Linebacker is the most important position in IDP leagues. The foundation for success in the format.
I know, it's a stunner. But that's why you read my work--hard-hitting breaking news.
That makes the rookie class at linebacker very important to IDP managers--both in redraft and dynasty formats. It's not necessarily because first-year linebackers tend to tear it up--that hasn't been the case, at least in recent years. But with the advent of "True Position," linebacker has also become the shallowest position in IDP. Whether you're a dynasty manager looking for reinforcements or a redraft manager searching for a viable LB3, rookie linebackers with a real chance to play in an every-down role are highly valuable.
If only we had some of those in 2025.
OK, that's an exaggeration--there are some talented young linebackers entering the NFL this year. And the fact that just one off-ball linebacker was drafted in Round 1 this year (Alabama's Jihaad Campbell) has at least something to do with the general devaluation of the position relative to, say, edge rushers and cornerbacks. But this wasn't an especially deep class--by any means.
Still, there were a few potential fantasy gems in the Class of 2025. A rookie or two who would potentially be better served from an IDP perspective with a draft-day do-over. And for every rookie linebacker who enters the NFL, there are veterans whose fantasy value was impacted.
What? I need something to write about. Believe me, you don't want this dude just riffing about whatever pops into my head.
That would get disturbing--quickly.
RELATED: See Biggest DL Winners and Losers here.
Linebacker Winners
LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns
Schwesinger was widely regarded as the No. 2 off-ball prospect in this class behind Campbell, but it was still something of a surprise to see the 6-3, 242-pounder be the first pick of the draft's second day. However, UCLA defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, who coached Schwesinger in college, believes that the Browns got themselves a player at No. 33.
"He thinks of every rep at practice as the reason why he's successful in the game," Malloe said, via the Los Angeles Times. "And I think his mindset, the fact that he wants to do that, is the reason he's so successful in this game. He's beating running backs to the holes at times, or what looks like he's slipping blocks, he's actually moving one block over from the guy that's supposed to get him, so his instincts are really, really good."
The Browns reportedly turned down trade offers to keep this pick and draft Schwesinger, who has a three-down skill set and a nose for the football. The Browns needed to add talent at the linebacker position as badly as any team in the NFL, and given Schwesinger's talent and the rather barren depth chart behind him, the youngster could easily be Cleveland's defensive signal-caller in 2025.
LB Nick Martin, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers lost a number of veteran starters in the offseason. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who got a big deal from the Denver Broncos, was among them. In an effort to replace Greenlaw, the 49ers used a Day 2 pick on Martin. Chad Reuter of NFL.com singled out the selection of the 6-0, 221-pounder as one of his favorite selections of the round.
"I projected Martin to be a fourth-round pick for the 49ers in my final three mock drafts," he said, "but I can't blame San Francisco for taking him a round earlier. He's a perfect replacement for Dre Greenlaw as a short but explosive linebacker who works through blocks as a blitzer and tracks down ball-carriers in the open field. Martin can line up anywhere, anytime and should benefit from working with perennial All-Pro Fred Warner."
Martin is admittedly a bit undersized, although that's really not that weird in today's NFL. He also missed a substantial portion of the 2024 season with a knee injury. But back in 2023, Martin piled up an impressive 140 total tackles at Oklahoma State, chipping in six sacks. There's not much standing between Marin and the second nickel linebacker's slot opposite Warner this season.
LB Elandon Roberts, Las Vegas Raiders
A nine-year veteran journeyman, Roberts has quietly amassed 105 career starts, including 29 over the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, there wasn't exactly a ton of hoopla surrounding Roberts' move to Las Vegas. Back when Roberts signed a relatively modest one-year deal with the Raiders, he told reporters that he was ready to play a key role for the team's revamped linebacker corps.
"Not taking it for granted. Not taking your opponents for granted," Roberts said. "Not taking what you do for granted," he said. "Not taking your teammates, your coaches, the relationships, even the relationships you build with the media for granted, because it all reflects on you. One thing about myself, my dad's a military guy. I'm very structured. I'm very to the point. It's a time and a place for everything."
