2023 NFL Draft: LB Rankings:
1
Drew Sanders
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’4”, 235 lbs
Strengths:
Sanders was originally an edge rusher, but transitioned to off ball LB. Generally, he is a good athlete, and the transition has served him well, while also allowing him to still situationally rush the passer off of the edge. As a LB, he displays good range. Sanders plays with a big of a jump in his step, and can go sideline to sideline to make plays. He is solid in coverage. His awareness looks good, and he is fluid enough to handle shallow-intermediate zones. Off the edge, Sanders plays with a scrappy mentality. He is fluid enough to bend around the corner, but his developed hand technique also makes a difference. Given that he is pretty new to the position, this much success, this early, suggests that further development is likely.
Weaknesses:
If looking at him as an edge rusher, he is undersized, which contributed to the position switch. Even as a traditional LB, his frame is lacking mass and he can have trouble getting off of blocks when defending the run. Sanders dropped into shallower zones often and did well. However, he might be a bit too stiff laterally to be consistent in deeper zone. Man coverage also might not be totallY suited for him. Enough is there to do it occasionally, but I would rather those exposures be limited. Given his inexperience playing the position, he understandably misread things at times, and was fooled by fakes. The hope is that, with time, he can cut those down, or eliminate them altogether.
Summary:
Sanders is an edge rusher turned LB. He is a good enough athlete to travel sideline to sideline and handle some coverage duties. However, I do sense some subtle stiffness, which might lead to more inconsistencies if you increase the difficulty of his coverage duties (ex. deep zone, man coverage). He has a tough demeanor and likes to go to the dirty areas to stop the run, but he’ll need to get stronger to get off blocks with consistency. Though it is no longer his permanent position, Sanders can still situationally rush from the edge with success. It is a nice bonus, and can allow a defensive coordinator to get a bit creative with things. Overall, Sanders still has some kinks to iron out, and might not be a perfect athlete, but enough tools are there for him to be at least an above average starter at the position.
| Grade: 81.6 | Round Grade: 2nd |
2
Trenton Simpson
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 235 lbs
Strengths:
Simpson brings a lot of athletic abilities to the table that allow him to have success in different areas all over the field. His speed is great. You see it on a number of occasions, but I think it really stands out as a blitzer, where he is also able to convert it into power with which to drive his opponent back. He shows potential in coverage, quickly closing gaps in shallow zone. The speed and fluidity is also there to cover deeper down the field, and also in man coverage. Against the run, Simpson shows sideline to sideline speed, preventing ball carriers from turning the corner, in some cases. His ability to penetrate gaps quickly also provides a high potential of blown up plays that were dead from the start.
Weaknesses:
Instincts for the position are a work in progress. At this time, Simpson still sometimes misdiagnoses plays and gets fooled by playfakes. There are instances, even in coverage, where false steps can make the difference between being in or out of position. Simpson probably has a bit of room to get stronger, as he can still show some inconsistencies when battling through contact, and he isn’t always able to disengage from it.
Summary:
Simpson is a rangy, athletic LB who is still trying to put together all of the pieces of his mental game. Certainly, the tools are there. The only physical thing that really stood out in any way was that he could benefit from getting stronger in order to get off blocks easier, and just handle the contact that can take place in the trenches. He still needs some work, but he has starter upside.
| Grade: 79.1 | Round Grade: 3rd |
3
DeMarvion Overshown
School: Texas
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 229 lbs
Strengths:
Overshown is a converted S who has brought good size and athleticism to the LB position. He is a dynamic athlete, in fact. He has the speed and quickness to match up against any TE in coverage, but his acceleration is what has me the most impressed. It seems as though he can go from 0 to 100 in a split second. He showcases this when shooting gaps at the line, whether as a blitzer or in run defence. His backpedal is smooth, and he can cover a large portion of the field in zone coverage. In man coverage, he has the ability to shut down top TE’s. Overshown has a big frame and, when he bursts into the backfield, can strike fear into his opponents when they see him coming in that fast. Overshown is a dynamic player with a lot of upside.
Weaknesses:
Given that he is relatively new to the position, Overshown is still developing his instincts. He has made good strides, but still has a ways to go. Last season, he would still bite on fakes and misdiagnose quite a few plays. If not that on a particular play, then it was just plain hesitation and indecisiveness. Overshown has a big frame already, but can still get stronger in order to better handle inside runs.
