NFL Draft
2/20/25
6 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Superlatives For This Year's LB Class
With the 2025 NFL Draft approaching, I’ve started a superlatives series to preview each position group.
This series will cover a wide range of prospects and highlight the players who stand out the most in specific categories. Today, we’re breaking down the linebacker class.
QB Superlatives | RB Superlatives | WR Superlatives | TE Superlatives | OL Superlatives | EDGE Superlatives | DL Superlatives
2025 NFL Draft DL Superlatives
MOST COMPLETE
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina 
Demetrius Knight Jr. is the most well-rounded linebacker in the 2025 Draft class. He started his career at Georgia Tech but played just 270 snaps in four years and transferred to Charlotte for the 2023 season. After proving himself in the AAC, he returned to the Power-4 for his final year of eligibility.
He’s a sturdy run defender with ideal size and good coverage instincts who will have an impact on all three downs. At the Senior Bowl, he measured in at 6012 (46th percentile), 246 pounds (93rd percentile), and 33 1/4-inch arms (84th percentile).
His size gives him the balance to absorb contact at the second level, and his length allows him to punch and separate from blocks. He’s also a forceful and reliable tackler with consistent breakdown mechanics.
Knight Jr. is a smart zone defender, and his coverage tape at Charlotte in 2023 was impressive. He has a massive radius of impact to pluck or deflect the ball from adjacent passing lanes, and quarterbacks have to put some extra touch on passes over the middle to clear his reach.
At South Carolina, his coverage role was much more basic, so he had fewer opportunities to make plays on the ball.
Honorable Mention: Barrett Carter, Clemson
BEST INSTINCTS
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA 
Carson Schwesinger has one of the quickest triggers I’ve ever seen for a college linebacker. He diagnoses run concepts immediately and launches downhill into his fit.
In his first year as a starter, Schwesinger recorded 100 tackles and had at least 10 tackles in six of his 10 starts. His ability to read his keys efficiently and find the path of least resistance to the ball is impressive for such an inexperienced player.
He's undersized, even by modern linebacker standards, and he lacks the anchor to stay upright when blockers latch onto him. But his instincts and IQ make him difficult to actually connect with at the second level.
Honorable Mention: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
BEST COVER LB
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Jeffrey Bassa is a converted safety who will be a sub-package weapon in the NFL. He has elite range to cover tight ends down the seam and does a good job stalling the release in press.
He also has light feet and fluid hips to make lateral transitions in man coverage. Bassa is very instinctive in zone coverage and essentially immune to window dressing or misdirection.
This superlative was the toughest decision, and there are a few other mid-round cover linebackers worth discussing. Barrett Carter (Clemson) is arguably best man coverage linebacker in this class, but he had an uncharacteristic number of busts this year in zone.
Smael Mondon Jr. (Georgia) is a developmental player with a well-rounded third down skill set. Shemar James had the most demanding coverage role, playing as Florida’s overhang defender and covering tight ends and receivers from the slot. Teddye Buchanan (California) is another intriguing dime linebacker with terrific instincts and anticipation in zone coverage.
Honorable Mention: Shemar James, Florida
BEST BLOCK SHEDDER
Kobe King, Penn State
This superlative was the easiest choice by far. Kobe King is a throwback MIKE with elite size and length, who is an absolute tank between the hashes.
At 248 pounds, he has exceptional power through contact and devastating shock in his hands. He can square blockers up and lock them out or skillfully rip/swipe around the playside edge.
His coverage range is poor, and he struggles to stay in phase with vertical routes, so his third down role will be limited. Boise State and Notre Dame attacked him in single coverage in Penn State’s final two playoff games.
However, as an early-down thumper, King should be a valuable rotational piece who can solidify a team’s run defense.
Honorable Mention: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
BEST PASS RUSHER
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
A five-star edge defender in the 2022 recruiting class, Jihaad Campbell provides rare pass-rushing versatility for an off-ball linebacker.
In 2024, he recorded 20 pressures and eight sacks on just 100 pass-rushing snaps. He’s quick and explosive with a long, athletic frame, making him a weapon as a blitzer, quarterback spy, or stand-up edge rusher.
Campbell has the pursuit speed to teleport through open gaps and track down mobile quarterbacks, but his pass-rushing skill set is a lot more refined than you might expect.
From a wide-9 alignment, he won with a cross-chop and ghost-rip and also showed the ability to convert speed to power. He still projects best as an off-ball linebacker in the NFL, but he should be given as many opportunities as possible to rush the passer.
Honorable Mention: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
BEST ATHLETE
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Jihaad Campbell is the best athlete in this linebacker class, but I’ll use this superlative to highlight Cody Lindenberg. At the Senior Bowl, Lindenberg measured in at 6021 (67th percentile), 239 pounds (77th percentile), and 33-inch arms (77th percentile).
According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, he has a 1.51 10-yard split and 4.00 short shuttle, which would rank in the 97th and 98th percentile for linebackers historically. The last linebacker with a faster shuttle time at the combine was David Long Jr., who recorded a 3.97 at 225 pounds.
While he’s still a developmental prospect, Lindenberg’s tape verifies his elite athleticism. He has an explosive first step and outstanding sideline-to-sideline range but is also extremely fluid and agile in changing directions.
I have a Day 3 grade on Lindenberg, but it wouldn’t shock me if a team drafted him toward the end of the third round, assuming he performs well at the combine.
Honorable Mention: Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
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