DRAFT TRACKER 2025

Campbell has the build and traits of an Alabama linebacker but might need to upgrade in some areas. He doesn’t play with early instincts or play recognition and is inconsistent in challenging blockers and leveraging his run fits. Campbell uses his speed and athleticism to help mitigate mistakes and get to the football at a relatively high rate. He’s a rangy, consistent open-field tackler who excels on third downs as a fluid blitzer and impressive cover talent. The elite traits and athletic talent will be tantalizing, but the best way to utilize him might be as a full-time 3-4 rush linebacker, where he can play more proactively instead of reactively as an off-ball linebacker.

Schwesinger went from walk-on to All-American at UCLA. He’s a human bloodhound, pairing elite instincts with an understanding of blocking schemes and run tracks. The pursuit speed is average but his play recognition helps him play fast. He’s undersized and takes the worst of it when blockers get on top of him, but he’s a good athlete in coverage. He’s also a sound technician as an open-field tackler and bona fide standout on special teams. Schwesinger was a starter for only one season, but his instincts, athleticism and competitiveness help him project as a future starter either inside or as a 4-3 Will linebacker.

Passionate linebacker with great size, good instincts and a feel for how to play the position. Knight is a fluid athlete with average pursuit speed and short-area burst. He uses his eyes and instincts to diagnose quickly and he maneuvers around bodies like a running back. He’s adept at slipping blocks and rarely allows blockers to stick and sustain on the second level. He’s aware and productive in zone but could struggle to stay connected in man coverage. He’s not a twitchy mover but knows how to play the game and has a chance to play on all three downs. Knight’s field demeanor and football character should seal the deal as a future starter at inside ‘backer.

Mondon is physical and can run. He’s quick to flow downhill and challenge blocks with good pop. He’s inconsistent to diagnose and flow accurately to his fits, but he has good pursuit speed to range and tackle to the sidelines. He pursues the action with focus and leverage. Mondon becomes tackle-ready quickly in space. He’s effective on passing downs with good coverage and blitz talent. The run game instincts could slow him early in his career, but he’s a battle-tested, three-down option with special teams value and starting potential. 

Prototypical three-down linebacker who added muscle mass in 2024 without losing playmaking quickness. Carter overcomes average instincts and recognition with full-field range and elite body control in pursuit, though there is room for improvement with both his angles and leverage. Carter can play around or off the block and has the agility and reaction quickness for sudden adjustments as an open-field tackler. He’s capable in man coverage and stands out as both a blitzer and a spy for mobile quarterbacks. Carter’s demeanor, versatility and athletic profile give him a good chance of becoming a quality starter as a run-and-chase Will linebacker.

Inside linebacker with size and instincts to post a board full of high totals as a tackler. Stutsman is football smart with studious play recognition to stay one step ahead of blockers. His downhill flows narrow the runner’s angles and he’s accomplished at slipping around blockers or sliding off of them to tackle. His block take-on needs work, though. He’s efficient and productive near the line, but his effectiveness and tackling dip once the play moves into space. Stutsman is an adequate athlete with good size and special-teams talent, showing the potential to become a starting inside ‘backer.

Inside linebacker with a stout frame, good toughness and adequate talent. Simon plays with decent instincts and awareness to diagnose the action. He takes decent paths to the ball and is adept at slipping blocks or playing into them without losing much gap integrity. He’s athletic with average pursuit speed to chase and tackle wide. He’s technically sound as a tackler but has short arms, so positioning will be key to prevent broken tackles. Simon has enough talent for three-down consideration and should be able to help on special teams until he proves he’s ready to go from backup to starter.

Weakside linebacker prospect with ascending talent and production for a 4-3 defense. Paul is an assignment-oriented linebacker whose play recognition improved as the season progressed. He takes quality angles to the action and is a sure-handed tackler when he gets his hooks in. He appears quicker than fast and is better at spot-dropping or blitzing on passing downs than he is at matching up with backs and pass-catching tight ends. Paul colors inside the lines and does his job inside the scheme, but he could take another step forward if he can play with more of a “see play, make play” mentality downhill.

