not quite an outside linebacker who’ll fit into a traditional NFL role. For now, forget about him in pass coverage like a traditional linebacker, and he’s going to get pounded on by any offensive lineman he can’t flash by.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: It’ll be easy to talk yourself out of him. There’s enough to worry about to think he might be just a guy since he doesn’t fit into any sort of box, but he’s got the upside to grow into a phenomenal pass rusher once he develops a few more moves and tricks.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings No. 4
4. Patrick Queen, LSU
Size: 6-0, 229
The Good: An emerging star who busted out last season with 85 tackles with three sacks and 12 tackles for loss, he’s an ultra-quick guided missile who finds his way to the ball and delivers the big hit. He might not have the build to hold up as a true thumper, but he’s got the sideline-to-sideline speed to get everywhere.
There’s still room to grow, too. He wasn’t used too much as a pass rusher, but he’s got the explosion to become one. Fine in pass coverage, he’s got the athleticism to turn into one of the best cover-linebackers in the draft.
The Not-So-Good: He’s just not all that big. Small and compact, he’s got to play in a system with huge bulk in front of him and strong thumpers around him. He’ll get erased by anyone who gets to him and locks on – disengaging is going to be an issue. There’s a wee bit of an experience issue – to nitpick – having only kicked it all in for one year.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: There’s a whole lot to like about what he is and what he can become. There’s no overcoming his lack of size and bulk, but his speed, hitting ability, and upside are limitless. Blow off the lack of starting experience – there’s a lot of tread on the tires with the potential to be a volume-tackle game-wrecker once he gets used to the next-level life.
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings No. 3
3. Zack Baun, Wisconsin
Size: 6-2, 238
The Good: A strong all-around pass rusher and hitter, he stepped up his game as a senior with 75 tackles with 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss – he lived behind the line.
Already terrific, he’s still improving, still growing into the role as a potential star in the backfield, and he’s got the hitting ability to work as an offensive linebacker in any system. Fast enough in the workouts, he’s football-fast with little wasted motion and great angles.
The Not-So-Good: He’s not really the prototype. Do you care that he’s not big enough to be an edge rusher on a regular basis and that he’s not quite the ultra-athletic flash of some of the star prospects in this draft? He’s good as is, but he’s still getting down the pass rushing role and he might not be there quite yet.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Don’t assume he’ll be TJ Watt or any of the other great recent NFL outside linebackers to come out of Wisconsin lately, but he’s a good, sound veteran with a massive upside. There’s no bust potential and there could be a gigantic boom.
Projected Round: Second
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings No. 2
2. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma
Size: 6-2, 241
The Good: The inside linebacker’s inside linebacker, Murray has 4.5 speed, explosive cutting ability, and elite athleticism packed into an ultra-rocked up hitter with a body right out of NFL central casting.
For all the knocks on the lack of defense on Oklahoma and the Big 12 over the last several years, he did his part to try cleaning up on every tackle with 325 stops in three years with 9.5 sacks and 36.5 tackles for loss.
He has unlimited range, can get behind the line, and is a leader’s leader who acts and plays the part of a next-level defensive star.
The Not-So-Good: His main issues come with trying too hard. He’ll get too amped up and too aggressive that he’ll miss a few plays here and there. He doesn’t offer a whole lot in pass coverage and is an inside linebacker only.
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: He’ll fall down the loaded first round a little bit, but he’ll be a steal somewhere around the 20s. Expect him to be a team and league leader in stops as he takes over a defense right away and makes it his.
Projected Round: First
NEXT: 2020 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings No. 1
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1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
Size: 6-4, 238
The Good: A brilliant all-around playmaker who breaks the mold, he’s a game-wrecker no matter how you want to use him.
It’s hard to call him a prototype because he doesn’t fit a set role, but guys with his size and hitting ability who run 4.39 40s and can explode for an almost 40″ vertical leap will always find a role.
He’s a massive safety who plays linebacker, can get into the backfield, and uses his speed and his smarts to get all over the field and always be in the right position. He made 237 career tackles with 11 sacks, 28.5 tackles for loss, and got better when the ball was in the air with three picks as a junior.
The Not-So-Good: You might have to get a wee bit creative. He’s not quite as bit as you might like for an edge rusher, he’s not really a true inside linebacker, and he doesn’t have a traditional NFL fit, but …
NFL Draft College Perspective Thought: Yeah, he doesn’t have a normal NFL fit because he’s too ridiculously fast for any linebacker. He’s got freakish tools, all the playmaking ability you could dream of in a defender, and the ability to almost change the idea of what an NFL linebacker should be. Put him out there, let him use his range, and let him destroy offenses.
Projected Round: Top Ten Overall
