Top NFL Linebackers 2026
Read about run fits, tackling, coverage responsibilities and pressure production in the middle of the defense.
32 of up to 32 qualifying players · Updated Oct 8, 2026.
Click a player to expand their bio and latest scouting report.
#1
Carson Schwesinger
91/100- College
- UCLA
- Jersey
- 49
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 242
- Experience (years)
- 2
Drafted 33rd overall by Browns in 2025.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
9 tackles last week, 35 on the year. a young guy who's a stud, 3-1 team
#2
Alex Anzalone
86/100- College
- Florida
- Jersey
- 34
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 234
- Experience (years)
- 10
Had 26 sacks over five seasons with the Lions.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Anzalone is the veteran connective tissue Tampa needed at linebacker. He can diagnose quickly, cover tight ends and slots, and give the young defenders a steady voice in the middle.
Strengths: Starting role, coverage ability, run diagnosis, veteran communication, and strong fit at weakside linebacker.
Weaknesses: Replacing a franchise legend comes with expectations, and the new surrounding linebacker group still needs time to gel.
#3
Josh Sweat
86/100- College
- Florida State
- Jersey
- 10
- Height (in)
- 77
- Weight (lb)
- 265
- Experience (years)
- 9
Drafted by the Eagles in fourth round in 2018.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Sweat was the real deal in 2025: 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and the kind of strip-sack skill that changes games. He gives Arizona a true edge closer, not just a pressure guy who almost gets there. The knee status is worth watching, but a healthy Sweat is the player every protection plan begins with.
Strengths: Explosive edge rush, proven finishing, strip-sack instincts and postseason experience. His 2025 production came with takeaways, not empty pressures, and he has the length to affect passing lanes.
Weaknesses: A 2026 knee issue placed him on PUP to begin camp, so availability is the immediate concern. After a career year, defenses will build more game plans around chips, slides and quick throws to blunt him.
#4
TJ Watt
86/100- College
- Wisconsin
- Jersey
- 90
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 252
- Experience (years)
- 10
Surpassed brother, J.J., on the career sacks list in 2025.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
4.5 sacks and a pick, a sack and a forced fumble last week. still the most disruptive guy on that defense, 2-2 team
#5
Zack Baun
85/100- College
- Wisconsin
- Jersey
- 53
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 225
- Experience (years)
- 7
Intercepted Patrick Mahomes in SB LIX.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
25 tackles, 3.5 tfl and 3 pds, he's all over the field. concussion thing is worrying tho. eagles really need him out there.
#6
Trey Hendrickson
85/100- College
- Florida Atlantic
- Jersey
- 91
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 270
- Experience (years)
- 10
Led NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 with Bengals.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
just 1 sack in 2 games and he's questionable. pass rush hasn't shown up yet in baltimore.
#7
Roquan Smith
85/100- College
- Georgia
- Jersey
- 0
- Height (in)
- 73
- Weight (lb)
- 235
- Experience (years)
- 9
Drafted eighth overall by the Bears in 2018.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
34 tackles, a sack, a pick and a forced fumble. does everything and the team is 3-1, 6 tackles last week
#8
Odafe Oweh
84/100- College
- Penn State
- Jersey
- 98
- Height (in)
- 77
- Weight (lb)
- 251
- Experience (years)
- 6
First-round pick of Baltimore in 2021.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
a sack and a forced fumble last week, 2 sacks and 2.5 tfl total. 1-3 team, edge is trending up
#9
Nick Bolton
83/100- College
- Missouri
- Jersey
- 32
- Height (in)
- 71
- Weight (lb)
- 237
- Experience (years)
- 6
Returned a fumble for a TD in Super Bowl Super Bowl LVII.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
37 tackles and 3.5 tfl, 9 tackles last week. 4-0 team, he's lowkey one of the best
#10
Quincy Williams
82/100- College
- Murray State
- Jersey
- 5
- Height (in)
- 71
- Weight (lb)
- 230
- Experience (years)
- 8
Drafted in third round out of Murray State in 2019.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Williams gives the Browns the fast, veteran stabilizer beside their young star. His familiarity with the coordinator can speed communication and let the defense stay aggressive without asking every young linebacker to solve everything at once.
Strengths: Veteran experience, coordinator familiarity, initial-53 status, athletic profile, and leadership beside Schwesinger.
Weaknesses: He must adapt to new teammates and maintain peak physical consistency in a role that will ask him to cover plenty of ground.
