NFL free agent rankings: Linebackers

NFL: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles — Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Which linebacker should you sign in free agency?

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

Jack Gibbens (RFA)

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. UPDATE: Roberts agreed to a deal with the Raiders.

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. UPDATE: Dodson is heading back to South Beach to play for the Dolphins.

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.

C.J. Mosley

More changes in New Jersey as the Jets released defensive leader C.J. Mosley. The former Pro Bowler and All-Pro only played four games in 2024 and turns 33 this June. New York didn’t want to pay him $8.25 million in their new regime.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin

An eight-year veteran, Reees-Maybin just turned 30 and played 10 games in 2024 for the Lions. Detroit didn’t want to pay him $3.5 million to be their special teams ace, so he’s on the market looking for a team in need of some ST snaps.

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
~~Cody Barton~~
Joe Bachie
~~Divine Deablo~~
Baron Browning
Troy Reeder
Ben Niemann
Jordan Kunaszyk
~~Derrick Barnes~~
Garret Wallow
~~K.J. Britt~~
Eric Wilson
~~Luke Gifford~~
~~Anthony Pittman~~
~~Ezekiel Turner~~
~~Jamien Sherwood~~
~~Isaiah McDuffie~~
~~Cole Christiansen~~
~~Josh Woods~~
~~Jamin Davis~~
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 agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Broncos
Oren Burks agreed to a two-year deal with the Bengals
Mailk Harrison agreed to a two-year deal with the Steelers
Cody Barton agreed to a three-year deal with the Titans
Chris Board agreed to a two-year deal with the Giants
Elandon Roberts afreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Raiders
Divine Deablo agreed to a two-year deal with the Falcons
Curtis Robinson signed an extension with the 49ers
Luke Gifford agreed to a one-year deal in San Francisco
Cole Christiansen re-signed with the Chiefs
The Browns and Devin Bush agreed to terms
Nick Niemann and the Texans agreed to a two-year deal
Tyrel Dodson re-upped with the Miami Dolphins
Justin Strnad agreed to a deal with the Broncos
Troy Dye signed a two-year deal with the Chargers
Jack Sanborn signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys
Christian Rozeboom inked with the Panthers
Denzel Perryman signed a one-year deal with the Chargers
Jack Cochrane was tendered at the RFA rite of first refusal and can still negotiate with other teams
Jake Hummel signed a one-year deal with the Ravens
Josh Woods re-upped with the Falcons
Jamin Davis signed a one-year deal with the Jets
K.J. Britt signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins
Anthony Walker Jr. signed a one-year deal in Tampa

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