2021 NFL Draft Prospects: 3-4 Outside Linebackers

By Charlie Campbell.
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The top 2021 3-4 outside linebacker prospects available for the 2021 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2022 prospect. ** – denotes 2023 prospect.

This page was last updated Feb. 21, 2020. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

Gregory Rousseau**, 3-4OLB, Miami
Height: 6-6. Weight: 260.
Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round (2021): 1-2.
2/21/20: Rousseau was one of the best edge defenders in college football during 2019. Despite being a redshirt freshman, he collected 15.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and 54 tackles on the year. Rousseau has an excellent skill set with upside to develop. His sack numbers may decline as a redshirt sophomore and/or junior with double teams and scheming, but he could become a more developed player in the years to come.

Joe Tryon*, 3-4OLB, Washington
Height: 6-5. Weight: 262.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2021): 1-3.
2/21/20: After serving as a backup during his freshman season, Tryon broke out in 2019 as one of the top pass-rushers in the Pac-12. He totaled eight sacks with 41 tackles and one pass batted on the year. Tryon has a lot of upside and could be a player who develops well under Jimmy Lake.

Micah Parsons*, 3-4OLB, Penn State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2021): 1-3.
2/21/20: Parsons collected 109 tackles with five sacks, four forced fumbles and five passes defended in 2019. He was always around the ball and produced some splash plays for Penn State. Parsons broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman and showed he has lot of upside to develop into an intriguing player. For 2018, he totaled 83 tackles with five for a loss, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Parsons has good size and instincts.

Quincy Roche, 3-4OLB, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
2/21/20: Roche decided to transfer from Temple following the 2019 season and landed at Miami. Over three seasons in Philadelphia, he totaled 26 sacks.

Roche has created a buzz in the scouting community, and scouts feel he will get bigger. Team evaluators really like his initial explosion off the snap and how he closes on the quarterback. They feel he will get develop as he ages and grows in a pro strength and conditioning program.

One team source said they had graded Roche as a fourth- to fifth-rounder, but three others said Round 3 and one said third- to fourth-rounder. However, Roche could rise if he works out well. There are a few issues that keep teams from grading him in the early rounds, and the most cited one is lower body stiffness. Source feel there is a lack of lower body strength and believe he doesn’t play hard all the time. Thus, Roche could improve his grade if he gets stronger in the lower body while also showing an improved motor in 2020.

Jonathan Garvin, 3-4OLB, Miami
Height: 6-4. Weight: 256.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2021): 2-4.
2/21/20: Garvin wasn’t as effective in 2019 as he was in the previous season. He totaled 37 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles for 2019. Joe Jackson was supposed to be the Hurricanes’ top edge defender in 2018, but Garvin was their best defensive end in a breakout sophomore season. Garvin totaled 17 tackles for a loss, 60 tackles, five passes batted and 5.5 sacks on the year. Garvin could bounce back as a senior due to his increased experience and developing physically.