2025 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Outside Linebacker

1/11/25: In 2024, Carter has 63 tackles with 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes broken up. Carter notched 49 tackles, 4.5 sacks, five passes defended, and one interception in 2023. In 2022, he made his presence felt as a freshman with 56 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes defended. Carter is extremely fast off the ball, and his rare explosiveness is even more dynamic with his ability to bend off the edge. While Carter is a dangerous speed rusher off the edge, but given his size, he will have to be Sam linebacker that rotates to rush off the edge in the sub package. Penn State lines him up at inside linebacker as well as rushing off the edge so he already has experience moving around the defensive front.

1/11/25: Pearce had 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass batted and has produced a lot of pressures thus far in 2024.

6/27/24: Pearce was a big-time presence for the Volunteers in 2023, making a lot of splash plays and producing a lot of pressure on the quarterback. He totaled 27 tackles with 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. Pearce is listed at 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, but that could be inflated. If those numbers are exaggerated, as often is the case, Pearce could fit as an outside linebacker and edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. Pearce would need to gain weight and get stronger to be an every-down defensive end in a 4-3 scheme.

1/11/25: Williams had two tackles and was active against Clemson in the season opener, but he suffered a sprained ankle in the second half and missed the month of September. Williams came back in early October and has played well. In 2024, Williams had 21 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles thus far.

6/27/24: While playing behind some veterans, Williams flashed big-time ability as a freshman for Georgia, recording 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for a loss, and 28 tackles. He had 16 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two passes batted as a sophomore while playing in a rotation. Williams has good size, speed, and athleticism. He has the potential to be a breakout player in 2024.

1/11/25: Walker has enjoyed a solid start to the season, showing speed and athleticism off the edge. In 2024, he had 61 tackles with 6.5 sacks and two passes broken up. In 2023, Walker was a designated pass rusher and rotational player. He had 20 tackles with five sacks. Off the edge, Walker is very similar to other recent Georgia edge rushers like Azeez Ojulari and Nolan Smith.

1/11/25: Green has been a monster for the Thundering Herd this season, with a ton of big plays for the Marshall defense. In 2024, Green had 17 sacks with three forced fumbles, 81 tackles, and two passes batted. Green is very fast and explosive off the edge. In 2023, Green had 43 tackles with 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

1/11/25: The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Swinson is a tough defender at the point of attack. He is strong to shed blocks and has the speed to run around the corner. In 2024, Swinson had 59 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Swinson has the upside to develop into a starter who could be a sleeper value pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

1/11/25: Diggs had 45 tackles with 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He is a tough defender that has size, athleticism, and quickness. Diggs could turn into a solid starting defensive end at the NFL level.

6/27/24: Diggs has a good skill set with upside. In 2023 he totaled 36 tackles with four sacks and two passes batted for Texas A&M. He had 28 tackles with three sacks and three forced fumbles in 2022. After the 2023 season, he transferred to Syracuse.

1/11/25: In 2024, Stewart had 8.5 sacks with 33 tackles and two forced fumbles. He is a fast but undersized edge rusher.

6/27/24: Stewart has been a dangerous pass rusher for Michigan over the past three seasons. In 2021 he had a breakout season with 12.5 sacks, 43 tackles, and three forced fumbles. In 2022 he had 37 tackles with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. As a junior in 2023, Stewart had 38 tackles with 5.5 sacks. Stewart would fit best as a 3-4 outside linebacker edge rusher in the NFL. Stewart does not have size to be a base end in a 4-3 defense. In a 4-3 scheme, he would have to be a Sam linebacker that rushes off the edge in the sub package.

1/11/25: In 2024, Umanmielen had 10.5 sacks with 34 tackles and a forced fumble. Umanmielen is a love/hate prospect. Some feel he is a good-looking player, but is more quick than explosive or sudden. Some teams have character concerns with Umanmielen.

2/26/24: Umanmielen played well in 2023, recording seven sacks and 39 tackles. He transferred out of Florida after the season with a pay day coming from Ole Miss. In 2022, he totaled 39 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Umanmielen totaled 3.5 sacks over the 2021 and 2020 seasons. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder has quality size with some speed and athleticism off the edge. He has shown improvement and growth as he has gained experience. Umanmielen still possesses upside to develop, so he could make a jump in 2024.

1/11/25: Baron was an active defender for Miami in 2024. He had 38 tackles with 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Last year, he had six sacks with 28 tackles. Baron has a good skill set with upside to develop. If he performs well at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine, he could continue to be a riser.

1/11/25: Jacas has played really well for the Fighting Illini this season, providing a big impact at the point of attack. In the ground game, Jacas has functional strength to hold his ground and get in on runs outside of his gap. Jacas is strong and quick in the pass rush, showing the ability to get after the quarterback as a versatile rusher. He had eight sacks, 74 tackles, and three forced fumbles in 2024. Jacas is a riser with early-round potential.

