Linebackers are usually the leaders and captains on the defensive side of the ball and are some of the smartest players on the field at all times. Despite this, they are rarely thought of as a position of high priority at the start of drafts, as we rarely see more than one go off the board in Round 1 of NFL drafts in recent years. This year’s draft has a lot of talented linebackers that will probably slide down draft boards because they aren’t as highly sought after as other positions. That doesn’t mean there aren’t teams who need them and teams where these collegiate linebackers could slide in and make an immediate impact.
Jihaad Campbell out of Alabama is one of the best linebackers in this draft. I think he has quite a few teams that would be perfect fits for him. Campbell would be great with the Broncos, as he would make their front seven the best in the league right off the bat, but they have bigger needs. The Buccaneers could really use a solid linebacker that would add a lot to a struggling defense, but I don’t believe Campbell will be available when they are on the clock. The perfect mix of both would be if Campbell lands on the Seattle Seahawks. Campbell, in his last season with the Crimson Tide, had 119 total tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He is an absolute gamechanger in the run game and is a ball-hawk, wherever the ball is, Campbell is as well.
He is a great fit for the Seahawks for a few reasons. One being second-year coach, Mike Macdonald is a defensive mastermind, and in his time as the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens, he turned Patrick Queen into a beast and could do similar things with Campbell. Also, the Seahawks ranked middle of the pack for linebacker play with Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. If Macdonald can turn those guys into sub-par linebackers, imagine the success he can have with Campbell leading the way.
Jalon Walker is considered by some scouts as a linebacker and by others as an edge by others. Either way, he is a fantastic player and was a major reason the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense was so stout. In his last season with the Bulldogs, Walker had 61 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He was fantastic at pressuring the quarterback while also being a menace in the run game. In some other drafts, some scouts would consider him the best defensive player. Walker would be a perfect fit for the Carolina Panthers at pick 8 in the draft. Since they traded star defender Brian Burns last offseason, the Panthers were bottom three in the league in sacks and were terrible against the run. They were in the bottom ten in total defense last season. All of these problems can’t be solved by one player, but Walker could improve their defense drastically, making him the no-brainer pick for the Carolina Panthers come April.
Demetrius Knight Jr. is an under the radar linebacker, but someone who could be a massive steal come draft day. He is widely considered as a Day 2 prospect, but is an overall great player. Knight Jr. is on the older end of all prospects at already 25 years of age. The 6’2, 240-pound linebacker for the University of South Carolina had a fantastic last two seasons for the Gamecocks. In those two seasons, he combined for 180 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and four interceptions. It’s safe to say he was always around the ball.
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Knight Jr. is a perfect fit for the Colts, who are in desperate need of a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Outside of Zaire Franklin, the Colts starting linebackers are Jaylon Carlies and Segun Olubi. If you don’t know those names, you aren’t the only one. They desperately need help from the linebacker position. With the Colts being right on the cusp of making the playoffs the last two seasons, one of the best linebackers in the class joining their squad would drastically improve their chances to take that extra jump this coming season.
While linebackers don’t go often in the first round, wherever these three guys end up, they will be great contributors to great successes for their defenses next season.
