2025 IDP Season Recap: Linebacker
Mike Woellert dives into eleven of the top LB performances in 2025 to figure out what we can carry forward to 2026.
We’re wrapping up the 2025 recap series, and this week, our focus shifts to everyone’s favorite position: linebacker! As with every season, 2025 saw some breakouts, disappointments, and overachievers. What does it all mean for 2026?
Let’s dig into the 11 LBs who grabbed my attention for what they did in 2025.
Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns
Carson Schwesinger was one of my guys early on, and I must say, he didn’t disappoint. There were questions on if the man-heavy scheme would hinder production, and it didn’t really. The Browns ran man coverage 43% of the time, but Schwesinger displayed good drop depth and seemed to be around the ball, cleaning up missed tackles. Forty-eight of his total tackles came in coverage.
Here we see a quick change of direction, and eyes up allow him to get the tackle:
Schwesinger was an asset in run defense, posting an 81.8 PFF run defense grade, ranking him 15th among off-ball LBs. He was immediately bestowed the green dot, which gave him a three-down role from Week 1. Schwesinger produced a 16.3% tackle rate and was among the top off-ball LBs in TFLs.
Even with the uncertainty at DC, I have no problem buying into him as an LB1 in 2026 and should be one of the first off the board.
Devin White, LB, Las Vegas Raiders
I certainly didn’t have Devin White as the lone off-ball LB to play 100% of the snaps and finish second in the league in tackles (174). But his performance in 2025 was a great reminder that tackles don’t equal a good player.
The Raiders were among the tops in the league in zone coverage, and 86 of White’s tackles came in coverage, but his coverage was abysmal.
As you can see here, White has no awareness of what’s around him and loses track of assignments. Then there’s the missed tackle on top of all that:
The positive for White is that his missed tackle rate was lower in coverage than against the run. “Bad angles” and “washed out of plays” were the themes of White’s run defense, along with a 15.4% missed tackle rate.
White finished as the LB3 in Big 3 Scoring last season, and he’s going to be the easiest fade in 2026. A new coaching staff, the fact he’s a UFA, his ugly tape, and his 40.0 PFF grade will tell the story pretty convincingly.
Eric Wilson, LB, Minnesota Vikings
Eric Wilson enjoyed a productive season under Brian Flores and took advantage of snaps when Blake Cashman was injured. Flores utilized Wilson as a pass rush weapon, ranking among the top-15 off-ball LBs in pass rush grade (70.2) and led all off-ball LBs in pressures (37), which resulted in a 20.6% pressure rate.
His fantasy stats were inflated in part by a career-high in sacks (6.5), 4 forced fumbles, and 17 TFLs, resulting in a finish as the LB6 in Big 3 Scoring.
Wilson is going to be entering his age 32 season and is a pending free agent. Obviously, it’s best for his IDP value to return to Minnesota, but money and age might be prohibitive, and I’m not expecting him to repeat, even if he returns to Minnesota.
Drake Thomas, LB, Seattle Seahawks
After scooping Drake Thomas up off waivers following Tyrice Knight’s benching, IDP managers loved “the Drake” (to quote the classic Seinfeld episode). Thomas was an unexpected source of tackles, despite the lack of a full-time role.
He saw greater than 80% of the snaps in 7 games and produced a respectable 12.6% tackle rate. Thomas had 6 games of 6+ tackles and had 10 TFLs.
He finished as the LB23 in Big 3 Scoring, but was an inconsistent weekly LB2, as he had 9 games of 5 tackles or fewer. Watching the film, Thomas just seemed to be around the ball. He was consistently in position and able to stay clean.
On this tackle, he scrapes across the field and gets through the gap clean:
Thomas is going to hit the free agent market, but he has emerged as a key piece to this defense, and I think his Super Bowl performance could also determine if he returns. I’m not willing to pay a premium for a repeat with the questions on his status.
Cedric Gray, LB, Tennessee Titans
Cedric Gray emerged as a playmaker for Tennessee, and new head coach Robert Saleh is likely to view him as one of the centerpieces of his defense. Gray finished with a solid 79 overall PFF grade and 92.7 run defense grade. He was a reliable tackler, recording just a 7.6% missed tackle rate, so he wasn’t leaving plays on the field.
In just his second season, he was 5th in the league in tackles (160) and produced an elite 17.4% tackle rate. He had 9 games of 10+ tackles and 12 games of 8+ tackles. He was consistent all season with a safe floor. He was ahead of his teammates, as 97 of his tackles were solos. You’re going to look quick playing opposite Cody Barton.
I loved this scrape and seek from Gray here. He gets a good jump, keeps his eyes on the ball carrier, and gets the TFL:
Saleh may bestow the dot on Gray if the Titans don’t bring Barton back. As of now, the Titans are in search of a DC, but I don’t anticipate too much of a drop-off for Gray. I’m buying him as an LB1.
Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
I liked Devin Lloyd as a potential breakout under Anthony Campanile, but it came in the form of big plays, as opposed to tackles. In Big 3 Scoring, Lloyd finished as the LB19 without recording 100 tackles. Lloyd had a career-high INTs (5) and added 9 QB hits, as he saw a career-high 103 pass rush snaps.
