ALL POSITIONS: Defensive Tackles | Edge Rushers | Linebackers | Defensive Backs

The fantasy season might be over, but in dynasty fantasy football, there is no offseason. This is a fun time of year for your IDP dynasty leagues, as we get to learn about the new incoming rookie class as they make their way through the pre-draft process. This article will examine the incoming linebacker group, ranking and discussing their profiles. It's early in the process; these rankings will be fluid. One thing to also keep in mind with these rankings is there's a bit of IDP and draft projection baked into them. At the very least, it will familiarize you with some of the players as we prepare for the NFL Combine. Alight, let's dive in.

*Denotes a player measurement taken from the Senior Bowl

1. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama (6-foot-3, 245 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 117 tackles (54 solos)
• 12 tackles for loss
• 5 sacks
• 1 interception
• 2 passes defended
• 2 forced fumbles
• 2 fumble recoveries

From a profile standpoint, Jihaad Campbell checks many of the boxes we're looking for with his pairing of size and athleticism. Campbell's size, length, speed, and fluidness aid him in all facets of the game. Against the run, Campbell is a sound tackler with a wide radius and just a 5.9% missed tackle rate in 2024. In coverage, Campbell is especially effective in zone, impeding on passing lanes with his length and using his athleticism to gain depth and close on the ball. A creative defensive coordinator will appreciate Campbell's versatility as he's not only a fluent blitzer but can be utilized out on the edge as a speed rusher with an effective dip and rip move. Campbell is a three-down player who can impact the game at all three levels. 

While Campbell is a solid run defender, there are some things to continue to work on. Sometimes, he can be hesitant to fill his gap, leading to opposing linemen getting into his pads and driving him out. He can also be over-eager to pursue, leading to him falling for misdirection or hindering his technique when he tackles high. Honing his block recognition and shedding will also only aid his effectiveness in stopping the run–he's not short on ability with his length and build.

2. Carson Schwesinger, UCLA (6-foot-2, 225 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 136 tackles (90 solos)
• 9 tackles for loss
• 4 sacks
• 2 interceptions
• 3 passes defended
• 1 forced fumble

From former walk-on to 2024 standout, Carson Schwesinger's story is easy to root for. However, he's also got a serious game. Athletically, Schweisnger is a fluid mover, with speed and burst that pair well with his high-effort nature as he rallies to the ball. His instincts look solid for a relatively inexperienced player, and he appears confident in his reads. There's apparent coverage upside to Schwesinger's game, as he showcased his speed and agility when he turned and ran stride-for-stride with the USC slot receiver in this year's game. Schwesinger has all the tools to hold his own on all three downs, which is what we IDP gamers look for.

One of the biggest concerns with Schwesigner is that he has just one year as a starter under his belt. While his eyes are solid overall, his limited experience can sometimes lead to coverage hiccups and cause him to over-pursue. In navigating blocks, Schwesinger needs to be crafty about slipping and/or beating blockers to a spot, as he will get driven out if they get into his body. 

3. Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina (*6-foot-1, 246 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 82 tackles (57 solos)
• 8 tackles for loss
• 2 sacks
• 1 interception
• 1 pass defended
• 3 forced fumbles

Demetrius Knight features an NFL-ready build with ideal length. He doesn't shy away from physicality, using his strength and length to make first contact with opposing blockers and gain leverage to stack and shed. He can also find the angle to slip blockers in the mess. As a tackler, Knight is sound, with noticeable power and a broad radius. Knight's aggressive, physical nature gives him a noticeable appeal to hold down the middle of a defense.

Athletically, Knight looks to have sufficient straight-line closing speed. However, he can look a little tight in the lower half. While he's solid in zone coverage, Knight could run into issues consistently holding up in man coverage. Another concern centers around Knight's age, as he's played for three colleges over six years, and turned 25 before the combine. 

4. Jay Higgins, Iowa (6-foot-2, 232 pounds)

2024 Stats (13 games)

• 124 tackles (53 solos)
• 3 tackles for loss
• 4 interceptions
• 5 passes defended
• 2 forced fumbles
• 1 fumble recovery

Jay Higgins is your classic Iowa lunchpail linebacker, bringing production (295 tackles over the last two years), experience, and leadership qualities to his new team. Higgins features a high football IQ, and you will never have to question his effort; he brings it every play. Scheme-wise, Higgins is tailor-made to hold down the middle in a zone-heavy scheme. He can handle playcalling duties and is in his element patrolling in zone coverage. Higgins finding such a scheme with his new team via the draft will give him an alluring IDP appeal. 

While Higgins is effective and comfortable in zone coverage, he might occasionally struggle in man coverage when he has to turn and run with athletic tight ends or shifty backs out of the backfield. While Higgins is physical enough to shed blockers, there are instances when he tries to spin away to get to a spot, leading him out of position. As a tackler, Higgins is rock-solid. Although, he does miss a few when he leaves his feet and lunges.   

5. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma (6-foot-4, 240 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 109 tackles (44 solos)
• 8 tackles for loss
• 1 sack

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Danny Stutsman is an imposing figure patrolling the field. To pair with his big frame, Stutsman has ideal traits when it comes to speed and range, and he is a fluid mover for a linebacker of his stature. Stutsman is also an effort player who plays the game with an aggressive temperament. He can be a handful to contend with coming downhill when on the attack, against both the run and as a bltizer. His three straight 100+ tackle seasons and 35 tackles for loss over those three years highlight Stutsman's IDP appeal as a tackle producer who can make splash plays behind the line. 

Instinctually, Stutsman's eyes are a bit underwhelming for a player with as much experience as he has. His reads appear better when he's already downhill and is just reacting in pursuit. Otherwise, he can be a guesser. Missed tackles can be an issue, as his aggressive nature can lead to bad angles and poor form when he comes in high and fails to square up. Stutsman also has some questions to answer in the coverage game, as his 46.7 coverage grade in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, is a bit concerning.

