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At the very top, the 2026 NFL Draft class is shaped by defensive talent, particularly a good group of edge defenders and a nice crop of wide receivers and cornerbacks that occupy a significant share of the top 50.
Overall, this class blends blue-chip defensive playmakers, a deep perimeter talent pool and a more meaningful cluster of quarterbacks worthy of early consideration than last cycle.
For the full ranking of draft prospects — including three-year player grades and position rankings — click here. And if you want to go hands-on with the class, check out the PFF Big Board Builder to create your own rankings or fire up the PFF Mock Draft Simulator to run full mock drafts in seconds.
Editor’s note: The analysis included here comes from Trevor Sikkema’s preseason scouting series, while the rankings themselves have been fully updated. This analysis is provided to give readers context on how these players were viewed entering the season.
1. Arvell Reese, Ohio State Buckeyes
Big board rank: 4
Analysis coming soon!
2. Sonny Styles, Ohio State Buckeyes
Big board rank: 19
Styles looks the part of an NFL linebacker with an imposing frame, even as a converted defensive back. He has improved his run-stopping ability, thanks in part to his long wingspan, to wrap up ball carriers. As a former safety, he's fluid and moves well when dropping in coverage. The linebacker instincts are still a work in progress, but there is a good baseline for improvement. That offers him a mid-round projection heading into 2025.
3. Deontae Lawson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Big board rank: 51
Despite being a five-star recruit, it has taken Lawson some time to really develop into a player who has a legit NFL projection, but he has arrived. Before an injury that sidelined him after the Oklahoma game, 2024 was his best work in diagnosing plays and in run defense. He also naturally has good explosiveness and fluidity at a lower weight, which likely makes WILL linebacker his best spot. The weight is somewhat of a concern for the pros, but he approaches blockers (even linemen) with good, competitive toughness. He has also been the green-dot communicator for the Tide.
4. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas Longhorns
Big board rank: 54
Hill's underclassman tape is very impressive — his communication, recognition and anticipation project to a starting NFL middle linebacker. His change-of-direction fluidity and agility aren't standout traits, but his awareness makes up for that lack of a half-step. He has plus arm length and is a solid tackler, but needs more impactful plays in coverage to be a sure-fire first-rounder.
5. Taurean York, Texas A&M Aggies
Big board rank: 63
York wasn't always destined for DI stardom, but you couldn't tell that looking at his college career now. He's been a starter and quarterback of the defense since his true freshman season. He is undersized (hence his under-recruitment), but he is a fiery competitor, a very reliable tackler, nimble on his feet, and explosive toward the ball. He's a future NFL starter as a MIKE, and a player coaches will love.
6. CJ Allen, Georgia Bulldogs
Big board rank: 70
Allen is a player with a strong baseline as a MIKE linebacker. The question is: just how high is his ceiling? In 2024, he knew where to be in his place on defense, but in 2025, he could show more playmaking instincts, not just running to a spot (though that's not a bad thing at all). He's a very reliable tackler and sound in almost everything he does. His multi-position and multi-sport backgrounds from high school give him adequate all-around movement skills.
7. Whit Weeks, LSU Tigers
Big board rank: 93
Weeks is a fantastic mover for the linebacker position. His lower weight lends itself to that, but regardless, he is quick, explosive, and fluid, making him a real difference-maker in space and as a blitzer. He can dip his head when tackling and has a few misses. On top of that, he does need to gain weight to be more reliable taking on blocks and wrapping up tackles. If he can anticipate the ball a little better, he has the movement skills to be a starting WILL linebacker.
8. Jake Golday, Cincinnati Bearcats
Big board rank: 105
Analysis Coming soon!
9. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big board rank: 120
Analysis Coming soon!
