Bucs Draft 2026 Preview + Bucs Best Bets: ILB

Pewter Report analyzes the top players in the 2026 NFL Draft with its position previews. Scott Reynolds starts the previews with the inside linebacker position, offering a comprehensive look at what the Bucs have and what they need at edge/outside linebacker.

Josh Queipo then analyzes a detailed list of this year’s top inside linebacker prospects while Reynolds provides the annual Pewter Report Bucs Best Bets – the most likely inside linebacker for the Bucs to select in Rounds 1-3, and in Rounds 4-7.

What The Bucs Have At Inside Linebacker

Tampa Bay’s inside linebacker position is probably the least talented spot on the roster. Legendary linebacker Lavonte David retired after 14 illustrious seasons in red and pewter. And that was the right move as he showed signs of slowing down over the past two seasons as his play on the field dipped. Todd Bowles and Jason Licht signed veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone to play the Mo’ linebacker spot on the weak side to replace David. The high-energy Anzalone excels in coverage, has plenty of experience as a starter and served as a team captain in Detroit for several seasons.

Yet Anzalone is 31 and is more of a stopgap fix rather than a long-term solution in Tampa Bay. The Bucs could use an upgrade at middle linebacker as SirVocea Dennis, last year’s starter, is entering a contract year after an underwhelming 2025 campaign. Dennis was solid against the run and as a blitzer, but struggled in coverage, especially against running backs in the flat.

The team signed Christian Rozeboom for depth and competition at Mike linebacker after he served as the starter in Carolina last season. Rozeboom is 29 and signed a one-year deal. He and Anzalone bring some needed toughness to Tampa Bay’s defense, but he’s not as athletic at Anzalone is. And after signing a one-year deal, Rozeboom is also a journeyman rather than someone who is viewed as being an answer at middle linebacker for the next few seasons.

Nick Jackson, who was on the practice squad last year during his rookie season, is the other linebacker on the roster, as the team didn’t re-sign Deion Jones and Anthony Walker Jr. retired. Jackson was signed last year as an undrafted free agent and is likely a candidate for the practice squad again, as the team will probably keep just four inside linebackers on the 53-man roster.

What The Bucs Need At Inside Linebacker

The Bucs have a desperate need for a starting-caliber middle linebacker who can make an instant impact as a rookie. That could come in the early rounds with a player like Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, Missouri’s Josiah Trotter, Georgia’s CJ Allen or Cincinnati’s Jake Golday, or later in the draft with the likes of Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott, Michigan’s Jimmy Rolder, Clemson’s Wade Woodaz or Oklahoma’s Kendal Daniels.

In fact, the Bucs could truly double up at inside linebacker this year given that neither SirVocea Dennis nor Christian Rozeboom is under contract past 2026, and Alex Anzalone was only signed through 2027. Look for the Bucs to possibly add as many as four inside linebackers this year with two potentially coming in the draft and two more as undrafted free agents.

Top Inside Linebackers In 2026 NFL Draft

*Important Note: These players are NOT listed in the order of Pewter Report’s ranking for them. Rather, the numbers are provided to show you the rough order in which we expect them to come off the board during the draft.

1. Ohio State LB Sonny Styles – Senior – 6-5, 244, 4.46

Styles is a rare size/movement athlete with defensive back range and loose hips on a 6-foot-5 frame. He is the best processor in this draft class, diagnosing blocking schemes immediately and playing ahead of the offense. Styles is a scheme-proof run defender who can stack and shed, and his long arms help him keep blockers off his frame. He missed two tackles last year and finished with less than a 2% missed tackle rate and is an excellent blitzer with nine career sacks.

Styles is a plus coverage player with the size and speed to erase tight ends vertically and plus instincts in zone coverage to figure out and cover up route combinations. Between his elite range, long arms and sure tackling he is a true defensive weapon and chess piece. Styles has all of the tools to be a plus pass rusher, although he was not asked to contribute in that way at Ohio State. But at the next level he should develop that area of his game to become a truly complete linebacker.

2. Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez – RS Senior – 6-1, 231, 4.57

Rodriguez is an instinctual playmaker. He has plus athleticism that stems from a track background. More of a catcher than enforcer as a tackler, he will let go of some takedowns that other linebackers would finish. But that’s really the biggest knock on him. Light on his feet, Rodriguez forces turnovers like no other defensive player in this class. Rodriguez is a high-level communicator with fantastic football IQ. He plays well in coverage and knows the best times to go for the ball, leading to seven forced fumbles in 2025, which led all of the FBS.

Rodriguez isn’t a value-add as a pass rusher, and it’s where his hip-stiffness shows up the most. He struggles to twist through creases to clear the offensive line. His light feet lead to him struggling to stack and shed, but he makes up for it by beating most blockers to their spots as he scrapes across the field quickly, aided by his instincts. Rodriguez finished his career with 317 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles, six interceptions and six sacks.

3. Georgia LB C.J. Allen – Junior – 6-1, 230, 4.47

Allen is a plus athlete in a rocked-up, but smaller frame. His acceleration is elite as he can spool up to 19+ MPH from a stand-still quickly, and he has a nose for the ball with an 86th percentile tackle rate. He changes directions quickly and can mirror and match backs getting vertical out of the backfield. His coverage instincts are inconsistent, but the high-level reps are encouraging, and he is a smart and instinctual player vs. the run, finding himself in position to make the play more often than not.

Most excitingly, he plays forward as a blitzer at a high level. Despite the flashes, Allen struggled in coverage more than most and his smaller size mean he can get overwhelmed by larger blockers who climb and encompass him. And while he called the defense at Georgia, which is a plus, it was a defense with more busts under his guidance than those who came before him. Allen was a first-team All-SEC selection last year with 88 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

4. Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr. – Junior – 6-2, 238, 4.51

Hill Jr. is an elite athlete who presents a sky-high ceiling. His length and fluid hips help him close windows well in coverage. His movement skills help him get to spots quickly balanced and ready to make a play. But despite all of his athletic traits, Hill didn’t make tackles at a rate that keeps up with other top prospects in this class, and when he does, he rarely pops as if he is up for the fight.

When Hill gets covered up by climbing offensive linemen and tight ends he struggles to shed those blocks and get into the fray. Hill Jr. is a boom or bust playmaker, taking risks that lead to either big plays or complete misses.

5. Missouri LB Josiah Trotter – RS Sophomore – 6-2, 237, N/A

The son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah is an active box defender with a nose for the ball as evidenced by his 85th percentile tackle rate. He stacks and sheds well, displaying a strong punch and excellent leverage, creating negative displacement. Trotter plays with the temperament that every defensive coordinator wants from their linebackers, fighting through multiple blocks and inviting chaos.

He works best moving downhill and shows plus traits as a pass rusher and pairs it with twitchy hips to wiggle through gaps and make plays in the backfield. But when asked to play in coverage, Trotter’s lack of spatial awareness and slow processing make him a real liability that offenses will attack in the passing game. At 21 years old, Trotter has tons of room to develop and improve, which makes him an enticing bet. He finished last season with 84 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and two sacks.

6. Pitt LB Kyle Louis – RS Junior – 6-0, 220, 4.53

Louis is an elite athlete with the best coverage skills of this draft class, or many others. He can keep up with running backs and even wide receivers in space and understands route combinations and zone coverage leverage points. Louis has the demeanor to play in the box but lacks the body mass and length to disengage from blocks or stack and shed. This likely leads to him playing more of a slot/overhang role at the NFL level.

Louis had a tremendous Senior Bowl, especially in coverage, which helped his stock rise up to the third round. He finished his Pitt career with 201 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

7. Cincinnati LB Jake Golday – RS Senior – 6-4, 239, 4.62

Golday is a project with immense upside. His edge rusher history shows up on tape where his best reps occur. Golday has the bend, hands and strength to play effectively as the fifth man on the line and help defensive coordinators get to the most creative versions of their playbooks. It also helps him set a hard edge against the run. His long arms and fluid drops make him a passing window eliminator. Those long arms also help him make tackles off his frame that others cannot make.

Golday’s hips are a bit stiff, and it shows in coverage where he changes direction slowly. And he is still learning how to be a box defender. Cincinnati used him in the slot almost as much as they let him work as a true box backer. He struggles to get off blocks and can be walled off and left out of his gap. He’s going to have to learn the finer points of being a linebacker in order to earn a starting role in the NFL. Golday notched 105 tackles, six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last year for the Bearcats.

