Capable linebackers are becoming a rarity in the modern NFL, which is why the best linebackers in the league provide even more value than they did before. With fewer linebackers on the field, it’s imperative that the ones that play every down have the ability to stop the run, cover the pass, and blitz the quarterback. That’s why general managers will ask who the best linebacker in the NFL is.
Those that can do all three of those tasks can lay claim to the title of being the top linebacker in the NFL. Different LBs will contribute in different ways, however, which is why it’s never simple to put together a ranking of the best linebackers in the NFL. Nevertheless, we’ll start with the most complete player in the league — and the best LB in the NFL — and go from there.
Who’s the Best Linebacker in the NFL?
San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner has the best argument for being the best linebacker in the NFL. Warner, a 2018 third-round pick out of BYU, immediately made an impact in San Francisco and continues their streak of high-level linebacker play following Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Chris Borland, and more.
Warner is phenomenal in coverage, playing with excellent instincts, athleticism, and a deep understanding of what NFL offenses are trying to do. He pairs his excellent range with strength in the running game and is the rare coverage LB who has the ability to take on blocks from fullbacks while still squeezing running lanes.
On top of that, Warner has better instincts than almost everyone at the position. He finds himself sprinting to the running back before the handoff but still finds ways to avoid getting fooled by play-action. Warner really is the ideal linebacker, and his range of play is astounding.
Rest of the Top 10 Linebackers Ranked
2) Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are several veteran linebackers near the top of this year’s list, and a big reason why is that top-tier LBs need good game sense before anything else. Still, a baseline level of athleticism and physicality is a requirement for the position. It looked like Lavonte David had lost some of that last year and was a little bit on the decline.
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This year, he’s bounced back in a big way and continues to play his extraordinarily physical brand of football while still demonstrating the necessary range to be an effective coverage linebacker.
3) Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
One of the most underrated linebackers of the past several years, Demario Davis’ late-career emergence as an elite LB has been fun to watch. Some of it is because he’s been a little bit dependent on good play from the defensive line in front of him, but a good deal of it has been his ability to more fully integrate his explosiveness with the ability to read opposing offenses.
Davis had primarily been a run-stuffing, gap-shooting linebacker that had some trouble with landmarks in zones and overrunning plays. But now, he plays a more disciplined style of football that still allows him to make big hits in the running game, get to the hole quicker than the RB, and squeeze lanes to force them into other defenders.
In pass coverage, Davis’ ability to read offenses has allowed him to finally corral his athleticism into a short-area zone maven, making it nearly impossible for crossers and checkdowns to get much done.
4) Bobby Wagner, Los Angeles Rams
It defies belief that Bobby Wagner could continue playing at this level at his age, but he’s finding ways to make a big impact, and not just as a run-stuffer or blitzer. Wagner remains a coverage machine and does a great job getting his hands on the ball.
He’s added to the Rams’ formidable pass rush as an excellent blitzer, and, along with Davis, is among the off-ball pressure leaders in the NFL. Wagner has a good sense of how to attack guards as a blitzer and how to simulate pressure well enough to enable the other pass rushers on the Rams’ defensive line.
5) Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills
It had taken a while for the national media to catch up to how good Matt Milano has been for the Bills, but he’s risen to prominence in the middle of what might be his best year. Milano was a former safety before switching to linebacker in college, and it shows. He’s a coverage specialist that has added run-stopping chops to his game.
He even has the rare ability to track tight ends deep in man coverage or as the hole player in Tampa 2, something not expected of many modern linebackers despite the emphasis on coverage. Milano is also a capable blitzer and demonstrates enough power to bowl over running backs and enough finesse and agility to get by offensive linemen.
While Milano still needs to be protected a little bit in the run game, when he has clearance from the defensive line in front of him, he can be a wrecking ball.
6) Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers
Rounding out the best LB duo in the NFL, Dre Greenlaw supplements Warner’s unreal coverage skills with his remarkable play against the pass. Another converted safety, Greenlaw adds even more speed to the 49ers’ defense with remarkable range.
Not only does this allow him to shut down some of the secondary receiving options NFL offenses will bring to the table, but it gives the 49ers incredible flexibility in how they call coverages.
Both of San Francisco’s linebackers have the ability to go deep in coverage or defend an enormous range underneath, which means that either one of them can be manned up against tight ends and running backs or sent into zone landmarks far away from where LBs are typically lined up.
That flexibility is part of the reason the 49ers have the best defense in the NFL. Greenlaw doesn’t trigger quite as quickly as Milano but might make up for it by being a bit more physical in the run game. In either case, both are enormous assets in both phases of the game.
7) T.J. Edwards, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense has been remarkable this year, and though one can give a lot of credit to the secondary and defensive line, the linebackers have been doing good work keeping the team consistent from down to down.
T.J. Edwards has made up for his average athleticism with elite diagnosis skills and does a great job in every asset of play. While not an elite player in any one facet, he’s been good at doing everything that’s asked of him, whether that’s covering RBs in man coverage, playing a middle zone, or rushing the passer.
Edwards has been a beacon of consistency in the run game as well, something Philadelphia has needed all season, as their defensive line deals with injuries and focuses more on pass rush than run defense.
8) Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith had been a great player in Chicago but seemingly declined a little bit every year. After being traded to the Ravens, it seems like he’s revived his career.
Smith plays like a classic Will LB and does an excellent job sifting through the trash to make plays in the running game without being a liability when blocked up by a fullback or tight end. He shines, however, as a coverage defender.
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Smith can freelance a bit more than other linebackers because of his excellent eyes and athleticism, allowing him to close down on plays where his coverage assignment isn’t even the target. He also does a great job keeping in phase against tight ends and occasionally occupy deep zones.
If he finds a way to continue playing like this going forward, Smith could rise up the rankings.
9) Frankie Luvu, Carolina Panthers
Initially a special-teams maven, Frankie Luvu impressed the Panthers year after year, making big plays in the game’s third phase before earning a starting role and never looking back.
Luvu plays with an enormous amount of energy, and he’s found a way to keep it directed and contained. He’s best going forward, whether that’s as a run defender or as a blitzer, but he’s not a big liability in pass coverage, either.
Still, Luvu’s athleticism and range deep downfield limits his options, and he’ll need to be better about playing disciplined as a coverage defender in order to be a more effective linebacker. Nevertheless, he’s provided quite a bit for the Panthers’ defense and still has more room to grow.
10) De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers
De’Vondre Campbell was about average for the Atlanta Falcons, but signing with the Green Bay Packers gave him a new role and a different set of responsibilities that really unlocked his play. He deservedly made the All-Pro team in 2021, and though he hasn’t played as well this year, shows enough high-level skill and athleticism to demonstrate that last year was no fluke.
Linebacker Rankings | 11-32
11) Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills
12) C.J. Mosley, New York Jets
13) Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars
14) Bobby Okereke, Indianapolis Colts
15) Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
16) Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings
17) Quincy Williams, New York Jets
18) Germaine Pratt, Cincinnati Bengals
19) Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20) David Long, Tennessee Titans
21) Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
22) Alex Singleton, Denver Broncos
23) Jerome Baker, Miami Dolphins
24) Josey Jewell, Denver Broncos
25) Shaq Thompson, Carolina Panthers
26) Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals
27) Cole Holcomb, Washington Commanders
28) Malcolm Rodriguez, Detroit Lions
29) Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England Patriots
30) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns
31) Willie Gay Jr., Kansas City Chiefs
32) Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys