DRAFT TRACKER 2026
2026
DRAFT TRACKER
LB
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PLAYER
DRAFTED BY
Washington Commanders
Round 1 • Pick 7
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Styles began his Ohio State career as a safety, but he settled in at linebacker in 2024. He’s improved in diagnosing play development. The former Buckeye diffuses block attempts with crisp hand strikes and leverages run fits with force/anchor strength. There are times when he slips back into a containment-based approach, but he has plenty of short-area quickness and pursuit speed to get where he needs to go. He can make an impact from multiple spots on the field and is a plus man-cover talent. Styles is an emerging player with the traits and versatility to garner longer looks by NFL evaluators. He could see his stock soar leading up to draft day.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Tennessee Titans
Round 2 • Pick 28
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Three-down linebacker with the playing demeanor and production of a future Pro Bowler. He posted 31.5 TFLs, 17 sacks and eight forced fumbles in his three seasons at Texas, making an impact in every phase. He’s instinctive, athletic and under control, transitioning seamlessly from read to react to finish. He plays with downhill thump to thwart interior blocks and the speed to pursue runners from sideline to sideline. Hill has plus cover talent in man or zone, proven credentials as a blitzer or edge rusher, and finishes plays as a strong, reliable tackler. Consistency and field command make him one of the safer linebackers in the class. His size, speed and versatility allow him to profile as an instant-impact rookie at Mike or Will ‘backer.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Miami Dolphins
Round 2 • Pick 11
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Rodriguez arrived in college as an offensive “athlete” and leaves Texas Tech as a bigger-than-life, stat-stuffing linebacker. He’s uniquely productive, with elite tackle, interception and forced fumble production. He’ll occasionally bounce out of a run fit when chasing action, but he has the burst to race back inside and finish. He’s slippery working off blocks and navigating combo climbers. His lateral pursuit leaves the station on time and with a fast take-off. Rodriguez displays ballhawking instincts and outstanding hands but busted coverages were part of the package in 2025. His unbridled urgency and “make every play” mindset can inflate missed tackle totals, but the production should outweigh the occasional headaches. He projects as a long-term starting inside linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Minnesota Vikings
Round 2 • Pick 19
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Golday is a big, explosive linebacker with a game best suited for work near the line of scrimmage. He attacks climbing blockers with heavy, aggressive hands. He also shows the strength to stack, compress gaps and finish with authority. While his performance at the point of attack stands out, he can be a little late diagnosing play design and needs to work with a more preemptive downhill trigger at times. He’s more powerful than elusive as a blitzer and is average in coverage. Golday’s traits, explosiveness and field demeanor should make him an early special teams standout with the potential to eventually start at Sam or inside linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Miami Dolphins
Round 4 • Pick 38
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Undersized linebacker/box safety who had more production and made fewer mental mistakes in 2024. Louis has the speed, athleticism and recognition to quickly find the football. Whether in lurker mode from zone or clinging to the route in man, he’s very decisive in coverage and has the ball skills to flip the field. He struggles to take on blocks and leverage his gap in the run game. He often catches contact and becomes a drag-down tackler near the line and in space. Teams need to have a plan for how to use him, but versatile sub-package defenders with speed and cover talent are valuable in the league.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Indianapolis Colts
Round 2 • Pick 21
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
“Green dot” linebacker and team captain more capable of rowing the boat than making big splashes. Allen plays with toughness and control, sorting through run fits with patience and leverage in pursuit. He has average trigger quickness and pursuit speed, which forces him to work harder to get to junction points when facing climbing blockers. He has adequate size and strength with good hand strikes to play off blocks. He doesn’t blow up blocks or disrupt on the other side of the line all that often, though. He’s an effective blitzer with average man-cover talent and is capable on all three downs. Allen is a dependable starting Mike ‘backer who raises the floor of a defense.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 2 • Pick 14
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Ascending inside linebacker with NFL bloodlines and alpha energy. Trotter’s heavy hands allow him to fit and choke off gaps, but he’s inconsistent in doing so. Block collisions need to be balanced with efficient play-arounds to create more tackle tries. Pursuit speed to the flanks is average, but he is quick to cut and accelerate so he stays close to runs bouncing wide. He stacks backfield production with well-timed run blitzes and crafty rush work. Coverage is the concern, with spotty zone awareness/spacing and the risk of being mismatched in man. Trotter’s wiring and disruptive qualities make him easy to project as a productive, long-time starter in the middle but a defense might need to protect him in coverage.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Detroit Lions
Round 4 • Pick 18
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Rolder’s instincts and run-game consistency make it hard to believe he was only a one-year starter in college. He plays low and leveraged with violent hands to shock and slip off blocks. He finds the best routes to the run gap and maneuvers around traffic with efficiency to tighten angles to the ball-carrier. He plays with good awareness and change of direction in space but has average pursuit speed and coverage talent. Few linebackers in this draft finish tackles with the technique and consistency he displays. If you trust the tape and ignore his lack of experience, Rolder profiles as a future starting inside linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Miami Dolphins
Round 4 • Pick 30
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Moore is a highly productive, 46-game starter with flexible NFL positioning. He’s undersized and lacks NFL length as an edge defender, but he’s a skilled, instinctive rusher with a robust set of approaches. He won’t burn the edges with pure speed but he compensates for that with a deep bag of moves. In limited snaps, Moore showed potential at off-ball linebacker, but questions persist about his pursuit speed and ability to cover in the NFL. Some teams might label him a “tweener,” but I see a versatile prospect whose competitiveness and feel for the game should allow him to translate no matter the position he plays.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Buffalo Bills
Round 4 • Pick 26
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Elarms-Orr is a well-built linebacker with above-average athleticism but problematic instincts. He has the speed and athleticism to get to the football from sideline to sideline. However, he frequently struggles with recognizing blocking schemes and too often loses track of play development. He’s rangy but average in zone coverage, with talent as a blitzer worth continued exploration. He will need improved processing but should dial in as a backup with a full-time role on special teams.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2 7/8"
- Weight
- 226 lbs
- Arm
- 31 7/8"
- Hand
- 9 1/4"
- Wing
- 78 1/4"
Production
69
Athleticism
69
Overall Score
71
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Lawson is twitchy and covers ground quickly when scraping to the football or knifing inside to disrupt as a run blitzer. His quick flow and pursuit is countered by a lack of play recognition/patience that can place him in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s much better at slipping blocks than he is at taking them on. He has the reactive agility to become an above-average open-field finisher, but his wrap-and-drive fundamentals run hot and cold. Lawson’s athleticism shows up in man coverage and when expanding his zone influence. He projects as a run-and-chase Will linebacker with three-down potential but a limited ceiling.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New England Patriots
Round 6 • Pick 31
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Obiazor is an assignment-sound inside linebacker with good tape and average short-area athletic ability. His box-score output has stayed nearly identical for three straight years, mirroring his week-to-week reliability. He has a high football IQ with decisive, accurate diagnosis and leverages his run fits by slipping blocks or holding firm with his anchor. A lack of ideal short-area quickness and pursuit burst might require Obiazor to take more chances as a pro. He’s a former safety who sees the field clearly but is average in coverage. He profiles as a dependable backup and core special-teamer.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Atlanta Falcons
Round 6 • Pick 34
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Slightly undersized off-ball linebacker with solid 2025 production but less in-game impact than he showed in 2022 and 2023 before his ACL tear in 2024. Perkins is decisive against the run and knifes into the backfield when lanes open. He’s adequate in block take-ons and finishes tackles near the line with good physicality. He can still run but lacks his previous explosiveness in close-outs and pursuit. His instincts in space are average and he can get lost in coverage, but he has the athletic ability coverage requires. Perkins is at his best when deployed in a scheme that allows him to play free and attack the line as often as possible.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Indianapolis Colts
Round 4 • Pick 35
