This year’s group of inside linebackers is far from top-heavy as no player earned a first-round grade. However, it does offer good depth as 16 players received a draftable grade. This group also has one of the more underrated players in the 2021 NFL Draft in Iowa’s Nick Niemann. On the other end of the spectrum, a player in this group who is being overrated is Nick Bolton of Missouri.
1. Dylan Moses, Alabama
6-foot-3, 240 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round
Dylan Moses has been in the headlines ever since he was 15 and was on the cover of ESPN The Magazine. Moses came out of IMG Academy as a five-star recruit and made an impact right away with the Tide starting two games as a true freshman. He ended up being named an All-American in 2018 and 2020 during his time with the Tide. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2019 season with a torn ACL.
Moses is the top middle linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft and one of the more athletic linebackers in the entire class. He moves well and shows fluid hips for a middle linebacker and has the ability to develop into a three-down linebacker at the next level. As a run defender, he is a patient defender who can deliver a big hit when making a tackle. While not used a ton as a pass rusher when asked to do so he shows good timing as a blitzer.
While Moses had a good 2020 season, it was nowhere close to how well he played in 2018. This was due to him playing tentatively after coming back from a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2019 year. This torn ACL is still a concern for some teams and he will need to get a clean bill of health before he is a top 50 pick.
When it comes to where Moses will be drafted a lot will depend on how that knee checks out. If he comes away with a good medical report he could go as high as the end of the first round, however, if this medical check raises concerns he could fall to the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2. Jamin Davis, Kentucky
6-foot-3, 234 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Second round
A player who burst onto the scene this year is Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis. Davis saw very limited playing time his first three years on campus and was only able to account for 42 tackles and one tackle for loss. However, that all changed this past season when Davis led Kentucky in tackles with 102 and also finished second on the team in interceptions with three.
What really stands out with Davis is his athletic ability. He has the range to play sideline to sideline and does not look out of place when dropping in coverage. He shows good ball skills while in coverage as well evident by his three interceptions last season. Another positive with Davis is his size coming in at 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds. One last thing working on Davis’s side is his ability to play either inside or outside linebacker in the NFL.
The biggest concern with Davis is a lack of production. The fact he saw very limited playing time his first couple of seasons is a concern and could raise flags on if he is just a one-year wonder. Davis could also use his hands better as well when it comes to getting off blocks.
In Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft he had Davis going to the Oakland Raiders with the 17th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. While this may be a little high for him he should hear his name called either late in the first round or early in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. One team that would make a lot of sense for him would be the Denver Broncos with the 40th overall pick.
3. Baron Browning, Ohio State
6-foot-3, 240 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round
Ohio State linebacker Baron Browning came to the Buckeyes as a highly regarded recruit, as he was rated as the ninth-best player in the nation by Rivals.com. Unfortunately, he never really developed into the player people were expecting him to become. His best season was in 2019 when he recorded 43 tackles, ten tackles for loss and five sacks. This past season he was only a part-time starter and registered 30 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Baron Browning has all the physical skills you want in a linebacker. He has ideal size coming in at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds and moves incredibly well for someone his size. He shows fluid hips in coverage and moves like a safety in this area. In the run game, he shows the strength to hold the point of attack and also has some force behind his tackles. Browning has played both inside and outside linebacker for Ohio State and has the versatility to play either in the NFL.
While Browning has the physical skills to be successful in the NFL, he has never been even a full-time starter at Ohio State. When he has been on the field he has not been a consistent performer either. One of the reasons for this is his lack of instincts as he has trouble reading what the offense is doing at times and seems to get himself out of position quite often. He needs to develop the killer instinct on the field as well and not be so hesitant when going to make the tackle.
It would not be a shock if Browning went before the third round, because of his natural athletic ability. However, if a team drafts him higher than the third round they will likely regret it since it will take time for him to develop into a starter and there is a good chance he will never earn a starting role in the NFL.
4. Derrick Barnes, Purdue
6-foot, 245 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round
A player who is raising up the draft board is Purdue’s Derrick Barnes. In 2019, Barnes played primarily outside linebacker and finished second on the team with 63 tackles and tied for the team lead in sacks with 7.5. This past season he moved to more of an inside linebacker role and was able to account for 54 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. He finished up his career at Purdue with a strong pro day running a 4.57 40-yard dash and having a vertical jump of 37-inches.
