Best LB in 2024 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top 25 Linebackers

Zack Cook
Host · Writer
1. Dallas Turner - Alabama
Dallas Turner is our top linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Turner's performance at the NFL Scouting Combine only made us more excited about this prospect with his overall explosiveness. Turner will likely be selected in the top ten of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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25. Jackson Sirmon - Cal
Although Jackson Sirmon takes some time to warm up to on tape, but he's still a quality linebacker. Sirmon is a strong tackler and combines that with solid speed to get to the quarterback.
24. Michael Barrett - Michigan
Some will have Michael Barrett in a higher range, and we wouldn't argue with you if you do. He doesn't have ideal size, but he has the football IQ to make plays at the next level.
23. Darius Muasau - UCLA
Darius Muasau excels at reading the play and with his overall decision making. Even though we'd like him to be quicker, he can stil win battles with his speed.
22. Edefuan Ulofoshio - Washington
Edefuan Ulofoshio is someone we wanted to be higher on because of his athletic package, but couldn't justify it. He has the ability to make talent evaluators look silly down the line, knowing he has the upside to be a problem in the NFL.
21. Trevin Wallace - Kentucky
Trevin Wallace does a lot of things well, highlighted by his versatility and dynamic athletic presence on the field. When you watch Wallace's tape, his quickness and football IQ allows him to make plays and pop as a prospect out of Kentucky.
20. Tatum Bethune - Florida State
Strong coverage linebacker and Tatum Bethune go hand-in-hand. He has great football instincts and was a big reason that the Seminoles defense held up until the end of the season last year.
19. J.D. Bertrand - Notre Dame
J.D. Bertrand has a unique skillset which allowed him to get to the quarterback at Notre Dame. Bertrand's overall length and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect to keep tabs on.
18. Jordan Magee - Temple
There are certain prospects that excel at different things, and stopping the run is right in Jordan Magee's wheel house. The former Temple Owl presents strong value in an area many teams need to upgrade.
17. Nathaniel Watson - Mississippi State
Nathaniel Watson is a prospect that we had a difficult time getting a full read on. There's a lot to like from an athleticism standpoint, but there are some question marks about his frame at th position.
16. Jaylan Ford - Texas
Jaylan Ford saw his stock rise during his final season at Texas. Ford is a quick linebacker who can win his battles around the edges and make plays. His consistency at Texas should keep him ranked amongd the top 15 linebackers.
15. Steele Chambers - Ohio State
Steele Chambers is talented at stopping the run with his high-end range and overall quickness. The more tape you watch, the more you become intrigued by his overall potential.
14. Curtis Jacobs - Penn State
There's a lot to like about Curtis Jacobs and ability to tackle, highlighted by his overall explosive tendencies. He's not a perfect player, but there are certainly attractive pro traits to his game.
13. Ty'Ron Hopper - Missouri
Ty'Ron Hopper combines speed, size, and athleticism. These three things often make his game pop on tape, especially when you're looking at his game in zone coverage.
12. James Williams - Miami (FL)
It's hard to emphasize how much versatility plays a role in elevating these prospects. The versatility that James Williams brings to the table help make him a real dual-threat linebacker on the field.
11. Cedric Gray - North Carolina
It's not hard to find Cedric Gray on the field when you highlight his extremely high-end athleticism. There are definitely things he can afford to work on, otherwise he'd likely be higher on this list with his potential upside.
10. Tommy Eichenberg - Ohio State
Although he didn't participate in every testing drill, it was a solid showing from Tommy Eichenberg and didn't alter how he was viewed on this list. He's a strong tackler with good range and can be used as a run defender on the inside.
9. Javon Solomon - Troy
Javon Solomon stands out with his quickness and explosive tendencies, which held true at the NFL Scouting Combine. If anything, it's not hard to like him a little bit more after this showing.
8. Tyrice Knight - UTEP
Tyrice Knight had a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine and received a slight bump. He's a hard hitter who showed out in Indy with a nice sprinkle of explosiveness.
7. Marist Liufau - Notre Dame
There are still some questions about Marist Liufau's overall football IQ, but that wouldn't change at the NFL Scouting Combine. Liufau tested well; expect more from him at Notre Dame's pro day.
6. Chris Braswell - Alabama
Chris Braswell screams boom or bust, and his combine results lean toward the boom category. The Alabama product tested well, which held his spot on this list firm.
5. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. - Clemson
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has many pro tendencies to his game out of Clemson, along with the pedigree from his father. It's not hard to like the package of this player, even if he did drop slightly.
4. Junior Colson - Michigan
Junior Colson was a noteworthy presence for Michigan in the national title game against Washington. Colson is a rangy run defender with good speed that can consistently disrupt plays in the backfield. That didn't change over the weekend.
3. Payton Wilson - NC State
With a potent combination of speed and skill, Payton Wilson is one of our favorite linebackers in this draft class. His results at the NFL Scouting Combine highlight that, jumping into our top three with a nice outing.
2. Edgerrin Cooper - Texas A&M
Edgerrin Cooper immediately stands out when you put on his tape from Texas A&M, and the same held true during his combine testing. After a strong showing, Cooper solidified his status near the top of the board.
1. Dallas Turner - Alabama
Dallas Turner is our top linebacker in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Turner's performance at the NFL Scouting Combine only made us more excited about this prospect with his overall explosiveness. Turner will likely be selected in the top ten of the 2024 NFL Draft.
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25. Jackson Sirmon - Cal
Although Jackson Sirmon takes some time to warm up to on tape, but he's still a quality linebacker. Sirmon is a strong tackler and combines that with solid speed to get to the quarterback.
