It’s pretty rare we get off-ball linebackers taken high in the NFL Draft, and 2025 is no exception with none expected to be taken in the first round. Just a note, if you’re looking for pass-rushing outside linebackers, we covered them over here.
We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players.
We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March.
Others receiving votes
10. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
A second-round pick entering free agency for the first time, Bolton returned to form in 2024 after missing half the year in 2023. This past season he finished with three sacks, 106 tackles, 11 TFL, seven QB hits, six passes defended, and three turnovers. He’s a good linebacker and can start for most teams in the league. UPDATE: Bolton signed a three-year deal to stay in KC.
9. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davis is 35 and only played for the Buccaneers in his 13-year career. He finished 2024 with 122 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception. He played on a one-year $8.75 million contract this past season but $4.5 million in 2023. UPDATE: Signed an extension with the Bucs.
8. Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders
Wagner made $6.5 million to be the veteran presence in the Washington linebacker room, but he turns 35 in June. Still, he’s only missed one game in the last nine years and was second-team All-Pro this year. A tackling machine, his 132 tackles in 2024 were the fewest in a season for him since 2015. He had 10 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and forced a fumble. He’s not as great as he once was, but he’s pretty good still if he wants to keep playing. UPDATE: He re-signed with the Commanders.
7. Eric Kendricks, Dallas Cowboys
Kendricks is going to be 33 by the time free agency rolls around in March and will be looking for his fourth different team in four seasons after one-year deals in Dallas and with the Chargers after eight seasons in Minnesota. Dude is a tackling machine with nine straight 100-tackle seasons since entering the starting lineup. He finished 2024 with 138 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He played in 2024 for $3 million.
6. Elandon Roberts, Pittsburgh Steelers
He turns 31 this offseason, and the Steelers used him as a rotational piece in 2024 instead of a bona fide starting player. He only topped 50% of Pittsburgh defensive snaps in five games while recording some of the lowest statistical numbers of his career; 46 tackles and one sack. He made $3.5 million in each of the last two seasons.
5. Robert Spillane, Las Vegas Raiders
Spillane just turned 29 and is coming off back-to-back seasons starting every game for the Raiders after being a spot starter for four years with the Steelers. Since joining the starting lineup, his numbers are great averaging 153 tackles, 2.75 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, 5.5 passes defended, and 2.5 interceptions per season. He made $8 million combined over two seasons in Vegas and is likely in line for a pay bump in 2025. UPDATE: Spillane is heading to New England.
4. Ernest Jones, Seattle Seahawks
Jones started his career as a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, but was traded to the Titans prior to the 2024 season for virtually nothing. The Titans shipped him to Seattle in October ahead of the trade deadline, so he’s been on three teams in the last 12ish months. He did receive one first-place vote in our balloting, and has some good stats on the board. In 2023, he recorded 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks with 14 TFL. Split across two teams in 2024, he finished with 138 tackles. UPDATE: Jones re-signed with the Seahawks for three years.
3. Tyrel Dodson, Miami Dolphins
Dodson is a super-interesting case. An injury-replacement starter in Buffalo, he signed a one-year, $4.26 million contract to start with the Seahawks last offseason as they revamped their defense with a new coach. They eventually benched him then released him in November and the Dolphins claimed him for the remainder of the season. I think it was more of a Seahawks thing than him not being talented enough to start, so that dollar amount is probably right. He had a combined 107 tackles, two sacks, six passes defended including three interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2024.
2. Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers
The six-year veteran was in every voter’s top three despite missing most of the 2024 season with injury. He returned from an Achilles’ injury suffered in the Super Bowl but injured his calf in December. He should be fully healthy heading into free agency and coming off a two-year, $16.4 million contract, he will likely be able to command similar money on a new deal. UPDATE: Greenlaw agreed to a deal with the Broncos.
1. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Our clear top choice, Baun was a Pro Bowler in 2024 in his first season with the Eagles. Previously a spot starter for the Saints, he started 16 games for Philly and racked up 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception this season. Not a bad time for a career year! He made $4 million in 2024, but he could easily be in the $10 million per season range now. UPDATE: Baun is one of the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL and has re-signed with the Eagles
Recently released linebackers
These quarterbacks were released after our rankings were put together in the lead up to the 2025 league year.
Sione Takitaki
The former Browns and Patriots linebacker was released by New England after signing a two-year, $6.7 million contract that could have escalated to $10 million. He only played 17% of the Patriots’ snaps in 2024 after offseason knee surgery forced him to begin the year on PUP.
Other free agent linebackers
De’Vondre Campbell
Willie Gay Jr.
Denzel Perryman
Neville Hewitt
Devin Bush
Anthony Walker Jr.
Matthew Adams
Tyler Matakevich
Oren Burks
Khaleke Hudson
Devin White
Curtis Robinson
Nick Niemann
Krys Barnes
Isaiah Simmons
E.J. Speed
Malik Harrison
Del’Shawn Phillips
Amen Ogbongbemiga
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles
Troy Dye
Christian Rozeboom
Caleb Johnson
Justin Strnad
Chris Board
Cameron Brown
Joe Bachie
Divine Deablo
Baron Browning
Troy Reeder
Ben Niemann
Jordan Kunaszyk
Derrick Barnes
Garret Wallow
K.J. Britt
Eric Wilson
Anthony Pittman
Ezekiel Turner
Jamien Sherwood
Isaiah McDuffie
Nathan Landman (RFA)
Jake Hummel (RFA)
Jack Cochrane (RFA)
Chazz Surratt (RFA)
J.J. Russell (RFA)
Jack Sanborn (RFA)
Jesse Luketa (RFA)
Cameron McGrone (RFA)
Free agent linebackers who were signed to new deals
Isaiah McDuffie re-signed with the Packers
Zack Baun signed a massive new deal with the Eagles
Bobby Wagner re-upped with the Commanders
Derrick Barnes re-signed with the Detroit Lions on a three-year deal
Anthony Pittman signed a one-year extension with Detroit
Lavonte David re-signed with the Buccaneers
Ezekial Turner signed a one-year deal with the Lions
Nick Bolton re-upped with the Chiefs for three years
Jermain Sherwood re-signed with the New York Jets for three years
Ernest Jones signed a big deal to stay in Seattle for three seasons
Robert Spillane signed a deal with the Patriots
Akeem Davis-Gaither agreed to a two-year deal with the Cardinals
Dre Greenlaw agrred to terms on a three-year deal with the Broncos