Summary:
Overshown is a high upside player. His strides since switching from S have been good, and more progression seems likely. From a physical standpoint, I think his athleticism and size are visible assets when watching him play. But he could stand to add some bulk to his frame. With his tools, it would not be a surprise to see him starting early in his career. If he puts the mental stuff together, he can be one of the best in the league.
| Grade: 78.9 | Round Grade: 3rd |
4
Marte Mapu
School: Sacramento State
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 217 lbs
Strengths:
Mapu is a small school S/LB hybrid who has largely fallen under the radar this draft season. His instincts and athleticism stand out the most on tape. Starting with his instincts, it is amazing how quickly he diagnoses the play, and like a shot, he is moving into position. This helps him a lot in zone coverage when guarding the shallower areas. He is a quick thinker who can eliminate a target that initially looked to be getting open. He has the athleticism to carry out man coverage duties that you would ask of a LB or S. Mapu can blanket TE’s, and he has good length to break up passes. Against the run, I have seen him travel all the way over from the other side. Definition of sideline to sideline. He tackles with good technique, staying square and wrapping up the ball carrier.
Weaknesses:
Mapu, as a S/LB hybrid, is underweight for a true LB role in the NFL. If he is going to pay LB, bulking up will be a necessity. He is a small school prospect, who consistently faced far lower competition in college. He did look good at the Senior Bowl, but the NFL will still be at a whole new level, and not facing tougher competition on a consistent basis will make his transition more difficult. Given his light frame, there are instances when he gets out-muscled, specifically when playing near the trenches. He sometimes plays at a high pad level. Correcting that could mitigate the issue, to an extent.
Summary:
Mapu is a LB/S hybrid coming from a small school. He impressed on tape at Sacramento State, and carried it over to the Senior Bowl. Finding a positional fit will be important for the team that ends up with him. If you make him a box S, you probably leave him closer to this weight. But if you lean the LB way, he’ll have to add. I like him as a LB thanks to his football IQ and sideline to sideline ability that he showed while playing the position. Further, coverage LB’s are hard to find, and he is definitely good in coverage. The jump in competition will be an adjustment, but he has the talent to be a good player at the next level.
| Grade: 74.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
5
Jeremy Banks
School: Tennessee
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 232 lbs
Strengths:
Banks is a high energy player on defence, playing with aggression and speed. He shoots gaps with a purpose, looking to blow up, and deliver a huge hit in the process. His straight line speed looks great, but he is also agile. Banks’ backpedal in zone is pretty smooth, and he can get the amount of depth that is required in his drop. Didn’t see too much man coverage in my exposures, but he has enough talent to at least hold his own. With his speed and agility, Banks is an asset that can be useful on blitzes.
Weaknesses:
Banks is an undersized LB, who is forced to compensate with an aggressive playing style. Still, you can’t fully compensate for stuff like this. There are some occasions where he flies full force into an open gap at the line of scrimmage, before an offensive lineman spots his pursuit and completely decks him before he can make it out the other side. Banks sees the game well a lot of the time, but also has some blips. He has been making improvements, but his instincts could still improve.
Summary:
Banks is a smaller player, but has good enough athleticism and plays aggressive enough to still serve as a quality depth option. He is someone who keeps improving, and it would not surprise me to see him starting one day. Banks can play on special teams, which will help his chances of making a roster early on.
| Grade: 73.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
6
Dee Winters
School: TCU
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 227 lbs
Strengths:
Winters has great athleticism, which leads to some tremendous flashes. Well, actually, his play in coverage is more than just flashes. He is a former DB who looks smooth and controlled when playing zone. In man coverage, he has the ability to stick to both TE’s and RB’s, something you don’t find every day. His downhill burst is outstanding. Winters can shoot into the backfield to bring down the ball carrier, or pressure the QB if it is a blitz. This kind of athleticism allows him to execute sideline to sideline type plays.
Weaknesses:
Winters has a slender frame, which impacts his ability to play downhill. Missed tackles and failed attempts at block shedding do show up more than you would like. As well his instincts when it comes to his downhill game are still in need of development. At this point, he can still be slow to process, and it will lead to bigger gains given up.
