DRAFT TRACKER 2024

Inside linebacker with an excellent combination of size and strength to take on blocks and patrol the action from the second level. Colson’s upper-body strength and body control stand out when battling blocks or finishing tackles. He has adequate sideline-to-sideline range but needs to play with faster recognition to keep from getting trapped by climbing blocks. He doesn’t play with a trigger-happy, downhill mindset, so he misses out on playmaking opportunities. Colson is a tough guy with good stopping power and can handle himself in coverage. He projects as a good three-down linebacker, but improving block recognition and taking a few more chances could elevate him into the next tier at the position.

Wilson’s length and athletic profile could certainly push him up the board for some teams, but his history with injuries could tamp down his draft stock. He’s free-flowing in pursuit and is at his best as a run-and-hit hunter rather than a static defender faced with a downhill blocker. He has the burst to shoot downhill and make a tackle for loss but lacks the demeanor or play strength to consistently leverage run fits. Wilson will find himself near the football frequently when allowed to play freely and avoid the mess in the middle. He has third-down ability as a blitzer and is a talented cover man who can play zone or man coverage. Wilson has early starting potential but scheme fit and medical reports will play a big role in his evaluation.

Inside linebacker who plays with dogged determination and a nose for the football that helps him pack out the stat sheet. Trotter comes from NFL bloodlines and operates with consistency, play strength and a willingness to do the dirty work. He’s quick to diagnose and moves with exceptional body control and footwork to play around bodies and get to the rock. He’s not very big or long, but his football IQ makes it a moot point. He has adequate pursuit speed with good short-area burst and real talent in getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. Trotter can get to the ball with clear eyes and above-average efficiency and has a chance to be a long-time starter in the league.

Highly physical linebacker with elite top-end speed and a burning desire to get to the football that can lead to some inconsistencies in his play. Cooper is average at diagnosing the run but takes off around traffic on a mission to find the ball-carrier once he sees it. He can be undisciplined playing his run fits and takes unorthodox paths downhill, but he somehow finds ways to slither around blocks and make challenging tackles. Cooper is a punishing hitter/tackler from any spot on the field, but he’s going to overshoot the mark from time to time due to his lack of control in pursuit. He’s a capable quarterback spy, can blitz the pocket and will be an instant hit on special teams, but teams will need to balance the inconsistencies with the passionate run-and-hit mentality.

Gray's production, length and play speed will work in his favor, but he is better suited playing as a weak-side 'backer where he can run and chase the action. Finding and securing his run fits can be an issue due to a lack of play strength and technique near the line of scrimmage. His instincts are just average, but Gray can be a disruptive defender when playing proactively and taking aggressive, downhill shots rather than waiting on the action. His playing style won't be for everyone, but he does have backup potential if he's allowed to cut it loose and play fast rather than with force.

There are occasions when it can be tough to discern between Magee's instincts and his willingness to take aggressive tracks downhill at the first sight of an opening. He will void run-fit responsibilities at times but will also make more plays near the line of scrimmage. Magee lacks ideal size but plays with good strength and aggression and is able to bounce off bigger bodies to find his way to tackle tries from challenging angles. He has a good early trigger, but his sideline-to-sideline range is average. Magee needs to prove he can make plays with better discipline in order to become more than a solid backup with special teams value.

Watson is a throwback linebacker with the size, length and demeanor to handle the physical nature of life between the tackles. He plays with good diagnostic quickness and will punch and separate from most climbing blocks. Tight hips and a lack of pursuit speed seem to limit his ability to eat with solo tackles once plays flow wide or enter open space. There are too many bumpy moments on tape to expect him to hold up in coverage, but he’s better than average at disrupting when used as a blitzer. Watson’s size and production in impact categories are impressive, but athletic limitations could put a cap on his NFL production.

Three-year starter with solid production on a unit that has been full of talent during his tenure. Jacobs has good size and play strength but offers average range as a tackler. He plays with active hands and can work around blocks, but he's often a step slow in diagnosing the play. Jacobs can fit run gaps and make plays that are in front of him, but he doesn't show consistent enough field awareness to expect he'll make plays on all three downs. His speed testing was average at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his overall explosiveness was strong, which could make him a Day 3 target with backup and special teams potential.

