The Best NFL Linebackers for 2025: Expert Analysis and Perspectives
As the 2025 NFL training camps approach, true league insiders share their opinions. Alofoke Deportes presents an analysis of the best players at the linebacker position, according to a survey of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. This is the sixth year of these rankings, and as usual, the list presents significant changes. The classification process involved voting by experts, who provided their top 10 players in each position. The results were compiled and ranked according to the number of votes, the composite average, and interviews, with the help of NFL analyst from Alofoke Deportes, Matt Bowen. More than 70 voters participated in the evaluation of at least one position, and in many cases, all. Follow-up calls helped break any ties.Each section includes quotes and comments from voters about each player, including honorable mentions. The goal is to identify the best players for 2025, not a five-year projection or a lifetime achievement award. Who are today’s best players?
Here is the schedule for the upcoming classifications:- Running backs (July 7)
- Defensive tackles (July 8)
- Edge rushers (July 9)
- Safeties (July 10)
- Tight ends (July 11)
- Interior offensive linemen (July 12)
- Offensive tackles (July 13)
- Quarterbacks (July 14)
- Linebackers (July 15)
- Wide receivers (July 16)
- Cornerbacks (July 17)
1. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Highest position: 1 | Lowest position: 2Age: 28 | Last year’s ranking: 1 Warner, with four selections to the All-Pro first team in five years, dominated the voting with more than 80% of the first-place votes. He stands out for his resilience, having been absent for only one game in his seven-year career. His three consecutive seasons with at least 130 tackles and seven passes defended highlight his ability in the aerial game. He has also recorded forced fumbles in two consecutive years.
“I think Fred has been much more productive at overcoming central blocks and tackling harder. He has always been the best in the world at the passing game: range, instincts, ball production. But he was incredible last year, and if you add to that forced recoveries, durability and all the other rare intangibles, he is the best”.
NFL Coordinator
2. Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Highest position: 1 | Lowest position: 10Age: 28 | Last year’s ranking: 2 Smith is a player who influences the game, although his numbers don’t always reflect it. He is not the typical player who accumulates statistics, with a modest production in the passing game and spectacular plays. However, he is perceived by opponents and fans as a leader, with the ability to pressure, good positioning, and a winning mentality. Smith is coming off his second consecutive season on the All-Pro first team, and his 5.6% career stop percentage was the second-best among linebackers.
An NFL defensive assistant suggests that Smith could improve his game by improving his physical condition. Two of his votes placed him at number 10.“Roquan isn’t necessarily the most physically talented, but he’s very productive in both phases, he’s the catalyst of their defense in the midfield and a guy you have to account for on plays. When you take all that into account, plus the elite leadership he brings and his team’s attitude, I think he deserves to be up there.”
AFC Executive
3. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Highest position: 2 | Lowest position: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: N/A
“It finally developed. He’s such a versatile defender that he can affect the game in multiple ways that his strength was potentially preventing him from reaching his ceiling early in his career. Instead [in 2024], he really mastered the stacked ILB and was able to build that base to leverage his athletic ability and play.”
NFC Executive
4. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest position: 2 | Lowest position: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 5
5. Frankie Luvu, Washington Commanders
Highest position: 5 | Lowest position: UnrankedAge: 28 | Last year’s ranking: N/A Luvu’s first year as Commander propelled him into the top 10 conversation. He received some votes last year, but was largely irrelevant in the voting. But this year he appeared in the top five of many ballots. While some evaluators believe that the number 5 position is high for Luvu, he earned the votes and this is a composite ranking.
Head coach Dan Quinn uses Luvu similarly to Micah Parsons in Dallas, a hybrid linebacker with edge-rushing ability. Luvu capitalized with 8.0 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 7 passes defended on his way to second-team All-Pro honors. “Versatile, making plays in the running game, the passing game, and with pass rush,” said an NFL coordinator. “His style of play is all over the tape.” An inconvenience for Luvu: It’s a bit of a scheme fit. “He can’t play in every scheme. He can’t be asked to play man-to-man coverage constantly,” said an NFC executive.“I have a lot of respect for him: he has been one of the best tone setters in the NFL,” said a veteran NFL defensive coach. “His production in the last three years is as good as anyone’s.”