Summary:
Winters has a lot of upside, and I already like where his coverage ability is at. However, at this point, he is more likely to be limited to a sub package role until his instincts in the downhill game can improve. Additionally, it would be nice to see him bulk up a bit, which hopefully would help him shed blocks better and limit missed tackles. Even with the kinks, Winters brings some value, as good coverage LB’s are hard to find. If he manages to put all the pieces together, Winters can be a high end starter.
| Grade: 70.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
7
Daiyan Henley
School: Washington State
Ht/Wtl: 6’1”, 225 lbs
Strengths:
Henley is an athletic LB with the range to go from sideline to sideline. I like the mentality he plays with. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he makes sure to deliver some pop whenever he gets the chance. Even though he is undersized, he is not afraid to get to the dirty areas in an attempt to make his presence felt. He has the athleticism to be a good player in coverage, though most of the stuff I saw in my exposures was more simple. Even if on the simpler side, Henley looked very good in coverage, and tougher assignments on a more consistent basis is something I think he can take on Henley has been an effective blitzer. The speed is there to burst through gaps, but his agility to execute twists is also very good.
Weaknesses:
Even if his frame is built pretty sturdy, Henley is still undersized. This sometimes causes him to to get pushed around as he looks to enter the trenches, and he lacks the size or strength to really give any kind of response. The biggest issue on his tape had to do with his instincts. He is still pretty new to the position, and you can see that they are still developing. Indecisiveness, false steps, and bad angles hindered his abilities as time.
Summary:
Henley’s instincts will have to improve before he is ready for a 3 down role. False steps and biting on fakes are two things that need to be cut out. On the other side, his athleticism could earn him some snaps in subpackages and on special teams. Size is limited, but he is built sturdy enough for that to be worked around, to a certain extent, and the aggressiveness he plays with also helps negate some of the size issue. As the game begins to slow down for him, he is definitely someone I could see getting more work in coverage. If he can play smart and take good angles, it might also be enough to earn more than just a rotational role. At the end of the day, he is someone that comes with questions, but also has some useful traits. His outcome may depend on which team drafts him.
| Grade: 70.3 | Round Grade: 4th |
8
Owen Pappoe
School: Auburn
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 225 lbs
Strengths:
Athleticism is clear as day when watching Pappoe. He glides effortlessly across the field, providing sideline to sideline playmaking ability. Cover talent is there. The ability to blanket in man coverage, as well as the ability to play deep zone. A large amount of ground can be covered quickly by his backpedal. Pappoe shoots gaps fast, which makes him an asset as a blitzer, and he can stifle run plays before they get started by penetrating into the backfield.
Weaknesses:
As a prospect, he is rough around the edges. Pappoe is still developing his instincts, as false steps and misdiagnoses show up fairly often. As a result, he ends up out of position more than you would like. As well, Pappoe is undersized, which can make it tough to get off of blocks and keep would-be tackles in his grasp. Overall, there is a sense of inconsistency in his game that he will have to slowly eliminate if he wants to develop into a starter in the NFL.
Summary:
Pappoe is a highly athletic player with the ability to cover a ton of ground when in man or zone, and also go sideline to sideline when defending the run. Poor instincts and a size issue are the issues keeping him lower down. He will need development to become a starter, but he has upside. At the very least, he should be an effective special teamer.
| Grade: 70.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
9
Jack Campbell
School: Iowa
Ht/Wt: 6’5”, 249 lbs
Strengths:
Campbell is a massive, old school LB who can deliver some big hits. He plays a downhill kind of game. Campbell has good instincts and can seek out the ball carrier, when in range. He is not only tall, but has a sturdy build that should be able to withstand a bit more contact, When he squares himself with the ball carrier, it is hard to get around Campbell, and his wrap up style limits the number of missed tackles.With his background as an edge rusher, he still has those natural pass rushing instincts, which have help him have success in rushing situations. Campbell has been moved all around the defence. Looking at his coverage ability, he seems to be able to handle basic shorter zone stuff.
