The 2026 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Jake Golday NFL Draft Profile.
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Position: Linebacker
School: Cincinnati
Size: 6-foot-4 1/2, 239 pounds
Class: Senior
2025 stats: 105 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Golday was an unranked recruit in the class of 2021 who joined Central Arkansas out of Tennessee. He redshirted in 2021 and only played sparingly. In 2022, he registered 37 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss as a reserve. For the 2023 season, Golday had 84 total tackles and seven tackles for loss as a starter. Before the 2024 season, Golday transferred to Cincinnati. He had 58 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks with the Bearcats. They won five games in 2024. In 2025, Golday had 105 total tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. His play led Cincinnati to seven wins.
Following the season, Golday has been preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a day two pick.
Golday has great size and strength for an NFL linebacker. He is a former edge rusher who moved to linebacker. At the NFL Combine, he measured in at over 6-foot-4 and 239 pounds. With his size comes good play strength, which he uses to play through blocks well. He specializes in playing near the line of scrimmage and his size helps him in that area.
For his size Golday is a good athlete. He shows good quickness and overall speed. Golday has good range in coverage and when he is pursuing ball carriers. He has solid agility as well to go along with his body control. His athleticism has helped him adjust to a new position very well.
He specifically is a good run defender. Golday can diagnose decently quickly for someone still learning the position. He flows to the ball well, showing good pursuit. Golday is able to shed blocks well and get through traffic. He is then able to make good form tackles on ball carriers to bring them to the ground.
While he is a former edge rusher, he doesn’t have as great a success as a pass rusher or blitzer as expected. He lacks length on the edge, which makes it tough for him to elude tackles and get to the quarterback. His position change to linebacker fits him better, but even as a blitzer, he fails to bend around the edge or free himself with moves to get a lot of consistent pressure.
His coverage can also use some work. Golday struggles to mirror players while in man coverage. In zone coverage, he uses his length and athleticism well, but struggles to keep his eyes balanced on the quarterback and eligible receivers. He needs more reps playing in space to improve, but it isn’t currently a strong part of his game.
Golday is still new to the position after starting his college career on the edge. He can gain a better feel for the position to diagnose more quickly. He can also use more work in coverage to get more eye balance and route recognition. Golday will need some time to develop parts of his game because he is new to the position.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Third Round Pick
Draft Grade: Second Round Pick
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