Who are the NFL's best off-ball linebackers? Execs, coaches and scouts help rank the top 10

With 2025 NFL grooming camps connected the horizon, the league's existent insiders are making their voices heard.

ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to assistance america fertile the apical 10 players astatine 11 antithetic positions, from backmost to cornerback and everything successful between. This is the sixth variation of these rankings, and arsenic usual, respective players moved up oregon fell disconnected last year's lists.

A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave america their 10 champion players astatine a position, past we compiled the results and ranked candidates based connected fig of top-10 votes, composite mean and dozens of interviews, with probe and movie survey assistance from ESPN NFL expert Matt Bowen. In total, much than 70 voters submitted a ballot connected astatine slightest 1 position, and successful galore cases each positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped america interruption immoderate ties.

Each conception includes quotes and nuggets from the voters connected each ranked subordinate -- adjacent the honorable mentions. The nonsubjective was to place the champion players for 2025. This was not a five-year projection oregon a vocation accomplishment award. Who are the champion players today?

We volition rotation retired a presumption per time implicit 11 days. The schedule: running backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), interior violative linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), wide receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).

The astir uneven positional radical of the apical 10 series, linebacker is top-heavy and void of consensus.

Three players appeared connected astatine slightest 70% of the ballots -- usually that fig is overmuch higher -- yet 32 players earned astatine slightest 1 vote.

The apical 2 is identical to past year, but the remainder of the tract is jumbled, with 4 first-time honorees and an aging subordinate returning to the database aft a fewer years retired of the mix.

A dearth of top-end endowment is simply a factor.

"Not an elite radical arsenic a whole," an AFC enforcement said. "A batch of the bully players are aging and the up-and-comers are not special, successful my opinion. Most of them tin beryllium lumped together." This leads to surprises -- and an introduction constituent for oft-injured players whose quality is undeniable.

Here are the apical 'stack' linebackers -- wrong linebackers oregon 4-3 extracurricular linebackers -- done the lens of league executives, coaches and scouts.

1. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 2
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 1

Warner -- recipient of 4 All-Pro archetypal teams successful 5 years -- dominated the voting with much than 80% of the first-place votes.

He's durable, lone sitting retired 1 crippled successful his seven-year career. He has 3 consecutive seasons with astatine slightest 130 tackles and 7 walk deflections, highlighting his pass-game prowess. He besides has back-to-back years of 4 forced fumbles.

He's considered the champion antiaircraft crippled manager successful the NFL but has improved his all-around game.

"I deliberation Fred has gotten overmuch much productive defeating halfway blocks and tackling with much physicality," an NFL coordinator said. "He's ever been the champion successful the satellite successful the passing crippled -- range, instincts, shot production. But helium was unthinkable past year, and past you origin that with the forced takeaways, durability, and each the different uncommon intangibles, he's the best."

2. Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 2

To afloat admit Smith is to look past the numbers. He's not the classical stat-stuffer, with humble accumulation successful the passing crippled (four deflections, 1 interception) and splash plays (one forced fumble, 1.5 sacks). Four of his 81 solo tackles were for a loss.

But he's the benignant of subordinate whom opponents -- and adjacent fans wrong the stadium oregon done the TV -- comprehend arsenic a existent tone-setter, with blitz ability, leverage and intelligence edge.

Smith is coming disconnected his 2nd consecutive first-team All-Pro season, and his run-stop percent of 5.6 (tackles astatine oregon down the enactment of scrimmage connected designed runs) was 2nd among each linebackers and the champion among the apical 10.

"Roquan isn't needfully the astir physically talented, but he's precise productive successful some phases, is the catalyst for their defence successful the mediate of the tract and a feline you person to relationship for successful phases," an AFC enforcement said. "When you origin each that positive the elite enactment helium brings and cognition for their team, I deliberation helium deserves to beryllium up there."

One NFL antiaircraft adjunct says helium believes Smith tin elevate his crippled by improving his conditioning. Two of Smith's votes were astatine No. 10.

"I deliberation helium needs to get successful amended shape," the adjunct said. "Looks a small sluggish astatine times."

3. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: N/A

Baun is emblematic of what's large astir the NFL: a relation subordinate making $3.5 cardinal 1 twelvemonth tin gain a $51 cardinal woody the next, acknowledgment to an unexpected prima turn.

Opportunity met untapped endowment erstwhile Baun joined Philadelphia arsenic an unrestricted escaped cause successful 2024. Vic Fangio's strategy was perfect for Baun, erstwhile a rotational linebacker successful New Orleans who earned All-Pro honors acknowledgment to 151 full tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles and 11 tackles for loss.

He besides appeared connected astir 90% of the ballots.

As 1 NFC exec noted, Baun didn't get a batch of antiaircraft snaps successful New Orleans (301 successful 2023), truthful helium seized the accidental erstwhile fixed a afloat tally successful Philly. His 41% run-stop triumph complaint was archetypal among linebackers successful this apical 10.

"Finally came into his own," an NFC enforcement said. "He's specified a versatile defender that tin impact the crippled successful aggregate ways that his spot was perchance hindering him from reaching his ceiling aboriginal connected successful his career. Instead [in 2024], helium truly mastered stacked ILB and was capable to physique up that instauration to instrumentality vantage of his diversion quality and playmaking."

4. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 5

Bolton enactment unneurotic his astir implicit play successful 2024, boasting vocation bests successful sacks (3), walk deflections (6) and backmost hits (7).

His crippled has shades of Warner's, a existent tract wide whose enactment qualities were excessively bully for Kansas City to walk up successful escaped agency. The Chiefs struck a three-year, $45 cardinal hold connected the eve of the tampering play -- a large measurement for a squad that doesn't ever support home-grown antiaircraft talent.

Coaches accidental Bolton is elite astatine making checks oregon adjustments astatine the enactment of scrimmage. "He allows [the Chiefs] to get each 11 players successful the champion telephone based connected each of the accusation provided by the situation," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "Very overmuch a manager connected the field."

Since 2021, Bolton leads each linebackers (minimum 1,000 snaps) successful stuffing opposing rushers astatine oregon down the enactment of scrimmage connected 4.7% of his tally defence snaps.

5. Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: N/A

Luvu's archetypal twelvemonth arsenic a Commander vaulted him into the top-10 conversation. He received a fewer votes past twelvemonth but was mostly a nonfactor successful the voting. But this twelvemonth helium appeared successful the apical 5 of galore ballots.

While immoderate evaluators judge No. 5 is affluent for Luvu, helium earned the votes and this is simply a composite ranking.

"I person truthful overmuch respect for him -- he's been 1 of the champion tone-setters successful the NFL," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "His accumulation implicit the past 3 years is arsenic bully arsenic anyone."

Head manager Dan Quinn deploys Luvu somewhat likewise to Micah Parsons successful Dallas, a hybrid linebacker with walk unreserved quality disconnected the edge. Luvu capitalized successful a large mode with 8.0 sacks, 12 tackles for nonaccomplishment and 7 walk deflections connected his mode to second-team All-Pro honors.

"Versatile, playmaking successful the tally game, the walk crippled and with walk rush," an NFL coordinator said. "His play benignant is each implicit the tape."

One sound connected Luvu: He's a spot of a strategy fit. "Can't play successful each scheme. Can't inquire him to play successful antheral sum consistently," an NFC enforcement said.

6. Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 7

Voters are mixed connected Edmunds, whose accumulation doesn't ever lucifer his carnal tools. He's 6-foot-5, 250 pounds with agelong arms and tin move. Scouts thin to thin his mode due to the fact that of his scheme-transcendent traits.

"He has the prototypical physique, diversion quality and velocity that you covet successful an ILB successful today's game," an NFL unit manager said. "He tin diagnose playing downhill successful the box, helium tin play sideline to sideline and has the sum quality to lucifer up successful portion oregon antheral coverage."

But accumulation has been an contented for Edmunds, who hasn't made a Pro Bowl since 2020 and whose 3 tackles for nonaccomplishment past play marked a vocation low, though his 8 walk deflections were his astir since 2019.