Weaknesses:
Campbell is lacking the athleticism to play a 3 down role. He can thump on inside runs, but is consistently late making it to the boundary to meet the RB. Speed is average at best, and his quickness is right there with it. His instincts, along with just enough movement skills, get him a low passing grade for his shallow zone coverage. And though he did have a few flashes deeper down the field, it is not something that I would feel comfortable relying on at the next level. His stiff movements will give him a tough time getting to the right place in a small amount of time. Further, I would want to rely on him at all in man coverage, as savvy TE’s will be able to take advantage. For a big guy, I was surprised how often he had trouble getting off of his block, preventing him from even making a play on an inside run.
Summary:
Campbell is a big LB with the ability to be a thumper when defending inside runs. Considering this is arguably the best part of his game, I did find it concerning how difficult it was for him to get off blocks. Campbell looks like an average at best athlete on the football field, despite his combine results saying otherwise. He handles shallow zone well enough, but more inconsistencies show up the deeper the routes get. Further, man coverage at the next level might be too much for him altogether. Campbell will be able to contribute on special teams in the NFL. To maximize his chances on defence, block shedding is what he might need to focus on the most, as he projects most favourably as a run stuffer in the middle.
| Grade: 69.8 | Round Grade: 5th |
10
Dorian Williams
School: Tulane
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 228 lbs
Strengths:
Williams is a good athlete for the LB position. He is active from the beginning of the snap, looking to make plays against the run and deliver big hits. His tackling is generally solid. Williams is pretty good in coverage. Not perfectly sticky, but the gap is usually pretty small if there is one. He offers the ability to win as a blitzer, and also brings value on special teams.
Weaknesses:
He has decent bulk, but Williams is still undersized for the position. In between the good plays, are ones where he is getting controlled at the point of attack by bigger players. But I’m not sure if his frame could take more weight without a drop off in movement ability. His instincts are a work in progress. There are some plays where the ball is on its way out wide, and Williams is still looking in the backfield.
Summary:
Though he looks more like a safety, Williams just has a big enough frame to stick it out at LB. His ability in coverage should help, especially for a likely day 3 pick. He is too small, however, to see much time, if any at DE. At the next level, he is best suited as a LB/S hybrid. He does pretty well in coverage, for a LB, and is decent enough against the run to serve as a depth/rotational player. His ability on special teams should help his chances to make a roster.
| Grade: 68.5 | Round Grade: 5th |
11
Henry To’oTo’o
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 227 lbs
Strengths:
To’oTo’o is a solid all around LB with the ability to hold his own in both phases of the game. While he isn’t perfectly fluid, he is a capable player in coverage, and he has enough lateral agility to cover deeper portions over the middle. To’oTo’o is quietly a pretty solid blitzer. I say quietly because he doesn’t just rush in there looking to blow things up. His approach is carefully calculated, and he often gives himself an easier path by waiting that extra split second for things to open up. As a run defender, he has good instincts, often being able to diagnose the direction of the play. He also rarely bites on fakes. Overall, he is able to give you consistency.
Weaknesses:
To’oTo’o is one of those cases where the thing that props you up is also the thing that holds you down. Generally, you know what you are getting from him – consistent play that isn’t terrible, but does not stand out as being great either. He lacks any kind of a mean streak when playing the run or going in on a blitz. Is he that much of a calculated player, as I used in the previous paragraph, or is it just that he is passive? Because there are times where it seems as though he is going through the motions. Given the fact that he is quite undersized, playing a bit angrier would help him. From an athletic standpoint, it is a similar story, solid, but it doesn’t really stand out that much. Especially when he is backpedaling into the deeper portions of the field, there is some stiffness in his movements that is evident. He can still play in coverage, but he’ll likely be stuck close to average, with maybe some peaks and valleys scattered around.
Summary:
To’oTo’o is a solid player who possesses decent but unspectacular traits. He generally does something at a level where he isn’t a liability, but also not standing out in a good way. He can cover some, play the run some, but a small frame, passive style, and some stiffness athletically put a cap on what the ceiling is. Overall, this profile looks like that of an ideal backup – not quite someone you’d want starting, but they are reliable when called upon. To get past this label, maybe playing a bit meaner would help, but his size would still make things a challenge. Even if he sees minimal snaps on defence, he should be able to contribute a lot on special teams.
| Grade: 68.2 | Round Grade: 5th |
12
Yasir Abdullah
School: 6’1”, 237 lbs
Ht/Wt: Louisville
Strengths:
Abdullah is a college edge rusher who may end up making the shift to off the ball LB at the next level. He has the athleticism to go sideline to sideline, and in limited exposures in coverage, it looked like something he can handle. Abdullah possesses solid quickness and great speed for the position, whether looking at him as an edge rusher or LB. If making the switch, he can still rush the passer situationally, and should also be effective blitzing from the middle. With his athleticism and tenacity, he should be able to play well on special teams.
