The 2024 NFL Draft is over and teams are getting comfortable with their new draft picks. The next class of players is getting prepared now for another year of college football. Each position will be analyzed in the coming days. Here is the 2025 NFL Draft prospect watchlist: Linebackers.
Carter was a five-star recruit out of Georgia who signed with Clemson in the class of 2021. He played sparingly as a freshman, finishing the season with 16 total tackles and two tackles for loss. In 2022, he improved with 73 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions, helping Clemson make the Orange Bowl. For the 2023 season, Carter tallied 62 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, Carter is a little undersized for a linebacker at the NFL level. He is a good athlete who uses his movement abilities well in coverage and to track down ball carriers. Carter needs to work on adding strength to shed blocks and he’ll also need to diagnose plays quicker.
As a five-star recruit, Mondon signed with Georgia in the class of 2021. He was a reserve in 2021, but entered the starting lineup in 2022. He finished that season with 76 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and one sack. His play helped the team win the National Championship that season. In 2023, they lost just one game with Mondon registering 68 total tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks.
Mondon is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, so he’ll need to add some strength for the next level. He can diagnose plays quicker and shed faster to improve. Mondon is a former defensive back and that athletcism and speed help him to be successful. He also has solid coverage skills for a linebacker.
Perkins was a five-star high school recruit, who joined LSU out of Texas. He starred as a freshman with 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. Perkins moved to an off-ball linebacker role in 2022, with his production staying similar. He finished the season with 75 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Perkins is also undersized, but the biggest thing for NFL evaluators might be figuring out where to play him. He has experience at edge and at off-ball linebacker. His future is best at linebacker, where he can show off his good athleticism and pursuit of the ball. A creative defensive coordinator could use him in a hybrid role.
Stutsman was a four-star recruit who signed with Oklahoma out of Florida. He played sparingly as a freshman, finishing the season with 37 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. In 2022, he was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 with 125 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. For the 2023 season, he played well again with 104 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and three sacks.
He is a bigger linebacker prospect at 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds. Sutsman has good play strength and sheds blocks well. He shows good pursuit of the ball and he is a good tackler. While he likely won’t test great athletically or cover with the best in the class, he could still be selected decently highly in the draft.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky Wildcats- Dumas-Johnson started his career at Georgia, but decided to transfer to Kentucky before next season. He was a big part of the National Championship in 2022.
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion Monarchs- Henderson isn’t the biggest linebacker and he doesn’t play at a big school. He does rack up tackles at an extremely high rate with 186 in 2022 and 170 in 2023.
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