Background

Deontae Lawson was born on February 11, 2003, and grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He attended Mobile Christian School, where he played both offense and defense and was selected to the 2021 All-American Bowl. A four-star recruit, he committed to Alabama and redshirted in 2021. As a redshirt freshman in 2022, he contributed on special teams and started occasionally, recording 51 tackles and 4 pass deflections while playing behind a defense loaded with future NFL talent. He seized the starting middle linebacker job as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, posting 67 tackles, 3 TFL, 5.5 sacks, and 4 pass deflections, earning a Butkus Award nomination. Achieving 76 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 sacks, and an interception in 2024, he earned Third-Team All-SEC recognition before his season concluded with an ACL tear in November. The team named him captain twice, and he returned for 2025 as one of the SEC's most experienced linebackers. He finished his career with 89 tackles and 16 pass deflections, while also logging nearly 2,500 career defensive snaps. Having completed his degree at Alabama, he credits Nick Saban with preparing him for the professional level. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Physical Attributes

Deontae Lawson did not elect to take part in any of the athletic testing at the combine, and watching the tape, you can see why. He is 6'3" 226 lbs, and not very athletic. Lawson is slow, heavy-footed, and lacks the top-end speed and lateral agility expected of more modern NFL linebackers. Do not worry though, his strength is better than the rest of his athleticism, because it is mediocre.

Data and Tape Analysis

If you are unfamiliar with my LB radar charts, you can find more information here

I really do not know what to say, that is not a very good radar chart. Especially for someone who spent five years in school and turned 23 before the combine. In what I watched of him on film, I would have probably graded him out even worse.

In the physical section, I said Lawson lacks the athleticism to keep up in the modern NFL. That is what he looked like in 2025. Maybe a further year away from his ACL injury will help him out, but I do not want to rely on an SEC player with the wear and tear he has had ever increasing their athletic output.

Lawson also seemed to lack the most important part of linebacking, and that is play recognition. It seemed he bit at every fake, ended up in gaps the RB was nowhere near, and if he was near, missed the tackle. In coverage, he seemed to have a vague idea of what was happening, but ever so vague.

As shown above, Lawson offers next to nothing as a pass rusher. If he closed his eyes and ran forward after the snap, it would be just as effective.

Grade and Outlook

The only reason I am not completely writing Lawson off is his performances before this year, which had him rated much more highly on consensus, and the chance he rediscovers that form. I am much less bullish on that than others, so I will put him lower down my board.

Grade: 3.8 (Late 4th Rounder / Early 5th Rounder)