Weaknesses:
Abdullah is a tweener, caught in the middle of two positions where he might not fit perfectly at either. His athleticism works as an edge rusher, but his size does not, and it will only be harder to find success going against NFL OT’s. But making a position switch can also be tough, and he has very little experience in coverage. Defending the run from the off ball position will also be a decent transition.
Summary:
Regardless of which position you have him at, it is a projection. If you keep him on the edge, will it translate? But will a switch to off ball translate? Maybe he ends up with no set position and fills a variety of situational roles. Whatever happens, someone will take a flier on him, because he is a tenacious player who has good athleticism. But without a set position, his chance will likely come as a later round pick or UDFA.
| Grade: 60.5 | Round Grade: 6th |
13
Ivan Pace
School: Cincinnati
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 231 lbs
Strengths:
Pace is small, but quite strong for his size. He was used as a blitzer quite often, and found some success shooting the gap. He has flashed talent in coverage, and his instincts help keep him in great position throughout the rep. Some of these flashes have included pass breakups against much bigger TE’s. These instincts are also on display as a run defender, and they help make up for average speed. Pace is someone who can become a high end special teamer.
Weaknesses:
Size is his biggest weakness. For this reason, he will always have limitations. While he has some coverage talent, he will be on the wrong end of a mismatch in most of those matchups. Playing the numbers game, it is probably better to limit those kinds of snaps. His size also limits him as a run defender, as bigger o-linemen can snuff him out. As well he doesn’t have the length to consistently disengage.
Summary:
Pace does exceptionally well to overcome unfortunate physical limitations. But at the next level, it might not be the same story. The team that ends up with him might try to keep him out of the wrong side of mismatches, therefore limiting his coverage snaps and overall snaps on defence. His best bet is to make it as a situational blitzer and special teamer.
| Grade: 59.6 | Round Grade: 7th |
14
Noah Sewell
School: Oregon
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 246 lbs
Strengths:
Sewell plays with a tough mentality that you want for your defenders. He is a high motor guy, relentlessly pursuing the ball and whoever has it. Generally, he has been a pretty solid blocker, and he has the size and strength to hold up in the trenches. His instincts are great, and they allow him to end up in great position to finish plays off. One of his best features has been what he has done as a blitzer.
Weaknesses:
Sewell is lacking when it comes to athleticism. He is a sluggish mover and, as a result, has some struggles in coverage, both man and zone. He lacks the agility to blanket, and the speed to keep up down the field. Further outside runs and other plays that require a lot of movement are a trouble for him.
Summary:
Sewell plays with good instincts and a tough demeanor. He is able to make a large number of tackles. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the athleticism to have much success in coverage or going sideline to sideline. At the next level, his best bet to make it is s a situational blitzer
| Grade: 54.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
Full Rankings:
- Drew Sanders (81.6, Rd 2)
- Trenton Simpson (79.1, Rd 3)
- DeMarvion Overshown (78.9, Rd 3)
- Marte Mapu (74.0, Rd 4)
- Jeremy Banks (73.2, Rd 4)
- Dee Winters (70.4, Rd 4)
- Daiyan Henley (70.3, Rd 4)
- Owen Pappoe (70.2, Rd 4)
- Jack Campbell (69.8, Rd 5)
- Dorian Williams (68.5, Rd 5)
- Henry To’oTo’o (68.2, Rd 5)
- Yasir Abdullah (60.5, Rd 6)
- Ivan Pace (59.6, Rd 7)
- Noah Sewell (54.1, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
- Isaiah Moore
- Charlie Thomas
- Anfree Orji
- Ventrell Miller
- Shaka Heyward
- Jalen Graham
- Aubrey Miller
- Zaire Barnes
- Zeke Vandenburgh