Veteran NFL defensive coach
6. Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears
Highest position: 3 | Lowest position: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year’s ranking: 7
But production has been an issue for Edmunds, who hasn’t made the Pro Bowl since 2020 and whose three tackles for loss last season marked a career low, although his eight passes defended were his most since 2019.“He has the prototypical physique, athletic ability, and speed that are coveted in an ILB in today’s game,” said an NFL personnel director. “He can diagnose playing downhill in the box, he can play sideline to sideline, and he has the coverage ability to match up in zone or man-to-man coverage.”
NFL personnel director
“Smart, but not as instinctive as you’d hope,” said an NFL coordinator. “If you put his skill with the instincts of [his teammate T.J. Edwards], you’d have an All-Pro.”
NFL Coordinator
7. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest position: 3 | Lowest position: UnrankedAge: 35 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mention David outperformed his mid-30s peers with a standout season in Tampa, finishing with 5.5 sacks (his highest total since 2013) and three forced fumbles.
A few years ago, some voters thought David was nearing the end. But he has remained productive and has just re-signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Buccaneers. He still has the fluidity to handle himself in pass coverage.“He has been resilient, has great instincts, and his physical tools haven’t eroded much with age. A natural phenomenon,” said a senior AFC staffer.
AFC Staffer
“I think he was finally healthy [last year]: he played with some issues in recent years, but he was free to make plays,” said an NFL offensive coach. “He can still perform at a high level. Very tough.”
NFL offensive coach
8. DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas Cowboys
Highest position: 4 | Lowest position: UnrankedAge: 24 | Last year’s ranking: ineligible (rookie) Overshown only needed 12 NFL games to convince a considerable number of voters that he is a high-impact linebacker.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said an NFL team personnel executive. “Ridiculous.”
NFL Personnel Executive
Added an offensive coach from the NFC: “He’s the second guy you worry about in Dallas, after Micah [Parsons]. Great ability to run and hit, speed on third down to cover.” All that admiration comes with a caveat: significant injury issues. Overshown missed his rookie season in 2023 due to a torn ACL in his left knee, then suffered a serious right knee injury in December 2024, tearing three ligaments (ACL, MCL, PCL). He plans to return sometime in the 2025 season, and that’s also Dallas’s hope. Several voters have serious concerns about whether Overshown can maintain a consistent NFL career due to the damage already done. But his work in less than a full NFL season was solid: 90 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 passes defended, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. He led the top 10 in average distance covered on tackles (18.9 yards).“One of the most athletic linebackers I’ve seen,” said a veteran NFL defensive coach. “He’s the fastest guy out there. He can completely take over a game and was really starting to understand it.”
NFL veteran defensive coach
“He may be a stud, but he really needs to improve in zone coverage and when he has to disengage from a block,” said a veteran NFL defensive coach. “He can play man-to-man against any running back or tight end in the league, but zone awareness is lacking. He does a great job using his athleticism to slip under blocks, but if they get their hands on him, it’s a problem.”
Veteran NFL defensive coach
9. Dre Greenlaw, Denver Broncos
Highest position: 3 | Lowest position: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year’s ranking: 9
Typically, a player returning from a season plagued by injuries wouldn’t maintain their ranking. But Greenlaw’s free agency told the story. Several league evaluators said he was the most exciting free agent, despite a torn Achilles tendon in Super Bowl LVIII that cost him all but two games in 2024.
And when the Broncos signed him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract, San Francisco’s feeling of remorse was real. “A million percent,” said a team source.“He’s a total savage,” said an NFL coordinator. “A top-five linebacker when healthy.”
