Bird's Eye View - LB Position Report
- John B. Everett
- Apr 16
- 7 min read
The top LB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft is Sonny Styles / Ohio State, a true athletic freak with a rare combination of size, length, speed, agility, and explosiveness that warrant a top ten selection in April's draft, a noteworthy accomplishment for an off-the-ball LB. The top of this class is loaded with potential top 100 prospects including Jacob Rodriguez / Texas Tech, Anthony Hill / Texas, Jake Golday / Cincinnati, Kyle Louis / Pittsburgh, and CJ Allen / Georgia. There are several other potential starters down the line including Kaleb Elarms-Orr / TCU, Bryce Boettcher / Oregon, Aiden Fisher / Indiana, and Deontae Lawson / Alabama. Another half dozen prospects or so are likely to hear their name called in Pittsburgh before the 257 pick draft ends. There are likely to be as many as a dozen other prospects who have earned a draftable grade. Overall, this is a quality class of LBs who could play in the NFL for a long time. |
Position Grade – B- |
SNS utilizes a tier system to break the log jam that typically forms during the evaluation and stacking/ranking of prospects in a position group. Tier I prospects are franchise players whose combination of measureables, athleticism, and college production warrant a high first-round draft pick. Tier II prospects are future starters who should at a minimum be solid contributors as rookies next year. Tier III prospects are players with starter traits but need additional development before they can be reliable starters. Tier IV prospects are marginal NFL prospects who are never likely to become starters, will need to prove themselves on special teams, and are likely to be battling for one of the final spots on a 53-man roster or practice squad.
*Measurements are taken by 1/8ths. Example: 6004 is 6 feet and ½”
Tier I
Two prospects – Sonny Styles / Ohio State, Jacob Rodriguez / Texas Tech
Styles – Styles will be the most athletic LB in the NFL the moment he takes the field as a rookie. Styles put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine measuring in at 6050 / 244 lbs / 32 & 7/8” Arms / 80 & 7/8” Wingspan and then put on an amazing athletic performance with a 4.46 40 / 43.5” Vertical / 11’2” Broad / 7.09 3-Cone Drill. Styles is the rare off-the-ball LB that demands that a first-round pick be used on him. Styles looks like a top ten pick on April 23.
Rodriguez – Rodriguez is not the athletic freak that Styles is but Rodriguez displayed quality athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine that should allay some fears about his quickness and range – 4.57 40 / 38.5” Vertical / 10’1” Broad / 6.90 3-Cone Drill. There is no more productive prospect, let alone LB, than Rodriguez, who intercepted four passes and forced seven fumbles last season in Lubbock. Rodriguez’s level of play warrants a first-round draft pick but the LB position is not valued highly enough by the NFL, so Rodriguez is likely to fall to the second or third-round at the end of the month.
Tier II
Four prospects – Anthony Hill / Texas, Jake Golday / Cincinnati, Kyle Louis / Pittsburgh, CJ Allen / Georgia
Hill – A starter from the moment he stepped on campus in Austin, Hill has the desired size and length for an off-the-ball LB (6020 / 238 lbs / 32 & 3/8” Arms) and is a very good athlete with outstanding range (4.51 40 / 34.5” Vertical / 9’11” Broad / 21 reps (225 lbs)). Hill looks like an immediate starter and a top 50 pick in this month’s draft.
Golday – Golday looks like an NFL off-the-ball LB – 6044 / 239 lbs / 31 & 7/8” Arms – and he is an instinctive and productive LB against both the run and pass. Surprisingly athletic – 4.62 40 / 39” Vertical / 10’5” Broad / 7.02 3-Cone Drill – and is a dangerous blitzer who may play as a situational pass rusher in the NFL. Golday is a likely second-round pick.
Louis – Louis is being considered by some teams as a Safety due to Louis lacking desired size for an off-the-ball LB – 5117 / 220 lbs / 31 & ¼” Arms. But Louis is extremely instinctive, fast, and rangy and looks like an ideal dime LB in the NFL. Louis is a likely third-round draft choice in Pittsburgh later this month.
Allen – Allen (6006 / 230 lbs / 31 & ½” Arms) has started more than 30 games in Athens and has the experience and durability that NFL teams desire in their starters. Allen possesses the speed and range to go sideline-to-sideline and is a physical hitter who can dislodge the ball with the force of his tackle. Allen is a likely second-round selection in this month’s draft.
Tier III
Fourteen prospects – Kaleb Elarms-Orr / TCU, Bryce Boettcher / Oregon, Aiden Fisher / Indiana, Deontae Lawson / Alabama, Jack Kelly / BYU, Harold Perkins / LSU, Eric Gentry / USC, Red Murdock / Buffalo, Owen Heinecke / Oklahoma, Wesley Bissainthe / Miami, Fl, Karson Sharar / Iowa, Xavian Sorey / Arkansas, Justin Jefferson / Alabama, Josiah Trotter / Missouri
Elarms-Orr – KEO has a desired combination of size (6020 / 234 lbs / 31 & ½” Arms), speed (4.47 40), and athleticism (40” Vertical / 10’4” Broad) to be developed into a starting OLB. KEO should excel on special teams where his speed and tackling ability should allow him to flourish. KEO is a likely third-round draft pick on April 24.