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Two-sport standout at Oregon who passed on a chance to start his baseball career, choosing to pursue an NFL opportunity instead. The former walk-on plays like the chip never left his shoulder. He’s fearless in his downhill approach, which leads to feast-or-famine results in the run game. His size, speed and athleticism are average, but his competitive will and motor cover some of that up. Boettcher profiles as an NFL backup but his special-teams talent could be his ticket to a higher draft slotting.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Cleveland Browns
Round 5 • Pick 9
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Jefferson is a smallish Will linebacker whose game is centered around his quickness and instincts. He plays with adequate field vision and good speed for long-haul pursuit. He's athletic with above-average change-of-direction quickness to stay engaged with the play. Jefferson lacks functional size to take on blocks and leverage his gap, so becoming a better block-slipper or run-and-chase option is essential. He can cover, blitz and spy mobile quarterbacks, so a nickel linebacker/special-teams role could be his best fit.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Chicago Bears
Round 5 • Pick 26
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Big, productive inside linebacker lacking the athletic traits to make enough plays on the next level. Elliott has earned praise for his exceptional work ethic and football character. His instincts and reaction time are average, though. He can be heavy-handed when taking on blocks and his execution is inconsistent. His pursuit speed to the sideline is too heavy-footed in pass coverage and as an open-field tackler. His pathway will need to be as a physical thumper who can star on special teams.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 5'10 3/4"
- Weight
- 226 lbs
- Arm
- 30"
- Hand
- 8 1/2"
- Wing
- 75 3/8"
Production
71
Athleticism
65
Overall Score
70
PLAYER ANALYSIS
York is a defensive quarterback who aligns the front and leads by example with all-day urgency. He’s compact with thick thighs and good play strength but struggles to hold up against/shed climbing blocks that find him. His short-area movement is choppy but efficient with quick acceleration to chase outside runs, but he lacks sustained speed. He’s in constant “trigger and close” mode but needs better diagnostic patience to avoid missed run fits. He will struggle holding up in man coverage. Linebackers with York’s size/length typically face uphill roster climbs, but his tape appears good enough to warrant a backup role with instant special-teams value.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Houston Texans
Round 4 • Pick 23
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Two-year starter who punches in and goes to work but fails to stamp games with high-level impact. Woodaz has adequate size and diagnose quickness. However, he lacks base strength and take-on pop to keep himself clean through contact. He displays good awareness in zone drops and has enough man-cover talent to match with some pass-catching tight ends underneath. Woodaz needs to add strength, play faster and become more forceful in everything he does. He has a chance to develop into an average backup Will linebacker, but his work on special teams is what will get him on the field early on.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Atlanta Falcons
Round 4 • Pick 34
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Safety-turned-linebacker with outstanding length and athleticism but lagging behind in instincts/fundamentals. Daniels is a step slow to diagnose and flow ahead of the blocking scheme. He lacks the take-on and physicality to leverage his gap. His quickness makes him a menace in the gaps and he has good pursuit speed, but he must improve his tackling technique. He’s proficient in zone and man coverages, and he can be used to blitz or spy the quarterback. Daniels’ traits and potential could raise his profile, but he currently projects as a sub-package linebacker with special-teams value.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'4 5/8"
- Weight
- 233 lbs
- Arm
- 32 1/4"
- Hand
- 9 1/2"
- Wing
- 80"
Production
57
Athleticism
61
Overall Score
62
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Barton saw a slight downturn in production and consistency in 2025. He lacks ideal short-area quickness and agility for the NFL game but it’s good enough for backup consideration. He needs to play with better block slip and take-on to make his job easier. Barton’s handful of snaps and targets as a tight end might create some H-back roster flexibility to go with his linebacker label.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Denver Broncos
Round 7 • Pick 41
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Inside linebacker with a nose for the football and loads of production to prove it. Murdock plays firm at the contact point with physicality and toughness. He’s ready for battle when the ball comes downhill, but he lacks the closing burst to stay ahead of blocking schemes and shut down the outside run before it turns the corner. He’s a consistent tackler with good stopping power when he’s in position. His coverage features too many mistakes and a lack of recovery talent. Murdock lacks speed and third-down value, but he’s tough, makes plays and appears suited for core special-teams duties.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2 1/4"
