With Green Bay not owning a first-round pick in the upcoming draft, this year's Prospect Primer series will take a position-by-position look at players projected as Day 2 selections (Rounds 2-3) potentially available to the Packers, who have the No. 52 and 84 overall selections on the second day of the draft.
Here's a handful of linebackers:
Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 238
News & notes: Texas native spent three seasons at his home state school, racking up 31½ tackles for loss, 17 sacks, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles … Named second-team AP All-America each of the last two years after sharing Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2023 … Was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2025 … Statistically had his best season in '24, compiling 113 total tackles, including 16½ for loss and eight sacks, in 16 games … Played in just 10 games last year, missing two due to injury and then skipping bowl game after declaring for the draft … Has all the prototypical linebacker traits to go along with 4.51 speed he clocked in the 40 at the combine … Still a work in progress in coverage but considered a solid three-down player who stays on the attack … Was a high school All-American rated the top inside linebacker in all of Texas; also ran track … Just turned 21 in February.
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Ht/Wt: 6-1, 231
News & notes: Texas native first went to Virginia but returned to his home state after a year and spent four seasons in Lubbock, finishing his career as the most decorated linebacker in the country … Became a starter in his second season at Texas Tech in 2023, but was limited to five games due to a foot injury … Stuffed the stat sheet his final two years, with 127 tackles in '24 and 128 in '25, compiling 21½ tackles for loss, six sacks, five interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over those two seasons … In 2025, won the Butkus (nation's top linebacker), Nagurski (most outstanding defensive player), Bednarik (defensive player of the year) and Lombardi (lineman of the year) awards, to go along with Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and several first-team All-America honors as he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting … Even played some wildcat quarterback … Seen as an instinctive, aggressive tackling and turnover machine but lacking the height and arm length to be a top draft pick … Became the only FBS player since 2005 with at least 300 career tackles, 10 forced fumbles, five INTs and five fumble recoveries … Is married, with wife Emma an active-duty helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army.
Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 220
News & notes: New Jersey native spent four years at Pitt … Over the last two seasons, recorded 182 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions (one returned for TD), two forced fumbles and two recoveries … Earned first-team All-ACC honors, second-team AP All-America recognition, and finished third in ACC Defensive Player of the Year balloting in 2025 … Impressed at the combine with a 4.53-second time in the 40, a 39½-inch vertical jump, and a 10-9 broad jump, ranking among the top LBs in every test … Stands out in pass coverage but gets knocked for his size and could be asked to add weight at the next level, or might transition to box safety … Athleticism could earn him an early role as a sub-package defender in the NFL.
Josiah Trotter, Missouri
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 237
News & notes: Philly native spent two years at West Virginia and one at Missouri, posting a combined 176 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 2½ sacks, and one interception over the last two seasons … Did not play at all in 2023 due to a lower leg injury, then missed his final college game due to knee surgery and did not test at the combine … Comes from a football family as the son of Jeremiah Trotter Sr., a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro selection over an 11-year NFL career, mostly with the Eagles, and the brother of Jeremiah Jr, a two-time All-America choice who was drafted in the fifth round by the Eagles in 2024 … First-team (coaches) and second-team (media) All-SEC selection in 2025, following Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors the season prior … Just 20 years old, not turning 21 until the week before the draft.
2026 Prospect Primers
