NFC North Linebackers Rankings for 2026

The next stop on my NFC North position rankings sees us take a look at the linebackers (excluding outside linebackers, who are in the edge defenders rankings), which is the engine room of each team’s defense.

NFC North LB Rankings for 2026

The NFC North has some top players at the linebacker position, but there are question marks about depth for most teams. One team stands out while the others are quite close. Here are my rankings for this season.

1. Chicago Bears

Devin Bush, TJ Edwards, D’Marco Jackson, Noah Sewell

The Bears released Tremaine Edmunds and replaced him by signing Devin Bush. It was a big move, adding a guy who scored an overall grade of 87.6 from Pro Football Focus to the already talented TJ Edwards. It gives Chicago the best one-two in the division by some distance, which is why they are top of the rankings.

In D’Marco Jackson, they have a depth player who excelled in coverage last season and a big, powerful LB in Noah Sewell, who is solid in run defense. There hasn’t been much pass rush success historically, and it’s an area Edwards will need to step up in this year, but it’s a good overall unit with decent depth that excels in coverage.

2. Detroit Lions

Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jimmy Rolder

Jack Campbell immediately became one of the best linebackers in the league after the Lions drafted him in 2023. He is as good as it gets in run defense, and he is also good in coverage and at rushing the passer.

Detroit has lost Alex Anzalone and not replaced him, leaving the depth behind Campbell looking weak. Derrick Barnes is solid in run defense, and Malcolm Rodriguez burst onto the scene as an undrafted rookie but missed a lot of football over the last two seasons because of a major ACL tear. The depth chart is rounded out by fourth-round rookie Jimmy Rolder.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Ivan Pace, Jake Golday

Since returning home to his native Minnesota, Blake Cashman has proved himself to be a very good linebacker. Persistent injuries that have caused him to miss a few games in each of his two seasons as a Viking are a concern for the now 30-year-old defender.

Brian Flores found a role for the returning Eric Wilson last season that clicked. Wilson was a menace coming downhill and racking up sacks and tackles for loss. It will be interesting to see if he can keep that production up this year. Ivan Pace has fallen off since his dramatic breakthrough as an undrafted rookie and could find his role on the team in jeopardy if second-round rookie Jake Golday can make an early impact.

The Vikings have a solid group, but it’s the impact of the rookie that will determine how good they can be.

4. Green Bay Packers

Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper

Green Bay brought in Zaire Franklin to reunite with current defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Franklin had good years in Indianapolis but took a major downturn in 2025, and having reached 30, there have to be questions over whether he can return to his previous form.

Edgerrin Cooper has looked like a solid addition since being acquired in the second round of the 2024 draft, and Isaiah McDuffie is a reasonable depth player. Ty’Ron Hopper was drafted in the third round of the same draft as Cooper, as the Packers have searched for answers at linebacker that haven’t quite materialized.

With former first-rounder Quay Walker gone, Green Bay needs further development from Cooper and Hopper and a return to form from Franklin; otherwise, this will be a problem area for the team in 2026.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.