2026 NFL Draft · Linebacker
2026 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings
All 40 ranked linebackers in the 2026 class, with where each was drafted and how the position moved.
How the linebacker group broke
We ranked 40 linebackers in the 2026 class. 22 were drafted: 1 in the first round, 5 across Day 2, and 16 on Day 3. 18 went undrafted entirely.
The first linebacker off the board was Sonny Styles at No. 7 to Commanders, out of Ohio State, our 1st-ranked linebacker.
Where the tiers broke
Tiers are easier to see after the fact than before it. The clearest way to find them is the longest stretches where nobody took one, which mark where the league collectively decided the quality had stepped down.
- 58 picks passed between Anthony Hill Jr. at No. 60 and Jimmy Rolder at No. 118.
- 36 picks passed between Sonny Styles at No. 7 and Jacob Rodriguez at No. 43.
- 19 picks passed between Jack Kelly at No. 193 and Namdi Obiazor at No. 212.
2026 Linebacker rankings
Ranked within the position. Overall rank is the player's slot on the 2026 consensus big board.
| LB Rank | Player | School | Overall | Pick | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB1 | Sonny Styles | Ohio State | 5 | 7 | Commanders |
| LB2 | CJ Allen | Georgia | 31 | 53 | Colts |
| LB3 | Anthony Hill Jr. | Texas | 47 | 60 | Titans |
| LB4 | Jake Golday | Cincinnati | 49 | 51 | Vikings |
| LB5 | Jacob Rodriguez | Texas Tech | 53 | 43 | Dolphins |
| LB6 | Josiah Trotter | Missouri | 56 | 46 | Buccaneers |
| LB7 | Kyle Louis | Pittsburgh | 84 | 138 | Dolphins |
| LB8 | Deontae Lawson | Alabama | 115 | Undrafted | - |
| LB9 | Bryce Boettcher | Oregon | 137 | 135 | Colts |
| LB10 | Harold Perkins Jr. | LSU | 150 | 215 | Falcons |
| LB11 | Taurean York | Texas A&M | 153 | Undrafted | - |
| LB12 | Keyshaun Elliott | Arizona State | 167 | 166 | Bears |
| LB13 | Kaleb Elarms-Orr | TCU | 179 | 126 | Bills |
| LB14 | Aiden Fisher | Indiana | 183 | 243 | Texans |
| LB15 | Lander Barton | Utah | 189 | Undrafted | - |
| LB16 | Jimmy Rolder | Michigan | 211 | 118 | Lions |
| LB17 | Justin Jefferson | Alabama | 225 | 149 | Browns |
| LB18 | Red Murdock | Buffalo | 228 | 257 | Broncos |
| LB19 | Owen Heinecke | Oklahoma | 241 | Undrafted | - |
| LB20 | Jack Kelly | BYU | 253 | 193 | Giants |
| LB21 | Jack Dingle | Cincinnati | 272 | Undrafted | - |
| LB22 | Eric Gentry | USC | 274 | Undrafted | - |
| LB23 | Scooby Williams | Texas A&M | 281 | Undrafted | - |
| LB24 | Wade Woodaz | Clemson | 285 | 123 | Texans |
| LB25 | Xavian Sorey Jr. | Arkansas | 296 | Undrafted | - |
| LB26 | Namdi Obiazor | TCU | 298 | 212 | Patriots |
| LB27 | Wesley Bissainthe | Miami | 304 | Undrafted | - |
| LB28 | Kendal Daniels | Oklahoma | 327 | 134 | Falcons |
| LB29 | Jaden Dugger | Louisiana | 343 | 154 | 49ers |
| LB30 | Erick Hunter | Morgan State | 352 | Undrafted | - |
| LB31 | Shad Banks Jr. | UTSA | 397 | Undrafted | - |
| LB32 | Dylan Hazen | Wake Forest | 400 | Undrafted | - |
| LB33 | Sam Brumfield | Memphis | 402 | Undrafted | - |
| LB34 | Desmond Purnell | Kansas State | 419 | Undrafted | - |
| LB35 | Karson Sharar | Iowa | 423 | 183 | Cardinals |
| LB36 | Alex Afari Jr. | Kentucky | 425 | Undrafted | - |
| LB37 | Jackson Kuwatch | Miami (OH) | 435 | 227 | Panthers |
| LB38 | Caden Fordham | NC State | 445 | Undrafted | - |
| LB39 | Declan Williams | Incarnate Word | 446 | Undrafted | - |
| LB40 | West Weeks | LSU | 447 | Undrafted | - |
More on this position
How the draft market prices linebackers: the evergreen breakdown of positional value, evaluation criteria and the failure mode that recurs here.
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