ILB:

Tier 1 - All Pro

Devin Lloyd

Nakobe Dean

Tier 2 - Immediate Impact

Christian Harris

Leo Chenal

Quay Walker

Brian Asamoah

Troy Anderson

Chad Muma

Brandon Smith

Channing Tindall

Tier 3 - My 2022 draft crush that doesn’t fit in any of the tiers

JoJo Domann

Tier 4 - Quality college LB/depth/sub linebacker

Darrian Beavers

Damone Clark

Malcolm Rodriguez

Mike Rose

Jack Sanborn

Terrel Bernard

D’Marco Jackson

Tier 5 - Other prospects that provide solid value

Nephi Sewell

Aaron Hansford

Micah McFadden

Nate Landmon

James Skalski

Diego Fagot

Josh Ross

Analysis: The top two linebackers are both, in my opinion, somewhat undervalued in this year’s draft. While Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean aren’t as versatile as an Isaiah Simmons was as a prospect, both are straight up ballers. The leadership of these two is off the charts and they are really just everywhere on the field. The fact that the best player on one of the best collegiate defenses of all time may fall outside the first round is crazy. Tier 2 is where I feel like we see a lot of starters come from. Chenal and Harris are decent athletes that had some really great college production. Walker, Asamoah, and Anderson can cover running backs, tight ends, and even receivers in the pass game. Tier 3 is my boy JoJo Domann. Pretty much superman for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Domann lined up anywhere and everywhere. Is he a LB? A corner? A safety? Who knows, all I know is that this guy can flat out play. Tier 4 is a lot of guys that produced in college but may not have the range to compete as a starting MIKE in the pro’s. That said, these guys really did produce and I expect a guy or two to make a pro impact because they will be able to carve out a role in the pros. Tier 5 features some other prospects that I feel are worthy of being on my board. Hansford and McFadden are a couple of options that make a lot of sense in the 6/7 round. Skalski, Fagot, and Ross are three guys that likely won’t be drafted but should be at the top of every teams undrafted free agency want list. The best value is likely in Tier 1 though Tier 2 has a case. I truly believe that Dean and Lloyd will be All Pros unless they end up buried on a depth chart, end up with off the field issues, or end up on the Jets. Worst value is probably Tier 4 just because there is a real and stark contrast between Tier 2 (second and third round grades) to Tier 4 (low 4th to 6th).