Final 2026 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings: It’s a special group up top but there’s plenty of starters to be found throughout.
Kyle Crabbs’ final 2026 NFL Draft linebacker rankings showcase a group with some special options up top and plentiful options to serve as starters throughout.
The 2026 NFL Draft is here. This final sprint to Thursday night has brought me, personally, a ton of enjoyment as these position rankings have finalized. Boards across the league are set. Misinformation campaigns are running rampant. It’s a beautiful time of year. But it’s also a beautiful time to need an off-ball linebacker. This class is full of them.
Here are my 2026 NFL Draft linebacker rankings in full.
Kyle Crabbs’ Final 2026 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings
1. Sonny Styles, Ohio State Buckeyes: 88.50/100 (Top 10 Overall Grade)
Styles is my top-rated player in the 2026 NFL Draft. I refused to, as Daniel Jeremiah put it, “get bored with good players” down the stretch. Styles has the ability to be a special, special talent. All the best defenses in the NFL have some freakish second-level defender at linebacker to bridge the front to a stressed back end. I believe Sonny is next in line to be exactly that kind of field-tilting talent.
2. Arvell Reese, Ohio State Buckeyes: 84.00/100 (First Round Grade)
The floor here is a very good off-ball linebacker. Perhaps you fancy yourself Arvell Reese: the pass rusher. I totally get it if you assume he’s going to be an EDGE defender. That projection will make some feel better about the prospect of drafting him in the first few picks this year. He does have a stellar foundation to build upon as a pass rusher. There’s no questioning that. But I see a guy who filters plays, fits gaps, and deconstructs blocks like a true starting off-ball linebacker, too.
3. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas Longhorns: 80.50/100 (Early Second Round Value)
I really like Anthony Hill Jr’s game. He is long, explosive, and a consistent playmaker. I appreciate the trust he shows in his speed and range, too — it helps him to make consistent decisions and avoid getting suckered out of position by misdirection. He’s got passing down value as both a coverage option and blitzer to warrant a true every-down role in the NFL, too.
4. CJ Allen, Georgia Bulldogs: 80.00/100 (Early Second Round Value)
It was a big win for Allen to come out at his workout and run under 4.50s in the 40 yard dash. I saw some pop on film but I didn’t necessarily see THAT. The best things I’ve heard about Allen throughout the pre-draft process tie to his processing. He was, apparently, a glorified coach on the field and handled the rigors of a complex playbook with ease. Teams will love a proverbial quarterback of the defense and he’s one in this year’s 2026 NFL Draft.
The Rest Of The Top-100
| 5. | Jake Golday | Cincinnati | 78.50 (RD2) |
| 6. | Josiah Trotter | Missouri | 78.00 (RD2) |
| 7. | Jacob Rodriguez | Texas Tech | 76.00 (RD3) |
| 8. | Jaishawn Barham | Michigan | 74.00 (RD3) |
Golday is a player you need a plan with, but he’s got a pretty unique blend of size, striking ability, and coverage experience. I’m a huge fan of the upside and downhill ability of Josiah Trotter, who is the son of a long-time NFL vet. Rodriguez is a good athlete with awesome production in 2025; with some buzz that he may even predictively sneak into the first round. And then there’s Jaishawn Barham, the most fun player you’ll watch on tape for the 2026 NFL Draft. Barham moved up to play some on the edge and I think that’s where his future is — but the off-ball experience offers a valuable second pathway to playing time.
The Best Of The Rest
| 9. | Keyshaun Elliott | Arizona State | 72.00 (RD4) |
| 10. | Kaleb Elarms-Orr | TCU | 72.00 (RD4) |
| 11. | Harold Perkins Jr. | LSU | 71.50 (RD5) |
| 12. | Deontae Lawson | Alabama | 71.00 (RD5) |
| 13. | Bryce Boettcher | Oregon | 69.50 (RD6) |
| 14. | Jimmy Rolder | Michigan | 69.50 (RD6) |
| 15. | Justin Jefferson | Alabama | 69.00 (RD6) |
| 16. | Eric Gentry | USC | 69.00 (RD6) |
| 17. | Red Murdock | Buffalo | 69.00 (RD6) |
| 18. | Taurean York | Texas A&M | 69.00 (RD6) |
| 19. | Wade Woodaz | Clemson | 68.50 (RD7) |
| 20. | Jack Kelly | BYU | 68.00 (RD7) |
| 21. | Jaden Dugger | Louisiana | 68.00 (RD7) |
| 22. | Xavian Sorey Jr. | Arkansas | 67.50 (UDFA) |
| 23. | Wesley Bissainthe | Miami | 67.50 (UDFA) |
| 24. | Aiden Fisher | Indiana | 67.50 (UDFA) |
| 25. | West Weeks | LSU | 67.00 (UDFA) |
| 26. | Lander Barton | Utah | 67.00 (UDFA) |
There are some really fascinating later options in this year’s class. Jimmy Rolder (Michigan) has a strong special teams floor and seemingly has upside to grow into a defensive role. Keyshaun Elliott from Arizona State feels like a scheme-specific starter, while I think TCU’s Kaleb Elarms-Orr could be a true special teams demon and, with the right coach, a starting WILL. Beyond the fourth-round bucket, I’m looking predominantly at which guys profile the best on special teams or, alternatively, which ones have valuable context to their journeys that indicates that there could be some developmental upside. I like Wade Woodaz (Clemson) for the former with nearly 700 career special teams snaps. Jaden Dugger (Louisiana) is the latter as a smaller school developmental target with great physical gifts.
NFL Draft