It’s fairly uncommon we get off-ball linebackers taken excessive within the NFL Draft, and 2025 is not any exception with none anticipated to be taken within the first spherical. Only a observe, in the event you’re on the lookout for pass-rushing exterior linebackers, we coated them over right here.
We polled a gaggle of writers from round SB Nation to assemble consensus rankings in regards to the gamers.
We’ll take away gamers from the listing as they re-sign with their present groups all the way in which as much as the opening of free company in March.
Others receiving votes
10. Nick Bolton, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
A second-round decide getting into free company for the primary time, Bolton returned to type in 2024 after lacking half the 12 months in 2023. This previous season he completed with three sacks, 106 tackles, 11 TFL, seven QB hits, six passes defended, and three turnovers. He’s an excellent linebacker and may begin for many groups within the league. UPDATE: Bolton signed a three-year deal to remain in KC.
9. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davis is 35 and solely performed for the Buccaneers in his 13-year profession. He completed 2024 with 122 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception. He performed on a one-year $8.75 million contract this previous season however $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 within the Washington linebacker room, however he turns 35 in June. Nonetheless, he’s solely missed one recreation within the final 9 years and was second-team All-Professional this 12 months. A tackling machine, his 132 tackles in 2024 had been the fewest in a season for him since 2015. He had 10 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and compelled a fumble. He’s not as nice as he as soon as was, however he’s fairly good nonetheless if he needs to maintain taking part in. UPDATE: He re-signed with the Commanders.
7. Eric Kendricks, Dallas Cowboys
Kendricks goes to be 33 by the point free company rolls round in March and shall be on the lookout for his fourth completely different crew in 4 seasons after one-year offers in Dallas and with the Chargers after eight seasons in Minnesota. Dude is a tackling machine with 9 straight 100-tackle seasons since getting into the beginning lineup. He completed 2024 with 138 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and three pressured fumbles. He performed 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 as a substitute of a bona fide beginning participant. He solely topped 50% of Pittsburgh defensive snaps in 5 video games whereas recording a number of the lowest statistical numbers of his profession; 46 tackles and one sack. He made $3.5 million in every of the final two seasons.
5. Robert Spillane, Las Vegas Raiders
Spillane simply turned 29 and is coming off back-to-back seasons beginning each recreation for the Raiders after being a spot starter for 4 years with the Steelers. Since becoming a member of the beginning lineup, his numbers are nice averaging 153 tackles, 2.75 sacks, eight tackles for a loss, 5.5 passes defended, and a couple of.5 interceptions per season. He made $8 million mixed over two seasons in Vegas and is probably going in line for a pay bump in 2025. UPDATE: Spillane is heading to New England.
4. Ernest Jones, Seattle Seahawks
Jones began his profession as a third-round decide of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, however was traded to the Titans previous to the 2024 season for just about nothing. The Titans shipped him to Seattle in October forward of the commerce deadline, so he’s been on three groups within the final 12ish months. He did obtain 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. Cut up throughout two groups in 2024, he completed with 138 tackles. UPDATE: Jones re-signed with the Seahawks for 3 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 out with the Seahawks final offseason as they revamped their protection with a brand new coach. They ultimately benched him then launched him in November and the Dolphins claimed him for the rest of the season. I believe it was extra of a Seahawks factor than him not being gifted sufficient to start out, in order that greenback quantity might be proper. He had a mixed 107 tackles, two sacks, six passes defended together with three interceptions, and a pressured fumble in 2024.
2. Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers
The six-year veteran was in each voter’s prime three regardless of lacking many of the 2024 season with damage. He returned from an Achilles’ damage suffered within the Tremendous Bowl however injured his calf in December. He must be absolutely wholesome heading into free company and coming off a two-year, $16.4 million contract, he’ll doubtless have the ability to command related cash on a brand new deal. UPDATE: Greenlaw agreed to a take care of the Broncos.
1. Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Our clear best choice, Baun was a Professional Bowler in 2024 in his first season with the Eagles. Beforehand a spot starter for the Saints, he began 16 video games for Philly and racked up 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 pressured fumbles, and an interception this season. Not a foul time for a profession 12 months! He made $4 million in 2024, however he may simply be within the $10 million per season vary now. UPDATE: Baun is without doubt one of the highest-paid linebacker within the NFL and has re-signed with the Eagles
Just lately launched linebackers
These quarterbacks had been launched after our rankings had been put collectively within the lead as much as the 2025 league 12 months.
Sione Takitaki
The previous Browns and Patriots linebacker was launched by New England after signing a two-year, $6.7 million contract that might have escalated to $10 million. He solely performed 17% of the Patriots’ snaps in 2024 after offseason knee surgical procedure pressured him to start the 12 months on PUP.
Different free agent linebackers
- De’Vondre Campbell
- Willie Homosexual 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. Velocity
- 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
- Ok.J. Britt
- Eric Wilson
Anthony PittmanEzekiel TurnerJamien 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 had been signed to new offers
- Isaiah McDuffie re-signed with the Packers
- Zack Baun signed a large new take care of 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 take care of the Lions
- Nick Bolton re-upped with the Chiefs for 3 years
- Jermain Sherwood re-signed with the New York Jets for 3 years
- Ernest Jones signed an enormous deal to remain in Seattle for 3 seasons
- Robert Spillane signed a take care of the Patriots
- Akeem Davis-Gaither agreed to a two-year take care of the Cardinals
- Dre Greenlaw agrred to phrases on a three-year take care of the Broncos
