2025 Greatest NFL Linebackers: Fred Warner, Roquan Smith Lead Prime 10 Rankings

Each nice NFL protection appears to have a top-tier linebacker patrolling the sphere and commanding the unit, however which of them are the easiest?

We polled our FOX Sports activities NFL writers to reply that query, with every rating the highest 10 linebackers within the league getting into the 2025 season. The highest two vote-getters are the very same from final 12 months’s high 10 listing, however there are 5 brand-new names within the high 10.

So, let’s check out how our writers ranked the highest 10 linebackers within the league as we start to unveil our high gamers at a number of positions earlier than the 2025 season kicks off. 

Greatest 2025 NFL Linebackers

Daiyan Henley was a giant half in serving to the Chargers attain the playoffs final season. (Photograph by Ian Maule/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: Unranked

Eric D. Williams: A receiver in faculty, Henley has emerged as one of many NFL’s high run-and-chase linebackers and has his sights set on taking part in at an All-Professional stage in his third season. The charismatic L.A. native completed with 142 mixed tackles in 2024, tied for eleventh within the league and the seventh-most by a Charger this century. One of many high athletes at his place, Henley was the one participant within the league to notch a minimum of 120 tackles and greater than seven go breakups final season.

Zaire Franklin led the NFL in tackles final season. (Photograph by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: T-10 (+1)

Ben Arthur: Taking part in for an Indianapolis staff that generates little nationwide curiosity, Franklin can slide a bit below the radar. It doesn’t assist that the Colts have not had an amazing protection in a minimum of three years, however Franklin’s manufacturing over the previous few seasons is not possible to disregard. He has registered 160-plus tackles in three consecutive seasons, together with an NFL-high 178 in 2024. He could be a legal responsibility at occasions in protection — which is turning into more and more essential on the linebacker place — however he has an amazing nostril for the soccer within the run sport.

Dre Greenlaw is getting into his first 12 months with the Broncos. (Photograph by Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Put up)

2024 rank: Unranked

Henry McKenna: This dude is a violent pressure in the midst of the sphere. The Broncos went out and snagged him in free company as a result of they needed to toughen up their entrance seven — and Greenlaw can completely assist. Even after lacking most of final 12 months whereas recovering from an Achilles damage, he completed his six years with the Niners with 455 tackles. It’s a protected wager to say he’s going to eclipse 100 taking part in in the midst of the Denver protection in 2025.

Even after 13 years within the NFL, Bobby Wagner continues to be an All-Professional standout at linebacker. (Photograph by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: eighth (+1)

Ralph Vacchiano: When the Commanders signed Wagner final season at age 33, it appeared like head coach Dan Quinn was principally in search of a veteran presence to guide his younger protection. He received that and much more. Wagner gave them his eleventh consecutive All-Professional season, proving that he’s nonetheless among the finest linebackers within the sport even towards the tip of his profession. He completed with 132 tackles (he’s topped 100 in all 13 of his NFL seasons). Most of all, he helped flip a protection that was the NFL’s worst in 2023 right into a middle-of-the-pack unit. He wasn’t simply there to information the younger Commanders — he was exhibiting them the way it’s completed.

Frankie Luvu, alongside Bobby Wagner, helped remodel the Commanders’ protection in 2024. (Photograph by Brooke Sutton/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: Unranked

Vacchiano: After spending the primary six years of his profession toiling with the New York Jets and the Carolina Panthers, Luvu lastly received an opportunity to point out what he can do on a great staff and with expertise round him — and he didn’t disappoint. He’s an brisk, disruptive pressure on protection and an underrated presence within the go rush. He had a career-high eight sacks final season, despite the fact that there actually wasn’t a number of pass-rushing assist round him. He’s versatile sufficient to play any of the linebacker positions, and he’s nonetheless solely 28 years outdated. He might need solely scratched the floor of what he can do with a defensive-minded coach like Quinn.