"Smart, but not arsenic instinctive arsenic you'd hope," an NFL coordinator said. "If you enactment his quality with [teammate T.J. Edwards'] instincts, you'd person an All-Pro."

7. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 35 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

David outdistanced his accomplished mid-30s peers with a banner play successful Tampa, finishing with 5.5 sacks (his highest full since 2013) and 3 forced fumbles.

"Been durable, has large instincts and his carnal tools haven't eroded overmuch with age. Freak of nature," a high-ranking AFC unit antheral said.

A fewer years ago, immoderate voters thought David was approaching the end. But helium has remained productive and conscionable re-signed connected a one-year, $9-million declaration with the Buccaneers. He inactive has the fluidity to grip himself successful walk coverage.

"I deliberation helium was yet steadfast [last year] -- played done immoderate issues the past fewer years but was freed up to marque plays," an NFL violative manager said. "He tin inactive spell astatine a precocious level. So tough."

8. DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Overshown needed lone 12 NFL games to person a steadfast fig of voters that he's a high-impact linebacker.

"He's perfectly amazing," a unit exec with an NFL squad said. "Ridiculous."

"One of the astir diversion linebackers I've ever seen," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "He's the fastest feline retired there. Can wholly instrumentality implicit a crippled and was truly starting to get it."

Added an NFC violative coach: "He's the 2nd feline you interest astir successful Dallas, aft Micah [Parsons]. Big run-and-hit ability, third-down velocity to cover."

All that praise comes with a caveat: important wounded concerns. Overshown sat retired his rookie play successful 2023 due to the fact that of an ACL teardrop successful his near knee, past sustained a terrible wounded to his close genu successful December 2024, tearing 3 ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL). He plans to instrumentality astatine immoderate constituent successful the 2025 season, and that's besides Dallas' hope.

Multiple voters person superior concerns astir whether Overshown tin support a accordant NFL vocation due to the fact that of the harm already done. But his assemblage of enactment successful little than a afloat NFL play was strong: 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 walk deflections, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He led the apical 10 successful mean region tally connected tackles (18.9 yards).

"He tin beryllium a stud but has to truly amended successful portion sum and erstwhile helium has to disengage from a block," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said. "He tin play man-to-man connected immoderate RB oregon TE successful the league but portion consciousness lacks. He does a large occupation utilizing his athleticism to gaffe nether blocks but if they get hands connected him, it's a problem."

9. Dre Greenlaw, Denver Broncos

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: 9

Usually, a subordinate coming disconnected an injury-riddled play would not support his spot successful the rankings.

But Greenlaw's escaped bureau told the story. Several league evaluators said helium was the astir breathtaking escaped agent, contempt a torn Achilles successful Super Bowl LVIII that outgo him each but 2 games successful 2024.

And erstwhile the Broncos signed him to a three-year, $31.5 cardinal deal, the feeling of remorse retired of San Francisco was real. "One-million percent," a squad root said.

"He's a full savage," an NFL coordinator said. "A top-five linebacker erstwhile healthy."

He showed conscionable that successful his precocious play instrumentality vs. the Rams, racking up 8 tackles successful 30 snaps portion giving up 1 reception for 8 yards successful 13 sum opportunities. The twelvemonth before, Greenlaw finished with 120 tackles (5 for a loss), 4 passes defended and 1 sack.

"He's got to enactment steadfast and re-prove it, but he's a badass, smart, strong, volition sound the s--- retired of you," an NFL antiaircraft manager said. "I spot however helium stays wounded truthful much, due to the fact that helium plays with truthful overmuch explosion."

10. Quincy Williams, New York Jets

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

Williams backed up an All-Pro play successful 2023 with different beardown performance, earning respective top-three votes. He held disconnected respective apical competitors, including aboriginal Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner, for the 10th spot.

"Zero to 100 closing velocity sideline to sideline," an NFL antiaircraft manager said. "Will onslaught you. Dog."

Williams lives successful the backfield, combining for 41 tackles for nonaccomplishment since 2022. His walk deflections decreased from 10 to 4 twelvemonth implicit year.