#11
Demario Davis
81/100- College
- Arkansas State
- Jersey
- 56
- Height (in)
- 74
- Weight (lb)
- 239
- Experience (years)
- 15
Cousin was former NFL QB Steve McNair.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
10 tackles and a sack last week, 32 on the year. old guy still flying around, team is 1-3 and he isn't the problem
#12
Yaya Diaby
81/100- College
- Louisville
- Jersey
- 0
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 270
- Experience (years)
- 4
Began college career at Georgia Military.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Diaby is already creating the pressure of a premium edge; the next step is the sack total catching up. The improved rotation should keep him fresher and give him more favorable one-on-ones.
Strengths: 19 sacks in three seasons, ninth in 2025 pressures, starter role, and a high-level pressure rate.
Weaknesses: Has not yet reached double-digit sacks, and contract-year attention from offenses will test his consistency.
#13
Demetrius Knight Jr.
81/100- College
- South Carolina
- Jersey
- 44
- Height (in)
- 74
- Weight (lb)
- 240
- Experience (years)
- 2
Drafted in second round out of South Carolina in 2025.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
28 tackles, 9 vs pittsburgh in the loss. bengals d needs more help.
#14
Khalil Mack
81/100- College
- Buffalo
- Jersey
- 52
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 269
- Experience (years)
- 13
Holds NCAA record for most tackles for loss (75).
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
3 sacks and 3.5 tfl, a sack and 2 tfl last week. old but the one good thing on a 0-4 team
#15
CJ Allen
78/100- College
- Georgia
- Jersey
- 53
- Height (in)
- 72
- Weight (lb)
- 230
- Experience (years)
- 0
Drafted 53rd overall by Colts in 2026.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Allen is an early investment in the middle of the defense. The PUP start only delayed camp work, not the long-term plan. He has the pedigree of a Georgia defender and the Colts clearly drafted him to bring energy, communication and range to the linebacker room.
Strengths: High-end college program background, youth, competitiveness and a draft investment that signals real upside. He has the profile to grow into a leadership role.
Weaknesses: He is still a rookie and missed early camp time on PUP. He must learn pro communication, route concepts and the physical demands of taking on NFL blockers.
#16
Rueben Bain Jr.
78/100- College
- Miami
- Jersey
- 3
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 270
- Experience (years)
- 0
Tampa Bay used 15th overall pick on him in 2026.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Bain is the rare rookie who arrives with a real starting job and an NFL-ready power profile. He plays violently, has a genuine rush plan and should benefit from Tampa's deeper interior keeping blockers from sliding freely.
Strengths: 83-pressure college season, first-round talent, starting role, powerful hands, relentlessness, and varied rush moves.
Weaknesses: Rookie edge players still need to adapt to NFL tackles and the longer season, despite the immediate opportunity.
#17
Nik Bonitto
78/100- College
- Oklahoma
- Jersey
- 15
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 240
- Experience (years)
- 5
Named the inaugural Hispanic Professional Football POY by the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame in 2026.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
1 sack in 2 games for a guy rated that high. broncos are 2-1 but the pass rush has been quiet from him.
#18
Akeem Davis-Gaither
78/100- College
- App State
- Jersey
- 51
- Height (in)
- 74
- Weight (lb)
- 238
- Experience (years)
- 7
Fourth-round pick of Bengals in 2020.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
29 tackles and 2.5 tfl. colts defense relies on him. questionable tho.
#19
Devin Lloyd
78/100- College
- Utah
- Jersey
- 55
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 235
- Experience (years)
- 5
Parents both served in the Navy.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
9 tackles last week, 31 on the year with 2 picks and 3 pass breakups. best year of his career, 2-2 team
#20
DeMarvion Overshown
78/100- College
- Texas
- Jersey
- 0
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 230
- Experience (years)
- 4
Played in 39 games over five years at Texas.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Overshown is a centerpiece of the Cowboys’ vision for a faster, more physical linebacker group. The staff’s praise for his energy matters because this defense needs him to bring both range and a tone-setting presence.
Strengths: Starting role, contagious energy and all-around linebacker potential.
Weaknesses: A four-player linebacker room creates a heavy responsibility for staying healthy and consistent.
#21
Edgerrin Cooper
77/100- College
- Texas A&M
- Jersey
- 56
- Height (in)
- 74
- Weight (lb)
- 229
- Experience (years)
- 3
Had an interception as a rookie for Packers in 2024.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
5.5 tfl, 3 sacks and 30 tackles, a sack and a pick last week. best young lb in the game and its not close
#22
Jonathon Cooper
77/100- College
- Ohio State
- Jersey
- 0
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 257
- Experience (years)
- 6
Fell to seventh round of 2021 NFL Draft due to heart complications.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Cooper has already shown he can be a legitimate complementary rusher. When available, his effort and pressure game make Denver's edge rotation much harder to manage.