Lavonte David continues so as to add to his Corridor of Fame case as he enters his 14th season. (Photograph by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: 4th (-1)

Carmen Vitali: Certainly one of nowadays, this man will get his due. I hope it’s with a gold jacket and bronze bust in Canton — as a result of that’s how good David is, regardless of if he has the gaudy stats or not. David has the stats that matter, like amassing the fifth-most tackles within the league since 1987. He’s considerably of an ageless surprise, too. At age 35, he’s nonetheless conducting among the finest defenses within the league just like the sideline-to-sideline maestro that he’s.

The Chiefs are identified for his or her superstars on offense, however linebacker Nick Bolton has helped them attain three straight Tremendous Bowls by being an absolute run-stopper. (Photograph by Perry Knotts/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: Unranked

McKenna: The Chiefs have completed a pleasant job highlighting Bolton on the middle of their protection. Bolton may not get the identical quantity of credit score as DT Chris Jones, however he has been an enormously important a part of the staff’s final three runs to the Tremendous Bowl. Bolton is nearly as good of a run-stopper as there’s within the NFL. It’s a giant purpose why Kansas Metropolis’s protection has been so stingy towards the run since Bolton took over.

Zack Baun was arguably the largest shock within the NFL final season. (Kara Durrette/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: Unranked

Vacchiano: It is nonetheless exceptional that Eagles normal supervisor Howie Roseman signed Baun to be principally a particular groups participant earlier than defensive coordinator Vic Fangio found out he could possibly be way more. The 28-year-old Baun turned an surprising pressure within the Eagles’ protection, excelling in each protection and towards the run. He completed final season with a team-high 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception. He completed fifth within the Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting, and that was completed earlier than his stellar Tremendous Bowl, which included an acrobatic, diving interception. He was a completely good match for Fangio’s defensive scheme, although his abilities point out he’s way over only a system participant. 

Roquan Smith has been among the finest linebackers within the league since he was drafted in 2018. (Photograph by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: 2nd (no change)

Arthur: Smith is on the shortlist for high center linebacker of his period. What he lacks in protection capability he makes up for together with his smarts, instincts and manufacturing within the run sport. He’s recorded 150 tackles in 5 straight seasons and has three consecutive first-team All-Professional nods.

Versatile linebacker Fred Warner is a four-time first-team All-Professional, together with the previous three seasons. (Photograph by Brooke Sutton/Getty Photographs)

2024 rank: 1st (no change)

Williams: The BYU product stays the gold customary on the linebacker place within the NFL. Warner has been a first-team All-Professional three years in a row and is on the high of his class due to his capability to function as a three-down linebacker who’s equally efficient dropping again in go protection, operating sideline to sideline as a run-stuffer and blitzing as a go rusher. Warner had 131 tackles in 2024, becoming a member of Baltimore’s Smith and Washington’s Wagner as the one linebackers with a minimum of 130 in every of the previous 4 seasons. Warner additionally has 10.0 sacks and 10 interceptions in his profession, becoming a member of Eighties linebacker Keena Turner as the one gamers to try this in Niners historical past.

Honorable mentions:

2025-26 NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months 

Aidan Hutchinson, Lions: +650 (wager $10 to win $75 whole)Micah Parsons, Cowboys: +750 (wager $10 to win $85 whole)Myles Garrett, Browns: +850 (wager $10 to win $95 whole)T.J. Watt, Steelers: +950 (wager $10 to win $105 whole)Will Anderson Jr., Texans: +1300 (wager $10 to win $140 whole)Jared Verse, Rams: +1500 (wager $10 to win $160 whole)Maxx Crosby, Raiders: +1600 (wager $10 to win $170 whole)Nick Bosa, 49ers: +2000 (wager $10 to win $210 whole)Jalen Carter, Eagles: +2200 (wager $10 to win $230 whole)Trey Hendrickson, Bengals: +2200 (wager $10 to win $230 whole)

Try all of our Every day Rankers.

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Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him at @eric_d_williams.

Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. Comply with him at @benyarthur.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him at @henrycmckenna. 

Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Comply with him at @RalphVacchiano.

Carmen Vitali is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Community and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Tremendous Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. Comply with her at @CarmieV.