2025 NFL Draft Prospects: Outside Linebacker

2/15/25: In 2024, Carter had 68 tackles with 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four 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. Carter is a dangerous speed rusher off the edge, and he has the versatility to play Sam linebacker as well. Penn State lined him up inside the linebacker and rushed off the edge, so he already had experience moving around the defensive front. A number of team sources have Carter as the best prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.

2/15/25: Pearce had 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass batted and produced a lot of pressures in 2024. Pearce has character concerns. Some team sources think they will end up dropping Pearce off their board because of the character.

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.

2/15/25: Campbell had a big-time presence for the Crimson Tide in 2024 and was all over the field in both phases. In pass coverage, Campbell showed excellent versatility by dropping into coverage as well as rushing the passer off the edge. He was a tough run defender in the tackle box as well. Campbell is a big linebacker with speed and athleticism to go with his size and strength. In 2024, he had 108 tackles with five sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two passes broken up. Campbell has very good instincts and could be used in a variety of ways by a creative defensive coordinator.

2/15/25: Walker enjoyed a solid season in 2024, 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.

2/15/25: 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.

2/15/25: In 2024, Stutsman had 110 tackles with one sack. Team sources are projecting him to be a day-two pick. They think he is a solid player with some limitations in pass coverage.

6/27/24: In 2023, Stutsman totaled 104 tackles, three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and three passes defended. Team sources said Stutsman is very athletic, very fast and very instinctive. They stated they feel he has good size and length, but lacks ideal strength and physicality. They opined that Stutsman could be similar to Pete Werner, except Stutsman is a little more finesse and has a lack of strength compared to Werner. Stutsman had a good 2022 season for the Sooners, recording 124 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and five passes broken up. He is a big linebacker who displayed good instincts as a sophomore.

2/15/25: 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 subpackage. While Ezeiruaka is undersized, he is strong for his size and plays hard and tough against the run for an undersized speed rusher.

2/15/25: In 2024, Carter had 82 tackles, seven passes broken up, and 3.5 sacks.

6/27/24: Carter recorded 62 tackles, five passes batted, and 3.5 sacks in 2023. He had a strong 2022 season with 73 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up. Team sources said Carter is fast and athletic but small and can get destroyed in the inside run. He struggles to get off blocks and is a run-chase linebacker. Carter fits as a coverage linebacker in the sub package, but he could have issues holding up in the base set in the NFL.

2/15/25: McLeod started out his collegiate career at Appalachian State before transferring to Auburn. In 2024, McLeod was a dangerous pass rusher with eight sacks, 56 tackles, and two forced fumbles. The previous season, he had 50 tackles with 5.5 sacks, and six sacks and 40 tackles in 2022. McLeod could fit as a Sam linebacker who contributes as a pass rusher.

2/15/25: 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.

2/15/25: Asante was a decent defender for Auburn in 2024. He had 45 tackles with 2.5 sacks in 2024. In 2023, Asante was better with 86 tackles with five sacks. Asante could compete as a Will linebacker in the NFL. He might make a roster as a backup who contributes on special teams to start his career.

2/15/25: Powell had a solid season for Rutgers, totaling 57 tackles with a forced fumble and two passes defended. He had 52 tackles in 2023 and 70 stops in 2022. Powell earned an invitation for the Senior Bowl.

2/15/25: Mondon had 57 tackles with three sacks and three passes broken up.

6/27/24: Mondon played well in 2022 in his first season of playing time, recording 76 tackles, one sack, one breakup and one interception. In 2023, he totaled 68 tackles, three sacks, and a pass defended. Mondon has a good skill set with speed and athleticism. He could fit as a Mike – middle – or Will – weakside – linebacker at the pro level.

2/15/25: Oliver had an impressive 2023 season with 73 tackles, six sacks, four forced fumbles, and five passes broken up. He only played in two games in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. Oliver still accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

2/15/25: Oladejo was a solid defender for the Bruins in 2024, recording 57 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two passes defended. He had 54 tackles in 2023 and 69 in 2022. Oladejo earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

2/15/25: Brumfield had 60 tackles with 1.5 sack and one pass defended.

6/27/24: Brumfield played at Middle Tennessee before transferring to the Hokies. In 2023 he had 82 tackles with 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He has some ability but is undersized for the NFL.

2/15/25: Coleman had 45 tackles and one forced fumble.

6/27/24: Coleman is an undersized outside linebacker with some blitzing ability. In 2023 he had 48 tackles with 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. The previous season he had 4.5 sacks with 42 tackles and one forced fumble. Coleman is the size of a safety so he must get stronger for the NFL.