Strengths: Pass-rush production, motor, pursuit, experience and complementary edge play.
Weaknesses: Current availability is uncertain, and he is less dominant than Bonitto as a primary closer.
#23
Alex Highsmith
77/100- College
- Charlotte
- Jersey
- 56
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 242
- Experience (years)
- 7
Led NFL in forced fumbles during 2022 season.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
3 sacks in 2 games. him and Watt are terrorizing qbs. steelers are 2-1.
#24
Robert Spillane
77/100- College
- Western Michigan
- Jersey
- 14
- Height (in)
- 73
- Weight (lb)
- 234
- Experience (years)
- 8
Grandfather is Johnny Lattner, 1953 Heisman winner.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
8 tackles and a forced fumble last week, 29 on the year. steady, team is 2-2
#25
Dorian Williams
77/100- College
- Tulane
- Jersey
- 42
- Height (in)
- 73
- Weight (lb)
- 228
- Experience (years)
- 4
Drafted in third round by Bills in 2023 out of Tulane.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
24 tackles and 3.5 tfl, bills are 3-0 and he's making plays all over.
#26
Jihaad Campbell
76/100- College
- Alabama
- Jersey
- 11
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 235
- Experience (years)
- 2
Drafted with No. 31 pick by Eagles in 2025.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
28 tackles and a sack for a young guy. knee is limited tho. eagles have a player.
#27
Patrick Jones II
76/100- College
- Pittsburgh
- Jersey
- 91
- Height (in)
- 76
- Weight (lb)
- 264
- Experience (years)
- 6
Drafted in third round by Vikings in 2021.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Jones is a useful chess piece because he can move inside and give the rush a sturdier passing-down look. Staying healthy is the first task; the position flexibility makes him more than a simple edge reserve.
Strengths: Inside-outside pass-rush flexibility, initial-53 role, veteran experience, and passing-down utility.
Weaknesses: Coming off a season-ending 2025 injury and needs to rebuild a full-season workload.
#28
Alex Singleton
76/100- College
- Montana State
- Jersey
- 49
- Height (in)
- 74
- Weight (lb)
- 240
- Experience (years)
- 8
Had distinguished CFL career.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
47 tackles in 4 games and 14 last week. he's a tackle machine and probably leads the league, the team is 2-2
#29
Jonathan Greenard
75/100- College
- Florida
- Jersey
- 52
- Height (in)
- 75
- Weight (lb)
- 263
- Experience (years)
- 7
Had 24.5 combined sacks over the 2023-24 seasons.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Greenard gives the Eagles a veteran rush option in a rotation that should stay fresh. His value is bringing a professional pass-rush plan and helping the younger edges avoid being overexposed too soon.
Strengths: Veteran edge experience, rotational pass-rush value and depth-chart fit.
Weaknesses: Must mesh with a new front and share snaps with several capable rushers.
#30
Daiyan Henley
75/100- College
- Washington State
- Jersey
- 0
- Height (in)
- 72
- Weight (lb)
- 225
- Experience (years)
- 4
Drafted 85th overall by Chargers in 2023.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Henley has become the heartbeat of the linebacker room. He can chase, blitz, cover and finish tackles, which is why the 2025 line has so many different kinds of production. The tackle total dipped from 2024 only because the standard was absurdly high. If he keeps improving his reads, he is one of the defense’s building blocks.
Strengths: High-end pursuit, three-down versatility, tackling production, blitz value and growing coverage instincts. He impacts the game in more ways than a classic run-and-hit linebacker.
Weaknesses: His aggressive pursuit can occasionally leave space behind him, and he must keep refining route recognition against sophisticated play action. Maintaining elite production under heavier offensive focus is the next test.
#31
Mack Wilson Sr.
74/100- College
- Alabama
- Jersey
- 1
- Height (in)
- 73
- Weight (lb)
- 240
- Experience (years)
- 8
Drafted by Browns in fifth round of 2019 NFL Draft.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
28 tackles, 3.5 tfl and a forced fumble. fine, team is 1-3 so it's cleanup
#32
Terrel Bernard
73/100- College
- Baylor
- Jersey
- 8
- Height (in)
- 73
- Weight (lb)
- 224
- Experience (years)
- 5
Drafted 89th overall by the Bills in 2022.
Full player profile and scouting reports →Latest scouting report
Bernard is the heartbeat of Buffalo's inside linebacker group: smart, urgent and trusted to set the tone. The defense needs his leadership, but it also needs him healthy for all seventeen games.
Strengths: Leadership, communication, instincts, tackling and defensive command.
Weaknesses: Recent availability issues required a cautious ramp-up and create a health question.
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