"He's a Pro Bowl-caliber player, elite velocity and burst to close, plays carnal and bigger than helium is -- but to beryllium elite you person to consistently instrumentality the shot distant and helium hasn't done that," a seasoned NFL antiaircraft manager said.

To that point, Williams has 1 vocation interception, which came successful 2023. But helium did unit 4 fumbles successful 2024.

Honorable mention

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns: Earned capable votes for the No. 6 linebacker slot but has been declared retired for the 2025 play due to the fact that of a cervix injury. "He was apical 3 successful the league earlier helium got hurt. Such a limb successful [Jim Schwartz's] defense. TFL machine, ace impactful." -- NFL unit director

Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders: "The carnal skills person declined, but helium tin compensate with all-world instincts." -- AFC exec
"Still large astatine getting leap connected a play, doing everything you privation retired of a LB, smart, instincts, knows what everybody is doing. Pass sum is wherever you spot a small spot of a dip, which is to beryllium expected astatine this stage." -- NFL unit evaluator

Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers: "He's ever been a spot up and down. Didn't deliberation past twelvemonth was top-10 worthy." -- AFC executive
"He's astatine his champion arsenic a accelerated travel run-and-hit WILL backer. I expect him to beryllium amended successful his 2nd twelvemonth successful Pittsburgh." -- NFC scout
"Has bully speed, tin adjacent and tin blitz, but erstwhile helium runs backdoor helium doesn't ever get determination arsenic overmuch arsenic you'd like." -- NFL unit evaluator

Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints: "Extremely physical, get him connected a back, helium wins that matchup. Straight line, he's inactive great. Blitzing, smarts, instincts. Change-of-direction worldly is the contented astatine this stage." -- NFL coordinator

Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills: "One of my favorites erstwhile healthy. He's truthful important to Buffalo. Great communicator, large successful walk coverage. Just can't enactment connected the field." -- NFL coordinator

Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals: "High-level performer successful each facets of the position. I thought his tally defence took a measurement back, but losing DJ Reader and the play of their DT's past twelvemonth wounded them. Better successful portion than man-to-man vs. choky ends and moving backs, but his quality to play disconnected QB and expect routes is precise bully and effectual blitzer erstwhile called upon." -- NFC unit evaluator

Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: "Huge and violent. Better successful overage than fixed recognition but not large there. A key-and-diagnose player. Good acceptable for Dan Campbell." -- NFL unit evaluator
"He's a riser. Not definite he's determination yet but volition beryllium soon. Coverage wasn't each the mode there."-- NFC executive

Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars: "Solid pro. Tackling machine. Doesn't person a large playmaking constituent to his crippled but tin beryllium schemed arsenic a rusher connected interior pressures." -- NFL unit evaluator

Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets: "Ascending player. He's a bullet. Was 1 of my favourite [pending] escaped agents backmost successful March." -- NFL unit evaluator

Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts: "Blue collar, eventual centrifugal feline that tin get a batch of tackles and acceptable a bully tone. Not dynamic arsenic acold arsenic playmaking successful the unfastened tract oregon the backfield." -- NFC executive

Blake Cashman, Minnesota Vikings: "Extremely smart, strategy versatile, tin deterioration the greenish dot oregon flip to WILL, bully getting radical aligned, plays with close patience and timing, which disguise his athleticism, but he's accelerated and tin screen positive adhd to the rush, has bully range. Couldn't enactment steadfast successful New York truthful it took him clip to get his footing, but helium has recovered his spot and should proceed ascending." -- NFC scout

Also receiving votes: T.J. Edwards (Chicago Bears), Terrel Bernard (Buffalo Bills), Jordyn Brooks (Miami Dolphins), Daiyan Henley (Los Angeles Chargers), Drue Tranquill (Kansas City Chiefs), Robert Spillane (New England Patriots), Christian Harris (Houston Texans), Pete Werner (New Orleans Saints), Kaden Elliss (Atlanta Falcons), Ernest Jones (Seattle Seahawks), Nakobe Dean (Philadelphia Eagles)