Big, productive inside linebacker who needs to play with good technique to make up for athletic and speed limitations. King is best in the confines of the box, where he can play downhill and utilize his physicality. He’s good with block take-ons and can compress the runner’s workspace. He loses ground pursuing outside runs and falls prey to missed tackles in the open field. King can be exploited on passing downs, but he plays with the toughness and physicality necessary to be a two-down inside linebacker. He has the potential to become a starter.

Bassa is a weak-side linebacker prospect who played inside at Oregon to get the best athletes on the field. He’s a little bit mechanical as a run defender and will flow downhill before properly diagnosing, but he keeps himself clean using his hands to separate. He needs to pursue with better leverage to prevent overflow, but he does what is needed to get involved with the play. He’s capable on passing downs, with man-cover talent and an ability to attack the pocket as a blitzer. A move to Will linebacker would allow Bassa to play more run-and-hit football, which could bolster his chances as a good ‘backer with the potential to develop into a starter.

Reactive off-ball linebacker possessing average measurables but premium explosiveness as an athlete. Asante plays with average diagnosis and will need to rely on speed over instincts for his production. He has instant acceleration and the range to find the action but needs to become more consistent at coming to balance as a tackler to avoid a high miss total. Teams will need to weigh his spotty coverage and mental mistakes with his impressive upside as a blitzer. The play is uneven, but he’s fast and tough, making him worthy of a Day 3 investment for further development and special teams value.

Sixth-year senior with good football intelligence and immediate four-phase special teams value. Kiser will be a 25-year-old rookie in September, with average physical attributes, but he’s productive and consistent. He understands his limitations and works around them with instincts and positioning, but a lack of speed and length will create smaller margins for error as a pro. He struggles to take on and get off blocks, so he’ll have to take a few more chances moving forward. Kiser’s ability to play on third down and special teams boosts his chances of becoming a backup inside linebacker.

Two-year starter who missed a big chunk of the 2024 season with a knee injury. Martin’s career snap experience is relatively low, but his monstrous 2023 production is eye-catching. He too frequently misreads play design or fails to locate the football, which leads to badly missed run fits. He gets stuck on blocks but has the speed and athleticism to pile up tackles when he stays clean. He can blitz but struggles in coverage, so shining on special teams might be mandatory for Martin to make a team as a backup.

Martin is a banger at inside linebacker. He’s been a consistent tackle collector over the last three seasons, playing with the violence and instincts teams look for inside. He’s sturdy enough to take on blocks and clog his run fits. His lack of length shows up at times as a tackler and he will lose some ground in pursuit when runs spill wide. He’s capable as a blitzer but was almost never asked to cover man-to-man at Memphis. Martin has the intensity, production and play strength to fit as a two-down backup and special-teams contributor.

Hungry, productive prospect who might need to prove he can fit into a role as an edge defender despite his lack of size and length. McLeod plays with the might of a player in a much bigger weight class. He’s technically sound at the point with fast hands and a quick discard of the block. He has aligned off-ball and diagnoses fairly quickly, but it will be hard to get around his athletic limitations in coverage, pursuit and as a tackler. It’s easy to discount McLeod based purely upon his traits, but he simply makes too many plays to ignore. He could make a team as a smaller 3-4 outside ‘backer.

Sixth-year senior and team captain with two years of starting experience. Medrano’s long, lean frame is more reminiscent of a strong safety than a linebacker. He plays with good decisiveness to fill up run fits ahead of blocks, but he gets pushed around when they find him. He has average pursuit speed but above-average man-cover talent underneath. His missed tackle total is problematic, so he will need to stand out on special teams and as a dime linebacker to offer value as an undersized OLB.

Hyppolite’s career production is fairly pedestrian relative to the number of starts he’s made, but he has the kind of speed that is rarely dismissed out of hand by NFL evaluators. The more one watches, the more one realizes he plays with natural instincts to sniff out and pursue the play. It appears his lack of take-on technique and tackle consistency will be his biggest hindrances at the next level. A move to Will linebacker could free him from some of the physical rigors inside and allow him to highlight his pursuit speed, but he needs to prove he can make more plays in coverage.

James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production. He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup.