8. Alabama LB Deontae Lawson – RS Senior – 6-3, 226, N/A

Lawson is a solid athlete who can deconstruct blocks much better than his frame would let on. He loves to fire downhill with a quick trigger and weaponize his speed in space like a car hurtling into a wall. He is a plus as a pass rusher, working well on loops. Despite his athleticism, Lawson struggles in coverage, busting his assignments too often.

With a high target box and a penchant for dropping his head, he misses tackles too much. And his quick trigger can lead to mis-reads and poor pursuit angles, flattening his path and losing the corner too often.

9. Arizona State LB Keyshaun Elliott – Senior – 6-2, 231, N/A

Elliott plays like he is 15 pounds heavier than he actually is. An attacking box defender, he brings a strong demeanor and physical thumper, Elliott is a throwback linebacker in the best way. He’s a smart, high IQ defender who gets to spots quickly and secures tackles well. While Arizona State didn’t use him as a pass rusher very often, he was extremely effective in the role when asked to contribute in that way. And it’s where he can make his mark in the NFL as a blitzer.

Elliott’s instincts in coverage are a plus; it’s a matter of whether his athleticism is enough to hold up at the next level. Between two years at New Mexico State and two years at Arizona State, Elliott notched 301 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, including seven last year.

10. Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher – Sixth-Year Senior – 6-1, 233, 4.69

A fast and athletic player in space, Boettcher loves playing downhill as a thumper. He’s adept at diagnosing plays and triggering to make stops for offensive losses. He’s a team leader with plenty of special teams experience which will make him a Day 3 favorite among most NFL teams. Boettcher can over-trigger and over-pursue leading to big gains for opponents and poor tackling habits leading to missed tackles that are unacceptable.

Boettcher is also an accomplished baseball player who can turn pro if he so chooses. He was a walk-on at Oregon who developed into a quality starter, who led the team with 136 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and a forced fumble as a senior. Boettcher had a solid Senior Bowl, which helped his draft stock.

Best Of The Rest

11. TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr – RS Senior – 6-2, 234, 4.47

Elarms-Orr has a high-level processor, and TCU took advantage of that putting more on his plate than any other linebacker in this class who didn’t play at Ohio State. He was used going both forwards as a pass rusher and backwards in coverage and was moved all around the defensive formation. He has good size and tests as an elite athlete. His tape doesn’t always match those testing numbers. Elarms-Orr’s IQ is his best trait, and he works best as a blitzer, but he struggles to take on pullers and gets sucked into gaps, failing to work out to make a play.

12. Texas A&M LB Taurean York – Junior – 5-11, 226, 4.59

York is a high IQ player with great movement in space skills. He processes well in coverage and plays ahead of run concepts. York plays bigger than his size, but his lack of mass is a big concern – he’s just smaller than most everybody else in the box. That leads him getting covered up and engulfed by blockers easily. His shorter arms make for a smaller tackling range and don’t help him in coverage.

13. Indiana LB Aiden Fisher – Senior – 6-1, 232, 4.76

Fisher is a well-respected team leader with fluid body control but limited top end speed. He makes up for the speed limitations with a high football IQ that helps him play ahead of the action. His production has always worked well ahead of his traits, and he is a plus special teams contributor.

14. LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr. – RS Junior – 6-1, 223, 4.45

Perkins Jr. is an athlete roaming as a linebacker. Probably best used as a dime backer/overhang, but younger than most he has the time to develop into more. He evades climbers more than sheds and has shown high-end flashes in coverage. But his lack of size and strength leads to pull-down tackles and misses and suboptimal results as a blitzer.

15. Michigan LB Jimmy Rolder – RS Junior – 6-2, 238, N/A

Rolder is a rangy athlete who works best in space. He gets tied up and engulfed in muddy areas, so he has to win with IQ and quickness to get to spots early. But he also has to balance that need with being too aggressive and overrunning the play. In coverage, Rolder can get lost and drift out of his zone/assignment. He will have to tidy that up to be successful in space, but he should find a home on special teams early in his career.

