Feb. 2, 2026, 4:47 a.m. ET
Kyle Louis made a name for himself last week at the Senior Bowl. The Pittsburgh linebacker stood out as much, if not more, than any other player in front of all 32 NFL teams in Mobile, Alabama.
But if you watch college football, you probably know Kyle Louis. Louis played four seasons at Pitt, starting the last two. In those two seasons, Louis finished with 182 tackles, including 24 for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions. As you see, Louis does a little bit of everything.
During his time at the Senior Bowl last week, Louis showed off his versatility and is likely the best coverage linebacker in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Louis measured in at just under 6 feet tall and weighed 224 pounds. In the past, some would have deemed him too small to play linebacker in the NFL. Not these days. Louis’ hybrid style is actually perfect for the modern game. Louis played the “STAR” position for the Panthers, a hybrid role that is part safety/part linebacker.
Several NFL defenses use hybrid players these days, such as the Seahawks with rookie safety Nick Emmanwori.
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The Washington Commanders need youth and speed on defense. Louis would bring both. During his time at Pitt, he was once recorded running on the field at over 21 MPH. Far too often in recent years, Washington has been unable to cover tight ends. That would change with a player like Louis.
Louis finds the football. He always trusts his instincts. New Commanders‘ defensive coordinator Daronte Jones could sign a veteran like Eric Wilson in free agency and target Louis in the draft. The key with Louis is having a detailed plan for how you’ll use him. If he’s in the right role, he could be a Pro Bowl player.
Louis probably entered Senior Bowl week as a projected fourth-round pick. He left Mobile knowing he would comfortably find a new home on Day 2 of the NFL draft.