Buchanan’s draft stock could be tied directly to his size, athleticism and upside on special teams and in coverage. With below-average play recognition, he becomes more helper than hero as a run defender. He’s twitchy in short spaces and can float through space on fluid feet and smooth hips when asked to cover. Buchanan has physical tools to work with but might never get there as a run defender. Still, if he can cover and play special teams well, he might make a team.

Two-year starting safety whose activity level reaches beyond what his athletic capabilities can handle at times. Wohler spent much of his time as an add-on run defender who rushed in to be part of the action. He’s a run-and-hit tackler in space but a lack of burst and top-end speed causes him to lose pursuit angles and miss out on tackles. He can cover tight ends but doesn’t have the range to play over the top or the open-field athleticism to survive against NFL receivers in space. Special teams play could be the key to Wohler maintaining a roster spot as an NFL backup at strong safety.

Walker came to Indiana after three seasons with James Madison and immediately proved he was ready for the jump. He’s a linebacker who is built like a safety, but he can cover on third downs and shine on kick-cover teams. Walker brings solid play recognition and can be a slippery target to find for blockers. He has above-average range and is capable of spying quarterbacks, but downhill running attacks will test his block take-on and tackle strength. His size is a concern, but he has a nose for the football and athletic ability to compete for a role as a special-teamer with nickel linebacker potential.

Fifth-year senior inside linebacker with jarring production in his two seasons as a starter. Woodard has elite coverage instincts and ball production from both zone and man. He can match backs and tight ends at break points and read quarterbacks like a book. His run defense lacks the same anticipation and instincts we see from his pass coverage. He plays with a salty downhill trigger and good aggression but can be a step slow reading and responding to the run design. He has a chance to solidify his draft stock as a nickel linebacker and core special teams performer with upside.

Bruener doesn’t have the chiseled frame of a linebacker, but he seems to get things done. He comes from NFL bloodlines and plays stronger than his listed weight, with heavy hands. Despite the production, he appears to lack the functional speed and athleticism to survive against NFL offenses beyond the box. Bruener might not be an ideal fit as an NFL backup, but his special-teams work will be enticing for teams.

Inside linebacker who boasts a burly frame and outstanding pro-day testing numbers. George was a mainstay on special teams during his six-year career, spending only one season (2024) as a full-time starter. He’s inconsistent in making reads and fitting up the run properly, but he’s big and strong. He can leverage his gaps when he’s in position. He’s a build-up runner who lacks the necessary burst to patrol from sideline to sideline, and he’s a liability in coverage. George’s testing, measurables and special-teams experience might appeal to teams, but likely as an undrafted free agent.

Assignment-oriented linebacker and patient tackle-collector from the second level. Lindenberg is long-legged with average play strength but posted explosive athletic-testing numbers last spring. He has trouble taking on blocks and coming out on top, so he might need to become more active at flowing downhill and tilting the odds in his favor. He recognizes blocking schemes and sees clearly into the backfield but allows separation when plays flow wide. He can handle basic zone drops but will be mismatched against route runners. The on-field tape is fairly average, but the traits scream special-teamer with backup potential.

Undersized linebacker with a revved-up motor and instincts that take him to the action. Reid comes from NFL bloodlines and plays the game with passion. He diagnoses quickly and is focused on getting to where he needs to be, but his lack of size and length will make it hard to leverage his gap as a pro. He’s below average in coverage but shows some instincts and talent as a blitzer. He saw limited reps on special teams but has the motor and play demeanor for the job.

Pace offers solid instincts and field vision but lacks a true position fit. While his versatility helped him in college, NFL teams might see him as more of a “tweener” than a “hybrid” player. He lacks size and strength as a linebacker and could struggle with man coverage. After the ball is snapped, Pace is typically where he needs to be and is at his best in zone coverage, where he can squeeze throwing windows. His best chance could come as a nickel linebacker and full-time special-teamer.

Inside linebacker who makes up for his lack of size with good play strength and non-stop energy. Mascarenas-Arnold is instinctive but patient in allowing plays to develop without overrunning them. His hustle will get him to a lot of plays but inconsistent pursuit angles and missed tackles are part of the package. He has the tools to cover on third downs but needs to play with better discipline in that area. His special-teams potential, production and field demeanor give him a chance to compete for a roster spot.