16. Alabama LB Justin Jefferson – RS Senior – 6-1, 223, 4.57

Small and quick, Jefferson plays fast and furious. He’s just not always in control of how his impact will translate. He has the athleticism to succeed at the NFL level, but at his size he may not be able to hold up physically.

17. Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels – RS Senior – 6-5, 242, 4.76

A safety who grew into a linebacker in college, Daniels plays faster than his athletic testing and works best coming down hill where he finds the backfield at an obscenely high rate. He can match up with tight ends and understands how offenses are attacking him portending a high football IQ. To make the transition to linebacker, Daniels will need to add some mass to his core and learn how to take better lines with less overpursuit.

18. BYU LB Jack Kelly – RS Senior – 6-2, 240, 4.57

Kelly is a well-framed athlete who can cover ground and likes to bring the hammer when wrapping up. That tendency to chase big hits does lead to missed tackles because he will drop his head. He can over-pursue and struggles to stack and shed, but his football character could mean a special teams depth role for him. Kelly had 15 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in two seasons at BYU and is an excellent blitzer.

19. Arkansas LB Xavian Sorey Jr. – RS Senior – 6-2, 228, 4.63

Solid athlete with room to grow his frame, Sorey Jr.’s change of direction skills play up against cutbacks attempted by backs, and he works well as the fifth man on the line as a pass rusher. He loves to hit hard and establish violence and will bring that demeanor to special teams. But that violence comes with warts – namely poor angles and missed tackles.

20. Clemson LB Wade Woodaz – Senior – 6-3, 235, 4.57

Woodaz is a Tampa prospect who won a state championship at Jesuit High School alongside Troy Bowles, Todd’s son, prior to a four-year career at Clemson. Excelling in coverage, Woodaz was a two-year starter at linebacker, often playing the overhang/slot area. Woodaz totaled 201 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles, three interceptions and 11 pass breakups without giving up a receiving touchdown in his career.

Bucs Best Bets – By Scott Reynolds

ROUNDS 1-3: Missouri ILB Josiah Trotter

The Bucs covet Texas Tech inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, but he might be gone by the time Tampa Bay is on the clock in the second round with the No. 46 overall pick. It might come down to Georgia’s CJ Allen and Trotter – and either would be a solid addition to the defense and a starting-caliber middle linebacker over SirVocea Dennis and Christian Rozeboom. The pick here is Trotter as he’s younger and bigger at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, as opposed to the 230-pound Allen. Trotter, like Allen, was a first-team All-SEC selection last year, and led the Tigers with 84 tackles and had two sacks on the season. The Bucs had Trotter in for an official 30 visit.

Trotter is an exceptional downhill linebacker and blitzer. He had an 81.6 pass rush grade per Pro Football Focus and an 89.2 run defense grade. Trotter made 13 tackles for loss last year and attacks the line of scrimmage at full speed. While he gets lost in coverage, he simply needs more experience dropping into zones. Trotter, the son of Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, just turned 21, so he has plenty of upside. Tampa Bay could draft Trotter in the second round if the team selects an edge rusher in the first round, or draft him in the third round if he’s still available should the Bucs wait until the second round to pick up an outside linebacker.

ROUNDS 4-7: Oklahoma ILB Kendal Daniels

It’s doubtful that the Bucs wait until Day 3 to select a linebacker as finding a starting-caliber ‘backer is a priority. What Tampa Bay could do in the later rounds is double dip, as the linebacker position needs revamping. Alex Anzalone is 31 and was signed to a two-year deal. Christian Rozeboom is 29 and only signed a one-year deal. SirVocea Dennis is in a contract year after a lackluster first season as a starter. Some good linebackers will still be available on Day 3, including Michigan’s Jimmy Rolder, Clemson’s Wade Woodaz and Daniels. Rolder and Woodaz visited One Buc Place, while Daniels had a formal Combine interview.

Daniels was a 6-foot-4, 205-pound safety at Oklahoma State who grew into a 6-foot-5, 245-pound linebacker, who finished his career by playing the 2025 season at Oklahoma. A slow 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash will push Daniels into Day 3, but he plays faster than he times. Daniels hits like a hammer and his safety background makes a great fit in coverage. In his five-year career Daniels posted 293 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 16 pass breakups, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Daniels would be an excellent special teams contributor and developmental linebacker in Tampa Bay.