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2023 NFL Draft Betting Predictions: Linebackers Odds

by Matt Zitt - 4/17/2023

NFL Draft betting predictions linebackers odds Drew Sanders

Once considered the most important defensive position in the NFL, teams have shifted to edge rushers to apply more pressure on starting quarterbacks. In the modern NFL, linebackers need to be able to blitz and cover slot receivers’ sideline to sideline. Top players at the position in 2023 include Arkansas’ Drew Sanders and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson. Last year, five linebackers were drafted in the first round, although some of them like Micah Parsons are OLB/DE hybrid players. Since 2017, at least four linebackers have been drafted in the first round. We could see some surprises in this year’s first round selection of linebackers, but this year is weaker at the position than years past. In 2023, odds are decent we do not even see a linebacker selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

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2023 NFL Draft – First Linebackers Drafted Odds

Drew Sanders (Arkansas) +100

Jack Campbell (Iowa) +130

Trenton Simpson (Clemson) +375

Daiyan Henley (Washington State) +1400

Henry To’To’o (Alabama) +2500

LB Favorites Analysis for the 2023 NFL Draft

Drew Sanders (+100)

A five-star recruit out of high school, Sanders played his first two collegiate seasons at Alabama before transferring to Arkansas. Sanders flourished with more playing time as a Razorback, finishing with 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Sanders is built more like an edge rusher, but his quick feet and slender frame allow him to maneuver as a linebacker. The Cowboys have expressed interest in Sanders and could use their 26th overall pick on the former Razorback.

Jack Campbell (+130)

Campbell was a three-star recruit out of high school and logged only 182 snaps combined as a freshman and sophomore. He took a massive leap his junior year, recording 95 tackles on 972 snaps. As a senior, he won the 2022 Dick Butkus Award for the best linebacker in the nation. He also took home 2022 first-team All-Big Ten honors and first-team All-American honors. He tallied 13 pressures, two interceptions, four QB hits, and 77 tackles his senior campaign. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, his speed and violent tackling will give an NFL team a future starting linebacker.

Trenton Simpson (+375)

A month ago, Simpson was penciled in as a guaranteed first-round pick. That may no longer be the case after the Senior and Shrine Bowls. Todd McShay did not feature the Clemson linebacker as a first-round selection, and Mel Kiper no longer has him listed in his top 25 players. In 2022 as a junior, he played in 12 games and logged 622 snaps. He finished the season with 51 tackles, 11 QB hurries, and two sacks on the year. A finalist for the Butkus Award, he also earned a third-team All-ACC selection. Simpson displayed explosive hitting and good lateral and downfield pursuit in his college career. Look for him to be a Day 2 draft pick.

Daiyan Henley (+1400)

Henley might possibly have the most interesting path to the NFL as a linebacker. Out of high school, he was ranked by ESPN as a two-star recruit and joined Nevada as a wide receiver. In 2018 as a freshman, Henley saw very little playing time and had a season-ending injury. Making the switch to linebacker in 2020, he saw over 1,000 snaps his junior and senior seasons. After 2021, he transferred to Washington State as a fifth-year senior and had his most productive season collegiately. In 12 games he logged over 650 snaps, recording 74 tackles, 18 assists, 18 total pressures, three QB hits, and five sacks. He was named to the 2022 All-Pac-12 Conference First Team as a linebacker and All-Pac-12 Second Team as an all-purpose/special teams’ player. With good overall athleticism, he can run sideline-to-sideline with anyone.

Henry To’To’o (+2500)

After spending his first two years in Tennessee, To’To’o transferred to Alabama. As a senior, he saw action in 12 games and logged over 780 snaps. He tallied 67 tackles, 24 assists, and 46 stops under Nick Saban. As a pass rusher, he recorded 13 total pressures, six QB hurries, and three sacks. NFL scouts love that he is tough between the tackles and has quick speed to drop into zone coverage. He is extremely versatile as he is ferocious against the run and displayed leadership on Alabama’s defensive side of the ball. To’To’o should see his name called in Round 2 or 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft.

LB Predictions for the 2023 NFL Draft

First linebacker drafted: Jack Campbell (+130)

Lean toward the under total for number of linebackers taken in the first round

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