The 2020 NFL Draft is filled with talented linebackers who will be impact players very early on. There are many different physical types and skillsets available, so teams will have their choice of a variety of players. Here are the five best LBs in the 2020 class.

5. Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State

Due to injuries and off-field issues, Gay played fewer than 900 snaps during his college career, but he showed the potential to be an excellent NFL player. At 6'1″ 243 lbs he has excellent size, but he is far from a plodding run-plugger. At the NFL Combine in march, Gay put on an all-time show that would have been the talk of the league if he wasn't overshadowed by Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, which is just unfair.

Gay performed moderately well in the agility tests, but showed truly elite explosion. His 4.46s 40-yard dash was stellar, as was his 39.5″ vertical. His athleticism is evident on tape, as he has true sideline-to-sideline range, and was excellent in coverage. His run defense and play recognition aren't great, but he won't be a liability there. Gay needs to continue to hone his skills as far as play recognition, and needs to tone down his aggressiveness on pursuit angles, but he has all the physical tools needed to become a fantastic three-down WILL.

The problem is that Gay's sample size is small, and that's primarily because of off-field issues. He was suspended for cheating on a chemistry exam, and before that was involved in a practice fight and broke Mississippi State's quarterback's orbital bone. Gay has plenty to answer for, but reportedly did well in Combine interviews. If he can stay out of trouble, he should end up being a major steal on Day 2.

4. Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

Murray is well-built at 6'1″ 241 lbs and is incredibly explosive. His performance during his collegiate career was not great; he struggles in coverage and doesn't diagnose plays well at this point. But Murray is a solid tackler who can be a devastating weapon if utilized properly. He needs to be moving forward at all times, attacking ball-carriers and blowing up plays. 257 total tackles since 2018 is impressive, with 29.5 tackles for loss. He should not be dropping back in coverage; instead, if he is even on the field on passing downs, he needs to be rushing the passer.

If an NFL team drafts Murray looking for an all-around MIKE, they're going to be disappointed. He needs to be deployed as a heat-seeking missile, always playing forward. Hopefully he can develop into a solid coverage player, but if not, he's athletic enough to stick around in the league for a long time. Murray is getting top-20 buzz, but even if that doesn't happen, it would be a major surprise if he isn't taken at some point on Thursday night.

3. Logan Wilson, Wyoming

If Wilson had Murray's athletic ability, he'd probably be a top-15 pick. He has instincts, production (over 90 tackles in four straight years), coverage ability, good tackling fundamentals, good size (6'2″ 241 lbs), and good athleticism, although it's not spectacular. Wilson is smart and consistent. He is an all-around player and while he many never be a star, he should provide solid play for many years to come. Wilson is expected to be a late second or early third-round pick, but there have been rumblings over the past few days that he could potentially sneak into the first round.

If that does happen, Wilson won't be the only high-floor player taken earlier than expected. Given the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19, this year's rookies will be placed at a major disadvantage, especially raw and underdeveloped ones. Fewer offseason activities and less time with coaches is going to make things extremely difficult, and instead of hoping a raw rookie can be brought up to speed quickly, teams may be seeking players who perhaps have lower ceilings due to athletic limitations, but who are advanced in the mental aspect of the game.

Teams know exactly what they're getting with Wilson; a smart, reliable tackler with some ability in coverage.He may not have the potential of someone like Murray, but he'll likely be better as a rookie.

2. Patrick Queen, LSU

The order of Murray and Queen is different depending on who you ask, but while both are likely to be first-rounders, the LSU product has the better NFL skillset at this point. He is undersized at 6'0″ 229 lbs, but won't turn 21 until August and has plenty of time to fill out his frame. Queen wasn't a starter until Week 4 of 2019, but once he was named one, he proved he belonged. He finished with 85 tackles and 12 TFLs. A former running back, Queen is of course still developing as a linebacker, but he brings a unique perspective on the position, and that's evident from watching his film. He's still inconsistent when diagnosing plays, but he makes reads that others in this class simply do not.

Athletically, Queen is every bit as explosive as Murray. His 4.5 40 time is fantastic, and Queen's range is elite. Where Queen has the edge over Murray is in coverage. Queen is still developing in this area as well, but he is more advanced than Murray. Coverage is more important nowadays than run stopping for a linebacker, and Queen offers good ability there. It would not be a surprise if he is drafted ahead of Murray because of that.

1. Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

It'a almost cheating including Simmons as a linebacker, because he really isn't one. But then again, he's not exactly a safety either. He is truly a unique football player with no NFL comparison. At 6'4″ 238 lbs, he has excellent size for a safety, and no matter what position group you compare him to, his athleticism is elite. He ran a 4.39s 40-yard dash, and jumped 39.5″ in the vertical and 132″ in the broad. He is a special talent that excelled at linebacker, safety, and slot corner. He even played outside CB and defensive line at times.

As incredible as Simmons is, he's not a perfect player. He doesn't have much experience taking on blocks from lineman, and given his size may not be fluid enough to play corner against faster receivers. His best fit in the NFL may be as a weak-side LB, where he can play in space and use his size and explosiveness to cover tight ends and make plays from the backside. But wherever his primary position ends up being, he will certainly be moving around all over the field.