Height-weight-speed prospect with explosive physical traits but major issues with consistency. Wallace looks the part and can run and hit when he’s locked in. However, he struggles to diagnose plays and execute his responsibilities at a standard NFL level. Teams will like the traits and his potential to play special teams, but he will need to prove he can play with better instincts and recognition to make it in the pros.

An off-ball linebacker with length, speed and agility, Hopper is lacking in field vision and instincts. He can be a step late to diagnose play design and has moments where he looks lost in coverage. Hopper has sideline-to-sideline range and plenty of physicality to hit what needs to be hit. There are holes in his game that can be exploited, but he has traits and should get a chance as an NFL backup with special teams value.

Eichenberg is passionate and tough with the desired mindset of an inside linebacker. While he plays with good physicality at the point of attack, he’s more of a fit-and-fill linebacker than one who will make plays and disrupt what the offense is trying to do in the run game. He’s a straight-line mover lacking ideal bend, speed and agility for open-field tackling and coverage duties. The production looks great but it might not translate into a long-term NFL run.

Sixth-year player and former walk-on known for both physical and mental toughness to overcome adversity. Injuries wiped out the better part of 2021 and 2022 for him, but he came back to post his most impressive production to date. He’s well-built and strong in his upper half. He can take on blocks or work around them but will find himself out of position due to a lack of instincts and patience. He doesn’t have great speed or short-area agility, so his margin for error is thin. He’s been a more successful tackle finisher than expected and leaves a mark when he hits. Ulofoshio’s best shot to stick around might be to shine as a core special teams member.

Angular linebacker with endless energy but a level of impatience that can occasionally pull him out of positioning. Liufau plays with good short-area burst and a willingness to step downhill and leverage his gaps. At times, he will move unnecessarily and get trapped behind a second-level blocker or lose track of where the play is headed. Liufau offers third-down value as a spot dropper with good field awareness and might have enough man-cover talent to line up over big slot targets from time to time. He appears to lack the instincts to be a consistent tackle-maker as a pro but does have the qualities to potentially compete as a nickel linebacker with special teams value as a Day 3 pick.

The former safety turned linebacker’s speed at Oregon’s pro day will catch the attention of scouts. Predictably, the tape shows mental errors and issues reading keys that might be expected from a newcomer to the position. His burst allows him to make up for missteps, and he can run down backs before they turn the corner. He needs to improve at block take-ons but is a sound tackler in space. Hill can cover man to man, has untapped blitz potential and can step into kick coverage quickly. He’s raw but flashes and might be worth a late-round pick to stash and develop.

Linebacker with muscular build and an unrelenting desire to chase after the football. Muasau plays with a phenomenal motor and has the instincts and recognition to get the jump on blocking schemes. He plays with good initial quickness but lacks extended pursuit speed in space. He will take shots downhill to spoil the action, but teams will have to live with missed tackles and inconsistent leverage in his pursuit. Muasau can handle some basic short-zone coverage but could get in trouble if the coverage expands into larger spaces. He has the potential to make the back end of a roster as a late-round pick or priority free-agent addition.

Inside linebacker who plays with consistency and technique that position coaches will appreciate. The son of a former NFL linebacker and current college coach, Sirmon sees the field clearly and is quick to diagnose and respond to the action. He has average short-area quickness and change-of-direction ability but will be in the right place at the right time. Despite his short arms, Sirmon has a knack for getting around blocks to leverage run fits and he’s been a consistent tackle finisher throughout his career. He’s smart but limited in coverage and is coming off a season-ending biceps injury, but he has the size and positional savvy to become an NFL backup and special teams performer.

Casey looks like and hits like an NFL inside linebacker but doesn't always seem to see the game like one. The instincts and play recognition fall below par, but the production still stands out. His high number of solo tackles displays an ability to work through blocks and hammer ball-carriers or pass catchers. Casey will take shots downhill when he reads his keys but needs to balance that aggression with more patience to keep from running himself into traffic. He's not the best fit for pass coverage, but he's an instant "yes" for special teams. If he runs well enough, Casey could find a home as a backup inside linebacker and special teams ace.

