Dallas Cowboys 2026 NFL Draft: Linebacker Rankings and Fit

Why Linebacker Still Matters

I don’t care how pass-heavy this league gets, if your linebackers can’t run and cover, you’re cooked.

Offenses attack the middle of the field relentlessly. Tight ends run like receivers, running backs split out wide, and quarterbacks force linebackers to think and move at the same time.

And with new defensive coordinator Christian Parker taking over, I expect that position to matter more.

Parker’s background tells me he is going to emphasize speed, communication, and versatility in the second level. That doesn’t work if your linebacker room is average.

If I’m building this Cowboys’ defense for 2026, I want an above-average linebacker corps. Not just one guy, a unit that can handle modern offenses without constantly needing safety help.

Here’s how I would stack them.

1. Arvell Reese – Ohio State

Every major board agrees here, and honestly, so do I. The only issue is the Cowboys are not going to be high enough to draft this man unless they trade up.

Arvell Reese looks like a modern NFL linebacker. He can run, cover, blitz, and he plays in space without looking uncomfortable.

When I watched him play, I didn’t see a situational player. He looked like a three down linebacker.

If Dallas wants a linebacker that doesn’t come off the field, Reese is my LB1.

2. Sonny Styles – Ohio State

Two Buckeyes at the top? I’m fine with that because these two deserve to be the top two linebackers.

Sonny Styles moves like a safety and that stands out immediately. He doesn’t look stiff changing directions and there is no panic in coverage.

We all know in today’s NFL, that matters more than being able to stack and shed every snap.

If I’m thinking about matching up with athletic tight ends and space-heavy offenses, Styles makes a ton of sense for Dallas.

3. CJ Allen – Georgia

The Georgia Bulldog on this list brings a different type of energy than the first two young men.

CJ Allen is more old school. He’s physical, plays downhill, and is comfortable in the box.

Don’t let that old school play fool you, he doesn’t come unprepared. Allen has seen pro-style offenses and has some skill in the coverage department.

If I want someone who can come in and anchor against the run immediately, Allen will be in the Dallas Cowboys range. It doesn’t hurt the Cowboys have a former Georgia coach on staff now.

4. Jacob Rodriguez – Texas Tech

This young man is one of the most productive linebackers I have ever seen. Not only has he won just about every linebacker award, he was also a Heisman finalist.

He may not get as much hype as the more athletic backers, but if I had to choose a linebacker to start in the middle of my defense, it would be Jacob Rodriguez.

Rodriguez doesn’t have the speed, but that doesn’t stop him from ranking near the top in coverage, run defense, and production.

This guy just makes plays.

If I’m looking for value beyond the obvious names, Rodriguez is a guy I’m circling twice.

5. Bryce Boettcher – Oregon

The Oregon Duck isn’t getting much love in draft circles, but he is a gamer.

Boettcher isn’t loud or flashy, but he is smooth in space.

He takes clean angles, doesn’t overrun plays, and he looks comfortable in coverage. That’s not something you can say about every linebacker in this class.

If Dallas misses the top tier, Bryce Boettcher feels like the kind of value pick that ends up playing meaningful snaps early.

Let’s Get a Linebacker

After blending national rankings with grading data, this is what I keep coming back to:

Reese and Styles are the top tier.

Allen and Rodriguez are the names that could end up being serious value picks and possibly the best linebackers in this draft.

Boettcher could be right there with Allen and Rodriguez, but with much less fan fair.

This isn’t a thin linebacker class, it’s deep. And with Christian Parker likely pushing for a faster, more complete second level, the Cowboys can’t afford to treat linebacker like an afterthought.

If they address it in 2026, they’ll have real options in this draft.

The only question is how aggressive they’re willing to be.