Barnes is one of the more versatile players in the 2021 NFL Draft, as he has the ability to play either outside or inside linebacker in the NFL. As a pass rusher, he uses his hands well and is able to get off blocks consistently. While playing the run Barnes is a physical player who is not afraid to come down and thump the ball carrier. NFL scouts and coaches also like the intensity he plays with and his overall passion for the game.
While Barnes posted some impressive numbers at his pro day one number that could give him some issues is his height. Coming in at 6-foot he is on the shorter side which could cause him to last until the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft. He does have some struggles in pass coverage as well since he does not have the most fluid hips for a linebacker.
Overall, Barnes is someone who could fill numerous roles for an NFL team. He could easily play middle linebacker on first and second down then shift to outside linebacker where he can rush the passer on third downs. He should be able to help out on special teams as well since he is a good athlete who has the mentality for this type of role in the NFL.
5. Nick Bolton, Missouri
5-foot-11, 237 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
One of the more productive players in college football over the last two seasons is Missouri inside linebacker Nick Bolton. Bolton led the SEC in tackles in both 2019 and 2020, coming away with a total of 202 tackles over those two seasons. As a player he shows good instincts in both coverage and when stopping the run. He shows nice quickness as well which allows him to close the gap on the ball carrier.
Despite this impressive production, Bolton is being overrated by people who have a second-round grade on him. One of the reasons he doesn’t deserve such a high grade is his lack of size, which causes him trouble when getting off blocks. Despite his tackle numbers being impressive most of these tackles are being made three or four yards downfield. Bolton will have his best chance of starting the NFL if he can go to a two-gap defense that keeps blockers off of him.
6. Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
6-foot-1, 227 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
North Carolina’s Chazz Surratt started his college career off as a quarterback but switched to linebacker in 2019. Since making this switch he has become one of the better linebackers in the ACC making the All-ACC both years he has played the position. His best attribute is his overall athletic ability. This allows him to hold up well in coverage and he has even seen time lined up over slot receivers at UNC. He has the work ethic teams love as well and should continue to develop in the NFL.
One of the problems Surratt has due to only playing linebacker for two years is he is still developing his instincts. He has trouble with his run fits at times, although with his work habits he will likely continue to improve in this area. Another issue with him is he doesn’t possess great strength and can be mauled by linemen at times.
7. Cameron McGrone, Michigan
6-foot-1, 236 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
Michigan’s Cameron McGrone is a prospect who earns a high day three grade due more to his potential than his production. Having only started 15 games during his college career he has proven to be a playmaker behind the line of scrimmage registering 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2019. McGrone is an aggressive linebacker who plays an attacking style of football.
Unfortunately, his attacking style of football does leave something to still be desired. One of these is he is not much of a presence in pass coverage. The fact he is always playing downhill also limits his vision as a defender and makes him just an in-the-box defender. He was banged up last year as well which limited his production in 2020.
8. Garret Wallow, TCU
6-foot-1, 230 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fourth round
Three words can be used to describe TCU linebacker Garrett Wallow which are productive, leader, and athletic. In terms of production, Wallow led the Big 12 in tackles in 2019 with 125 and finished second in the conference last year with 90. He is considered a team leader as well and both his coaches and teammates rave about his work ethic. In terms of athletic ability Wallow started his career off as a safety and looks very fluid in coverage.
While Wallow has put up some impressive tackle numbers he is not a big physical run stuffer. He lacks both the strength and size to be a force vs. the run in the NFL. Another concern with him is he plays out of control at times which can hurt him when it comes to being in position to make the tackle. Wallow is the type of prospect who can help out on special teams and hopefully develop into a starter down the road.
9. Justin Hilliard, Ohio State
6-foot-1, 227 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
Justin Hillard is a lot like his teammate Baron Browning in that he was a highly recruited linebacker who did not put up much production. Unlike Browning though Hillard carries a day three grade and might be a bit of a sleeper in the 2021 NFL Draft. What gives the impression that Hilliard can make it in the NFL is his overall physical style of play and his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. In 2020 while only recording 33 tackles, five of them were for tackles for loss.
