2025 NFL Draft Prospects- Three Pack of Linebackers

The 2024 college football season is right around the corner, so you know what that means? The 2025 NFL draft is coming soon, as well. Draft Nation is here to guide you through the prospects and how they can help NFL teams.

Here is a three pack of linebackers who are looking to get selected in the 2025 NFL draft.

ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky

• 6-foot-1 245 lbs
• 2023 stats: 9 games 34 tackles 3.5 sacks

What to like about Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Dumas-Johnson is quick and instinctive and locates the ball swiftly before blockers can get to him at the second level. He has the temperament and skills to be a valuable middle linebacker in a 4-3. He is athletic in his pursuit of the ball and uses his eyes well to chase at the best angles. He is a tenacious tackler but is cerebral, knowing when counters or fakes are being run. He does an efficient job of disengaging blockers and is a non-stop competitor. 

Reason for concern

On the downside, Dumas-Johnson isn’t physically strong and needs to hit the weight room before reaching the next level. His pass rushing moves are limited and he frequently gets pushed outside the pocket due to his lack of power. He has speed—but elite speed and should shed some weight to help out in his overall ability and stamina. He is a tenacious tackler but at times goes for the knockout punch instead of just making the play. In the NFL, with faster, twitchier players, he will need to break down before tackling more often. 

Player comp: T.J. Edwards

Draft Projection

Fourth round pick

OLB Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina

• 6-foot-1 225 lbs
• 2023 stats: 13 games 61 tackles 8.5 sacks

What to like about Kaimon Rucker

Rucker sets the edge well by using his strength to keep ball carriers from reaching the outside. He plays very low to the ground and uses his length and leverage to make plays that other edge rushers may not be able to make on running backs attempting to hit a gap. His tackling skills make him a great run-stopper.

Reason for concern

A few possible downsides to Rucker’s game are his lack of speed in the open field and agility off the line. Rucker is not necessarily slow, but he will have some trouble chasing down a speedy or agile ball carrier outside of the pocket or backfield. He makes up for this with his great tackling ability but would not be a good option to drop back into coverage or to the outside.

Player comp: Frank Clark

Draft Projection

Fifth round pick

OLB Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State

• 6-foot-2 235 lbs
• 2023 stats: 14 games 73 tackles 6 sacks

What to like about Collin Oliver

Oliver’s game is based around his speed. He’s quick, agile and strong, but he uses that speed to get off the line and beat linemen around the edge. He has exceptional chase-down ability in the backfield and has the requisite strength to push linemen backward. Combined with his great lateral movement, he serves as a good run-stopper off the edge.  

Reason for concern

However, for an edge rusher, Oliver is average at best in pass coverage and cannot be relied on for consistent man coverage yet. When attacking off the edge, Oliver may be slightly undersized for the NFL at the position. He needs to learn to use his hands better, as he tends to try to run past blocks or just push them back using his strength. This will not work as well at the next level as the linemen he faces get bigger, lengthier, and stronger.

Player comp: Alex Highsmith

Draft Projection

Sixth-round pick