Many of the best linebackers in the NFL are the ones wearing the green dot, which essentially means that they are hearing the play-calls from the defensive coordinator and relaying that call to the rest of the defense.
It's an insanely tough position to play just for that alone, but in many instances, linebackers will also have to not only hold their own in coverage, but they also have to be competent in run defense as well. It could be the toughest position to play on an NFL defense right now if we're being honest.
We're going to power-rank the best linebackers in the NFL for the 2026 season, combining 2025 production and the total body of work from players who have been around for a while. Let's get into it. The coverage data we'll use will be from Pro Football Reference.
Power ranking the league's best linebackers for the 2026 NFL Season
10. Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans
The 2024 fourth-round pick really broke out a bit in the 2025 season for the Tennessee Titans, starting 16 games and finishing with 164 total tackles. He also added seven tackles for loss but was not a huge factor in coverage for the team.
Perhaps more of a thumper at the position, Gray's breakout season could be something the Titans see take off even more in 2026.
9. Bobby Wagner, Free Agent
Bobby Wagner isn't on a team right now, but he's played in all 17 games in each of the past four seasons. In 2025 for the Washington Commanders, Wagner again filled up the stat sheet, finishing with two interceptions, four passes defended, 4.5 sacks, 162 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits.
Wagner simply isn't a player you want in coverage at this point in his career, as he's slown down a good bit, but we can't ignore the top-tier production we're still getting from the player.
8. Demario Davis, New York Jets
Definitely in a similar boat, Demario Davis stays on the field and flat-out produces. He returned to the New York Jets this offseason and finished with 143 total tackles for the New Orleans Saints in 2025. Davis is one of the smarter players in the NFL and was, as recently as 2023, a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro.
7. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Zack Baun truly broke out for the first time back in the 2024 NFL Season for the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors that year. He followed that up with a 3.5 sack, 123-tackle, Pro Bowl season in 2025.
Baun got a lot better in coverage in 2025, as he allowed a passer rating of 64.5, which was down from an already solid 80.5 in 2024.
Playing in a Vic Fangio defense certainly helps, but Baun's production and skill is something most defenses would want.
6. Devin Bush, Chicago Bears
In year seven, Devin Bush had the best season of his career. Bush signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency after two years with the Cleveland Browns. In 2025, Bush finshed with three interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, eight passes defended, and 125 total tackles.
Bush was obviously excellent in coverage and is going to be a huge boost to the middle of the Chicago defense. He was also the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, so I guess it's not much of a shock that we're seeing Bush play some elite football.
5. Devin Lloyd, Carolina Panthers
In a contract year in 2025, Devin Lloyd showed up big-time for the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, but he departed for the Carolina Panthers in free agency. While he didn't have gaudy tackle totals, Lloyd finished with five interceptions, seven passes defended, and also added 1.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits.
Lloyd's ability in coverage did a total 180, and that's really the main thing here. In 2024, he allowed a 109.6 passer rating in coverage. In 2025, that number dipped all the way down to 57.1. This is an awesome change and allowed Lloyd to emerge as one of the very best linebackers in the NFL.
He gets into the No. 5 slot in our linebacker power rankings for the 2026 campaign. Let's see which players we have as the best of the best.
4. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner had been a Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro the past three seasons before an injury cut his 2025 regular season to just six games. Warner takes a bit of a hit in our power rankings due to the availability factor last year.
But let's be real, here - Warner is a future Hall of Famer and has been one of the best linebackers of this generation. He had played no fewer than 16 games in a season up until 2025. Warner can do it all - he holds up in coverage well, racks up a ton of tackles, and is stout against the run.
3. Ernest Jones IV, Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones IV played out of his mind in 2025. In 15 regular season games, Jones had five interceptions, seven passes defended, 126 total tackles, and four tackles for loss. He was a second-team All-Pro but somehow did not make the Pro Bowl.
Jones also more than held his own in coverage, allowing a 54 passer rating. It was clear that Jones was the straw that stirred Seattle's defensive drink. He brought an explosive element to the middle of the defense and clearly had the trust of Mike Macdonald, which says a lot.
2. Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins
Maybe one of the most underrated players in the NFL, Jordyn Brooks started all 17 games for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, finishing with 183 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits.
Brooks led the NFL in total tackles and solo tackles as well. He's not a very good coverage linebacker at all, but that's also never been a part of his game. Brooks is a true downhill, thumper-type of player and is simply excellent against the run and is consistently all over the field.
He was a first-team All-Pro this year and No. 2 in our power rankings.
1. Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
No. 1 in our power rankings, Jack Campbell has gotten better each season of his career with the Detroit Lions. He's not missed a game through three years and was a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2025.
Campbell finished with four passes defended, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, five sacks, 176 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits.
He wasn't great in coverage, allowing a 98.3 passer rating, but he did enjoy the best coverage season of his career and has gotten better in this regard in all three seasons. Despite Detroit struggling on defense in 2025, Campbell's presence was more than felt, and he's enjoyed consistent growth that could continue in 2026.