Unfortunately, the big plays aren’t sticky from year to year. His inflated big play rate, and the fact his 5th year wasn’t picked up, make him a tricky off-ball LB to project in 2026, especially with the decline in his tackle rate from his career 13.3% mark to 11.5% in 2025. He’s probably going to be on my avoid list in 2026.
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Chicago Bears
Tremaine Edmunds was on his way to a career year before an injury derailed his season, causing him to miss 4 games. Up until the injury, he was producing a 16.2% tackle rate, resulting in 89 tackles, and he was on pace for 146 tackles.
On this play, he reads the hand-off and stays clean to get the tackle:
TJ Edwards had the dot in 2025, and when Edwards was injured, it was a combination of D’Marco Jackson and Noah Sewell. Edmunds focused on running downhill and making plays.
The Bears do have a potential out on Edmunds, and with Edwards’ hefty contract, they have quite a bit invested at LB. His dead cap is just over $2.4 million heading into 2026. He could be on the way out in Chicago.
Edmunds is a relatively durable LB, but even when healthy, has a lower tackle floor. If you believe Edmunds will be back and Dennis Allen has unlocked him, I’d target him as an LB3 in 2026.
Nate Landman, LB, Los Angeles Rams
The Falcons allowed Nate Landman to get away in free agency, and he parlayed his mid-season success into a three-year extension. Landman had career-highs in snaps played (1,017) and tackles (132). He also added 8 TFLs and 4 forced fumbles. He ended up being an integral part of the defense as the green dot of the defense.
On this play, he targets the receiver and punches the ball out:
I don’t anticipate too many changes on the defense, but Chris Shula looms as a head coaching candidate for several teams, so it remains to be seen if the scheme changes. The Rams ran zone at the 4th highest rate (79.8%), and 45 of Landman’s tackles came in zone. I’d be interested to see his ADP because I’m not sure I’d buy him at cost, but he is a three-down LB playing in a tackle-friendly scheme.
Daiyan Henley, LB, Los Angeles Chargers
For the second year in a row, Daiyan Henley was a disappointment. Only instead of no-showing the championship, he essentially no-showed the season, and then showed up in Week 17. The nerve of this guy!
Henley battled inconsistency all season and had just two games of double-digit tackles and 6 games of 8+ tackles. Just when you thought he was going on a run, he’d go on a slow stretch. He’d record 15 tackles over two games, then go a three-game stretch of just 13 tackles.
What made it even more maddening is that the Chargers had one of the highest zone rates, and Henley still couldn’t capitalize, recording 10 fewer tackles in zone coverage in 2025.
The Chargers lost Jesse Minter to Baltimore, where he accepted a head coaching position. I don’t foresee his role changing with a new DC. Jim Harbaugh is still the coach. Will Junior Colson get a shot at the LB2 role?
I think Henley represents a solid buy-low in redraft leagues in 2026. I have a feeling his ADP is going to go way down, and you might be able to get a potential LB1 at an LB3 price. Heck, you might want to shoot an offer to the Henley manager in dynasty.
Alex Singleton, LB, Denver Broncos
Alex Singleton is entering the 2026 season as a free agent with a desire to be back with Denver. I’m sure the feeling is mutual. However, health concerns surrounding a late-season cancer diagnosis might throw a monkey wrench into things. The fact that he missed just one game is remarkable, and he finished with 135 tackles, although just 54 were solo. He still appeared in 1,029 snaps as the Broncos’ green dot.
Singleton had a solid two-week stretch in the playoffs, recording an 18.3% tackle rate, resulting in 26 tackles (looking like our old Kingleton).
He’s going to be 33 by the end of next season, and durability could be a question. A torn ACL caused him to miss the majority of the 2024 season, and now he has this looming cancer concern. He’s healthy now, but that could change quickly. I’m probably fading in 2026, or targeting him more as an LB3/4 at the very least.
Roquan Smith, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Let’s run down the checklist for Roquan Smith in 2025:
Lowest tackle output since 2019? Check.
Missed games due to injury. Check.
Entering age 29 season? Check.
New coach and defensive coordinator? Check.
All these factors combine to represent a buy low in redraft and even dynasty. If you’re in win-now mode, Smith is the type of elite LB who can put you over the edge.
I don’t see a drop-off in his play. He’s still as high IQ with the same instincts:
Smith saw about a 3% drop in tackle share from 2024 to 2025, as there appeared to be more tackle opportunities for the DB, and Teddye Buchanan emerged as an LB2 with 85 tackles before an injury knocked him out.
Plus, the Ravens were in man at the 6th highest rate under Zach Orr. That should change as the Chargers, under Jesse Minter, were in zone at the second-highest rate in 2025 (81.3%), so that potential shift should mean more tackle opportunities. The Chargers also used dime/single-LB nearly 20% of the time, so Smith might be the lone off-ball on more snaps. I’m buying a bounce back from Smith in 2026.
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