2027 NFL Draft Preseason Rankings - LBs

Following the recent trend in college off-the-ball LBs, the prospective 2027 LB class looks to be loaded with quick, athletic, and rangy LBs who profile well in coverage with RBs and TEs. This class is potentially very deep with starting quality LBs being found throughout the group.

1. Sammy Brown / Clemson

2025 Statistics

106 tackles / 5 sacks / 13.5 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 1 INT / 6 Passes Defensed

Brown (6'2" / 235 lbs) has been a starter and a revelation since he arrived on campus three years ago and enters the 2027 NFL Draft cycle as the top LB prospect for next spring's draft. Brown has great speed, range, and instincts and always seems to be near the ball. Brown could sneak into the first-round next spring.

Area for Improvement - Brown excels when he is allowed to diagnose the play and flow to the ball in space. Brown needs development in man coverage against TEs to become a complete LB in the NFL.

2. Suntarine Perkins / Ole Miss

2025 Statistics

81 tackles / 4.5 sacks / 12.5 TFL / 3 Forced Fumbles / 1 INT / 6 Passes Defensed

Perkins' best skill is rushing the passer with 18.5 career sacks but his lack of size and length (6'2" / 220 lbs) limits his ability in being an EDGE in the NFL. Last season, Perkins was mostly employed as an off-the-ball LB and displayed promise due to his speed, agility, and elite closing burst. This coming fall, Perkins will be more focused on rushing the passer after the loss of Princewill Umanmielen to LSU in the transfer portal.

Area for Improvement - Perkins displayed promise last year but needs additional reps playing in space to improve his instincts and read and react skills. Perkins needs to improve shedding ability to disengage from blocks more efficiently.

3. Ben Roberts / Texas Tech

2025 Statistics

90 tackles / 4 TFL / 2 Forced Fumbles / 4 INT / 6 Passes Defensed

Roberts (6'3" / 245 lbs) has premium size, range, and playmaking skill for a MLB and takes over as the ball hawking LB for the departed Jacob Rodriguez (Dolphins). Roberts is a reliable tackler who likes to wreak havoc - Roberts has 5 Forced Fumbles and 4 INTs over the last two seasons in Lubbock.

Area for Improvement - Roberts is better in zone than man coverage and may lack some desired quickness and agility for coverage in the NFL.

4. Rasheem Biles / Texas

2025 Statistics

101 tackles / 4.5 sacks / 17 TFL / 2 Forced Fumbles / 1 Fumble Recovery / 2 INT (2 TD) / 4 Passes Defensed

A transfer from Pittsburgh, Biles (6'1" / 220 lbs) considered entering the 2026 NFL Draft but decided to enter the portal instead and accepted an offer to replace Anthony Hill (Titans) in the Longhorns' LB corps. Biles is quick, agile, and instinctive. He possesses the foot speed and movement skills to run with RBs in pass coverage.

Area for Improvement - Biles lacks some desired size and strength and he needs to improve his ability to stack and shed against IOL in space.

5. Cade Uluave / BYU

2025 Statistics

100 tackles / 3 sacks / 12 TFL / 6 Passes Defensed

Uluave (6'1" / 230 lbs), a transfer from California, is an athletic, agile, and rangy WLB who has elite instincts and read and react skills. Uluave is an excellent open field tackler and is a smart and disciplined player.

Areas for Improvement - Uluave is more likely to run around a block than take it on and shed it. Uluave needs to improve his core strength to maximize his potential.

6. Xavier Atkins / Auburn

2025 Statistics

84 tackles / 9 sacks / 17 TFL / 2 Forced Fumbles / 1 INT / 1 Pass Defensed

Atkins (6'0" / 210 lbs) is a similar player to Perkins (see above) as an undersized EDGE whose best skill is rushing the passer but he lacks the size/size potential to project as a full-time EDGE in the NFL. Atkins is extremely quick and agile and matches up well in space against RBs and some WRs. 

Areas for Improvement - Atkins needs significant improvement, and most importantly, significantly more reps in coverage. Atkins' athleticism should translate to those responsibilities well but the Tigers are likely to use Atkins primarily as a rusher on obvious passing downs.

7. Arion Carter / Tennessee

2025 Statistics

32 tackles / 5 sacks / 6 TFL / 3 Deflected Passes

Carter (6'1" / 238 lbs) is a very good athlete with the size, length, agility, and range desired for a LB playing in space. Carter is instinctive with quality diagnosing ability wanted in a LB.

Area for Improvement - Carter is facing a one-game suspension for taking an airline ticket from an agent after declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft and will miss the season opener on September 5 against Furman. On the field, Carter needs to break down better in space and secure tackles more efficiently.

8. Kip Lewis / Oklahoma

2025 Statistics

76 tackles / 4 sacks / 10.5 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 4 Passes Defensed

Lewis (6'1" / 230 lbs) is entering his fourth consecutive season as a starting LB in Norman and his durability and toughness are notable qualities. Lewis possesses the desired length, speed, and range to play in the NFL for a decade.

Area for Improvement - Lewis is allowed a lot of freedom in the Sooners' defense and he will most likely have to play a more disciplined role in the NFL.

9. Isaiah Jones / Indiana

2025 Statistics

78 tackles / 7 sacks / 15.5 TFL / 1 Forced Fumble / 1 INT / 4 Passes Defensed

One of the most disruptive defensive players in the nation, Jones was deployed by the Hoosiers' coaching staff creatively last season to create mismatches and cause havoc. Jones is instinctive and aggressive and has active hands to make plays on the ball.

Area for Improvement - Jones' best skill is rushing the passer where his agility and burst allow him to finish at the QB at a high rate. But Jones will be replacing MLB Aiden Fisher (Texans) as the QB of the defense, a completely different skill set than what he has displayed as a WLB.

10. Raylen Wilson / Georgia

2025 Statistics

74 tackles / 2.5 sacks / 6.5 TFL / 1 Pass Defensed

Wilson (6'1" / 235 lbs) is a strong and physical ILB who is most effective shutting down the run between the tackles. Wilson displays a nice closing burst as a blitzer and is an instinctive, disciplined leader.

Area for Improvement - Wilson is not as athletic as many of his peers and can be exploited in man coverage, especially against RBs in space.

Watch List - Whit Weeks / LSU, TJ Dottery / LSU, Mohamed Toure / Miami, Fl, Jaylen Sneed / Notre Dame, Kyngstonn Viiamu-Asa / Notre Dame, Jordan Hall / Michigan State, Owen Heinecke / Oklahoma, Cole Sullivan / Oklahoma, Kam Robinson / Virginia, John Curry / Texas Tech, Tony Rojas / Penn State, Chris Cole / Georgia, Rolijah Hardy / Indiana, and Maverick Baranowski / Minnesota.