Pre-Draft 2026 Rookie LB Primer

IT. IS. DRAFT WEEK.

With the 2026 NFL Draft days away, it's time to talk about everyone's favorite position with this year’s rookie linebackers—and what a class it is to talk about. We have thumpers, athletic freaks, and undersized studs. In this episode, Jake Kohlhagen and Scott Soltis discuss Scott's evaluation process, compare this class to the 2025 class, and put forth the names to know for your drafts (and others to keep an eye on).

0:00 Cold open: It's draft time, baby

1:04 Scott's approach to evaluating linebackers

1:46 Why PFF run defense grade is king for LBs

4:09 Why run defense grade beats overall grade

8:11 The 2026 LB class vs. the 2025 class

15:12 Arvell Reese, Ohio State

22:29 Sonny Styles, Ohio State

32:28 3rd round LBs: the logjam

37:49 CJ Allen, Georgia

43:10 Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

51:13 Jake Golday, Cincinnati

56:09 Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

57:52 Josiah Trotter, Missouri

1:01:08 Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh

1:12:09 Closing thoughts

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