Other than his lack of production there are some other concerns with Hillard. One of these is he has battled some injuries while at Ohio State this included a torn Achilles in 2019 and two separate biceps injuries earlier in his college career. He also is on the short side which is another reason he will fall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite these issues, Hillard has the raw physical tools to develop into an NFL starter if he can stay healthy.
10. Monty Rice, Georgia
6-foot, 235 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
Georgia’s Monty Rice is a run-stuffing linebacker who also shows the ability to help out on special teams. As a run defender, he shows a nose for the ball evident by his 89 tackles in 2019. Rice is also a quick player who posted an impressive 4.57 40-yard dash. One more positive with him is he is an extremely tough player who played through a foot injury last season.
One of the concerns with Rice is how well will he hold up in pass coverage. He looks stiff at times when trying to play in coverage and doesn’t show outstanding awareness in this area. His foot injury will also have to be something teams checkout before they draft him.
11. Nick Niemann, Iowa
6-foot-3, 234 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
One of the most underrated players in the 2021 NFL Draft is Iowa linebacker, Nick Niemann. Niemann is both a productive and athletic linebacker yet is still receiving a free agent grade from some media members. Last season, Niemann led the Hawks in tackles with 77 and also had 2.5 tackles for loss last season. In terms of athletic ability, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds and also had a 6.67 three-cone drill time at Iowa’s pro day.
As a prospect Niemann has the ability to play either inside or outside linebacker in the NFL, having played both at Iowa. In pass coverage, he shows the ability to hold up well in zone coverage and has the loose hips needed to succeed at this in the NFL. While he might not be the most physical linebacker he is a sound tackler who can play sideline-to-sideline. It would not be a surprise if Niemann developed into a starting linebacker in the NFL in a year or two.
12. Isaiah McDuffie, Boston College
6-foot-1, 220 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Fifth round
A productive underrated linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft is Isaiah McDuffie of Boston College. This past season he finished fifth in the FBS with 107 tackles and also registered 6.5 tackles for loss. As a prospect, he is your old school run-stuffing middle linebacker. He shows good insects when defending the run and has a non-stop motor to go along with it. He is a high character kid as well who will work to his butt off to make it in the NFL.
While McDuffie is one of the better run stuffers in the 2021 NFL Draft, he does have his share of struggles in coverage. He lacks great agility and has trouble sticking with the guy he is covering due to this deficiency. He is also not the biggest linebacker in the draft which is another concern NFL teams have with him.
13. Tuf Borland, Ohio State
6-foot, 229 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
Of the three Ohio State linebackers on this list, Turf Borland has been the most productive. Borland finished second on the team in 2020 with 26 tackles and over his career he accounted for 228 tackles. While Borland might not have a high upside he has the character to make an NFL team. He is only the second player in Ohio State history to be named team captain for three straight years and shows the toughness and football IQ coaches crave.
14. Anthony Hines, Texas A&M
6-foot-2, 230 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
Hines is another highly recruited high school product who never really established himself as a star at the college level. His best season was in 2019 when he recorded 73 tackles including 10.5 for loss. He decided to sit out the 2020 season which could really hurt his NFL chances because if he could have had a strong 2020 season he could have been a day two selection.
15. Tony Fields II, West Virginia
6-foot-1, 220 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Sixth round
Tony Fields II is a productive linebacker who might lack the physical skills to play in the NFL. Over his career at both Arizona and West Virginia, he accounted for 375 tackles. Unfortunately, Fields is undersized and lacks great testing numbers. At the West Virginia pro day, he posted a below-average 4.49 shuttle time and a 7.1 three-cone time. He will likely be a late pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and try and make a living on special teams in the NFL.
16. K.J. Britt, Auburn
6-foot, 239 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Seventh round
A player with the classing middle linebacker mentality is K.J. Britt of Auburn. Britt plays with great passion and was one of the team’s leaders the last couple of seasons. Unfortunately, he likely lacks the physical skills to do much in the NFL. At his pro day, he ran a 4.75 40-yard dash so speed is obviously a concern. He also lacks much agility which causes him to miss tackles at times. Hopefully, his passion and love for the game will be enough to overcome these limitations.
Players with free agent grades
17. Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
18. Buddy Johnson, Texas A&M
19. Amen Ogbongbemiga, Oklahoma State
20. Ernest Jones, South Carolina
21. Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
22. Elijah Sullivan, Kansas State