Linebackers - 2027 NFL Draft Preview

 

Three year starter, Commerce, GA. First team All-ACC and Phil Steele third team All-American in 2025. Brown has the desired size and traits of an every down NFL linebacker with speed, athleticism and physicality. He’s improved every year and while he makes a lot of splash plays he’s becoming more consistent. Plays a stack position and has a nose for the ball as a processor. Quick read and react, his run fits are precise and he attacks gaps downhill often beating blockers to their gap. Takes on blocks with gather and knee bend exploding into his strike. Quick to shed he’s adept at coming off blocks and making plays. Excellent chase speed and range to the perimeter. Consistent to make tackles in space. Flashes cover skill with depth in his drop and a burst to close on the throw. While he’s taken a step forward in coverage he’ll still get attracted to one route in zone concepts. He has the cover skill to develop in that area. Ascending prospect.

 

 

Two year rotational player, Inland Empire, CA. Notre Dame is loaded at linebacker position so they have the luxury of using a player like Viliamu-Asa as a rotational Swiss Army knife. He lines up in the box stacked, on the edge and occasional overhang. He’s coming off a late season ACL injury in November of 2025 and they have eased him into playing time early in 2026. In the box he’s quick reacting and like a guided missile coming downhill attacking blocks. Sinks his hips and explodes into contact with a powerful punch. Excellent agility he can re-direct quickly off blocks and locate the ball. Has top tier range in pursuit. As an inside blitzer he’s been successful timing the snap and beating blockers to the gap. Has an incredible closing burst once in the backfield. In limited reps coming off the edge he relies on speed and bend to create pressure. Solid cover tools with sudden reactions. Needs some refinement in some areas but athletically he’s at the top of the class.

 

 

One year starter, Salem, VA. Lengthy with an ideal frame for an off the ball linebacker. Was a rotational sub package player before this year aligning from stack to overhang. Normally plays with leverage and can fit inside gaps, but at his best against the run chasing to the perimeter. Excellent range and angles to the ball. Excellent blitz linebacker with a knack for timing inside gaps along with an incredible closing burst. Solid gather and drive on tackles, he consistently finishes tackles and rarely misses. In coverage he is adept at re-routing seam routes and has the speed to run with a vertical release from an inside receiver. Quick to process route combinations, he uses his length and positioning to erase throwing windows. Has the speed to match backs and tight ends. Has a tendency to play upright on blocks and while he has a strong punch, there’s inconsistency disengaging. At his best in coverage, but he has the developmental upside of a three down NFL linebacker.

 

 

Four year starter, Haslet, TX. Third team All-Big 12 in 2025. Roberts has an ideal size profile of an NFL Mike backer. Plays a stack position primarily and shows good instincts fitting the run inside. Has short space agility and can quickly re-direct inline versus inside runs. Plays alley to alley with excellent angles to the ball as the play moves outside. Reliable tackling skill he drives through most tackles with some pop. Has improved his block protection skill and can be explosive with knee bend to stack and shed interior blocks. As a former safety he shows solid cover skill with processing ability reacting to route combinations. Covers ground with the ball in the air and times his break to get to the catch point. Has been productive getting his hands on balls. Doesn’t always get downhill reacting on runs at his gap. Will under run a tackle and miss at times. He has three down NFL potential.

 

 

Three year starter, Fairfax VA. In 2025 he suffered a severe leg injury ending his season at four games. Rojas is back healthy and showcasing outstanding linebacker traits including a well proportioned frame. He aligns both stacked and as an overhang player. Instinctive, he’s quick attacking downhill on run fits and flashes stack and shed skill. Shows knee bend to gather and strike blocks and make tackles. Has excellent agility to avoid blocks and get to tackles inline or outside. Has a closing burst in pursuit and finishes consistently. Takes precise drops in coverage and has excellent lateral movement closing voids in zone coverage. Sudden to break on the throw, getting to the catch point. Has been an effective inside blitzer hitting gaps and closing in the backfield. While block protection has improved, he occasionally will lose his gap running around a block instead of taking it on. How he holds up coming off the injury will be a factor in his evaluation.

 

LSU - 6023 / 225 | SR

 

Texas - 6010 / 235 | SR

 

Mississippi - 6011 / 220 | SR

 

Tennessee - 6010 / 240 | SR

 

Stanford - 6020 / 230 | RS SR

 

Notre Dame - 6014 / 232 | SR

 

Oklahoma - 6010 / 227 | RS SR

 

Texas Tech - 6015 / 241 | SR

 

BYU - 6005 / 231 | SR

 

Oregon - 6015 / 231 | RS SR

 

Georgia - 6001 / 228 | SR

 

Georgia Tech - 6010 / 230 | RS SR

 

Alabama - 6020 / 234 | SR

 

Florida - 5116 / 230 | JR

 

UCLA - 6010 / 235 | SR

 

Oklahoma - 6012 / 222 | RS SR

 

Ohio State - 6010 / 232 | JR

 

Notre Dame - 6010 / 225 | RS SR

 

Indiana - 6012 / 225 | RS SR

 

Mississippi - 6004 / 234 | RS SR

 

Clemson - 6020 / 235 | RS SR

 

Ohio State - 6040 / 246 | SR

 

Georgia Tech - 6000 / 210 | RS SR

 

Florida State - 6000 / 230 | JR

 

Tennessee - 6000 / 231 | SR

 

LSU - 6007 / 230 | RS SR