2027 NFL Draft Prospects: Inside Linebacker

2/20/26: In 2025, Brown had 106 tackles with five sacks, one forced fumble, an interception, and five passes broken up. Brown impressed in 2024 with 80 tackles, five sacks, and three passes broken up. Brown has good instincts and upside.

2/20/26: Notre Dame is loaded with NFL linebacker talent, and that led to Viliamu-Asa being a rotational contributor as an underclassman. However, team sources say that Viliamu-Asa is extremely talented with an excellent skill set for the NFL. In 2025, Viliamu-Asa totaled 48 tackles with three sacks, an interception, and two passes broken up while being a part-time player. If Viliamu-Asa is featured, he could be a top linebacker prospect for the 2027 or 2028 NFL Draft.

2/20/26: Rose is undersized, but he has incredible instincts, and some team sources say that Rose reminds them of Zach Thomas. In 2026, Rose had 106 tackles with three sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes broken up. Like Thomas, Rose is undersized, but he is a natural football player who is smart, physical, and relentless.

7/7/26: Graham is short, but he is a physical force with instincts and physicality. In 2025, Graham had 76 tackles with two sacks and four passes broken up. A lot of schools wanted to steal him in the portal but Graham remained with the Gators.

7/7/26: Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has produced a lot of solid linebacker prospects for the NFL and Cole will maintain that tradition in 2027. Cole had 60 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two passes broken up in 2025. It was only his first year as a starter, so Cole could rise if he builds off his first season.

<> 7/7/26: In 2025, Weeks had 26 tackles with a sack. He went out with an injury in early October. In 2024, Weeks had 120 tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and four passes broken up. Weeks has good instincts and speed, but is not the biggest linebackers. Staying healthy and productive in 2026 is vital.

2/20/26: In 2025, Rojas had 25 tackles and two sacks. He was playing well before going down with a season-ending injury. Rojas was a good contributor to the Nittany Lions’ defense in 2024 and really excelled in pass coverage. He had tremendous ball production with three interceptions and four passes broken up. He totaled 58 tackles and six tackles for a loss in 16 starts. Rojas has a good skill set with the upside to be even better in 2026.

<> 12/6/25: In 2025, Weeks had 26 tackles with a sack. He went out with an injury in early October. In 2024, Weeks had 120 tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and four passes broken up. Weeks should return to school to have a healthy season before going pro.

7/7/26: Uluave was a solid defender for Cal through three seasons. In 2025, he had his best seaon for the Golden Bears, totaling 97 tackles with three sacks and four passes broken up. He had 71 tackles and 67 tackles the previous two seasons, respectively. Uluave landed with BYU for the 2026 season.

7/7/26: In 2025, Carter was a quality defender for the Volunteers and was tough in the ground game. He had 76 tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Carter could rise if he shows more pass coverage skills in 2026. Carter is known to be a workout warrior, but it has not translated to dominating on the field.

7/7/26: Lewis had a nice season for the Sooners in 2025, totaling 76 tackles with four sacks and four passes batted. In 2025, he had 63 tackles with two interceptions and a pass batted. He lacks some size for the NFL, and it would help him to add some weight to his frame.

7/7/26: Alexander was an active defender for the Huskies in 2026, recording 70 tackles with one sack, one interception, and three passes broken up. He is an active defender and could rise if he builds off his first year of starting experience.

7/7/26: Biles was part of a good linebacker tandem with Kyle Louis at Pitt in 2025 and 2024. In his final season with the Panthers, Biles totaled 100 tackles with four passes broken up, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Biles had 81 tackles with six sacks, nine breakups, and an interception in 2024. Biles is a little undersized, but he is an active defender who makes plays in pass defense.

7/7/26: Robinson was a solid defender for the Cavaliers. He had 64 tackles with two sacks, two interceptions, and one pass batted. He had 64 tackles in 2024 and 71 in 2023. Robinson has a quality skill set and could be a riser if he produces more in 2026.

7/7/26: Woodson had some nice seasons for Virginia Tech before transferring to Alabama. In 2025, Woodson had 57 tackles. In 2024, he had 72 tackles with two sacks, one interception, and two passes broken up.

