The 2023 NFL Draft Rankings series continues, and today, we go over some of the top linebacker prospects in the upcoming draft class. If you need to catch up on the other parts of this series, you can find the EDGE rushers or the interior defensive linemen as previous chapters.
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1. Trenton Simpson (Clemson)
Trenton Simpson remains one of my favorite prospects in this entire class, and if he’s still on the board in the late first round, I would hope the Minnesota Vikings jump on him with their selection. For those Vikings fans, think of him as this year’s version of Eric Kendricks. Everything you want from an off-ball linebacker, Simpson can do.
He’s terrific at finding lanes as a blitzer and run stopper, but he can also use his quick feet and ball skills in pass coverage. With Minnesota aging at this position with both Kendricks and Jordan Hicks past the age of 30, this is an area that the Vikings need to replenish sooner rather than later.
2. Noah Sewell (Oregon)
Noah Sewell is a tad smaller than Trenton Simpson, but his motor is unmatched at the linebacker position. It doesn’t hurt that his name carries serious weight with the NFL (his brother Penei was a top pick in 2021).
Sewell has the capability to line up all over the field, and he brings supreme athleticism to the linebacker position. That being said, he sometimes makes things more difficult on himself than he needs to with poor lane choices towards the ball. Depending on how he tests out at the combine, he could rise above Simpson given how similar they are in playstyles. For now, though, he’s LB2.
3. Henry To’oto’o (Alabama)
There’s a very clear top three in this linebacker class right now, and Alabama’s Henry To’oto’o rounds out them out. In his two years as a starter for Alabama, To’oto’o has been among the SEC’s top 10 in total tackles, and the Crimson Tide defense revolves around his ability to make plays in the middle.
To’oto’o is terrific in pass coverage, but his run defense is where he falls below both Simpson and Sewell. He doesn’t have the same length or strength as the prior two linebackers, which doesn’t allow him to shed blocks as easily. That may remain a problem throughout his NFL career, but the Alabama product should be highly valued because of his impact in the passing game.
4. Demarvion Overshown (Texas)
Demarvion Overshown certainly translates more as an OLB rather than the MIKE that the trio above him look to be. He’s an overpowering physical presence at linebacker, and he has a litany of pass rush moves that allow him to even step down to the EDGE spot at times.
He is a very violent tackler, but sometimes, he tends to overplay by trying to make big hits when simply wrapping ballhandlers up will do. He has a tendency to miss tackles at times, which will cause headaches for NFL defenses at the next level. However, his athleticism and desire for contact make him an intriguing prospect for any defense.
5. Mohamoud Diabate (Utah)
This Utah program is full of NFL-ready prospects that may not necessarily be stars, but they could prove to be contributors immediately. As for Mohamoud Diabate, he’s one of the few that could translate to stars at the NFL level.
Diabate is a speedy linebacker that covers ground in a hurry. Offenses will always need to keep an eye on him due to his ability to cover sideline-to-sideline. Like Overshown, he has some issues with tackling consistency, and he needs to be better in pass coverage to be a lockdown MIKE, but the physical traits are incredible.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.