2026 Draft: Linebacker

mayoclinic said:

1. Stukes > Scott > JRod for me. Not because they are better players in that order, but because of fit. We already have Robert Spillane and Marcus Jones, Stukes has the cleanest complementary role. If JRod were not somewhat redundant in the short term with Spillane he would probably be the pick. Still tough to call.

2. Turnabout torture is fair play. Golday > Scott > Louis. Love all 3. Golday and Louis have a cleaner role than Scott, but Scott as a Devon Witherspoon attack missile is intriguing as heck.

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manxman2601 said:

He's had 10 sacks in two separate seasons. 35.5 TFLs in the last three years.

The knock on him is that he's too stiff in coverage and struggles to get off blocks in the run game. Two year team captain though.

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Strengths
Tall, long athlete with room to continue to add bulk
Both fast and rangy in chasing down every blade of grass (hit 22.1 mph in practice)
Quick to trigger (when he sees it), allowing him to close on screens and run plays
Physical on the move to battle pullers and escape climbing blocks
Former defensive end; has blitzing talent to heat up passers and force throws (Clay Matthews Jr. was his favorite player growing up)
Showed incremental improvements with pedal mechanics and coverage awareness in 2025
Casts wide net as a tackler because of his range and effort rallying to the football
Last penalty he committed came during his redshirt year in 2021
Doesn’t skip the training room and was a crew captain in the weight room
Didn’t miss a game because of injury in his two seasons at Cincinnati

Weaknesses
Narrow frame with lean definition throughout
Average play strength — shucking blockers will be more of a chore in the NFL
Still learning how to use proper scrape and take-on techniques
Taller pads and hips, which will cause some robotic movements with his body control
Can lose track of the ball as a stacked defender or when reading mesh point from depth
Can be caught in awkward angles with his pads turned
Still very young in terms of coverage recognition

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With his smaller, cut-up frame, Jacobs looks more like a safety than a linebacker. He has a tough time disengaging once locked up by blockers, but what he lacks in desired size and length, he makes up for with speed to the football. His read-react eyes are still developing, and better anticipation will allow him to make more plays driving downhill and in coverage. Despite not being a full-time starter, he was voted a 2025 team captain, and his passionate leadership was obvious to anyone around the program.

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Jacobs has limitations that will cap his role, but his pursuit talent and competitive energy will allow him to compete for a subpackage and special teams role in the NFL.

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mayoclinic said:

Which makes him a lesser version of Kyle Louis to the 2nd degree.

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The 6-foot, 220-pound Louis is officially listed as a linebacker. According to ESPN, he’s the No. 8 linebacker and No. 89 overall prospect in this year’s draft class. But in reality, he’s more of a linebacker/safety hybrid – similar to 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Nick Emmanwori, who the Seahawks drafted at No. 35 overall last year.

“Some think he’s a safety. Some think he’s a big nickel. Some think he’s a linebacker,” Huard said. “What he is is the best coverage guy at the second level in this draft at his size. … He would be the best big nickel in this draft.”

While head coach Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks already have one ultra-talented hybrid defender in Emmanwori, Huard doesn’t think that should dissuade them from drafting another.

“With the versatility of these defenses today, and Mike Macdonald’s in particular, if you can play in space and really play in space, they’re going to find a spot for you,” Huard said. “You’ve gotta cover tight ends. You’ve gotta cover running backs. You’ve gotta cover slot receivers. … In some ways, it’s advantageous to be positionless.”

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DaBruinz said:

I don't want anything to do with Michigan LBs. Whether it's Barham or Rolder. Too many failures from that school at that position.

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Clonamery said:

Christian Thomas, Maine

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ctpatsfan77 said:

Brett Kollmann with a good point:

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