Throughout AFC North history, the off-ball linebacker position has been dominated by some big-name players. Ray Lewis and James Farrior come to mind, not to mention guys like Ryan Shazier, Vontaze Burfict, and more.
That’s not exactly the case in today’s AFC North. While Roquan Smith is the best off-ball linebacker in the division, those players who change the game in the blink of an eye, simply aren’t there.
That doesn’t mean the position group isn’t talented. Far from it. It just means that the talent is closely cropped together, making it difficult to determine how things line up from best to worst at off-ball linebacker.
I’ll try and answer those questions though. Let’s dive into this edition of the Ranking The Rooms: AFC North Off-Ball LBs rankings.
1. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Having Roquan Smith as the top linebacker in the division is a nice start, and it helps that a pair of young players around him took steps forward in 2025. Teddye Buchanan was a great find for the Ravens prior to his injury. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Buchanan emerged as a nice running mate for Smith, recording 93 tackles before going down with a season-ending torn ACL late in the year.
He’s poised for a big 2026 once he returns from injury, showing the ability to be a true downhill thumper with good sideline to sideline range. Smith was great once again, too, recording 130 tackles and three passes defensed. He didn’t record a sack or an interception last season, but he remained an uber-productive linebacker.
Trenton Simpson is a nice piece at the position, too. The former Clemson star had 66 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a limited role last season and looks to take a step forward in 2026, giving the Ravens a three-headed monster at off-ball linebacker. Depth is in good shape here, too, with Jay Higgins IV as a special teams piece, while third-year pro Carl Jones and rookie undrafted free agent Dominic DeLuca will battle it out for a roster spot or a practice squad role.
2. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Patrick Queen returns for his third season in Pittsburgh, and Payton Wilson looks to take a step forward in his third season in the Black and Gold after an up-and-down second season.
Together, those two form a solid duo — at least on paper. That wasn’t the case last season though as the Steelers really struggled to stop the run, and the inside linebackers were a primary issue. The hope with a new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham is that Queen and Wilson will bounce back.
Depth is good here, too. The Steelers bringing Cole Holcomb back on a two-year deal was a nice bit of business, while Malik Harrison is an experienced player who needs to step forward in Year 2 with the Steelers. Holcomb’s story is a great one, working his way back into form from a devastating knee injury in 2023 to become a key contributor last season. With another year of health he could take a step forward in 2026.
Carson Bruener provides high-end special teams depth and could even force his way onto the field defensively at some point this season, depending on how he looks in training camp and the preseason.
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Losing Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah for the season again, and potentially for his career, is a massive blow to the Browns. When he healthy he is a true game-changing linebacker who can do it all. Fortunately for Cleveland, it is in a good spot with reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger in the middle.
Schwesinger was a tackle machine last season, racking up 157 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was the runaway DROY winner, and though he battled injury late in the year, he’s in line for another huge season in Cleveland.
Joining Schwesinger is veteran Quincy Williams, a physical, downhill thumper with some decent sideline-to-sideline range. He had 83 tackles in just 13 games last season with the Jets, adding 3.5 sacks. Now, he’ll pair with Schwesinger and look to provide more play-making production at the second level.
Depth is intriguing on paper as the Browns did well to draft Alabama’s Justin Jefferson, another athletic linebacker with good size. The Browns also have the likes of Nathaniel Watson, Edefuan Ulofoshio, Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, Winston Reid and rookie UDFA Reid Carrico battling it out for roster spots.
It will all come down to the starters in Cleveland though.
4. CINCINNATI BENGALS
This group has gotten better in recent years, but it still has a long way to go.
Demetrius Knight Jr. is solid, but he’s older for a second-year player at 26. He was very productive as a rookie with 106 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, proving he can remain on the field as a three-down linebacker. He’s a good athlete, has good size and plays with an edge, which is what the Bengals need at the position.
The problem is, he doesn’t have much help around him.
Barrett Carter was a good player Clemson, but he struggled last season. He made 106 tackles but had just one interception and missed a number of tackles throughout the season, leading to questions about his future. The Bengals brought back veteran Oren Burks, giving them some serviceable depth. He doesn’t move the needle though, even with a career-high 48 tackles last season.
Joe Giles-Harris and Shaka Heyward return, too, providing some experienced depth and special teams value. The Bengals will also give looks to the likes of Liam Anderson, Swayze Bozeman, and undrafted free agents Eric Gentry and Jack Dingle.
Gentry is one of the most intriguing rookies at off-ball LB. He has freakish size at 6-7, is a great athlete and had a dominant week at the Shrine Bowl. But he went undrafted due to his frame and some of his struggles as an off-ball defender. If it all clicks, though, look out.
2025 AFC North Off-Ball LB rankings:
No. 1 – Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 2 – Baltimore Ravens
No. 3 – Cincinnati Bengals
No. 4 – Cleveland Browns
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