As an off-ball linebacker/edge defender hybrid, Luvu is at his best when attacking downhill. He can shoot gaps in the running game and brings some force to defeat blocks, and he's one of the best blitzers in the league when it comes to getting pressure on the quarterback. Just don't ask or expect the 2024 second-team All-Pro to move backward or laterally.

Speed is the root of Williams' game. Against the run, he has impressive sideline-to-sideline range and can close on ball carriers in a hurry when shooting gaps. That shows up in coverage too, on top of his overall athleticism to make plays on the ball in the air to account for 21 passes defended over the last three seasons. However, the 5'11", 225-pound linebacker's lack of size shows up and limits him in both phases of the game. Also, on several occasions last season, he got caught overplaying his leverage and gave up a good amount of yards in coverage.

Barnes is another hybrid edge defender/off-ball linebacker, which shows in his ability to defend the run. He's strong and physical at the point of attack to defeat blocks at the point of attack, a fading art on the second level in many modern defenses. But the five-year veteran isn't a good space player to be effective in coverage and is more of a solid than good pass-rusher, limiting his ability to impact the passing game.

Wilson has had an up-and-down career to this point, bouncing back and forth between being a starter and more of a rotational player. But he seems to have found a home and a place where he can be a first-stringer in Arizona. By no means is the Cardinal a game-changer, but he's at least a functional starter in both phases of the game. Also, Wilson may have some untapped potential as a blitzer. He only rushed the passer 25 times last season, but managed to record seven pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, and the majority of them were quality wins.

Thomas burst onto the scene around the midway point of last season, showcasing impressive instincts and movement skills to shoot gaps and slip blocks in the running game. He's also decent at click and closing and recorded eight passes defended in coverage, on top of being an effective blitzer with 3.5 sacks. The 6'0", 223-pound former undrafted free agent lacks size and notoriety, but Thomas will really start making a name for himself with another strong campaign in 2026.

It will be interesting to see how Campbell builds on a solid rookie season. He played well enough that the Eagles felt comfortable letting Nakobe Dean walk in free agency, likely elevating the second-year pro into a full-time starting role moving forward. Athletically, there's a lot to like about Campbell's game, both as a run defender and in coverage. But while he showed flashes of good instincts against the run last year, he still has room for improvement in that area, and his route recognition and awareness in coverage must improve.

Bernard suffered a handful of injuries in 2025, and it clearly affected his performance on the field. Movement skills have always been at the root of his game, but the 2022 third-round pick's short-area quickness and change of direction weren't the same last year. He can be a quality coverage linebacker when healthy, but now it's a question of whether Bernard can return to form this season and beyond.

Singleton has become a polarizing player in Denver, and it's because of his skill set. The Broncos use the 32-year-old as an every-down linebacker, and he is a good run defender with the instincts to be in the correct spot consistently, and he has some thud when coming downhill. However, Singleton is a liability in coverage, lacking the athleticism and short-area quickness to make plays on the ball or stay in phase in man coverage, and the awareness to be trusted to fulfill his assignment.

McFadden is a difficult player to project for the 2026 season since a Lisfranc injury cost him almost the entire 2025 campaign. Also, New York spent a top-five pick on linebacker Arvell Reese, presumptively, to play alongside free-agent signing Termaine Edmunds, clouding the four-year Giant's role on the defense this season. At his best, McFadden is a good tackler in both phases of the game and a reliable defender in the middle of the field. On a one-year contract, the 26-year-old could be a good trade candidate if he proves to be healthy early on this summer and fall.

After struggling a bit as a rookie, To'oTo'o has done a lot of growing over the last two years. He's become a good downhill linebacker who can shoot gaps when the lane opens in front of him or be effective at clicking and closing in coverage. The 2023 fifth-round pick was also an impressive pass-rusher last season. However, it's bad news when To'oTo'o has to move laterally or turn and run, as he's still working on his movement skills in space.

Davis is getting up there, but is still playing at a fairly high level. The 37-year-old is more of a downhill linebacker at this stage, but his veteran instincts allow him to be a factor against the run, and he still has some pop behind his pads. The passing game is where Davis' age starts to show, as he's pretty average in that department.

Tranquill is a true downhill linebacker in both phases of the game. Against the run, when the gap opens in front of him, he's quick to attack it and can make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. In coverage, he has the speed and acceleration to be effective at clicking and closing. However, the seven-year veteran is tight-hipped and struggles to move laterally or change directions, impacting his ability to mirror running backs and make plays on the ball in coverage.

After flaming out in Las Vegas, Deablo signed with Atlanta last offseason and had a career year. One discernible difference in his play was his instincts against the run, as the former Raider was constantly in the right spot to make tackles for short gains with the Falcons. Also, the college safety finally put it together in coverage on the second level, posting a career high seven passes defended after registering just six in the first four years of his career combined. However, he is still susceptible to the occasional coverage lapse. It will be interesting to see if Deablo can build on a strong campaign and continue to grow in Atlanta.

Chenal makes his impact as an off-ball linebacker against the run and as a pass-rusher off the edge, fitting the description of a modern hybrid linebacker. However, when asked to drop in coverage, he often looks uncomfortable, struggling to recognize route concepts and with his angles in space.

McDuffie is a key special teamer for the Packers, and that shows up in his linebacker play. Against the run, he flows to the perimeter well and has the bend and athleticism to work around blocks and get back in a position to make a tackle when shooting downhill. In coverage, the five-year veteran operates well in space to click and close, and he's a sure tackler overall. McDuffie just isn't great at stacking and shedding, and doesn't make many plays on the ball.

Walker might be the most frustrating linebacker in the NFL. At 6'4" and 241 pounds with a 9.63 Relative Athletic Score coming out of Georgia, the former Bulldog has the size, strength and athleticism to be a well-rounded backer. Those traits show up in spurts to at least show that he's a starting-caliber player, but the consistency isn't there yet, and it's because he's still figuring out the mental aspect of the position, especially in coverage.

Sherwood is a really good athlete who uses his movement skills to make working around blocks work, and he's quick to read screens or throws to the flat to post back-to-back seasons with more than 150 tackles. However, the five-year pro's instincts and awareness in coverage overall is subpar, negating a good portion of his athletic skills in coverage.

At this point, Edwards will likely never become a Pro Bowl-caliber player. But he is a solid all-around linebacker that just about every NFL defense could use. The former undrafted free agent has established himself as a starter in the league with his combination of instincts, athleticism and toughness in both phases of the game.

Barton is one of the most consistent tacklers among NFL linebackers, as he rarely misses. Against the run, he has the instincts to sift through the trash and make plays near the line of scrimmage, but struggles to take on and disengage from blocks. In coverage, the seven-year veteran has good ball skills with eight interceptions and 23 passes defended over the last three seasons. But he isn't comfortable operating in space to be used outside of being a low-hole defender.

Queen is still a highly athletic linebacker, but he regressed significantly in coverage last season, getting caught with bad eyes in zone coverage and being manipulated by quarterbacks to be out-leveraged. He also had a big spike in missed tackles to cap off a down year. The two-time Pro Bowler still gets the benefit of the doubt, but make no mistake about it, he needs to have a bounce-back performance in 2026.

It feels like Edmunds has fallen short of the expectations surrounding him as a draft prospect, but he's still a decent starting linebacker. The Virginia Tech product has always been an exceptional athlete, which helps him in both phases of the game but especially in coverage. His ball skills stand out with nine interceptions and 24 passes defended over three seasons with the Bears.