Smael Mondon Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Georgia ILB Scouting Report
In this loaded 2025 NFL Draft class, a talented linebacker to keep on your radar is Smael Mondon Jr. He’s a reliable ILB from Georgia with great blitzing instincts. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth expert scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Smael Mondon Jr. 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Mondon Jr. enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most athletically gifted linebacker prospects from a Georgia program renowned for producing NFL-ready defenders. A former five-star recruit out of Paulding County High School, Mondon has steadily developed into a dynamic playmaker during his time in Athens, blending elite physical tools with flashes of high-level production.
Unfortunately, injuries have occasionally disrupted Mondon Jr.’s consistency. However, his blend of speed, length, and coverage ability makes him an intriguing option for teams seeking a modern linebacker capable of thriving in subpackage roles. With two national championship rings and a strong Senior Bowl showing, Mondon’s ceiling remains tantalizing, though his refinement as a run defender and diagnostic instincts will determine his ultimate NFL trajectory.
HT: 6022
WT: 224
HAND: 968
ARM: 3168
40: 4.58
Strengths:
- Athleticism and Range: Mondon’s sideline-to-sideline speed is exceptional, with a 4.58-second 40-yard dash that translates seamlessly to the field. He closes gaps quickly in pursuit and has the burst to chase down ball carriers or cover ground in underneath zones.
- Coverage Upside: Displays fluid hips and long strides that allow him to match tight ends and running backs in man coverage. His length (31 6/8-inch arms) aids in disrupting passing lanes, and he shows good eye discipline in zone, reading quarterbacks to jump routes.
- Tackling Reliability: A secure wrap-up tackler who rarely misses when he gets his hands on a ball carrier. He drives through contact with his lower body and uses his frame to finish plays effectively.
- Blitzing Instincts: Explosive off the snap when sent as a pass rusher, with a knack for timing gaps and creating disruption in the backfield. He recorded three sacks in both 2023 and 2024, showcasing his ability to impact the quarterback.
- Physical Tools: At his size, Mondon has the ideal frame for an NFL linebacker, with room to add mass without sacrificing agility. His length and agility profile align with the league’s shift toward versatile, rangy defenders.
Areas for Improvement:
- Run Defense Consistency: While athletic, Mondon sometimes struggles to anchor against downhill runs. He can get washed out by bigger offensive linemen due to inconsistent play strength and a tendency to rely on speed over technique.
- Key-and-Diagnose Skills: Instincts in the run game remain a work in progress. He occasionally misreads keys or gets caught in traffic, forcing him into recovery mode rather than meeting plays head-on at the point of attack.
- Injury History: Lower-body injuries, including ankle and foot issues, have cost him games across multiple seasons (he missed two in 2022 and four in 2024). Durability concerns may linger until he proves he can stay healthy over a full NFL slate.
- Block Shedding: Needs to develop more consistent hand usage to disengage from blockers. His long arms are an asset, but he doesn’t always maximize them to stack and shed effectively against climbing linemen.
- Processing Speed: Against complex misdirection or play-action, Mondon can hesitate, allowing plays to develop before he reacts. This gap between athleticism and football IQ limits his impact in high-traffic situations.
Conclusion:
Mondon projects as a potential Day 2 to early Day 3 pick (Rounds 3-4) with the potential to climb into the late portion of Round 2. His athletic profile and coverage skills make him an ideal fit for teams employing nickel or dime-heavy schemes, where he can thrive as a WILL or subpackage linebacker. While he’s not yet a three-down starter due to run-defense limitations, his upside is significant if paired with a coaching staff adept at refining instincts and technique. Think of him as a developmental prospect with the raw tools to become a plus starter, akin to a more athletic version of Jordyn Brooks coming out of Texas Tech.
Mondon would pair well with Lavonte David on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, learning from a veteran while leveraging his speed in a division with pass-heavy offenses. A scheme that maximizes his blitzing and coverage ability alongside Roquan Smith on the Baltimore Ravens would also accelerate his growth. Even Vic Fangio’s system, which values rangy, athletic linebackers who can cover and pursue, makes Mondon a natural fit in Philadelphia.
Mondon’s blend of size, speed, and versatility gives him a high ceiling, but his floor hinges on addressing inconsistencies in the run game and staying healthy. If he lands with a team willing to invest in his development, he has the makings of a multi-year starter with Pro Bowl potential.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2021* | Georgia | 15 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | Georgia | 13 | 49 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023* | Georgia | 13 | 42 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Georgia | 10 | 29 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 51 | 125 | 87 | 18 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
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