Rookie linebackers you need to know:
Lawrence Timmons (Pittsburgh, 15th overall) - Timmons is in a great situation with the Steelers. He has a starting position waiting for him with the departure of Joey Porter and the Steelers defense is experienced and stacked with quality players from front to back. Timmons will play right away and should see a large number of tackle and sack opportunities.
Jon Beason (Carolina, 25th overall) - The word scouts use to describe Beason is "intelligent" which isn't as common as you might think. Beason doesn't have a starting spot right now, but the Panthers go through linebackers the way Jack Bauer goes through ammo so it shouldn't take long before Beason's on the field. Even without an injury, Beason will probably work his way into some playing time. He won't be worth a draft pick unless Dan Morgan or Thomas Davis gets hurt in camp, but keep an eye on him for when you need a waiver wire pickup.
Paul Posluszny (Buffalo, 34th overall) - His stock dropped after a disappointing senior year at Penn State, and some scouts wondered if a junior-year injury in the Orange Bowl was part of the problem. But all signs point to him being healthy, so "Poz" could turn out to be a huge steal for both the Bills and your fantasy team. The Bills lost starting linebackers London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes so while Posluszny has a starting spot locked up, he doesn't have a lot of cover if he makes a mistake. It should be a learning season for Posluszny, but with opposing offenses expected to target the linebackers, Posluszny should roll up good tackle totals.