Seahawks Draft: Ranking LB Prospects - Options at No. 20?
With less than two weeks remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks will soon be on the clock with the fifth overall pick and hold 10 total selections, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with young talent.
Spoiled by elite linebacker play for most of the John Schneider/Pete Carroll era, the Seahawks face short and long-term questions at the position even after bringing back future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner and signing former first-round pick Devin Bush to one-year deals in free agency. With those two veterans and returning starter Jordyn Brooks, who is recovering from a torn ACL, all set to be free agents next spring, the need to draft a future starter likely remains.
As part of my annual prospect rankings, here's where each of the top linebacker prospects from the 2023 class falls on my top 300 with quick scouting reports and reported visits with the Seahawks if applicable.
*Players are listed in order by position with overall ranking in parenthesis.
Tier 1 - First Round Talent
© Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
1 (21). Drew Sanders, Arkansas
Sanders' lean 6-5, 230-pound frame can be problematic working off of blocks in the run game and he missed 22 tackles in 2022, so he will need to add some muscle to his frame to excel at the next level and clean up his tackling to be a long-term starter as an off-ball linebacker. But his blitzing and edge rushing talents that netted 9.5 sacks coupled with natural coverage skills would make him a prime candidate to start for most teams and he has the highest ceiling of this group given his immense versatility.
Tier 2 - Second/Third Round Talent
2 (47). Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Reported Visit: Top-30 Official
Playing the "money" linebacker role for Clemson, Simpson looks more like a safety than a linebacker at 6-3, 235 pounds. Playing inside last season, he struggled at times diagnosing runs and exhibiting patience to snuff out ball carriers. Based on his lean build and strengths chasing down quarterbacks, he's likely best suited as a roving outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but eye-popping testing numbers may intrigue teams running 3-4 schemes as well and push him into first round discussion.
3 (49). Jack Campbell, Iowa
Built with a sturdy 245-pound frame, Campbell is bit of a throwback with a traditional linebacker mentality plugging gaps as an aggressive, downhill defender and excels at stacking and shedding blocks to make plays. He also shined in coverage, handling zone/hook responsibilities and using his eyes to read opposing quarterbacks, leading to five interceptions in 2021/2022. He may not have great sideline-to-sideline burst, but as an active, hard-hitting thumper with quality coverage skills, he would be an excellent fit to bolster the middle of a 3-4 defense.
4 (54). Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama
A smaller linebacker by NFL standards at under 230 pounds, To'oTo'o thrives based on technique and football savvy, always putting himself in position to make a play as a tackler. He excelled as a blitzer in college, but he battled consistency issues in coverage and rarely got his hands on the ball, registering just one pass breakup and no picks. He has athletic limitations and his lack of size could be a red flag for teams, but after being incredibly productive at two SEC schools, he likely goes early on day two.
© Darren Yamashita, USA TODAY
5 (61). Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Reported Visit: Combine Formal
An outstanding athlete who started his college career as a receiver, Henley flew all over the field all week long at the Senior Bowl and made a bunch of tackles along with recovering a fumble. Size remains Henley's biggest detriment, but he demonstrated more than enough physicality to play linebacker in the NFL during his final collegiate season and has natural coverage and blitz ability to couple with his elite athleticism, giving him a strong chance to be one of the first linebackers picked day two.
6 (76). DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
A converted safety still relatively new to the linebacker position, Overshown has a ways to go diagnosing runs and reading his keys. He will need to embrace the weight room to add muscle to his lean 229-pound frame to help fight through blocks. But he's a heat-seeking missile with a penchant for delivering massive hits who offers great field speed and pursuit while also being an apt blitzer, making him a fun Swiss army knife to implement into a defense with a quality starter ceiling.