6. Jalon Walker, Georgia (6-foot-2, 245 pounds)

2024 Stats (14 games)

• 60 tackles (37 solos)
• 11 tackles for loss
• 6.5 sacks
• 2 passes defended
• 2 fumble recoveries

Jalon Walker had to wait his turn while at Georgia but made his presence felt this year for the Bulldog defense as a junior. Walker saw time both at off-ball linebacker and out on the edge, using his size and speed combination to impact the game at both positions. Walker's athletic profile and potential ceiling as an impactful, versatile defender are key reasons you see his name coming off the board early in mock drafts.

While Walker's ceiling and versatility are enticing, where does he fit for us in IDP land? For the sake of this article, we are looking at him as a linebacker. As a linebacker, his lack of experience is apparent on tape. It shows up with his reads and play recognition, as well as in coverage, as he can be late to diagnose in both regards. Sure, he has plenty of ability and time to develop. However, team and scheme will be important, as we IDP gamers should keep our eyes and ears open to his new team's plans for him positionally and schematically. 

7. Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss (6-foot-1, 235 pounds)

2024 Stats (12 games)

• 88 tackles (50 solos)
• 11 tackles for loss
• 3.5 sacks
• 1 interception
• 4 passes defended
• 1 fumble recovery

Athletically, Chris Paul Jr. shows plenty of speed to patrol the field sideline-to-sideline and a good burst when closing. He is a sound tackler with solid technique. He plays with good balance, keeping his feet under him as he squares up. Per PFF, Paul had just four missed tackles over 621 defensive snaps during the 2024 season. Paul shows enough ability in coverage to give us the vibe that he can handle all three downs for us IDP gamers.

Build-wise, Paul is a little on the smaller side, and his length looks less than ideal. His smaller build can cause him to get washed out if opposing linemen get into his frame. Instinctually, Paul's eyes can run hot and cold. There are reps where he sees and gets it and others where he's late to diagnose and gets out of position. Honing his instincts will only make him a more impactful run defender.

8. Cody Simon, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 235 pounds)

2024 Stats (15 games)

• 112 tackles (51 solos)
• 13 tackles for loss
• 7 sacks
• 7 passes defended
• 1 forced fumble
• 1 fumble recovery

Cody Simon features a solid frame that allows him to play with good balance. He stays square when working down the line. Athletically, Simon's speed, range, and agility all look solid for the position. As a bitzer, Simon can be a problem. He looks to have good timing, which pairs well with his noticeable burst and closing speed. There were also some nice tackle reps where Simon squared up, wrapped up, and drove through ball carriers. 

Misdirection and zone reads can cause Simon issues, as he can take the cheese and flow out of position. Pulling guards can also draw his eyes away from the play. However, overall, Simon is a solid processor. When processing post-snap, Simon tends to hop step when keying. It's not a big issue, but it occasionally delays him enough for blockers to find him. 

9. Nick Martin, Oklahoma State (*6-foot-0, 222 pounds)

2024 Stats (5 games)

• 47 tackles (28 solos)
• 8 tackles for loss
• 1 sack

Nick Martin's athleticism pops on tape. Martin is an excellent athlete with speed, twitch, change of direction, and a noticeable burst. Quite simply, if he sees it early and stays clean, he can get it as he closes in a flash. Martin was limited to just five games (knee injury) this year but erupted as a junior in 2023 with 140 tackles (83 solos), 16 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Martin is a fluent splash play producer with 24 tackles for loss and seven sacks over his last two seasons (19 games). Martin is a run-and-chase linebacker who is fun to watch function in space. 

Martin is a smaller-frame linebacker; if blockers find him, he gets stalled and/or driven out. Martin needs to continue to hone his ability to slip and evade blockers, as stacking and shedding isn't his forte. The zone read can give Martin issues. There are times he guesses and just flies in with his head down. Working on his reads and keys and cleaning up his issues with missed tackles will only aid his ability as a run defender. Martin has all the athleticism and ability to hold his own in coverage. However, he has some things to work on. He can sit stagnant when he drops in zone coverage, relying on his speed and athleticism if he's late to get in position. 

10. Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia (6-foot-2, 229 pounds)

2024 Stats (10 games)

• 57 tackles (29 solos)
• 4 tackles for loss
• 3 sacks
• 3 passes defended

Smael Mondon Jr. features an athletic build with good length, showcasing solid speed, range, and fluidness to work the field sideline-to-sideline. As a tackler, Mondon is sound with solid technique. He showed some nice reps on tape, one of which was against Clemson, where he squared up Phil Mafa in the hole and stopped him in his tracks. There is three-down potential to Mondon's game if he can continue to work on his coverage skills. He's also shown to be an effective blitzer during his time at Georgia. 

Mondon's eyes and instincts can be a bit inconsistent. It looks like he doesn't always trust what he sees, and it will cause him to hesitate. If he's late or hesitant, it can lead to blockers finding him first, causing Mondon to get stuck and struggle to shed. He can also struggle to locate the ball against the zone read, causing him to get out of position. Mondon has also dealt with a myriad of injuries over his collegiate career. Hopefully, his medicals look clean at the combine. 

Other Names to Know

• Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
• Barrett Carter, Clemson
• Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
• Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
• Shemar James, Florida
• Kobe King, Penn State

Final Thoughts

Thanks for reading, and hopefully, you enjoyed an early look at this intriguing incoming group of rookie linebackers. Be on the lookout for articles covering the other position groups, as my buddy Joesph Haggan, and I look to bring more insight on this IDP rookie class leading up to the draft.