Boettcher – A highly valued member of the Houston Astros’ farm system as an outfielder, Boettcher (6007 / 233 lbs / 30 & 5/8” Arms) has the range, speed, and agility to flourish in the NFL as an off-the-ball LB, although he may be good enough to play in the major leagues. Boettcher looks like a fourth or fifth-round pick on April 25.
Fisher – Fisher has adequate size and length – 6010 / 232 lbs / 31 & 1/8” Arms – is very instinctive and has excellent read and react skills against the run. Fisher is a very good open field tackler who breaks down well to secure the tackle. Although not a great athlete, he always seems to make plays and profiles as an excellent core special teamer. Fisher is a likely fifth-round draft pick.
Lawson – Perhaps the best coverage LB available in the 2026 NFL Draft, Lawson (6030 / 226 lbs / 31 & 7/8” Arms) has very good agility and range and matches up well with TEs in man coverage. Lawson has an extensive injury history, although he did not miss any significant time this last season, and his medical evaluation will impact when he gets drafted the last weekend in April.
Kelly – Kelly (6011 / 240 lbs / 31 & 1/8” Arms) is a similar player to Leo Chenal (Commanders) as a solid run-stuffing LB with dynamic inside blitzing ability. Much like Chenal, Kelly can be mismatched in space against quick RBs and TEs but is strong, physical, and a very reliable tackler. Kelly is a likely fourth or fifth-round pick.
Perkins – Perkins was a freshman phenom at LSU as an impact pass rusher but has battled injuries since then that has caused him to miss significant time while in Baton Rouge. Perkins’ speed is impressive and he is a quality run defender but his coverage skills still need development. Perkins should be a beast on special teams. Perkins is a likely fourth-round draft pick on April 25.
Gentry – Gentry offers rare length for an off-the-ball LB with grapevines for arms (35”) and a mammoth wingspan (85 & 5/8”). Gentry is experienced, durable, and displays fantastic range and excellent agility. Although he lacks great strength, Gentry’s athleticism and length makes him a great asset in coverage. Gentry should contribute immediately in the NFL and looks like a day three pick later this month.
Murdock – Murdock, the all-time FBS leader in forced fumbles for a career (17), is a highly experienced, durable, and productive four-year starter in the MAC who lacks ideal size and length (6007 / 232 lbs / 31” Arms) but fills hard against the run. Murdock may not be athletic enough to stay on the field on passing downs but offers a great profile for special teams. Murdock is likely a sixth or seventh-round draft choice on April 25.
Heinecke – Heinecke is trying to return to Oklahoma for another season of eligibility and has sued the NCAA with the court decision expected on April 16. If he loses his lawsuit, Heinecke should find a soft landing with a fourth or fifth-round selection on April 25. Heinecke profiles as a dynamic special teamer with the upside to be developed into an eventual starter at OLB with continued development.
Bissainthe – Bissainthe has marginal size for a MLB (6020 / 225 lbs / 31 &7/8” Arms) but has the speed, range, agility, and quickness to handle coverage better than most MLBs. Bissainthe instincts and read and react skills are as good as any ILB in this draft. Bissainthe’s lack of strength and inability to shed blocks quickly limits his upside, but Bissainthe is a superb athlete who should flourish on special teams.
Sharar – Sharar is a fast-flowing off-the-ball LB with a fantastic profile for special teams. Sharar has good size and length (6015 / 231 lbs / 31 & 1/8” Arms) and has the speed, range, and athleticism (4.56 40 / 40” Vertical / 10’3” Broad) to be developed into an eventual starter. Sharar looks like a fifth or sixth-round pick later this month.
Sorey – A former 5-star recruit and the number one LB recruit in the nation at Georgia, Sorey has great range and very good speed although he recorded a slower than anticipated 4.63 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Sorey is a very good athlete who needs to improve his physicality to earn a starting job in the NFL. Sorey looks like a fifth or sixth-round pick on the last Saturday in April.
Jefferson – One of the most athletically-gifted prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, Jefferson significantly improved over his senior season, his first year as a starter in Tuscaloosa. Jefferson has the speed, range, and athleticism (4.57 40 / 38.5” Vertical / 10’5” Broad) to excel as a dime LB and a core special teamer. Jefferson is a likely fourth-round pick.
Trotter – Trotter, the brother of Eagles LB Jeremiah, and the son of retired NFL LB Jeremiah, Sr, lacks the size and strength of his brother but is a tackling machine with excellent instincts. Trotter profiles as a core special teamer with the upside to be developed into a starter in the next few seasons. Trotter is a likely fourth or fifth-round pick on April 25.
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