Ranking 11 linebackers in the 2026 NFL Draft

COLUMBIA, MO - AUGUST 28: Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) yells to celebrate a stop on third down in the first quarter of a college football game between the Central Arkansas Bears and Missouri Tigers on August 28, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It's NFL Draft Season! Before you read, some important context...

I've ranked these players based on the Eagles' needs and scheme fit. So while I may rate player X' higher than player Y' on pure talent, Y' could rank higher here due to fit or need. Focus more on tiers than exact order. Players in the same tier have similar grades, with minimal separation. I may note injury or off-field concerns, but they aren't factored into rankings that often due to limited information. If a player isn't listed, I haven't evaluated them yet. I'll try to get to as many prospects as possible.

You can find more on my podcast, and I'll be releasing some videos on these prospects over onPatreon.

Linebacker

The Eagles have very little need at linebacker.Zack BaunandJihad Campbellare locked in as the starters, andJeremiah Trotter Jr.looks good enough to hold down the LB3 role. If the Eagles do add a linebacker, it will be to compete with Trotter andMondonfor the LB3 and LB4 spots. It will be about depth and competition rather than addressing a hole.

One profile worth keeping an eye on is thehybrid linebacker/edge rusher. There are some intriguing players in this class who can play off-ball but also bring pass-rush upside, and given the Eagles' need at edge, a player who can do both gives the coaching staff flexibility. Beyond that, any linebacker addition this year is very much a luxury pick and the kind of value selection that only makes sense if the right player falls to the right round.

Tier 1: Top 10

1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Overall: A rare hybrid front-seven athlete whose speed, burst, and pass-rush upside give him Micah Parsons-style deployment flexibility. One of the most exciting defensive prospects in the entire class.

Eagles Thoughts: He should go top 5 overall, so this won't happen.

2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State

Overall: A high-end athlete with the size and movement skills to anchor a defense as a modern three-down linebacker. The combination of range, coverage ability, and physicality makes him a Day 1 starter at the next level.

Eagles Thoughts: Not a chance in hell. Another elite talent who will be long gone before the Eagles are anywhere near selecting.

Tier 2: Round 1

3. CJ Allen, Georgia

Overall: A physical, downhill linebacker whose tackling and run defense make him a reliable three-down presence. Allen hits as hard as anyone in this class and plays with consistent aggression at the point of attack.

Eagles Thoughts: Allen will likely go around pick 23, but the Eagles aren't taking a linebacker in back-to-back first rounds. Even if the value was there, the positional need just isn't.

Tier 3: Rounds 2-3

4. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Overall: An ultra-productive, instinctual linebacker whose leadership and all-around play are consistently strong. The concern is that he lacks the size and athleticism to truly dominate at the next level.

Eagles Thoughts: I like Rodriguez a lot, but I expect him to go inside the top 50, and the Eagles won't be shopping for a linebacker that early.

5. Josiah Trotter, Missouri

Overall: A physical, instinctive linebacker whose toughness and tackling reflect a traditional downhill profile. There are some coverage limitations that will need addressing, but his run-defending instincts are reliable.

Eagles Thoughts: I loved the last Trotter coming out of college, and I'm glad he's still on the Eagles. They can't add another one, right? Jokes aside, I do like Josiah, and having both Trotters on the roster would be cool. But I can't see the Eagles drafting him at the round he ends up going in.

Tier 4: Round 3

6. Jake Golday, Cincinnati

Overall: A hybrid EDGE-linebacker who played as an overhang defender in college. His size and pass-rush traits give him unique versatility as a front-seven chess piece, but he processes information slowly and has a lot of work to do before he's ready to contribute at the next level.

Eagles Thoughts: The Eagles would appreciate a player with Golday's profile. A versatile EDGE/LB hybrid is exactly the kind of chess piece this defense values. The slow processing is the real concern. I'd be interested in the third round as a developmental weapon, but not a pick earlier.

7. Anthony Hill Jr, Texas

Overall: A fascinating sideline-to-sideline linebacker whose size, athleticism, and versatility make him an intriguing option despite some clear issues. The ability to rush from the edge alongside his off-ball skills gives him genuine two-way value.

Eagles Thoughts: I can't see the Eagles looking at a linebacker on Day 2, but Hill becomes a legitimate option if he's still around in the third round, as the ability to rush off the edge as well as play off-ball is exactly the hybrid profile worth targeting.

8. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

Overall: A fluid, athletic coverage linebacker whose movement skills and flexibility project well into modern defensive schemes. He struggles coming downhill and will be a liability against the run unless he improves. He looks so slight at times that he could even end up transitioning to safety at the next level.

Eagles Thoughts: Howie Roseman has liked the safety/linebacker tweener profile in the past. Louis is a very interesting player, and a smart defensive mind could find creative ways to deploy him, but he isn't a full-time player at this stage. I'd be very interested in the third round as a chess piece, though the bust potential is high.

Tier 5: Rounds 3+

9. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State

Overall: A smart linebacker whose size, tackling, and run-game presence make him a solid traditional early-down defender. His upside may be limited by his athleticism, but the intelligence and reliability are consistent strengths on the tape.

Eagles Thoughts: I really like Elliott as a player, but I expect him to go on Day 2, and I doubt the Eagles are looking at a linebacker that early, given the coverage limitations. He's a fun player who would be a great value on Day 3.

10. Deontae Lawson, Alabama

Overall: A very light, fast, rangy linebacker whose coverage ability and athleticism give him some upside, but his size means he simply cannot be a full-time player at the next level. A coverage specialist who needs a specific role.

Eagles Thoughts: The processing concerns and the size limitations together are too much for me to get excited. There are interesting speed and coverage traits, but he shouldn't be a Day 2 player for the Eagles.

11. Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU

Overall: An explosive, speedy linebacker whose elite testing profile highlights his upside, but there is a lot of work to do before he can translate that athleticism into consistent NFL-level play. The processing needs significant development.

Eagles Thoughts: I'd be surprised if the Eagles target him, but if they want a speedy linebacker for depth, Elarms-Orr is an interesting Day 3 option. The processing needs a lot of work before he can be trusted on the field.

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