Productive three-year starter with the frame and physicality of a throwback banger. Mauigoa is limited athletically but works around it using his football intelligence and feel for blocking schemes. He’s proactive downhill but too slow to patrol sideline to sideline and lacks the agility to tackle shifty runners in space. He’s too limited for third-down duties as a pro, so he’ll have to prove he’s a capable backup as a two-down run thumper and quality special-teams player.

A 4-3 outside linebacker who will turn 25 years old this summer, Martin-Scott has had limited game snaps. He has adequate size and speed but lacks instincts and blocking-scheme recognition. He plays on his front foot with a downhill mentality but sometimes without a plan. He’s hit-or-miss with block take-ons and can be a step late getting to his tackle angles in the open field. He has some rush and cover ability on passing downs and can play special teams. Age and instincts work against him, but he might have enough attributes to get a look late in the draft.

Inside linebacker with decent career production but a disappointing lack of consistency on his 2024 tape. The Georgia transfer frequently looked listless at Kentucky. He was inefficient in his read-and-react and encountered too many squared blocks. He flashes know-how and an ability to track near the line of scrimmage. Dumas-Johnson lacks speed and explosiveness to range from sideline to sideline, though. He’s average as a third-down option, so he might need to become a special-teams standout to stick on a squad as a potential Day 3 pick.

Despite physical and athletic limitations, Higgins racked up tackles and awards over the last two seasons. He’s built like a downhill running back and delivers power behind his pads like one. Instincts feed his gaudy production, but a lack of length and twitch lead to him getting stuck on blocks when he’s not playing downhill. He lacks change-of-direction quickness and isn’t fast enough to capture outside runners. Higgins shouldn’t be asked to handle man coverage as a pro, but he’s above average as a zone defender. He has three-down talent and coverage value but his limitations create small margins for error and large obstacles to overcome.

Three-year starter who went from walk-on to All-American over a five-year span. Dolac’s activity level and production are impressive. He does a nice job of recovering from misdirection and finding his way to the football. He’s scrappy and smart but lacks the size and explosiveness most teams look for from NFL linebackers. Dolac might not have the measurables but his instincts and ability to play as a core special-teamer could give him a chance regardless of his draft status.

Two-year starter at inside linebacker with very good instincts but athletic limitations. Blanton is quick to read keys and flows to the runner with good timing. He can slip blocks or stick and move during take-ons. However, his pursuit burst in space is below average and he misses too many tackles. He can spot drop and feel receivers around him but he’s not much of a blitzer on passing downs. He has a high football IQ but will need to prove himself on special teams to improve his chances of making a roster.

Howard hit the ground running at Duke in 2024 after five years at Youngstown State. He’s a tight-hipped linebacker with adequate pursuit speed but below-average instincts and technique in taking on blocks. His production was bolstered by a gaming front that created opportunities to make impact plays. He’s proven to be solid in man coverage, but he creates very little on-ball production. Howard’s strong 2024 season helps him, but making a team will be a challenge.

Big inside linebacker who plays with good physicality but troubling athletic deficiencies. Powell is well-built with long arms and a willingness to mix it up in the box. He plays with average diagnosis quickness but heavy hands to greet and discard climbers and lead blocks headed his way. He labors with scrape quickness and sudden change of direction but is a firm, consistent tackler when he gets his chance to wrap up. Unfortunately, he simply lacks functional pro speed and allows too many runners to eat up his pursuit angles, leaving him on the wrong side of the play.

Inside linebacker with solid production and an average athletic profile. Smith looks faster on tape than his timed speed would suggest. He can disrupt the action with called blitzes and shots downhill. However, his instincts and play recognition are lacking. Smith plays with a competitive demeanor, but he needs to ratchet up his physicality as a tackler. He’s capable on special teams, but he might not stand out enough to give himself much of a chance to make a roster.

A three-year starter, Echols has adequate eyes and below-average instincts as a playmaker. He can get to where the ball is going when it flows wide but struggles to take on blocks and plug his run fits. He has short arms and sees tackles slip just out of reach. He can play on third downs and on special teams but needs to star in one or the other to become an NFL player.