NFL
2026 NFL Draft: Top 25 Linebackers
Tier 1 Summary: Why These 5 Can Change A Defense
These linebackers are defensive infrastructure, not merely interchangeable parts. Jacob Rodriguez, Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Sonny Styles, and Anthony Hill Jr. allow coordinators to dictate terms before the snap—compressing space, cleaning up fits, and unlocking aggressive fronts and flexible coverage shells. Their presence accelerates the entire unit and turns neutral downs into negative plays.
Methodology
Linebackers were evaluated through processing speed, block deconstruction, range, coverage utility, and finishing violence. Production informs the evaluation; diagnostic consistency defines it.
Tier 1 — Defensive Infrastructure (Rounds 1–Early 2)
1) Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)
A flexible pillar player with elite processing and range. He can wear the green dot, he can cover, he finds the football, he understands man and zone coverage principles, and he excels at reading the quarterback’s eyes, shoulders, and drop to anticipate throws and break on the ball.
Production/Traits: High tackle volume, elite TFL efficiency, he can dive too early/often, and lacks elite stamina/strength.
Draft Projection: Round 1 | Scheme: MIKE/WILL | Year-1: Defensive centerpiece
Note: Build a strong front before him.
2) Arvell Reese (Ohio State)
An explosive downhill enforcer who reminds me of Matt Blair and KJ Wright. He uses a tape-to-teach technique, has a very high football IQ, and excels as a downhill run defender. Reese is a vocal leader with excellent play recognition, solid tackling, and reliable zone coverage. He plays inside and outside, shows strength against the run, and has excellent instincts in coverage.
Production/Traits: Top-tier run-stop win rate. I see
Draft Projection: Round 1 | Scheme: WILL | Year-1: Impact starter
Note: Have him attack downhill.
3) David Bailey (Texas Tech)
An active disruption machine with relentless pursuit. He can put offensive linemen on ice skates; he has near-elite speed to power his pairing, paired with a varied arsenal. He can get bullied and engulfed in the run game, and I am skeptical about the listed height and weight.
Production/Traits: Consistent sack and TFL production.
Draft Projection: Round 1–2 | Scheme: WILL | Year-1: Starter
Note: Moving him to isolate favorable match-ups unlocks his ceiling.
4) Sonny Styles (Ohio State)
A position-agnostic hybrid who has an all-around game that is just very polished. He transitioned from safety to linebacker with all the expected agility, coverage skill, range, speed, and a modicum of pass-rush ability. He possesses solid diagnostic skills, strong shedding of blocks, and versatile coverage in space, making him a modern, three-down linebacker.
Production/Traits: High coverage efficiency versus TEs and elite range.
Draft Projection: Round 1–2 | Scheme: HYBRID | Year-1: Sub-package weapon
Note: Flexibility is the value.
5) Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas)
Range-heavy WILL who stresses blocking schemes, he flashed high-level pass-rushing skills (8 sacks in 2024), and consistently shows strong play-making instincts. Hill displays a very good ability to avoid clean contact in the hole and to execute run assignments, and is impressive as a run defender; he’s physical and plays with excellent strength.
Production/Traits: Explosive play frequency leader.
Draft Projection: Round 2 | Scheme: WILL | Year-1: Starter
Coordinator Note: Just turn him loose.
Tier 2 — Early Starters with Pro-Bowl Ceilings (Rounds 2–3)
6) CJ Allen (Georgia)
Strengths: Discipline, leverage, and communication.
Weaknesses: Average burst.
Summary: A versatile, stabilizing MIKE, Active and instinctual linebacker who can play all three positions in the position group, he is capable of doing most anything that is needed, but he lacks elite flexibility to turn the corner as a pass rusher or adjust to uber-elusive ball-carriers and can slip off tackles when coming in too high.
Production/Traits: Low missed tackle rate.
Draft Projection: Round 2 | Scheme: MIKE | Year-1: Early starter
7) Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh)
Strengths: Instincts, ball production.
Weaknesses: Over-aggression vs misdirection.
Summary: He is a high-impact producer who gets his hands on the football, does a good job getting proper depth in his drops, while not losing sight of the quarterback, knocks receivers off their routes, and has shown the ability to make an interception and return it.
Production/Traits:182 tackles, 24 TFLs, 10 sacks, 6 INTs.
Draft Projection: Round 2–3 | Scheme: MIKE/WILL | Year-1: Starter
8) Josiah Trotter (Missouri)
Strengths: Lower body pop, rapid processing, takes the correct angles.
Weaknesses: Average size, he can overrun plays and overreact to fakes.
