Packers 2016 Draft: Ranking the top-25 inside linebackers

Tier 2: Early Round ILBs

5. Su’a Cravens, USC (6-1, 226, 4.69)
Teams may not know which position to play Cravens at in the NFL, but he’s such a good football player coaches will find a way to get him on the field, whether it’s at linebacker or safety. In his three-year career at USC, Cravens recorded a whopping 34.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, nine interceptions, and 16 pass breakups, not mention finished as one of the Tojans’ leading tacklers each of his three seasons. Cravens just flat out makes plays, and given the direction the NFL is going, I could see him become an impact player as dime and nickel cover linebacker. (Projection: Round 2)

6. Joshua Perry, Ohio State (6-4, 254, 4.68)
Perry may be the best linebacker nobody is talking about in this year’s class. Coming off a strong senior season where he proved to be a reliable captain on one of the nation’s most talented defenses, Perry has been praised by coaches, scouts, and teammates for his leadership, football intelligence, and work ethic just as much as his ability to stop the run and drop in coverage. He may not be a Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker at the next level, but he should be a ten-year starter and three-down linebacker in the NFL. He’s a great option for the Packers on day two of the draft if they happened to miss out on Lee or Ragland in the first round. (Projection: Round 2)

7. Deion Jones, LSU (6-1, 222, 4.38)
Jones grabbed headlines when he ran a sub-4.4 forty at his pro day. He could see a Ryan Shazier-like rise on draft day, but given he only started one year in college, it may be wise to temper our expectations a bit. Granted, Jones’ 2015 season was nothing short of impressive, recording a team-leading 100 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two interceptions. However, I’m a bit leery of a player with only one season under his belt, and it’s also a little difficult to get excited about a linebacker who plays around 220 pounds, especially for a team that runs a 3-4 front. (Projection: Rounds 2-3)

8. Beniquez Brown, Mississippi State (6-1, 236, 4.70)
I’m a big fan of Brown’s game and believe he’s a great option for the Packers in the third round. He’s more of a smooth, fluid linebacker than a quick-twitch athlete, but on film, his instincts and football IQ really stand out. He was a leader in the middle of the Bulldogs defense for a reason. He also reads and reacts to plays quickly and puts himself in position to make plays. He’s more of a run and chase linebacker than classic thumper, but he can shed or slip blocks when he needs to. However, Brown’s best attribute on the field is his ability to fluidly move in space and drop in coverage. This is something Green Bay is definitely missing at the position. (Projection: Round 3)

9. Nick Vigil, Utah State (6-2, 239, 4.62)
There’s not a lot of film out there on Vigil, but when you find some, it’s a thing of beauty. The Aggies’ defensive captain does everything well at the position. His hustle and physical approach to stopping the run make him an easy player to admire on film. However, his ability to move smoothly in space and change direction, let alone his solid straight-line speed, sold me that he warrants early-round consideration. In my opinion, he’s one of the top chase linebackers in this class. There’s a reason he led a good Utah State defense in tackles with 144 last season—his instincts and athletic ability are highly underrated. (Projection: Round 3)

10. Kentrell Brothers, Missouri (6-0, 245, 4.82)
Brothers is such a great football player I want to put him higher in my rankings. There aren’t many other linebackers funner to watch against the run. An FBS-leading 152 tackles is incredible, especially for a guy who played in the SEC and on a defense with only one NFL-caliber player. However, despite his impressive instincts and toughness, Brothers’ lack of speed is a major concern, especially in the NFL where opposing quarterbacks will target him on the field when he’s isolated against running backs out in space. If he’s limited to a two-down role in the NFL then the end of the third round may be as high as he goes on draft day. (Projection: Rounds 3-4)

Next: Tier 3: Mid-Round ILBs