2026 Draft: Linebacker

[mayoclinic]

 

[mayoclinic]

From the Xwitterverse:

 

[manxman2601]

From the Xwitterverse:

Another sack today.

 

[mayoclinic]

We are watching some amazing performances every week by Reese, Bailey, Bain, Tyson, Tate, Lemon, etc. Some very good players, all likely top-20 picks.

 

[manxman2601]

We are watching some amazing performances every week by Reese, Bailey, Bain, Tyson, Tate, Lemon, etc. Some very good players, all likely top-20 picks.

Sadly yes. It sucks to be good.

 

[mayoclinic]

But it sucks more to suck.

 

[BobDigital]

Finally scouted Arvell Reese today just because i felt i owed it to know a little about him. It was kind of lazy though to be honest cause from everything i heard he was going to be a top 5 or so player and so out of reach. And yeah. He is a top 10 player and will be out of reach most likely. The only thing i have against him is from what i saw he doesn't have a ton of explosive game changing plays due to his position. He can blitz really well with speed if his number is called... but how often will it be called in the NFL and will teams be able to react to it better than in college? Probably less and probably yes. Outside of that, few passes defended. No interceptions in his college career. Hasn't even forced a fumble yet. Some will say this doesn't matter. That that won't really be his job. But it does stress the point his task, while he is VERY good at it, is indeed lower impact. So while he may well be the best player in this this draft grading within how well they execute their role. I would value others above him cause i do think there is reason to question his impact.

When you want to take a LB super high... I'd hope he played more of a 'Luke Kuechly' type who can have a much higher impact over the course of a game than a guy more in the Reese mold IMO. So is Reese amazing? Yes. Amazingly impactful? I don't know if there is good evidence of that. Once in the NFL there will be RBs more capable of picking up that blitz and buying QBs a chance to throw to that recently vacated spot. So i wouldn't take him top 5 like some might. Do i even give him a top 10 grade? From a player perspective obviously... from a VALUE perspective... Sorry at this point i just don't see it. Top 16? A top half first round pick. Sure. But top 10? How can i pick him over shut down CBs or potential game changing WRs or OTs or guys on the DL who ruin formations? I just can't i think.

I imagine this will not be looked at fondly. But i think it is a perspective worth considering.

 

[manxman2601]

Finally scouted Arvell Reese today just because i felt i owed it to know a little about him. It was kind of lazy though to be honest cause from everything i heard he was going to be a top 5 or so player and so out of reach. And yeah. He is a top 10 player and will be out of reach most likely. The only thing i have against him is from what i saw he doesn't have a ton of explosive game changing plays due to his position. He can blitz really well with speed if his number is called... but how often will it be called in the NFL and will teams be able to react to it better than in college? Probably less and probably yes. Outside of that, few passes defended. No interceptions in his college career. Hasn't even forced a fumble yet. Some will say this doesn't matter. That that won't really be his job. But it does stress the point his task, while he is VERY good at it, is indeed lower impact. So while he may well be the best player in this this draft grading within how well they execute their role. I would value others above him cause i do think there is reason to question his impact.

When you want to take a LB super high... I'd hope he played more of a 'Luke Kuechly' type who can have a much higher impact over the course of a game than a guy more in the Reese mold IMO. So is Reese amazing? Yes. Amazingly impactful? I don't know if there is good evidence of that. So i wouldn't take him top 5 like some might. Do i even give him a top 10 grade? From a player perspective obviously... from a VALUE perspective... Sorry at this point i just don't see it. Top 16? A top half first round pick. Sure. But top 10? How can i pick him over shut down CBs or potential game changing WRs or OTs or guys on the DL who ruin formations? I just can't i think.

I imagine this will not be looked at fondly. But i think it is a perspective worth considering.

All opinions are valid. I actually agree with you a bit - I don't know if he's an out and out MIKE. With Reese it's about what he can become and the edge rushing value adds. He has 7 sacks already this year and people are rightfully speculating whether he can become a Micah Parsons type. He has outstanding strength to take on OL and the range to play MIKE too. Will he be Luke Kuechly? Maybe not. He might be a smaller , faster version of Dont'a Hightower though.

 

[mayoclinic]

The only thing i have against him is from what i saw he doesn't have a ton of explosive game changing plays due to his position.

I respect your opinion, Bob, and disagreement is fine. But all I've seen from Reese this season are one explosive game-changing play after another, so I really don't get the above.

 

[manxman2601]

OK, a third.

Mac Harris, USF, 6-0, 235

He currently leads the FBS in pass coverage grade with a 91.1 grade and only gives up completions on 50% of his targets this year. For comparisons sake, Jacob Rodriguez is at 76%, Golday at 65% and Sonny Styles 88%.

Harris also has 4 sacks on the year, a sub 10% missed tackled rate, 3 forced fumbles and only a 21% QB rating against.

Wow. I've just noticed that Mac Harris also has 6 sacks, one behind Arvell Reese. He's having a really exceptional season. A day 3 option for sure.

 

[BobDigital]

Decided to do another LB.. I'll be looking into this group a lot. It seems pretty deep, and i get the feeling someone is going to fall to round 3 or 4 that shouldn't somewhere in this group.