10. Austin Romaine, Kansas State Wildcats
Big board rank: 137
Romaine has the heart and mind of a MIKE linebacker. He's the pre-snap communicator and leader of the Wildcats' defense. He is light on his feet and can move in any direction with haste. Romaine's top speed might not be the best, but he makes up for it with good anticipation and reaction speed. He lacks the punch at contact when taking on blockers, but does so with pride and savviness to deconstruct quickly. With a bit more muscle and anticipation, he can be a starting MIKE in the league.
11. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh Panthers
Big board rank: 157
Louis is smaller for a linebacker; he looks more like a safety. But he plays in the box with high energy and contagious tenaciousness. He can convert speed to power effectively, but if he's not making contact with momentum, he's easily pushed aside. As a WILL linebacker, he can be a good hybrid box or slot defender with some impact moments in coverage against tight ends.
12. Sammy Omosigho, Oklahoma Sooners
Big board rank: 171
Omosigho is light on experience heading into his true junior season, but there is a lot to like. His 6-foot-1 height is in the 30th percentile for a linebacker, but his size and speed combination is still very impressive. He has great hip fluidity and a good first step for all sorts of coverage responsibilities. He can also play strong as a SAM on the line of scrimmage. If he can get more snaps under his belt and continue to play well, he will carry a starting projection to the pros.
13. Harold Perkins Jr., LSU Tigers
Big board rank: 211
Perkins possesses rare athletic ability for a linebacker. He lacks the measurables and strength to be a full-time pass rusher, but his ability to win and get in the backfield is impressive, even as just as a speed rusher. Right now, he struggles to get off blocks quickly or hold anchor and thus would be best utilized as an outside linebacker or slot defender in his current state. The more space he's in, the more his gifts shine. Ideally, he would add more weight and strength, but I'm not sure that's in the cards, given that he hasn't done so already.
14. Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Big board rank: 222
Bowen has the linebacker background you love. Not only did he play multiple positions in football (LB and RB), but he also played multiple sports (football and baseball) at a scholarship level. He's a throwback, true MIKE linebacker whose best work is done between the tackles with good strength against offensive linemen and a very reliable tackling percentage. His pursuit speed and range in coverage appear to be slightly limited, but we'll see how much faster he can play moving forward. He was just an underclassman in 2024.
15. Aiden Fisher, Indiana Hoosiers
Big board rank: 230
Analysis Coming soon!
16. Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh Panthers
Big board rank: 254
Biles is a former do-it-all athlete from his high school days, playing running back, wide receiver and defensive back. He found a home at linebacker as a smaller but quicker player in Pittsburgh‘s attacking front that prioritizes his skill set. In the pros, he can succeed as a WILL linebacker or bigger slot defender in streamlined defensive lineups, but you won't want him in between the tackles too often. He can also be an ace on special teams.
17. Lander Barton, Utah Utes
Big board rank: 272
Barton has a good baseline for linebacker IQ and defensive communication as the centerpiece player. He is generally in the right position with run fits and can punch above his weight class when taking on blockers. However, his stop-and-start ability was concerning in 2024, and that was part of why his missed tackle percentage has been high. He needs to be sharper to the ball to be seen as a starting NFL linebacker.
18. Amare Campbell, Penn State Nittany Lions
Big board rank: 276
Campbell is a good presentation of where linebacker play is going: sacrificing some size to get more speed on the field. This gives him three-down versatility, especially since his missed tackle percentage was below 10% in 2024. He doesn't have much production in coverage, but his movement skills suggest he could if asked to drop into coverage more. His first step is explosive on the blitz, specifically up the middle. If your scheme is built for smaller linebackers (more beef in the front or just a more all-out attacking style), he can be a contributing player.
19. Eric Gentry, USC Trojans
Big board rank: 297
Gentry won't be for every team — there's a chance he'd be off the boards for a handful (if not half) of NFL teams, due to a 0th-percentile weight for linebacker play. But, those who are interested likely see the potential as an outside linebacker who can play EDGE or off-ball with good quickness and plus length. In an attacking defense, he can offer Day 3 value.
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