2026 NFL Draft linebacker rankings
In the era of position-versatile athletes and defensive schemes that have to adapt to stop anything the offense can throw their way, the linebacker position has evolved. The bruising run-stuffers in the mold of Levon Kirkland are gone, and in are the new-wave types that almost look like big safeties more than traditional linebackers. That shows up in this year’s NFL Draft class, which is a great group of athletes who were productive in college.
Here are our top linebackers in this year’s NFL draft class: MORE: 5 Bold predictions for 2026 NFL Draft 1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State Reese is one of the best all-around football players in this draft, and he has a lot of Abdul Carter and Micah Parsons in him. He can be deployed as an edge rusher, but can also play off-ball, and he’s proficient at both stuffing the run and dropping into zone coverage.
He’s a versatile defensive weapon that any team would be eager to add. 2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (LB25) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Simply put, Sonny Styles is the modern prototype for an NFL linebacker. He’s 6’5”, 246 pounds, and runs a 4.
46 40-yard dash, which is an incredible combination of size and speed. He was originally recruited to the Buckeyes as a safety, and those instincts show up in his zone drops and ability to read the QB while in coverage. 3.