Harold Perkins Jr. is a linebacker from LSU who is ranked No. 100 on my NFL Draft Top 100 Big Board. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Perkins’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
Harold Perkins Jr.’s NFL Draft Potential
Harold Perkins Jr. is one of the most unique player evaluations to hit the circuit in recent years. He’s listed as a linebacker most often, but he plays the hybrid STAR position most often for the Tigers. He’s at his most lethal as a blitzer and run-and-chase attacker with his hyper-elite explosiveness and closing speed, and he can be weaponized from different alignments within this lens. He also flashes great zone awareness and route recognition in zone as a nickel defender, but his inconsistency in man coverage at 6’1″, 220 pounds has been exploited more than once this season.
Ultimately, Perkins might fit best in a role similar to Vikings defender Josh Metellus: A sub-package linebacker who can attack downhill, drop into coverage from feigned rushes, and clamp down as an extra wide-alignment rusher with his deadly speed and bend.
CFB Week 9 Update
As an attacking defender, Perkins is electric — but it’s time for a conversation to be had about his ultimate merit as a three-down player. He was exposed in coverage by Texas A&M in Week 9, and was easily washed out of the game plan as the Aggies dominated with a positive game script.
As a pass-rusher and spy, Perkins has blue-chip range, closing speed, and bend — but he’s not fluid, fleet-footed, or well-versed enough to play man coverage as the hybrid STAR defender, and he doesn’t engage or disengage from blocks well. Perkins might be confined to a pass-down, third-down role in the NFL, because he’s too easy to exploit in coverage, and he’s not a competent second-level stacker.
CFB Week 10 Update
LSU was on a bye in Week 10, but the Tigers will return to action in Week 11 against the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama will test LSU on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Crimson Tide boast a diverse core led by Ty Simpson, Ryan Williams, and Germie Bernard, as well as a stalwart offensive line, and on defense, Alabama is stout up front, with fast-flowing defenders at all three levels.
CFB Week 11 Update
Perkins’ highlight of the day against Alabama was a strip-sack on Ty Simpson, where Perkins met running back Jam Miller head-on and scraped across-face to reach and pry the ball loose. Perkins is in his element on those kinds of plays: When he can simply attack downhill, close ground with his speed and bend, and make plays on the ball carrier. Unfortunately, his profile is still very incomplete outside of that, and an attacking, exclusively pass-game role might be where he fits at the NFL level.
Where Is Perkins Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Perkins currently holds the No. 77 overall rank among prospects, reflecting his standing among mid-round prospects. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 108.4 as of November 11 reflects that he is typically being selected in the middle rounds.
The gap between his rank and ADP indicates that while he’s highly regarded on our board, draft simulators are seeing him slide slightly, possibly due to team needs or positional value considerations.
Users controlling the Denver Broncos have been the team that selected Perkins the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 1.3% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Harold Perkins Jr. Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Perkins is currently ranked No. 100 overall in my October 2026 NFL Draft Big Board. Among LB prospects, Perkins ranks 7th at the position, trailing prospects like Sonny Styles, CJ Allen, Taurean York. Currently ranked in the top 100, Perkins will look to increase their draft stock in the coming months.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.