(BTW... i am making a list and when i publish it it will be top 10, 16, 32, 48 64, 80 and then the rest of 3rd 4th 5th and 6th/7th kind of are in the same box). Not nearly enough names worth publishing yet though.

CJ Allen – top 48 pick. Lacks the sideline to sideline speed of Reese as well as his strength, but his ability to burst forward in a straight line with pure speed is on the same level. He also has shown consistently more presence in the pass defense and coverage game which I value more from the LB spot in today’s game. A little more of an all rounder which isn’t a bad thing at all. Consistently good at finishing.

 

[manxman2601]

Decided to do another LB.. I'll be looking into this group a lot. It seems pretty deep, and i get the feeling someone is going to fall to round 3 or 4 that shouldn't somewhere in this group.

(BTW... i am making a list and when i publish it it will be top 10, 16, 32, 48 64, 80 and then the rest of 3rd 4th 5th and 6th/7th kind of are in the same box). Not nearly enough names worth publishing yet though.

CJ Allen – top 48 pick. Lacks the sideline to sideline speed of Reese as well as his strength, but his ability to burst forward in a straight line with pure speed is on the same level. He also has shown consistently more presence in the pass defense and coverage game which I value more from the LB spot in today’s game. A little more of an all rounder which isn’t a bad thing at all. Consistently good at finishing.

I was a big fan of him early but he's more a Spillane replacement rather than compliment and with Spillane doing so well of late, Allen has fallen down my board a bit.

 

[mayoclinic]

Wanna see Reese lift Kadyn Proctor with 1 arm and body slam him.

 

[manxman2601]

James Foster on Arvell Reese

I don’t know if this is a gift for you Mayo or just rubbing it in at this point.

 

[mayoclinic]

James Foster: "The fact that [Reese] doesn't have a traditional skill set that translates to the NFL does add an element of uncertainty."

Translation: "There's never been anyone quite like Arvell Reese. Ever."

 

[mayoclinic]

To be fair, I agree with Foster (and BobDigital) that coverage isn't the strength of Reese's game. Sonny Styles and Jake Golday are probably better in that regard. But Reese isn't bad, and will likely get better in coverage. And everything else is off the charts.

Hyperbole (maybe even blasphemy), but Lawrence Taylor wasn't drafted for his ability to drop into coverage.

 

[manxman2601]

To be fair, I agree with Foster (and BobDigital) that coverage isn't the strength of Reese's game. Sonny Styles and Jake Golday are probably better in that regard. But Reese isn't bad, and will likely get better in coverage. And everything else is off the charts.

Hyperbole (maybe even blasphemy), but Lawrence Taylor wasn't drafted for his ability to drop into coverage.

LT had 16 sacks in his last college season. Some way to go for Reese.

 

[manxman2601]

A breakdown of Jacob Rodriguez's week 8 performancce

"
I really love this linebacker class. It feels like with each week that passes there is another name worth highlighting. The guy that caught my eye this weekend was Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has had a number of impressive games already this season, but he really impressed against the Sun Devils, despite the Red Raiders losing the game.

What really stood out in this game was Rodriguez’s elite feel for run defense. He finished the game with 14 tackles, the most he’s had in a single game all season. Six of those constituted defensive stops.

At 6’1” and 235 pounds, Rodriguez isn’t the biggest linebacker in the class, but he plays with the necessary physicality and temperament. There were numerous occasions in this game where he was able to get downhill, engage with the Arizona State offensive line, and shed his blocker to make a play on the ball carrier.

He also displays an excellent first step. Rodriguez did a great job of reading his keys and reacting instinctively, allowing him to fly past would-be blockers and create splash plays.

He also managed to register a pair of forced fumbles in this game, although Texas Tech was unfortunately not able to recover either.

Rodriguez has certainly had an unusual journey to being an NFL prospect. He was a four-sport athlete in high school where he played quarterback and safety. He committed to Virginia as a quarterback before switching to linebacker after transferring to Texas Tech. That quarterback background really shows in how he reads the game – a trait that gives him a clear competitive advantage in terms of diagnosis and reaction speed.

Given his physical traits and football IQ, Rodriguez is quickly transitioning from a position-switch project to a legitimate, high-upside day-two prospect.

Week 8 Scouting Notebook: Jacob Rodriguez, an exciting QB class and more - The Touchdown

This week's notable performers include Texas Tech's edge rusher duo, a breakout linebacker, and a QB1 contender.

thetouchdown.co.uk

 

[mayoclinic]

News scoop! PFF's Trevor Sikkema now thinks Arvell Reese is a potential 1st round pick:

Rising stock: Arvell Reese emerging as a first-round prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft

Trevor Sikkema breaks down why Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is climbing up 2026 NFL Draft boards this season.

www.pff.com

Thank God for PFF, we wouldn't know what to do otherwise.

 

[manxman2601]

Last year, Kyle Louis had 32 pressures and 7 sacks. To put that into perspective, that's about the same as Josaiah Stewart and Landon Jackson and that's after only playing 130 snaps at OLB. He's not just an off ball linebacker though, he played 271 snaps in the slot corner role too.

Jacob Rodriguez has 7 forced fumbles in the last season and a half. That's almost double what any other linebacker in this draft has done.