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In less than a month, the NFL will descend on Indianapolis for the Combine. It’s fair to say draft season is starting to heat up, and with that, I’ve been doing final film evaluations and updating my position rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Linebackers are up next, and this is yet another strong position group in this draft. Only one prospect has a realistic shot at going in the first round, but there are plenty of options on Day 2 for teams looking to upgrade their front seven. Linebacker is a position that’s been devalued in the modern game, but poor linebacker play is catastrophic for a defense. The recent trend of smaller linebackers coming through the college ranks holds true in this class, but there are a few who buck that notion.
If you want to see how these rankings compare to how I ranked this class over the summer, check out the link below. Additionally, my other updated rankings can be found below as well. As always, stay tuned for more 2025 draft content, as I’ll be looking to update all my position rankings over the next few weeks.
Updated Position Rankings:
A five-star edge rusher recruit from New Jersey, Campbell made his mark for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore in a reserve role in 2023. He had 66 tackles and three pass breakups that year, stepping into a starting role as a junior the following season. In 2024, Campbell became one of the best linebackers in the country, recording 119 tackles, five sacks, four pass breakups and 37 run stops. His work earned him first-team All-SEC honors and shot him up draft boards.
At 6-3, 244, Campbell has old-school linebacker size and can line up all over the defense. As mentioned, he played edge defender in high school and rotated into the lineup some at Alabama. But he spent most of his time at off-ball linebacker where his straight-line speed and sideline-to-sideline range were big boons. Rangy linebackers at his size are hard to come by, and Campbell also has great change-of-direction skills. He can both flip his hips in coverage and break down a running back in the open field.
In coverage, Campbell’s skills stand out the most. I like his feel in zone, as he settles in the right spots and can click and close in an instant. When he’s able to keep his eyes on the quarterback, he reads plays extremely well, putting himself in the right spots and playing solid, fundamental football. He might be even better in man coverage, however, taking advantage of his natural athleticism and bend to stay sticky with tight ends and running backs down the field, even showcasing some successful...
