Continuing our look at the top positional groups across the NFL, we turn to linebackers.
The definition of the position has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Linebackers remain the most prominent tacklers on the field, but the job now demands a versatility that simply wasn't required before. Pass defense, whether as a rusher or in coverage, is arguably more valued than run-stopping in today's NFL.
The best linebacking groups still anchor around a strong middle linebacker. Tackling will always matter, and a backer who can command the defense from the middle of the field will always carry premium value. Here is where the top five units stand.
5. Washington Commanders: Odafe Oweh, Leo Chenal, Sonny Styles, K'Lavon Chaisson
The Commanders overhauled their linebacker room this offseason, bringing in three free agents and spending a top-10 pick to shore up a struggling defense.
Oweh and Chaisson bring meaningfully different skill sets off the edge. Oweh is a classic pass rusher, coming off a stint with the Chargers after several years in Baltimore. Chaisson is a reliable run defender and edge setter who should keep ball carriers from getting to the outside. Leo Chenal steps into the middle after Bobby Wagner's departure, and should play fast in that role after bouncing between inside and outside in Kansas City.
The wildcard is Sonny Styles. The rookie athletic phenom will look to make an immediate mark as a starter, and if he plays to his potential early, this corps could come together faster than most expect.
4. Baltimore Ravens: Tavius Robinson, Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan, Trey Hendrickson, Trenton Simpson, Mike Green
The Ravens have built an interesting blend of veteran leadership and young depth at the position.
Roquan Smith remains a reliable presence in the middle, though he has lost a step as he approaches 30. Hendrickson provides the pass rush Baltimore wanted when it pursued Maxx Crosby, but at 31 with an injury history, counting on him for a full season carries risk.
The youth behind them makes that risk more manageable. Trenton Simpson is a fast downhill tackler, and Buchanan had a strong rookie year, tallying 93 combined tackles, a forced fumble and an interception across 14 games. Mike Green is the most intriguing name in the group. His 3.5 rookie sacks won't generate much attention, but 19 pressures on just 23 blitzes, alongside 41 combined tackles in a limited starting role, suggests there's more coming. The mix of established leadership and ascending young talent gives this defense a nice runway.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: TJ Watt, Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Alex Highsmith
55 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions. That was TJ Watt's output across 14 games in 2025, a down year by his standards. Writing him off on that alone would be a mistake.
Watt still commands attention from every offensive coordinator he faces, altering schemes before the snap just by lining up. Highsmith gives the Steelers a legitimate second threat off the edge, posting 9.5 sacks in just 11 games last season despite ongoing injury concerns.
Queen and Wilson are a combined tackle machine, each surpassing 100 last year. Both are stout against the run, though neither is at his best dropping into coverage. As long as Watt is healthy and coming off the edge, Pittsburgh belongs on this list.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Jonathan Greenard, Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Howie Roseman draws praise for what he has built at offensive line, wide receiver and in the secondary. What he has quietly assembled at linebacker may be the least discussed and most impressive positional group on the roster.
Zack Baun remains the centerpiece, and is a legitimate diamond-in-the-rough story, moving from part-time defensive lineman in New Orleans to full-time starter and All-Pro in Philadelphia. Jihaad Campbell is still developing but showed real promise in 2025 and has the tools to become a full-time starter with a serious run game impact. Greenard was a draft-day steal out of Minnesota, acquired for a pair of third-rounders, and his presence off the edge could unlock something in Nolan Smith Jr., who has been good without quite being great. Hunt and Trotter round out a group with coverage at every level.
1. Green Bay Packers: Lukas Van Ness, Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons is an all-world pass rusher with positional versatility that few defenders in the league can match. Setting aside his recent podcast commentary, there isn't much to criticize about his game. He is not projected to be ready for Week 1, but a Week 3 or 4 return makes him relevant enough to factor in here.
A year after trading for Parsons, Green Bay added Zaire Franklin, who spent several years quietly stacking tackles in Indianapolis. Franklin is the physical, communicative middle linebacker every defense wants: a green-dot leader who can run a defense from the field. Cooper comes in off a 118-tackle season in 2025 and enters year three with growing expectations. Van Ness has not developed at the pace Green Bay hoped, but landing Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round could render that a secondary concern.
Any linebacking corps with Parsons healthy is the one to beat until someone proves otherwise.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
