8. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year’s ranking: 4
Kansas City’s down season camouflaged another productive outing for Bolton, who recorded 10 or more tackles for loss for the second consecutive season. His 4.6% career run stop percentage leads all linebackers since he entered the NFL in 2021.
Bolton has some Warner to his game, as a field general who gets the defense in the right spots.
“He’s got instincts, toughness and production,” an AFC executive said. “His long speed in coverage is just average, which caps him a little bit.”
To illustrate his versatility, Bolton played 23 snaps in the slot cornerback position and four at safety.