- Weight
- 231 lbs
- Arm
- 32"
- Hand
- 9 1/4"
- Wing
- 79 1/4"
Production
52
Athleticism
74
Overall Score
62
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Tall linebacker who lacked standout production in his two seasons at Texas A&M. Williams’ instincts and play speed are average but he’s usually in position to compete as a run defender. He attacks blocks with pop but needs to improve at playing off blocks or slipping them altogether. He’s a fluid athlete in space with the potential to be a plus defender in zone and man coverages. Williams’ subpar tackling combined with durability concerns create a significant gap between his ceiling and floor.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
New York Giants
Round 6 • Pick 12
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Two-time team captain with four productive seasons between Weber State and BYU. Kelly is a burly linebacker with adequate play speed and desired aggression. His reaction time is average but his struggles to find his leverage and fit as a run defender pop up too often on tape. He has a strong punch but short arms and can get stuck to blockers who sink their hands in. He’s adequate in coverage but above average as a blitzer and has some juice when he rushes off the edge. Kelly might need to star on special teams to find a role as an even-front linebacker with third-down value.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 5'11"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Compact and twitchy, Banks is an inside linebacker with explosive athletic traits but uneven execution. He can trigger instantly from his perch and has plus range from sideline to sideline. However, he plays with too much wasted movement when diagnosing and flowing to the football. He does an excellent job of slipping blocks without sacrificing gap leverage and is a wrap-up tackler. He can get hung up on take-ons and will void zone coverages at inopportune times, though. Inconsistency is an issue but his explosiveness and special-teams potential give him a chance to make a roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 227 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Jacobs is a plus athlete with good range and an ability to finish tackles at a high rate in the open field. He’s better on the move and off the line, where he can slip blocks and chase runners. He’s average at diagnosing the action and struggles to take on/get rid of blockers who head his way. Jacobs has the athleticism for coverage but needs to become more proactive in zone to make more plays on the ball. His experience on special teams bolsters his chances of making a roster as a backup Will ‘backer.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 7 • Pick 24
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Athletic and active, Hughes is a three-year starting linebacker who lacks ideal size but possesses impressive straight-line speed. He sees the field well and plays with good instincts post-snap. He saw spikes in tackle production in each successive season and is a better tackle-finisher than expected for having average length. Hughes lacks plus pop in his block take-ons and has fewer tackles for loss than I expected given his downhill style and burst. His ability to cover in space and compete for a special teams role should improve his chances of making a roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1 3/4"
- Weight
- 225 lbs
- Arm
- 31 7/8"
- Hand
- 9 3/4"
- Wing
- 77 3/8"
Production
66
Athleticism
66
Overall Score
67
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Three-year starter whose instincts and play strength might not be able to cover for his athletic limitations in space. Bissainthe has no issues diagnosing plays and recognizing blocking schemes, but he gets too caught up in attacking blocks instead of working efficiently to the runner. He has good straight-line speed but he’s also a tight-hipped, linear mover who struggles to break down and play with functional agility as an open-field tackler. He’ll be much better in zone than he will in man coverage. Bissainthe’s ceiling is limited, but special-teams experience gives him a chance to stick on a roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'6 5/8"
- Weight
- 221 lbs
- Arm
- 35"
- Hand
- 10 1/2"
- Wing
- 86 1/4"
Production
54
Athleticism
71
Overall Score
63
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Fifth-year senior with a long, lanky frame that is ill-suited for block take-ons and gap constriction as a run defender. Projecting Gentry into an NFL role requires a belief he can gain and maintain more muscle mass and upper-body strength. He can get lost in man coverage at times, but his long limbs are very intimidating when he’s roaming in zone. He has above-average blitz potential off the edge with a big closing burst. Gentry has late-round potential but might need a developmental year to gain the requisite size and strength.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Houston Texans
