You may have heard this once or twice, but the Baltimore Ravens know what great defense looks like. They've seen their share of linebackers. Take Ray Lewis, for instance. He remains the standard for elite leadership in this city.
Here we go again, and Baltimore again has the talent to field an elite corps. Roquan Smith remains the centerpiece of the room, the quarterback of the defense. He's also one of the franchise's most respected leaders. The problem is simple: nobody plays forever.
Baltimore has invested resources around Smith, butthere are still unanswered questions. Teddye Buchanan saw his promising season cut short by injury. Jay Higgins and Trenton Simpson possess plenty of talent, yet both still need to prove they can consistently deliver
over a full season.
Ask many observers around the league, and they'll tell you inside linebacker remains one of the thinner spots on the Ravens' roster. That's why it never hurts to start scouting early. With another college football season underway, here are eight linebackers who could eventually find their way onto Baltimore's draft board.
Sammy Brown, Clemson Tigers
If you're looking for a Ravens-style linebacker, Brown checks a lot of boxes.
The Clemson standout stuffed the stat sheet in 2025, totaling 106 tackles, five sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and five pass breakups. Brown combines instincts, athleticism, and versatility, allowing him to impact games in multiple ways. His production and leadership have already placed him among the early favorites to be one of the first linebackers selected in the 2027 draft.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's defense is loaded with future NFL talent, and Viliamu-Asa may eventually become one of its biggest stars.
Despite playing a rotational role for portions of his career, he still managed 48 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and two pass breakups in 2025. Scouts love his physical tools and upside, and many believe a larger role could cause his draft stock to explode. Baltimore has never been afraid to bet on traits, and Viliamu-Asa has plenty of them.
Matt Rose, Stanford Cardinal
Every draft class features a player who wins with instincts more than measurements. Rose might be that linebacker. Though slightly undersized, the Stanford defender piled up 106 tackles last season while adding three sacks and a forced fumble.
Some evaluators have even compared his style of play to former NFL great Zach Thomas because of his intelligence, toughness, and relentless motor. Those qualities tend to age well at the next level.
Myles Graham, Florida Gators
Myles Graham lacks prototypical size, but he compensates with physicality and effort. The Florida linebacker recorded 76 tackles and two sacks in 2025 while continuing to establish himself as one of the SEC's more active defenders. Several programs attempted to lure him through the transfer portal, but Graham stayed put. Another productive season could push him significantly higher up draft boards.
Chris Cole, Georgia Bulldogs
When Georgia develops a linebacker, NFL teams pay attention. Cole enters the season with plenty of momentum after posting 60 tackles and 4.5 sacks during his first year as a full-time starter.
At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he possesses the size and athletic profile scouts covet. If he takes another step forward in 2026, he could become the next highly regarded linebacker to emerge from Kirby Smart's defense.
Wild Card: Whit Weeks, LSU Tigers
Whit Weeks has been on NFL radars for years because of his rare athletic ability and versatility. A 2024 First-team All-SEC mention, when healthy, he can impact games as a linebacker, pass rusher, and coverage defender, but he missed time last season after surgery in January 2025.
Baltimore has always valued defenders who create matchup problems, and Perkins' skill set certainly fits that description. This season, a bounceback may be coming after already stacking 205 tackles, an interception, five sacks, and two fumbles over a 32-game career that has spanned three NCAA seasons.
Wild Card: Tony Rojas, Penn State Nittany Lions
Rojas enters the season as one of the more intriguing linebacker prospects in college football. Before a torn ACL ended his 2025 campaign after four games, he totaled 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks while flashing impressive range and athleticism. Penn State has developed plenty of NFL linebackers over the years, and Rojas has the tools to become the next. If he returns healthy and builds on that early momentum, his draft stock could rise quickly.
Cade Uluave, BYU Cougars
Cade Uluave joins the Cougars after a solid run with theCal Golden Bears, where he notched 237 tackles over 34 games spanning three seasons. Three interceptions and two forced fumbles round out an impressive resume. It will be interesting to see how he does in the Big 12, which occasionally forgets to play defense.
It's early, but the linebacker unit deserves attention
The Ravens hope Buchanan returns healthy and continues developing. They hope Higgins and Simpson take meaningful steps forward. If that happens, linebacker may not feel like a pressing need a year from now.
Still, Baltimore's front office has built one of the league's best rosters by staying ahead of future concerns rather than reacting to them. With Roquan Smith carrying the room and several young players still trying to establish themselves, don't be surprised if the Ravens spend plenty of Saturdays evaluating the next generation of linebackers long before anyone is talking about draft needs.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 2027 NFL draft: 8 linebackers who could fit the Ravens
