The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a week away, and we could see some history this year—at least after a fashion. There's a real chance that Ohio State's Sonny Styles could be drafted inside the top-five, and if that happens, it will be the first time that an off-ball linebacker went in the top-five since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Devin White fifth overall in 2019.
Off-ball linebackers may be the lifeblood of IDP leagues, but the position has become somewhat devalued in the NFL. Since 2017, there have been just four off-ball linebackers taken in the top-10. The last time a linebacker was taken first overall was all the way back in 2014, when Browns general manager Sonny Weaver took Ohio State's Vontae Mack as part of a historic draft in Cleveland.
Oh, come on. You had to know that was coming.
However, while off-ball linebackers may not be an especially valuable position to NFL teams, it remains the bedrock of fantasy success in IDP formats. And while this isn't the best class ever, it's also most assuredly not the worst—there are multiple players (including Styles) with the potential to be three-down starters at the professional level.
Of course, while the talent level of those linebackers absolutely matters, so does the situation they find themselves in to begin their professional careers. Some will benefit significantly from a clear part to an every-down role off the jump. Others will suffer from landing with a team where snaps could be harder to come by.
What I'm so eloquently tiptoeing around is that for every prominent linebacker prospect, there's an ideal fantasy landing spot.
Because I haven't been running this series for days here at Footballguys.
Ideal Linebacker Fantasy Landing Spots
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
Scout's Take
"Styles projects as a true three-down starting off-ball linebacker at the next level with high-end athleticism at his size. His skill set can fit more as a Will, but he has all the tools to be a Mike Linebacker as well. In his 2nd full season as a true linebacker, he steadily improved his ability to take on blocks and be a true leader in the middle of the defense. On 3rd down, he can be lined up across the formation to help disguise pressures and coverages." – Derek Stanzione, Sports Info Solutions
Ideal Landing Spot: Washington Commanders
Styles is an athletic marvel—he's actually bigger than Arvell Reese, ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and jumped out of the building. Oh, and he began his collegiate career as a safety, so his coverage skills are also above-average. Styles is going to clean up wherever he lands and is easily this year's top rookie IDP overall, but in the right landing spot, he could be an elite redraft fantasy option as a rookie.
CJ Allen, Georgia
Scout's Take
"Allen may never be an All-Pro, but he should develop into a reliable starter early in his career. He compares favorably to Nakobe Dean, another Georgia linebacker with a high floor. They don't wow you with their size or speed, but they are tough, instinctive, and productive." – Todd McShay, The Ringer
Ideal Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
At 6'0" and 230 pounds, Allen isn't as big as Styles. He isn't as fast. Or as physical. But he's a tough, smart player with experience relaying the defensive signals who probably won't make it out of Round 1. The Cowboys need defensive help desperately at all three levels, and were Allen to wind up in Big D, he'd have a good shot to open the season wearing the green dot for the Cowboys.