Round 7 • Pick 27
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Fisher is a Mike linebacker who can run the defense as an extension of his coordinator. He’s well-built with leadership and football character that are praised by teammates and coaches. Fisher has the instincts and feel of an NFL player but lacks the needed quickness and athletic ability. He reads play designs and gets to the action at a high rate, but a lack of range, cover talent and plus open-field tackling will make the NFL jump challenging.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
San Francisco 49ers
Round 5 • Pick 14
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Rangy former safety still in the infant stages of learning the off-ball linebacker spot. Dugger has a stretched-out frame with exceptional length and room to add more muscle throughout. He’s inconsistent when it comes to diagnosing blocking schemes/play designs and needs significant work with block take-ons inside the box. He has the speed to run down wide-flowing backs and is an above-average wrap-and-finish tackler in space. The production and traits are intriguing, but Dugger needs more schooling and physical development before becoming an NFL linebacker.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Arizona Cardinals
Round 6 • Pick 2
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Sharar is a one-year starter whose production masks inconsistencies in the box. For having so few starts, he’s rarely fooled by misdirection and scrambles to recover when it gets the best of him. He lacks size/strength to play effectively through contact and hasn’t learned to slip blocks often enough. He’s a willing chance taker but subpar pursuit speed and tackle-finishing shrink his margin for error. Sharar’s best chance of making a roster will be as a special-teams star, but he’ll need to prove he’s trustworthy as a functional backup.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'1"
- Weight
- 230 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Off-ball linebacker with average size and one season as a full-time starter over five years. Weeks is an average athlete, but he has pretty good linear speed. He has adequate reaction time in his diagnosis. He’s a thumper when he catches runners cleanly but struggles to alter pursuit paths and change direction fluidly in space. Issues in coverage and with tackle consistency could linger, which might work against him as teams weigh his special teams value.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2"
- Weight
- 228 lbs
- Arm
- 31 5/8"
- Hand
- 9 3/4"
- Wing
- 77 5/8"
Production
55
Athleticism
70
Overall Score
64
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Athletic Will linebacker with inconsistencies in his game that might hinder his projection as a pro. Sorey can read and recognize run-play development. He’s capable as a run-and-chase linebacker but his missed tackle totals are alarming. He struggles to take on blocks and maintain run fits near the line. He has issues with coverage busts and a lack of awareness in zone drops. Sorey’s athletic profile should garner attention, but a lack of consistent execution in the fundamentals could be a tough challenge to overcome.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'2"
- Weight
- 220 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Hunter’s productive 2025 season featured 102 tackles, including 14 for loss and four sacks. He’s fast when he opens up and runs but can be a little leggy with his short-area movements. Hunter’s instincts and response quickness are a little below average and he’s not suited for third-down coverage duties at the next level. His athletic testing was outstanding and he can compete for a role on special teams, but he’ll need to show he can handle backup linebacker duties to have a chance of sticking on a roster.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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PROSPECT INFO
- Height
- 6'4"
- Weight
- 235 lbs
- Arm
- Hand
- Wing
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Dingle offers a height/weight/speed option at inside linebacker. He’s a three-year starter who often relies on athleticism over instincts. His overall production in the impact categories is relatively light and he’s below average in coverage. The size, athletic testing and play strength are all positives, but Dingle is lacking in snap-to-snap execution, production and three-down versatility.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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DRAFTED BY
Carolina Panthers
Round 7 • Pick 11
ACQUIRED VIA
PLAYER ANALYSIS
Kuwatch is a fifth-year senior who had only 14 career tackles before a 2025 breakout season (109 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5 sacks). He has good size and tested well at his pro day but lacks fluid on-field athleticism. His limited experience shows up in his need for improved block take-ons, but he does have a feel for finding running backs. Kuwatch has a chance to make some noise in camp and could compete for a practice squad spot.
BY LANCE ZIERLEIN
NFL Analyst
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