12/6/25: In 2025, Wilson had 74 tackles with 2.5 sacks with a pass broken up. In 2024, Wilson earned a bigger role in the Bulldogs’ defense, and he flashed some ability. Wilson recorded 47 tackles with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass batted. He has some talent but needs to show more steady production.

7/7/26: In 2025, Watts totaled 42 tackles with three passes batted, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions. Watts was impressive in pass coverage and covers a lot of ground in the middle of the field. It would help him to get stronger and produce more in run defense in 2026.

<> 7/7/26: In 2025, Bowen had 67 tackles with 3.5 sacks and three passes batted. He was a solid defender for the Fighting Irish, but he was wise to go back for his senior year with the Irish. In 2024, Bowen was a tough defender in the middle of the Fighting Irish defense. He was a tough run defender and had 78 tackles wth four tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles, one sack, and two passes broken up. Bowen needs to show well in pass coverage to rise in 2026.

<> 7/7/26: Notre Dame is loaded at linebacker, and Sneed is part of their talented rotation. He recorded 35 tackles with three sacks in 2025 after recording 51 tackles with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024.

7/7/26: Telander was a solid defender for the Volunteers in 2025 with 80 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Telander needs to show more in pass coverage to rise in 2026.

7/7/26: In 2025, Jones was a steady run defender with 78 tackles and showed some nice blitzing ability with seven sacks during the Hoosiers’ title run. Fisher needs to show pass coverage development in 2026 to rise.

7/7/26: In 2025, Baranowski was a tough run defender for Minnesota, racking up 103 tackles to go with three sacks, one forced fumble, and a pass broken up. He had 65 and 52 tackles respectively the previous two seasons. Baranowski needs to show more pass coverage ability in 2026.

7/7/26: In 2025, Murphy had 49 tackles with one pass broken up. He had only eight tackles total the previous three seasons, but Murphy was impressive enough for the adance scouts to include him on their preseason watch list.

7/7/26: In 2025, Sanford recorded 57 tackles with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes broken up. It was his first season of playing time so he could rise if he develops in 2026.

7/7/26: Hall was a steady contributor and stayed around the ball with the Utes. In 2025, he totaled 67 tackles with one interception, four passes batted, and a forced fumble. He lacks length but has a strong build. He could be a good backup and special teams contributor.

<> 7/7/26: In 2025, Dottery totaled 98 tackles with 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two passes broken up while playing with Ole Miss. Dottery has a strong build and could be a riser if he builds on his 2025 performance.

7/7/26: Thomas was a productive linebacker at Baylor the past two seasons. In 2024, he totaled 106 tackles with 2.5 sacks and an interception. In 2025, Thomas had 99 tackles with one sack and an interception. If he can maintain that production, he could be a riser with Ole Miss.

7/7/26: With Oregon, Mixon had 57 tackles with two interceptions in 2025. It was his first year as a starter and it will be interesting to see if Mixon can develop with the Sooners.

7/7/26: Rinaldi had 47 tackles with 3.5 sacks in 2025. His pass coverage could stand to improve in 2026, but Rinaldi could be a backup and special teams candidate.

7/7/26: Lightsey had a quality 2025 season as a run defender with 76 tackles for the Yellow Jackets. His pass coverage production needs to improve in 2026.

7/7/26: In 2025, Wingate was a productive defender for the Terps. He totaled 102 tackles with 1.5 sacks, one interception, and one pass broken up. He could rise by showing more pass coverage skills in 2026.

7/7/26: In 2025, Toure had 69 tackles, one sack, and five passes defended. He was an active and solid defender for Miami. After the season, Toure was granted an eighth season of college football eligibility by the NCAA. In 2024, Toure went down in training camp with a torn ACL, the same injury that cost him the 2022 season. During the spring of 2025, Toure left Rutgers to transfer to the Hurricanes. Toure was a solid defender in 2023, recording 92 tackles with 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and two passes defended. He missed the 2022 season and had a big jump from 2021, when he had 51 tackles with 4.5 sacks. Toure has to stay healthy and productive to rise.