The sample size for Bethune is small with just nine starts in two seasons. Also, there's the question of how healthy he is after tearing a groin right before the playoffs. But the 2024 seventh-round pick did show some impressive speed and movement skills to beat offensive linemen to the spot and/or make them miss with a shoulder dip move against the run. However, his eyes in coverage need a lot of work before he's able to be a full-time starting linebacker. On top of getting healthy, of course.

While Jackson has been in the NFL since 2022, he didn't get much playing time defensively until last season. That shows up in his instincts, as that's his biggest area of improvement heading into a campaign where the former fifth-round pick has a chance to earn a role on Chicago's defense as the defense's third linebacker.

Speed is a decent downhill linebacker against the run. He has decent instincts and good acceleration to shoot gaps, and he's fairly physical when taking on blocks. However, the seven-year pro has issues playing and tackling in space, making it difficult to make an impact in coverage and be an every-down linebacker.

Roberts is a true downhill linebacker who brings an old-school style to the position, looking to destroy blocks and running backs in the gap. But his skill set is stuck in the 1980s to early 2000s, as he can't be trusted in coverage and thus, shouldn't be relied upon as an every-down backer like the Las Vegas Raiders tried to do last season. The 10-year veteran has had productive years as a pass-rusher, though, topping out at 4.5 sacks in 2022.

Kendricks is certainly at the end of his career, spending the majority of last season as a free agent before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in late November and playing in just five games, including playoffs. The 34-year-old is teamless again, but he is someone to keep tabs on if a contender has a linebacker go down and/or needs someone to help stop the run.