As we look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, which is still about six months away, it's always beneficial to familiarize ourselves with the leading prospects in the upcoming draft class. The excitement of draft season is continuous, and we are dedicated to providing top-notch analysis.

Our team at A to Z Sports, consisting of eight NFL Draft contributors, collaborated to rank our top five players at each position. The linebacker group, in particular, sparked diverse opinions among us regarding several prospects.

Each of us submitted our top five rankings, and we then aggregated the points much like the AP Poll used in college football to establish our current top five linebackers for the 2025 NFL Draft.

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1. Jalon Walker, Georgia

Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 4

Jalon Walker has been a huge winner this season. The stout 6-foot-2, 245-pounder moves remarkably well for his frame, even offering edge support as a pass-rusher. His three-down versatility is why he's risen from being outside the top five in a weak class to our top guy.

With 17 quarterback pressures, 4.5 sacks, 18 run stops, and only five missed tackles, Walker has a high floor. He reminds me of Patrick Queen in that way, but I think Walker is more reliable in space and tackling. 

He's lined up in the slot 23 times, along the defensive line 123 snaps, and off the line of scrimmage 144 times. No one else in the class has that range of comfort and experience.

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2. Danny Stutsman

Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 5

Much like 2024 third-round pick Payton Wilson, Danny Stutsman is a massive, hulking figure who flies around the field. Stutsman is 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds but has the straight-line speed that wows evaluators. He's a true middle linebacker, but his size and efficiency have caused a down 2024 season so far.

I thought Stutsman was a fringe first-round player entering this season, but his coverage hasn't been nearly as effective, and his missed tackle rate is up significantly. His fluidity in space is more concerning, and he's fallen to more of a late Day 2 option.

There's still a lot to like about Stutsman, but he's missed 11 tackles (13% rate) with only eight QB pressures and has allowed 17-of-18 targets to be completed. Those numbers have to improve.

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3. Jihaad Campbell

Highest Ranking: 2
Lowest Ranking: 3

Another big riser this season has been Jihaad Campbell, and he's pushing to jump over Stutsman with his steady performances. Well-built at 6-foot-3, 244 pounds, he looks like the hammer in the middle of the defense. He's a little bit more than that, but he shines at the point of attack.

With 55 tackles and only five misses, Campbell is the best tackler in the class. He's not super comfortable and fluid in space, so rushing the passer and dropping into coverage isn't a big part of his game, but he will thrive in his role, and there are not the frustrating mental mistakes that Stutsman has. 

4. Harold Perkins

Highest Ranking: 1
Lowest Ranking: 6

A torn ACL prematurely ended Harold Perkins' transition from a hybrid edge and linebacker role to just being off-ball, and it's a shame. Perkins struggled mightily as a box player over the first month of games, often guessing and lacking the strength needed to survive against interior blockers. With his size being closer to 6 feet and 225 pounds, he has no future as a full-time edge, so he has to become a good linebacker.

I don't know how that happens in the NFL, so Perkins is a good candidate to go back to school on an NIL deal. He missed five tackles with only 10 stops across 224 snaps in four games. He also allowed all five targets to be completed. He's a freak athlete but not someone who knows how to play linebacker yet.

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5. Barrett Carter

Highest Ranking: 3
Lowest Ranking: 5

Once projected as a first-round prospect early in 2023, Barrett Carter hasn't lived up to his tremendous 2022 season just yet. He's had moments, especially as a box defender, but is not a coverage threat or consistently good pass-rusher. If you sense a theme here, it's that the NFL does not invest more than Day 3 picks into this type of player.

Carter was a better pass-rusher in 2022 and 2023 but has not gotten home as often, as Clemson has been less aggressive with his usage. His tackling rate has gotten much better, but his coverage still stinks. Carter is fine but nothing more than a stopgap starter candidate.