1/11/25: Sawyer has 53 tackles, one forced fumble, eight sacks, one interception, and five passes batted. Sawyer dominated Tennessee and was excellent against Oregon in the first two college football playoff games.

6/25/24: In 2023, Sawyer had 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes batted. He was not a big presence and has been disappointing as a former No. 1 recruit. However, Sawyer decided to return for the 2024 season, so perhaps he makes a big jump as a senior. Sawyer flashed potential for the Buckeyes as a freshman in 2021 with 13 tackles and three sacks in a backup role. In 2022, he recorded 24 tackles, one pass defended and 4.5 sacks.

1/11/25: Ezeiruaka is an undersized edge rusher prospect for the NFL, but he was a pass-rushing demon for the Eagles in 2024, recording 16.5 sacks with three forced fumbles and 80 tackles. Ezeiruaka had 7.5 sacks in 2022. In the NFL, he will have to be a Sam linebacker in the base defense and can move to rush off the edge in the sub package.

1/11/25: Rucker had 30 tackles, six sacks, one interception, and one pass batted in six games of play. Rucker had an undisclosed leg injury, which kept him out of September and into October. He has some pass rush ability off the edge, but lacks height and length for the NFL.

6/27/24: Rucker was a dangerous edge rusher for North Carolina in 2023, recording 8.5 sacks and 61 tackles. In 2022, he totaled 37 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He recorded four sacks in 2021. Rucker is short and lacks length for the NFL, but he has some speed and athleticism off the edge. Rucker could be a designated pass rusher candidate in the NFL due to his length and weight limitations.

1/11/25: Chambliss made some clutch plays for the Georgia defense in 2024, totaling 41 tackles with 6.5 sacks. The best thing that Chambliss does is blitz and he could be a designated pass rush candidate for the NFL. Prior to 2024, Chambliss was a rotational backup.

1/11/25: Jones has started the season strong, but then fell quiet in the middle portion of the season. In 2024, Jones had 40 tackles with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes broken up.

6/27/24: In 2023, Jones recorded 32 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two passes broken up in 2023. He was wise to return to LSU to improve before going pro. In 2022, Jones recorded 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 23 tackles. He has the athletic potential to be a riser.

1/11/25: Walker was a dangerous pass rusher over the past three seasons. In 2024 he had 10.5 sacks with 68 tackles, four forced fumbles, and five passes broken up. He had 7.5 sacks in 2023, and 12 sacks in 2022. Walker lacks the height and length to be base end in the NFL, but he could fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker or designated pass rusher.

1/11/25: Alston had 19 tackles with 2.5 sacks, one interception, and one pass defended.

6/27/24: Alston played at Marshall in 2023, where he recorded 45 tackles with six sacks, two forced fumbles, two passes broken up, and one interception. Alston is undersized but could be a potential designated pass rusher candidate if he produces well as a rusher with the Hurricanes.

1/11/25: Bennett had 39 tackles with one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble.

6/27/24: A knee injury cost Bennett the 2023 season opener, and he did not end up looking like the same player he was a year ago. Bennett notched 34 tackles and zero sacks in 2023. Bennett enjoyed a breakout 2022 season that included seven sacks, 34 tackles, and two forced fumbles. Previously, Bennett played at Georgia Tech.

1/11/25: Joyner had 32 tackles with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and seven passes batted. He has some talent and length, but Joyner is inconsistent and lacks physicality in run defense. Thus, they see him as more of a designated pass rusher. He lacks some speed to power, hand usage, and rush plan. That being said, Joyner has good height, weight, speed, and upside to develop.

6/27/24: In 2023, Joyner did not produce much as a run defender, recording only 18 tackles, but he was a real presence in the pass rush, totaling 7.5 sacks with two forced fumbles.

1/11/25: Burke has 26 tackles, two sacks, four passes defended, and an interception. He is a tough defender but is not very productive.

6/27/24: Burke played well in 2023, recording 41 tackles, one forced fumble, and 5.5 sacks. He ate up the Alabama offensive line in Week 2. Burke has upside to grow as he gains experience.

1/11/25: Sorrell had 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

6/27/24: Sorrell was a quality contributor for the Longhorns, joining other talent up front to give Texas a steady pass rush in 2023. In 2023 Sorrell totaled 36 tackles with four sacks. He had 44 tackles with 5.5 sacks the previous season. Sorrell needs to ramp up his production to rise as a senior.

1/11/25: Harvey had 31 tackles with 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

6/27/24: In 2023, Harvey recorded 23 tackles, a sack and a pass batted for Miami. Harvey entered the transfer portal after the season. Harvey showed some pass-rush potential in 2022, suggesting the upside to improve as he gains experience. Harvey recorded 5.5 sacks and 31 tackles in 2022, but his play disappointed in 2023.