Unpacking Future Packers: No. 34, Minnesota LB Cody Lindenberg

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Mar 27, 2025 - 20:00
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Unpacking Future Packers: No. 34, Minnesota LB Cody Lindenberg

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers opened the offseason by re-signing Isaiah McDuffie to a two-year deal. With McDuffie locked up, the Packers have their top four linebackers in place with Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper.

Even with McDuffie back in the fold, Brian Gutekunst could look to add another linebacker to the mix on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. A potential target is Cody Lindenberg. The Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker checks in at No. 34 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit, Lindenberg played sparingly during his first season on campus and had his sophomore season cut short due to injury. In 2022, the Minnesota native started six games and recorded 71 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. Due to injuries, Lindenberg played in just four games in 2023 and recorded 31 tackles and four tackles for loss.

This past season, Lindenberg recorded 94 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and broke up six passes.

"Lindenberg was the unquestioned leader on the Gophers' defense in 2024," Tony Liebert, a sports reporter for Bring Me The News, said. "He battled injuries in 2023, but the team was lacking a defensive leader after Tyler Nubin went off to the NFL and he slid into that role. He provided Minnesota's defense with everything you could ask out of a veteran linebacker."

At 6-2, 236 pounds, Lindenberg has an ideal frame with good length. The Golden Gophers linebacker gets a head start on attacking plays due to his high football IQ and routinely beats linemen to the spot. He's quick to sift through the action and explodes downhill to meet the running back in the gap. The Minnesota native has a motor that runs hot and never takes a play off. He has good lateral quickness to shut down outside runs and has sideline-to-sideline range. This past season he recorded a career-high 39 run stops.

While he's an attacking downhill linebacker, Lindenberg is lacking in hand strength and will be prone to missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, Lindenberg missed 37 missed tackles over the past three seasons.

"Lindenberg offers great instincts and toughness against the run," Liebert said. "At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds he can hold his own on downhill run blocking, but he also has the athleticism to compete with some elite running backs."

Lindenberg is a good athlete and was No. 72 on Bruce Feldman's Annual Freak's List. Pair his instincts with his athleticism and Lindenberg could be an absolute force in the middle of a team's defense.

"Lindenberg's speed and movement skills for someone his size are not something you see every day from a linebacker," Liebert said. "His instincts help him see where a play is going to happen, but his athleticism is what makes him special. He might not have the best testing number you will ever see, but he is an incredibly impressive on-field athlete."

Lindenber doesn't struggle to move in reverse and gets good depth in his drops. He has good field awareness to go along with adequate change of direction ability.

"If he had one area to grow it would be in coverage," Liebert said. "His side-to-side athleticism makes me think he can hold up in the NFL and continue to improve, but there were times in 2024 when a more dynamic athlete beat him to a spot and it simply burnt Minnesota on defense."

Lindenberg wasn't a mainstay on Minnesota's special teams unit (243 career snaps), but with his frame and athleticism, he could develop into a core special teams player as a rookie. A role he'd likely take on if he were to land in Green Bay.

"I think he would be a perfect player to throw on special teams early in his NFL career," Liebert said. "He has the mindset and mentality to contribute wherever a team needs him and his overall athleticism could help him be an incredibly effective player in that area."

Fit with the Packers

The Packers don't have a need at linebacker and after taking two in the first three rounds during the 2024 NFL Draft, it's unlikely they use a Top 100 pick on the position again in the upcoming draft.

Enter Lindenberg. The Gophers linebacker has the play speed, frame and high football IQ to be an impact linebacker. If the Packers don't lock up Walker to a second contract, Lindenberg could take assume his role.

"I would draft Lindenberg for his character," Liebert said. "One major thing I saw in 2024 was an improvement in leadership. He sounded like a coach whenever he spoke to the media and that's something you want from a linebacker. The athleticism and traits are just an added bonus, but I think he's the type of person that will be successful in whatever he does."

Lindenberg has a motor that runs hot and he’s an energetic force on the gridiron. If the Packers feel comfortable with his medical history, they could be getting a steal on Day 3 of the draft. While he may not see a ton of playing time on the defensive side of the ball during his rookie season, he could develop into a key member of the defense if Walker doesn't earn a second contract in Green Bay. Even if he doesn't become a key member of the defense, he could become a hired gun on special teams and that would be solid value for a Day 3 pick.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Cody Lindenberg could be a Packers target at LB

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