Summary: A very reliable rotational defender who arrives under control in space and tackles better than his frame suggests, he finishes consistently. He is an ultra-physical, high-motor defender. When he meets blockers square, he generates real knock-back power with a naturally low pad level for a 6-2 linebacker. He wins in the run by beating blockers to the spot. Triggers instantly, decisive and downhill, creates splash plays or overrun fits; his run-defense flashes show up, but not consistently enough.
Production/Traits: Strong coverage efficiency, tackling.
Draft Projection: Round 3 | Scheme: WILL | Year-1: Rotational
9) Deontae Lawson (Alabama)
Strengths: Physicality, discipline.
Weaknesses: Limited range.
Summary: An intelligent and instinctual football player. He reads his keys well, trusts what he sees, and very rarely takes false steps or wastes motions. Flashes quickness to the ball due to great hustle and immediate play recognition. Scrapes adeptly, finding his way across the formation to stuff runs.
Production/Traits: Above-average tackle efficiency.
Draft Projection: Round 3 | Scheme: MIKE | Year-1: Depth
10) Eric Gentry (USC)
Strengths: Length, coverage.
Weaknesses: Play strength.
Summary: Passing-down LB who has an unusual mix of traits, a reliable wrap-up tackler with good physicality, but his high center of gravity limits both change of direction and functional power.
Stat Call-Out: Elevated pass breakup rate.
Draft Projection: Round 3 | Scheme: WILL | Year-1: Nickel
Tier 3 — Thumbnail Scouting Reports (Rounds 4–7)
11) Katin Surprenant (Temple) — A high-motor MLB with good tackling and in run defense excels in beating blockers to spots and has past pass-rushing experience.
12) Aiden Fisher (Indiana) — A leader with 97 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two interceptions, who processes plays quickly, reads keys exceptionally fast, and often knows what is coming decisively, an efficient and smooth mover.
13) Jaden Dugger (Louisiana) —An ideal athletic frame with fluidity, sideline-to-sideline range, explosive downhill speed, and a violent run defender.
14) Bryce Boettcher (Oregon) — Has limitations in power, size, and strength, but a solid run defender, and borderline starting NFL linebacker.
15) Xavian Sorey Jr. (Arkansas) — An impressive athlete with pass-coverage skills, range, speed, and agility in coverage.
16) Kaleb Elarms-Orr (TCU) — An assignment sound linebacker who gains proper depth in zone drops, stays disciplined in coverage, moves with minimal effort, squares up blocks, absorbs contact, and then sheds. He sees it and disengages in traffic. He meets backs in the hole and stops their momentum.
17) Owen Heinecke (Oklahoma) — His floor is reliable depth, his ceiling is a smaller AJ Klein.
18) Lander Barton (Utah) — Barton is a disciplined fit player who is capable of playing in both MIKE and SAM linebacker roles. Barton earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, racking up 55 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and a PD, with experience as a situational pass rusher and blitzer.
19) Jimmy Rolder (Michigan) — Scheme-sound MIKE, led the team with 73 tackles.
20) Justin Jefferson (Alabama) —A strong, fast-closing defender with excellent coverage skills, in 2025 he recorded 85 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 3 sacks.
21) Keyshaun Elliott (Arizona State) — A thumper with savvy, plays with a wide base, and heavy hands—keys fast, triggers downhill, stacks/sheds with a low center of gravity
22) West Weeks (LSU) — Physical edge-setter, scrapes over the top, and consistently denies climbing OL blocking angles, with clean contact.
23) Desmond Purnell (Kansas State) — A compact run defender who is not afraid to shoot gaps or make plays when the ball is in the air.
24) John Perdue — A very disciplined, high-IQ defender who takes good angles.
25) Quinn Urwiler (Northern Illinois) — A tough zone-fit LB.
Honorable Mentions
Luke Banbury (William & Mary), Shad Banks Jr. (UTSA), Wesley Bissainthe, (Miami, FL), Caden Fordham, (NC State), Jackson Kuwatch (Miami OH), Erick Hunter (Morgan State University) Karson Sharar (Iowa), Mohamed Toure (Miami), Declan Williams, (IWU), Scooby Williams (Texas A&M)
Scheme Clusters
MIKE Anchors: Jacob Rodriguez, CJ Allen, Deontae Lawson, Kyle Louis
WILL Weapons: Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Anthony Hill Jr., Eric Gentry, Josiah Trotter
Hybrid Chess Pieces: Sonny Styles, Xavian Sorey Jr.
Draft Value Summary
Round 1–Early 2: Rodriguez, Reese, Bailey, Styles
Rounds 2–3: Hill Jr., Allen, Louis, Trotter, Lawson, Gentry
Rounds 4–7: Rotational starters and special-teams corps
