One of the biggest positional gaps the NY Giants have dealt with over the last five seasons has been at linebacker. This group has seen little-to-no genuine talent suit up in so long and it seems like this could finally be the offseason the Giants front office addresses it.
While there are plenty of options in free agency, the NFL Draft will feature a ton of talent as well. These five linebacker prospects are some of the best in their class and would be a massive upgrade over what the Giants currently have at the position.
Regardless of where they go in the draft, the Giants should heavily monitor these players as potential fits for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale:
5. Oregon LB Noah Sewell
Being the brother of Pro Bowl offensive tackle Penei Sewell, it makes a lot of sense to see Noah Sewell get a lot of attention prior to the draft. However, the question must be asked, is he worth the hype?
Honestly, it’s hard to tell, there are moments where Penei Sewell looks great, but moments where he struggles. While he is more than likely not going much higher than maybe the third round, Sewell has shown some promise during his time at Oregon.
In 12 games last season, Sewell racked up 56 combined tackles, 18 pressures, and two sacks. While these numbers are not the most eye-popping, this is not even his best season and what he showed off in 2021 is where most of his hype was generated.
Sewell showed off a nice ability to read and react against the run during his time in college, something the NY Giants desperately need at the linebacker position. While he has a tendency to become to patient, sometimes waiting for the contact to come to him, we’re confident that the proper coach can fix that. He’s a player Giants fans should keep an eye on.
4. Arkansas LB Drew Sanders
Drew Sanders is a very interesting prospect. While he has shown some star potential during his time at Arkansas, he still has some very basic fundamentals that he must iron out before making the leap to the NFL.
Coming in at 6-5, 232 pounds, Sanders has a near perfect build and frame for a LB and it shows on film. The combination of size, speed, and strength that Sanders possesses is very fun to watch. However, if he does not solve his issues with tackling, it could hinder his potential in the league. In 12 games at Arkansas in 2022, Sanders racked up 90 combined tackles, 39 pressures, and 11 sacks. Sanders was a great all-around threat, hence the hype surrounding his potential.
Despite this, however, Sanders really struggled to make basic tackles at times, missing 22 at a 19.6 percent missed tackle rate. This is because of his technique, as Sanders has the tendency to go way too high when making a simple form tackle.
While he did improve at this as the season went on, it is still a big concern for him. Hopefully he can iron this problem out before he is eventually drafted because this could really hurt his odds of seeing the field in the league. Considering the amount of success he has had despite being such a raw prospect, though, we think he’ll be able to be a stud at the next level and clean some things up.
3. Cincinatti LB Ivan Pace Jr.
If it wasn’t for Ivan Pace Jr.’s small stature (6-0, 235 pounds), he would likely be the top linebacker of this year’s draft class, as what he has shown off at Cincinatti has been incredibly impressive. Last season at Cincinatti, Pace racked up 126 combined tackles, 55 pressures, and 12 sacks. These numbers seem impressive enough, but they don’t do Pace’s game enough justice.
When watching Pace’s film, you see just how special of a prospect he is. Not only does Pace possess elite speed to make plays in the backfield, but he can hurt you across the field as well. Alongside this, Pace showed some incredible potential as a pass-rusher.
While Pace could be slightly better in coverage, he was solid enough to where he wasn’t a liability, a trait that recent Giants linebackers have not shared in recent seasons. Pace has good awareness, and technique in coverage, he just needs to improve in man coverage snaps.
Something worth noting about Pace is that he does a rather solid job at getting off of blocks for his size, something other linebackers in this class have really struggled with during their time in college. Pace was a 2022 Butkus Award Finalist and a Unanimous First Team All-American. This kid is a boss on the field and could end up looking good in a Big Blue jersey.
2. Iowa LB Jack Campbell
Jack Campbell has been one of our favorite linebacker prospects to watch all season. This is because Campbell (6-5, 246) is the exact kind of player the Giants need at the position. Not only is Campbell very good against the run, but he is phenomenal in coverage snaps.
The Giants have not had a linebacker be more than a total liability in coverage in quite some time now, so if they can bring in a player like Campbell, it could be a complete game-changer for the defense.
While Campbell’s coverage numbers may not look all that great, as he allowed 39 receptions on 42 targets for 236 yards, his film tells an entirely different story that really gives a good perception on just how talented he is. In addition to this, Campbell’s instincts against the run are phenomenal and a joy to watch.
Some may say he has the tendency to be too patient at times, this ends up being a positive more often than not. This sort of skillset, combined with his coverage abilities, make for a perfect fit with the Giants. He has a ton of potential like the other guys on our list. His kind of style indeed would be fun to watch with NY.
1. Clemson LB Trenton Simpson
There may not be a more tantalizing prospect in this year’s draft class than Trenton Simpson. He may not be as ready Day 1 as Campbell or as exciting to watch as Pace, but his skillset could make him one of the premier linebackers in the NFL one day. Simpson isn’t a perfect prospect, but his versatility, athleticism, and all-around playing style add up for what could be an incredible player in the league.
It’s hard to sum up Simpson’s style, as he is incredibly solid at everything with so much room to grow at just 22 years old. Last year at Clemson, Simpson racked up 68 combined tackles, 16 pressures, and two sacks. The combination of speed, size, strength, and pure athleticism that Simpson has is something we don’t see everyday in a linebacker.
Simpson is easily the most versatile LB in the class. Having played 351 snaps in the slot over the course of his three seasons in college, his speed and technique in coverage quite literally allows him to effectively cover some receivers. While this may not translate immediately to the NFL as he adjusts to faster, more physical players, he certainly has the chance to be a monster in coverage.
In 284 coverage snaps at Clemson last season, Simpson allowed 23 receptions on 36 targets for 196 yards and two touchdowns, making for easily the best coverage stats out of all of the previously mentioned linebackers. However, this does not mean he is the best, as that title still likely belongs to Campbell, but Simpson certainly has the potential to take that thrown.
Simpson is an intriguing linebacker prospect. He is incredibly solid in every aspect of the position, yet does not necessarily exceed at just one thing. He doesn’t have any major flaws other than some issues with getting off of blocks, but it’s not a big enough of a concern to hinder where he goes in the draft.
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