Roberts has never played 60 percent of a team's defensive snaps in a season, and given that and the departures of both Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, many expected the Raiders to address the linebacker position in this year's draft. Somewhat surprisingly, the team did not--and that sets up the 31-year-old to potentially be not just a full-time player but the "green dot" linebacker in Sin City in 2025.
Linebacker Losers
LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles
As has already been mentioned, Campbell was the lone Round 1 linebacker--the defending Super Bowl champions traded up one spot to nab him at No. 31. The 6-3, 235-pound converted edge rusher was the top linebacker prospect on many big boards. Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby raved about what Campbell brings to the table while speaking to reporters.
"Man, he's a great player. I love watching him play. He's springy, he's explosive – there are a ton of adjectives you can use to describe him," Halaby said. "When you ask him to rush the passer, it's electric when he comes from off the ball. He will blow up running backs, he will slither to the quarterback – he has a lot of different ways to get home. He can also drop out of the line of scrimmage in an overhang role if you want to create a five-down front either early or late and give teams a different presentation. And he can rush one-on-one against tackles. So, I think he is really good at all the core jobs, and he can also do a lot of things that a lot of linebackers can't do. We were fortunate that he was there when we picked."
To be clear, I may be way off base about Campbell--especially if Nakobe Dean's recovery from a knee injury drags on. But hearing Eagles brass rave about Campbell's ability to rush the passer raises genuine concerns that they view him as a "hybrid" type. Having that kind of versatility may be a great thing for the Eagles, but it isn't going to do Campbell's tackle numbers any favors.
LB Germaine Pratt, Cincinnati Bengals
From a statistical perspective, Pratt's sixth professional season was easily his best--the 28-year-old amassed 143 total tackles in 2024, his second consecutive season in the Queen City. However, Pratt's future with the Bengals has been widely viewed as murky at best for some time, and Paul Dehner of The Athletic wrote that after the draft, Pratt's fate with the Bengals is sealed.
"Cincinnati knew it would move on from Pratt the moment the season ended," he said. "The transition was complete once they doubled up with South Carolina's Demetrius Knight Jr. in the second round and Clemson's Barrett Carter in the fourth. The Bengals left the door open to see if anybody would have interest in trading for Pratt, but nobody did. They will save $5.6 million by releasing him, and you can expect that move soon. You can also expect former Bengals defensive coordinator and Pratt fan Lou Anarumo in Indianapolis to be among those interested."
Even if Pratt does land with his old defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, it would be opposite a tackle-hog of the highest order in Zaire Franklin. It's also possible that he could find himself on a new team where subpackage snaps are harder to come by. Or somehow still stuck in Cincy, losing snaps to the team's new rookies. Whatever comes next, IDP-wise, last year was probably as good as it's going to get for Pratt.
LB Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams
Speights was a great story as a rookie--an undrafted free agent who not only made the 53-man roster but wound up making 10 starts for a Rams team that made the postseason. Speights became something of a favorite to both Rams fans and many in the IDP community, and Tyler Greenawalt of Rams Wire wrote earlier this month that 2025 could bring Speights' coming-out party.
"Speights is in line to become the Rams' starting inside linebacker alongside Nate Landman or Troy Reeder," he said. "The undrafted Speights started the final nine games of the regular season, plus the Rams' two playoff games, and finished with 67 combined tackles. This is Speights' moment. The Rams trust him enough to let Christian Rozeboom leave and not spend a lot at the position in free agency. Even if the Rams draft another inside linebacker, Speights should start and will get a great chance to become a star in Chris Shula's defense."
The Rams did draft another inside linebacker, and while the fifth-round capital expended on Chris Paul Jr. might not seem like much, the former Ole Miss standout was considered a Day 2 prospect by some scouts. If Landman's healthy, he's the best bet to call the defensive plays. That leaves Reeder (who has 37 career starts and just will...not...die), Paul (who has legitimate three-down potential in his own right), and Speights to duke it out for the No. 2 spot.
Speights may win that battle. But Paul's addition makes doing so that much more difficult.
Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPGodfather.
