2023 NFL Draft – Linebacker Rankings

Complete NFL Draft Rankings – LB:

You are currently viewing the best linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Our top linebacker prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the best true linebackers in college football. Even though only about 20-25 will get selected in the draft, dozens more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite. Find who is a first round talent, and who is likely nothing more than a training camp body. Find draft sleepers, draft stars, who will be a bust, and who is being undervalued.

BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2023 linebacker prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.

(Last Updated: April 26, 2023)

2023:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

Jack Campbell is the best true inside linebacker in the class, with an impressive 6’5" 245 pound frame and surprisingly good athleticism. He wasn’t used much to rush the pass or on run blitzes, but his combination of coverage ability and understanding of pursuit angles helped him produce some big time numbers even without many TFLs. His closing speed and solid tackling form look the part of an NFL star, while offering enough change of direction ability to quickly cover multiple gaps at the second level. Campbell won the Dick Butkus award as college football’s best linebacker this past year, and has the physical traits to make him a very safe pick with a high floor at the next level.

2022 Stats

13 games: 125 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 1 fumbles forced

After two seasons playing sparingly for Alabama, Drew Sanders transferred to Arkansas and become an immediate superstar. At 6’5" 235 pounds, the former 5 star recruit has an imposing frame with great length and foot speed to matchup with tight ends or safely swat passes away from underneath receivers. He’s already good at using his length in coverage, helping him collect an impressive 6 passes defended. Sanders also does a good job rushing the passer, accelerating quick when blitzing through the A gap or having the flexibility to bend around the edge. He also provides enough speed to get sideline to sideline, while hitting hard and forcing fumbles routinely. A relatively slight frame and inexperience are the biggest things holding Sanders back, but he has an impressively diverse skillset.

2022 Stats

12 games: 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 6 passes defended, 1 interception, 3 fumbles forced

Trenton Simpson is an elite athlete with a great frame for the NFL at 6’3" 240 pounds, while offering the positional and schematic versatility that’s coveted by coaches. His acceleration and hip quickness is top notch at the linebacker position, and he has the potential to develop into a true do-it-all linebacker. He’s improved in coverage in recent years, and has the size/speed combination to cover a variety of players from tight end to running back. While the traits look the part of a top 10 player, he had a very underwhelming 2022 campaign. Simpson was not particularly engaged throughout the year, didn’t show enough strength when setting the edge, and had a tendency to overrun plays and allow cutback lanes. All of these can be fixed, but the tape was a lot worse than a lot of draft analysts seem to realize.

2022 Stats

12 games: 72 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles forced

Daiyan Henley had good athletic testing, but his on-field athleticism is much better than the numbers indicate. Henley is great in coverage, forces fumbles at a high rate, has a quick first step, and gets into the backfield very fast. Having started his career as a wide receiver and kick returner, Henley has a well-rounded football IQ and understanding of route concepts which will help him become a great coverage back at the next level. His special teams experience will also ensure he gets opportunities on the field early in his career, regardless of system. Despite having good athleticism, production, and tape, his frame isn’t prototypical for the position and he doesn’t consistently show the instincts that most elite off-ball linebackers possess.

2022 Stats

12 games: 106 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 interception, 3 fumbles forced

Ivan Pace was flat out the best linebacker in football this year. While he’s short for the position at 5’11" 235 pounds, this dude is a flat out football player who plays a lot bigger than that. Combined with his athletic ability and skills, he is a lot more versatile than people give him credit for, and is far from just being an “effort" guy. Pace was an All-American after leading all FBS linebackers with 20.5 tackles for loss this past season, combined with 136 total tackles which ranked top 5 in the FBS. He’s very difficult to knock off track once he sniffs out the ball thanks to his strength and low center of gravity. He hits very hard and doesn’t miss many tackles. Pace has the athleticism to stay in good position in coverage, and was credited with quite a few passes defended in his career. Still, this is something that teams will question at the next level due to a lack of functional length.

2022 Stats

13 games: 136 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 4 passes defended, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles forced

Complete 2023 LB draft rankings

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2023:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

I consider this a really weak linebacker class, with no prospect who I’d classify as a 1st round lock. The late round depth is okay, but there isn’t too much available into undrafted free agency which is fairly rare for the position. Two of the top prospects entering the season, Trenton Simpson and Noah Sewell, each had pretty underwhelming seasons. The combine was a great opportunity for some stars to emerge, but no one really did. Even though there are a few players with very high ceilings, it’s a very undersized class and doesn’t possess the top-end talent to be viewed positively.