Undersized linebacker who needs a team willing to work around his size deficiencies and find a way to emphasize his playmaking mentality. DeLoach is built like a strong safety and zooms around the line of scrimmage, darting into gaps and disrupting play designs, but he'll have issues holding up when blockers find him. He's an athletic blitzer with excellent body control in pursuit. While he's physically capable in man coverage, there are a few too many mental busts in the passing game. His size will be a concern, but he has run-and-hit talent and might offer enough sub-package potential to make a roster and eventually see the field beyond special teams.

Former four-star recruit at Ohio State who ultimately became a first-team All-MAC linebacker in both seasons with Toledo. Gant is tall and possesses an athletic build with long arms. He’s instinctive as an inside linebacker and rarely displays panic or impatience when diagnosing, pursuing or tackling. He takes on blocks with adequate efficiency and is a balanced tackle finisher. He doesn’t appear to have plus speed and might need to play with better downhill flow as a pro. Gant’s football intelligence and skill level could make him worthy of a Day 3 selection and put him in position to battle for a backup spot at some point.

Bethune's linebacker play won't make it on most teaching tape, but it doesn't take much time to figure out that he's a football player. He's an inside linebacker with average size and questionable top-end speed, but he plays with reaction quickness. He'll take on blocks with aggression and plays with decent tackle strength in space. He has sound football IQ, but recognition of blocking scheme and play design can be inconsistent. He has good coverage awareness and can drag Y tight ends around the field. Bethune can be unorthodox, and he'll miss more tackles than you'd like, but he's productive, with a feel for the game that could see him land as a Day 3 linebacker with backup potential inside.

Chambers is a running back-turned-linebacker with three years of starting experience at his new position. His background seems to have spawned a natural feel for where the runner is headed, and he often ends up in or near that lane. He plays with decisiveness and quick lateral scrape in an attempt to stay ahead of the blocking scheme. He needs to get stronger and improve his block take-on technique, and there is still room for improvement against wide zone running plays. He's not a burner but is rangy enough for full-field pursuit and coverage duties. The physical traits are average, but his nose for the football puts him in line for a backup role with upward mobility.

Two-year starting linebacker with good size and athleticism but average speed and below-average instincts. Ford’s tackle count is almost evenly split between solo and assisted, which is a little unusual for an inside linebacker with multiple opportunities to play the role of sheriff. He lacks ideal anticipation to mirror the pathway of running backs and tends to be too impacted by encounters with blockers. He pursues the ball with good pace and has become a steady tackler in the open field. Ford has great hands and third-down value but might lack the consistency needed to stick on a roster long term.

Durable three-year starter with loads of tackle production on his résumé. Knight plays a floating, freestyling brand of football from the second level, looking for opportunities to knife in and make plays. While he racks up tackles, he fails to play within defensive structure full-time and will lose run fits and overflow action outside the tackle box. He has average speed and below-average man cover talent. His size and production will be looked upon favorably, but he might not play with the instincts needed to handle what he will see from NFL offenses.

Inside linebacker with an average frame but king-sized tackle production over his last three seasons. Johnson plays with a good feel for sifting through blocking schemes and runners’ lane choices. He’s an outstanding tackle-finisher who rarely misses, but he will get himself into trouble by sitting on the second level and allowing blockers to climb into him. He’s adequate in zone coverage but unlikely to be on the field for NFL passing downs. Johnson is smart and extremely productive on special teams, but he’s a little lacking in traits.

Reid is an average athlete with average size, but he’s smart, consistent and productive. With seven years of college experience, Reid knows the score and understands what the game looks like from the second level. He’s quick to read play design and can prevent blockers from landing flush on him as a run defender. He can drop into zone coverage and make quick tackles after the catch but doesn’t squeeze many routes to deter quarterbacks. He could have a chance to compete in camp for a back-end roster spot.

Future off-ball linebacker who plays with full-time tenacity and boundless energy. Jones’ value will mostly come as a special-teams ace who will play in all five phases. With kickoff rules changing, Jones deserves to receive additional attention thanks to his production on coverage teams during his college career. He flows hard to the football as a run defender and is urgent to find and tackle the ball-carrier, but he might fall below average as a coverage option. If a team can become comfortable with him as a backup linebacker, he could make an NFL roster as a core special-teamer.

Undersized but explosive, Okonkwo will need to find a team that can help him transition from edge defender to off-ball linebacker. He’s twitchy with excellent pursuit speed and keeps his motor running hot. He’s more athletic than skilled and will need additional schooling to read and respond as both a run and pass defender in space. It might be wise to utilize his rush talent off the edge on third downs or as part of a blitzing package. He might not get drafted, but Okonkwo has traits that could warrant a stash-and-develop approach to see if he can become a backup linebacker with special-teams value.

