2019 class · 32 prospects

Linebacker LB

Tackle + PBU production combined with speed + agility. The most consensus-driven of the front-seven positions.

Likeliest career, by the outcome model.

How many linebackers land in each career bucket as the model's single most likely finish. This is a different question from the board grades below — a prospect can be a Day 3 grade and still have “starter” as his likeliest outcome. The tails (elite, bust) are where the model separates; the middle two buckets sit close to a coin flip.

Elite
7
Pro-Bowl-caliber career
Starter
9
Multi-year NFL starter
Role
9
Rotational / depth
Bust
7
Likeliest outcome is a bust
Likeliest career across the LB class
Elite
7
Starter
9
Role
9
Bust
7

The board.

All 32 linebackers with a draftable grade on Draftanomics's 2019 board, tier by tier.

Blue Chip1 player

Only Devin White carries a blue-chip grade at linebacker — the LSU product projects No. 6 overall. The drop to Devin Bush Jr. is 14 projected picks: a step, not a cliff.

6
Devin White
LSU· 6'0" · 237 lb· consensus #5
A blue-chip grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 5.
Blue Chip
bust risk 6%
1st Round1 player

The first-round shelf is one name deep: Devin Bush Jr. out of Michigan, pegged at No. 20 overall. The drop to Rashan Gary is 16 projected picks: a step, not a cliff.

20
Devin Bush Jr.
Michigan· 5'11" · 234 lb· consensus #14
A first-round grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 14.
1st Round
bust risk 0%
Day 211 players

The Day 2 tier runs 11 deep, opening with Rashan Gary out of Michigan at No. 36 and closing with Cody Barton at No. 99. After Barton the board breathes — Cameron Smith projects 16 picks later. Blake Cashman is the argument in this tier — No. 65 on our board against a consensus No. 151.

36
Rashan Gary
Michigan· consensus #26
A Day 2 grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 26.
Day 2
bust risk 1%
43
Mack Wilson
Alabama· 6'1" · 240 lb· consensus #57
A Day 2 grade with the room in agreement — consensus No. 57.
Day 2
bust risk 6%
65
Blake Cashman
Minnesota· 6'1" · 237 lb· consensus #151
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 151.
Day 2
bust risk 16%
74
Jachai Polite
Florida· consensus #54
A Day 2 grade, though the room is higher on him — consensus No. 54.
Day 2
bust risk 1%
75
Ben Burr-Kirven
Washington· 6'0" · 230 lb· consensus #8
A Day 2 grade, though the room is higher on him — consensus No. 8.
Day 2
bust risk 40%
82
Germaine Pratt
North Carolina St.· consensus #160
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 160.
Day 2
bust risk 25%
86
Emeke Egbule
Houston· 6'2" · 245 lb· consensus #108
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 108.
Day 2
bust risk 46%
92
Ben Banogu
TCU· consensus #166
A Day 2 grade the room hasn't caught up to — consensus No. 166.
Day 2
bust risk 21%
Day 319 players

This is where the class lives: 19 linebackers carry a Day 3 grade, with Cameron Smith out of USC at the front of the line at No. 115 overall. Christian Miller is the tier's dissent — the room ranks him No. 106, our board waits until No. 224.