2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Linebackers (Final)

theScore's 2017 draft prospect rankings are compiled by NFL editor Dan Wilkins, breaking down the top talents and potential sleepers at every position group.

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

Top Talents

Reuben Foster

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

The comparisons putting Foster alongside some of the NFL's top inside linebackers aren't a matter of hyperbole. After an incredible senior season to close out his Alabama career, there are few, if any, questions about his elite, three-down skill set translating to the next level. Foster's combination of instincts, athleticism, and strength is most apparent against the run. He's quick to diagnose plays, showing burst to get downhill and the lateral range to get toward the sideline. His short-area quicks, awareness in traffic, and ability to stack and shed against bigger offensive lineman, not to mention his physical tackling style, make him particularly dominant on the inside. Those abilities, along with his effectiveness in coverage and as an occasional pass-rusher, make Foster one of the best linebacker prospects in recent memory. All in all, he's a top-10 talent if medicals on his shoulder issues check out.

Jarrad Davis

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Davis is another of the several potential Day 1 picks at the top of this linebacker class. Most notable in assessing his value, as it pertains to today's pass-happy NFL, is the comfort he demonstrates in coverage. Whether it's sitting in zone with his eyes on the quarterbacks, or turning and running with tight ends down the seam, Davis' athleticism and fluidity in that area will give him the opportunity to stay on the field in all situations. He can also be a downhill thumper in the running game, showing physicality and the increasingly rare ability to stack and shed against the blocks of offensive linemen. The well-rounded skill set could make Davis a fit for any of the three off-ball spots in a 4-3 defense, as well as either of the two interior roles in a 3-4.

Haason Reddick

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Reddick will be a projection in that he played primarily on the edge at Temple, but he has everything teams will want in an off-ball linebacker. A sensational combine performance confirmed the high-level athleticism he demonstrated over the past few years, including an arsenal of traits that will make him particularly valuable in coverage and from sideline to sideline against the run. His experience up front should make him comfortable working against and shedding blockers, while also giving him some versatility with potential pass-rush reps in sub packages. While expectations have to be tempered for a player changing positions amid a jump to the NFL, the comfort he showed off the ball during Senior Bowl work hints that he could be poised for a relatively seamless transition.

Zach Cunningham

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

An absolute tackling machine at Vanderbilt, Cunningham finished off his college career this past season with an SEC-leading 125 tackles and 16.5 stops for a loss. Those gaudy numbers came as a result of an NFL-ready skill set that include sideline-to-sideline range, ability to navigate through traffic with quickness, and the instincts to make efficient reads. A slender lower body raises concerns about his ability to take on blocks in the professional ranks, but his abilities can be put to use in a role designed to free him up and roam all over the field. With the athleticism to contribute in coverage, Cunningham won't have to come off the field in sub packages, either.

Raekwon McMillan

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

McMillan was a highly-productive college player who should remain a key every-down contributor in the NFL. The Ohio State standout has a good feel for zones and more than enough athleticism to stick with backs and tight ends in man coverage. Adding to his value and potential versatility in that area, he can also be an effective blitzer from the second level. The primary knock against him is a tendency to get swallowed up by blockers against the run. But with instincts to make reads, as well as a combination of power and tackling ability to finish plays on the ball, he's still shown to be a reliable player in that area. McMillan should have positional fits across the board in a 4-3 and on the interior of a 3-4.

Best of the rest

• Duke Riley didn't get on the field as a full-time starter until his senior season at LSU, but what a final year it was. Some impressive athleticism was put on display in the first and only opportunity to get the attention of pro scouts, and later confirmed with a linebacker-best 40 time of 4.58 seconds at the combine. While Riley lacks the size to do the dirty work in the trenches, his speed and quickness can provide plenty of value as core nickel player and as a weakside backer kept clean in the run game.
• As the NFL continues to become a pass-dominated league, there's a clear space for linebackers who are essentially oversized defensive backs. That's Jayon Brown in a nutshell. It remains to be seen whether he can ever have the size and strength to play the run in the box consistently, but he'll be a valuable cover man against running backs and tight ends immediately. Having a matchup player over the middle can be a game-changer for a defense looking for an answer to spread sets.
• From an athletic perspective, there aren't many things Alex Anzalone isn't capable of doing on a football field. He was a reliable playmaker for a stacked Florida defense when healthy, and he demonstrated that rare profile with a combine showing that included impressive scores across the board. Whether it was bad luck, a lack of durability, or a combination of the two, the significant missed time is a concern. If his medicals check out, though, some team will get a steal with Anzalone.

Potential sleepers

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee

A shoulder injury that ended his senior season seems to be a major concern looking ahead to the NFL, and it's possible that Reeves-Maybin will be destined for Day 3 territory as a result. But the value should be all the more enticing the longer he remains on the board. A rangy linebacker who's equally stout against the run and pass, the former Tennessee standout has upside as an every-down player. Whether it's following positive reviews of his medicals, or a selection made with the intention of stashing him, Reeves-Maybin will have a chance to vastly outplay his draft position.

Ben Boulware, Clemson

If you're a team taking a chance on a linebacker late in the draft, or even in the priority free-agent phases that follows, why not do so with the leader of a Clemson defense that made consecutive national title appearances. Boulware capped off his college career with 116 tackles, four sacks, and one interception in 2016. The athletic thresholds aren't met, but there's something to be said for the stellar level of production against top competition. A low-risk move for a player that wins with instincts and effort could certainly end up paying off down the road.

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S