Six-year Wolverine who has shown steady improvement over the last two or three years. Barrett lacks ideal size to take on big blockers and doesn't play proactively enough to stay ahead of blockers. His lateral burst to pursue bounce-wide runs is just average, but when he lines up his target, he can be a ferocious striker and wrap-up tackler. Barrett's anticipation and instincts leave too much to be desired, but he might have enough cover talent and special teams ability to fight for a roster spot as a nickel/dime linebacker.

Team leader with above-average production who carries good lean mass on his frame. Bertrand's stats are appealing, and he plays with a decent nose for the football, but his lack of speed and short-area quickness could be a major concern as teams project his ability to keep up with NFL skill players on the move. He needs to get much better at taking on or slipping blocks and finding a way to improve his angles and positioning to become a more consistent tackler. Bertrand could get a look on Day 3, but special teams might need to be his calling card.

Inside/outside linebacker prospect with tight hips but explosive movements in space. Hunter made the move inside in 2023 but isn't ready to read play design and respond with the quickness and accuracy needed for the position at this time. He's fast in a straight line but takes questionable angles as a tackler and will often dive too soon, leading to excessive misses. Hunter plays with decent hands and quick feet but will likely need to kick back outside. His best shot at making a roster is with a huge workout and a big camp as a special teams contributor. 

Bailey is a productive inside linebacker with below-average size and average pursuit speed. The tackle totals are good but would be much more impressive if he played with better anticipation and play recognition. He would benefit from operating with better downhill aggression to stay ahead of the blocking scheme. He needs to become more adept at slipping blocks, as he loses too often when blockers get up to him. Bailey's run defense falls below the mark, but he’s very natural and effective in coverage. He’s a likely undrafted free agent who needs to improve his run take-on before he can make a squad.

Sixth-year senior with a nose for the football and a feel for how to play linebacker. Andreessen is well-schooled from a technical standpoint, playing with square pads, quick hands and a desire to leverage his gaps. His pro day results will create additional attention for him, but extended tape study creates concerns regarding his lateral quickness and range outside the box as a run stopper. He’s built for special teams consideration and has a good football IQ, but he will be overmatched in man coverage. Andreessen is a productive college linebacker with intriguing traits but a challenging road to the NFL ahead.

Linebacker with average size and good production that doesn't always reflect his consistency of play. Gibbs falls below the cutoff line as an NFL athlete, lacking explosiveness and suddenness in his play. The instincts and paths to the action often create inefficiencies as a run defender, and he doesn't have the athleticism to handle man coverage asks in the passing game. The college production is a nice starting point, but he might not have the athleticism or skill level needed to make a roster.

With average size and instincts, Speights appeared to be more comfortable in the comfort of the Oregon State defense than he was at LSU in 2023. He can be hit or miss in reading play design and finding his best positioning to make plays and he tends to sit back and wait a hair too long. He plays with active feet and good lateral slide quickness and rarely drifts into traffic unnecessarily. He sees what he hits in the box but lacks agility as an open-field tackler and can be exploited in coverage. The pre-2023 tape is better, but he might not be enough of a downhill alpha and playmaker to garner draft attention.

Powerful and thick with an old-school mentality as an interior linebacker, Njongmeta is limited by heavier feet and a lack of speed or agility. He's physical in block take-ons and shows an ability to crash through gaps as a run blitzer, but his impact on a game will diminish once the action leaves the box. He's decent at reading the run design but misses too many tackles against runners with wiggle. Njongmeta might appeal to teams desiring depth as a two-down thumper, but he might not have enough functional cover talent to be more than that.

Linebacker with the sense of urgency and nose for the football that helped him stack big production totals. Mitchell is patient and efficient in play diagnosis, but he needs to improve his hands and take-on strength to make up for his lack of short-area athleticism. He ran poorly at his pro day and that shows up on tape with his inability to maintain leverage when pursuing runners wide. Mitchell’s tackle numbers look great, but the missed tackles are an issue, as are his athletic deficiencies in coverage. Mitchell is unlikely to be drafted but should find his way into a camp.