Deontae Lawson 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Alabama, LB
Here is a 2026 NFL Draft scouting report and profile on Alabama LB Deontae Lawson.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 226
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Payton Wilson
2026 NFL Combine Results
Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
- Hand Size: 9 1/4″
- Arm Length: 31 7/8″
- 40-Yard Dash: N/A
- Vertical Leap: N/A
- Broad Jump: N/A
- 20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
- 3-Cone: N/A
Pros of Deontae Lawson
- Good athlete. Flows sideline to sideline, plus burst and fluidity to turn and run.
- Highly experienced. 4 years of SEC play, two-time team captain.
- Downhill trigger. Reactive feet that explode when he sees green grass and a ball carrier.
Cons of Deontae Lawson
- Coverage backer. A build and playstyle that is more requisite of a weakside coverage player.
- Gets lost in traffic. Needs more discipline against eye candy, takes the bait at times.
- Block shedding. More of a “run around” guy compared to a stack and shed player.
Background
A Mobile, Alabama native who chose to stay home, Lawson was recruited by Nick Saban as part of the 2021 class, where he redshirted before playing in 11 games in 2022. He then started for Saban in 2023, and stayed with Alabama under Kalen DeBoer, where he was named a two-time captain and member of the All-SEC second and third team.
Player Evaluation
Lawson is a mix of new school build and playstyle, with old school mentality. He is one of the higher character prospects in the class, with high-quality leadership and teammate skills. On the field, he’s probably best as a dime linebacker or coverage backer, but he can grow into more of a three-down role, in my opinion. Teams looking for a true leader who can elevate the character and culture of an LB corps will be happy with Lawson in the mid to late rounds of this year’s draft.
A to Z Rankings
A to Z Draft Grade: 6.94
Draft projection: Late Day 2/Day 3.