NFL CoordinatorHe showed precisely that in his return from the end of the season against the Rams, accumulating eight tackles in 30 plays while allowing one reception for eight yards in 13 coverage opportunities. The previous year, Greenlaw finished with 120 tackles (5 for loss), 4 passes defended, and 1 sack.“He has to stay healthy and prove it again, but he’s a son of a b—-, smart, strong, he’ll take your breath away,” said an NFL defensive coach. “I see how he stays injured so much, because he plays with so much explosion.”
NFL Defensive Coach10. Quincy Williams, New York Jets
Highest position: 2 | Lowest position: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mention Williams backed up an All-Pro season in 2023 with another solid performance, earning several top-three votes. He kept several key competitors at bay, including future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner, for the tenth spot.Williams lives in the backfield, combining 41 tackles for loss since 2022. His passes defended decreased from 10 to four from one year to the next.“Closing speed from zero to 100 side to side,” said an NFL defensive coach. “He’ll hit you. Dog.”
NFL Defensive CoachIn that sense, Williams has one interception in his career, which came in 2023. But he forced four fumbles in 2024.“He’s a Pro Bowl caliber player, with elite speed and explosion to close, plays physical and bigger than he is, but to be elite you have to consistently take the ball away and he hasn’t done that,” said a veteran NFL defensive coach.
Veteran NFL defensive coachHonorable Mentions
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns: He received enough votes for the number 6 linebacker position, but has been declared out for the 2025 season due to a neck injury. “He was among the top three in the league before getting injured. A weapon on [Jim Schwartz]’s defense. TFL machine, super impactful.” – NFL personnel director Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders: “Physical skills have diminished, but he can compensate with world-class instincts.” – AFC Executive “He’s still excellent at anticipating a play, doing everything you want from a LB, smart, instincts, knows what everyone is doing. Pass coverage is where you see a bit of a drop-off, which is to be expected at this stage.” – NFL Personnel Evaluator Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers: “He’s always been a little inconsistent. I didn’t think last year was top 10 worthy.” – AFC Executive “He’s at his best as a fast-flowing, hitting WILL linebacker. I expect him to be better in his second year in Pittsburgh.” – NFC Scout “He has good speed, can close and can blitz, but when he runs through the back door he doesn’t always get there as much as you’d like.” – NFL Personnel Evaluator Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints: “Extremely physical, get it on the back, win that matchup. Straight line, still great. Pressuring, intelligence, instincts. The problem at this stage is the change of direction.” – NFL Coordinator Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills: “One of my favorites when he’s healthy. He’s very important to Buffalo. Great communicator, excellent in pass coverage. He just can’t stay on the field.” – NFL Coordinator Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals: “High-level performance in all facets of the position. I thought their run defense took a step back, but losing [DJ Reader] and their DT play last year hurt them. Better in zone than man-to-man against tight ends and running backs, but his ability to play off the QB and anticipate routes is very good and an effective blitzer when called upon.” – NFC Personnel Evaluator Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions: “Huge and violent. Better in coverage than he’s given credit for, but not great there. A key and diagnostic player. Good fit for Dan Campbell.” – NFL personnel evaluator
“He’s an elevator. I’m not sure he’s there yet, but he will be soon. The coverage wasn’t quite ready.” – NFC executive Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars: “Solid professional. Tackling machine. Doesn’t have a big play element to his game, but can be schemed as a run stopper on inside pressures.” – NFL personnel evaluator Jamien Sherwood, New York Jets: “Rising player. He’s a bullet. He was one of my favorite [pending] free agents in March.” – NFL personnel evaluator Zaire Franklin, Indianapolis Colts: “Blue collar, the best type of engine that can get a lot of tackles and set a good tone. Not dynamic as far as making plays in the open field or in the backfield.” – NFC Executive Blake Cashman, Minnesota Vikings: “Extremely intelligent, versatile in the scheme, can use the green dot or shift to WILL, good at aligning people, plays with the right patience and timing, which masks his athleticism, but he is fast and can cover, in addition to adding to the pressure, he has good range. He couldn’t stay healthy in New York, so it took him time to establish himself, but he has found his place and should continue to rise.” – 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)
