The 2025 NFL Combine kicks off this upcoming week. So let’s preview the event through the Indianapolis Colts’ lens and take a look at the linebacker position.
For a deeper dive into the combine specifically and what you need to know from the Colts’ perspective, click here.
To preview other position groups, follow the links below:
Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver
Tight end
Offensive line
Defensive line
What’s the need for the Colts at linebacker?
The need for the Colts at this position is two-fold. One one hand, they simply need depth with both EJ Speed and Grant Stuard set to be free agents this offseason.
But in addition to that, finding an added coverage presence to line up next to Zaire Franklin should be on the GM Chris Ballard’s to-do list as well.
We saw opposing tight ends and running backs have success against the Colts in the passing game. Tight ends averaged the seventh most receiving yards per game against the Colts and running backs the 13th most.
Now, that production from opponents doesn’t solely fall on the shoulders of the Colts linebackers, but oftentimes that position group does play an important role in limiting the tight ends and running backs impact in the passing game.
Perhaps second-year linebacker, and former safety, Jaylon Carlies can step into that role. But with Ballard wanting to emphasize competition this offseason, whether it be through the draft or free agency, he shouldn’t bank on that happening either. That approach is, in part, what has the Colts in their current roster predicament.
What does the Colts current linebacker depth chart look like?
Zaire Franklin
Jaylon Carlies
Jacob Phillips
Liam Anderson
Austin Ajiake
Segun Olubi
Relative Athletic Scores of past linebacker draft picks for Colts
The RAS formula–which was created by Kent Lee Platte–takes all of the measurements and times from the NFL Combine and Pro Days and converts them into an easily comparable figure that ranges from 0 to 10, allowing us to see how players of the same position group stack up athletically to one another.
On the RAS scale, 5.0 is considered average, with 8.0 or higher being in the top 20 percentile of the position group from an athleticism standpoint. The higher the RAS, the better the athlete.
Zaire Franklin: 9.64
EJ Speed: 9.18
Bobby Okereke: 8.40
Gerri Green: 8.08
Jaylon Carlies: 7.40
Matthew Adams: 7.20
Anthony Walker: 6.74
Darius Leonard: 4.80
Which linebackers were invited to the NFL combine?
Eugene Asante, Auburn
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
Carson Bruener, Washington
Teddye Buchanan, Cal
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
Power Echols, North Carolina
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Shemar James, Florida
Kobe King, Penn State
Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota
Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Bam Martin-Scott, South Carolina
Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Jalen McLeod, Auburn
Kain Medrano, UCLA
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
Tyreem Powell, Rutgers
Karene Reid, Utah
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Cody Simon, Ohio State
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jackson Woodard, UNLV
(This article was updated to provide additional information.)