7 (93). Dee Winters, TCU
Built with a short, stocky 5-11, 227-pound frame, Winters often wins with top-flight athleticism, beating blocks to regularly make plays in the backfield and proving to be a deft blitzer with 7.5 sacks in 2022. He doesn't have much sand in his pants when blockers latch hands onto him and his aggressive nature doesn't always show up trying to disengage, but he's a steady cover linebacker who doesn't miss many tackles and offers pass rush contributions, making him a capable starter prospect on day two.
8 (96). Noah Sewell, Oregon
Compared to his film one year earlier, the 250-pound Sewell looked a step slow in pursuit last season while playing in a different system under a new coaching staff. Despite that concern, he has a nose for the football and given his size, he plays the role of thumper few incoming linebackers can provide teams. A strong downhill tackler, teams looking for a bigger linebacker in a 3-4 scheme may be intrigued by his upside and after a decent combine showing, he's likely still a day two selection with starter upside.
Tier 3 - Day Three/Undrafted Talent
9 (140). Ivan Pace, Cincinnati
Weighing only 231 pounds at the Senior Bowl earlier this year, Pace doesn't possess ideal size or length for an NFL inside linebacker and his testing at the combine underwhelmed. With that said, he's a dynamic playmaker who can hold his own in all facets of the game and plays far above his weight class, as evidenced by him knocking Florida guard O'Cyrus Torrence to the ground during the all-star showcase. His lack of size likely pushes him past the third round, but he has a chance to be day three gem.
10 (158). Dorian Williams, Tulane
The heart and soul of the Green Wave's defense, Williams plays with a flame that never burns out, exhibiting top-flight burst hunting down ball carriers in the backfield as well as sideline-to-sideline. Once he gets his hands on them, it's typically game over, as he's an elite finisher. He's also a fluid, comfortable mover in coverage, but he likely won't hear his name called until day three due to concerns about his 228-pound frame not being suitable to handle the rigors playing near the line of scrimmage.
11 (164). Mohamoud Diabate, Utah
The latest from a long line of talented Utes linebackers, Diabate checks off boxes as another rangy, athletic linebacker who can chase down runners boundary-to-boundary with proven blitzing success. However, he didn't develop as hoped in coverage despite ideal traits, producing only one interception and one pass breakup his entire college career. Such concerns could keep him off the field on passing downs and his sub-225 pound frame may make it difficult to carve out a starting role.
12 (170). Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt
Built with a muscular 230-pound frame, Orji plays an aggressive, borderline reckless brand of football, flying downhill looking to make plays in the backfield or hunt down quarterbacks as a blitzer. This led to a lot of plays behind the line, but also left him vulnerable to overpursuit and missed tackles. It remains to be seen if he can play linebacker at the next level, but he put together one of the best all-around performances at the combine, which may secure a mid-day three selection.
13 (180). Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
Athletically, Abdullah has the skill set to warrant an earlier selection with 4.47 speed and elite explosiveness at 237 pounds. However, he exclusively played off the edge for the Cardinals and likely lacks the size to stay there in the NFL. Though he could still see some action in that capacity on passing downs, his best shot to become a starter in the league could be as an off-ball defender, which will be a long-term project given his limited experience dropping into coverage and reading keys in the middle.
14 (184). Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Another linebacker prospect lacking ideal size at 225 pounds, Pappoe offers elite 4.39 speed that suits him well when he's able to play more in space as a chase defender and benefits him in coverage drops and blitz situations. But any team that drafts him will face significant growing pains despite his experience in the SEC, as he gets gobbled up by blockers at the line as well as the second level and struggles to shed. He's a day three candidate with enough juice to start if he develops as a playmaker.
15 (199). Marte Mapu, Sacramento State
Weighing under 220 pounds and coming from an FCS program, Mapu likely will need a redshirt year coming into the NFL before he's ready to compete for snaps on Sundays. Resembling a safety rather than a linebacker, he plays with the aggressive mindset teams want as a tackler and stacks blocks better than anticipated at his size. Along with shining at the Senior Bowl, those traits create enough intrigue that a team should take a flier on him late and quickly get him in the weight room to bulk up.
© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
16 (220). Drake Thomas, North Carolina State
Reported Visit: Top-30 Official
A highly productive three-year starter for the Wolfpack, Thomas made plays all over the field eclipsing 100 tackles and nearly hitting double-digit sacks as a senior in 2022. A downhill defender who aggressively seeks out ball carriers and quarterbacks, he always seems to be in the mix finding the football. He didn't receive a combine invite and questions about his athleticism translating to the NFL persist. Still, he's a junkyard dog in every sense and may be the most underrated linebacker in this class.
17 (223). Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech
A productive playmaker in the middle with over 120 tackles in 2022, Thomas negated obvious size limitations at 216 pounds with above-average instincts and a surprising knack for working off blocks to find his way to the football. At the next level, while his coverage capabilities will help his cause fighting for a roster spot, holding up in the box without adding mass to his 6-3 frame will make sticking around tough and may even necessitate a move to safety.
18 (231). Kyle Soelle, Arizona State
One of the few linebackers in this class with traditional size for the position, Soelle stuffed the stat sheet with over 100 tackles and two interceptions last season, showing his capabilities as a run defender and in coverage. A downhill linebacker with good instincts reading keys, his film doesn't match pro day testing in terms of burst and change of direction skills, particularly in man coverage duties. He's likely a special teams contributor early on with enough upside to eventually vie for defensive snaps.
19 (234). Ventrell Miller, Florida
Reported Visit: Pro Day
Compared to his peers, Miller lacks in the athleticism department with average speed in pursuit and iffy fluidity when dropping into coverage, which hampers his odds of becoming an every down linebacker at the next level. With that said, he has no issues getting downhill and mixing it up at the point of attack. He's also a quality tackler, giving him a fighting chance to carve out a situational role while starring on special teams right off the bat as a late day three selection.
20 (246). Cam Jones, Indiana
The 227-pound Jones can be vulnerable getting stuck on blocks and occasionally gets taken for a ride by blockers at the second level. Injuries have also been a major issue. But he has a nose for the football and displayed quality coverage instincts while recording nine pass breakups and returning a pick for six in his college career. After playing well in the Senior Bowl, a poor combine showing dropped him a peg, but there's still late day three value as a special teamer and developmental linebacker.
21 (249). Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
From a pure tools standpoint, Banks could get drafted on day two and nobody would bat an eye. He's a menacing presence in the middle who loves to shoot gaps and pummel running backs, as evidenced by his 128 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2021. He also can be a weapon as a blitzer and produced seven pass breakups over the past two years. But two off field incidents that led to his dismissal from the team in 2019 still hang over his head and diminished production as a senior could mean he remains on the board until late on day three.
22 (265). Aubrey Miller, Jackson State
One of the many success stories from the Deion Sanders era in Jackson, Miller transferred from Missouri and thrived as the captain in the middle, punishing opponents as a stout run defender while proving capable of making plays all over the field. Weighing under 230 pounds with 4.71 speed, he may not have the size or athleticism for his production to translate to the NFL, but his leadership and special teams ability give him a shot to hang around.
23 (266). SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
In terms of consistency, Dennis passes the eye test as an NFL prospect, as he amassed at least 55 tackles and four sacks each of the past three years and flashes as an instinctive playmaker in all facets. But he regularly found himself on the wrong end of blocks in college and at 226 pounds, he wasn't able to free himself, which will be a big problem at the next level. Add in average at best athleticism and he's a project defender on day three who will have to lean on special teams to make it.
24 (268). Mikel Jones, Syracuse
Another player with great college production, Jones registered at least 84 tackles and seven sacks last year and had four interceptions in 2020, showcasing a well-rounded game as an active, aggressive linebacker. But that aggression often works against him overplaying runs trying to avoid blocks and at 220 pounds, he isn't built to play in the box in the NFL. He will have to cut his teeth as a special teamer and hope to develop as a sub-package linebacker in time.
Previous Positional Rankings
Defensive Tackle | Quarterback | EDGE/Defensive End | Center
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