2026 Top Linebacker Salaries, Underpaid and Underrated
2026 Top Linebacker Salaries, Underpaid and Underrated
For so long in the NFL´s past, the linebacker was a staple of teams, and middle linebackers were paid nicely. 2026 top linebacker salaries, however, show an underpaid position group. Only one, Roquan Smith of the Ravens, is paid on par with the game’s best edge rushers. We take a look at the next in our salary cap series: 2026 Top Linebacker Salaries.
2026 Top Linebacker Salaries: Underpaid and Underappreciated Group
2026 Top Linebacker Salaries: Underpaid Position Group Led by Ravens’ Smith
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Roquan Smith Baltimore Ravens LB/ILB $32,726,570
Nick Bolton Kansas City Chiefs LB/ILB $19,250,000
Fred Warner San Francisco 49ers LB/ILB $17,865,471
Patrick Queen Pittsburgh Steelers LB/ILB $17,193,334
Foyesade Oluokun Jacksonville Jaguars LB $17,108,500
Robert Spillane New England Patriots LB $12,320,000
Jamien Sherwood New York Jets LB/ILB $11,500,000
Ernest Jones Seattle Seahawks LB/ILB $11,483,333
K’Lavon Chaisson Washington Commanders LB/OLB $11,470,000
Frankie Luvu Washington Commanders LB $11,295,000
T.J. Edwards Chicago Bears LB/OLB $10,833,333
Derrick Barnes Detroit Lions LB/OLB $9,764,000
Quay Walker Las Vegas Raiders LB/OLB $9,666,666
Baron Browning Arizona Cardinals LB/OLB $9,415,000
Blake Cashman Minnesota Vikings LB $9,182,353
Divine Deablo Atlanta Falcons LB/ILB $8,930,200
Azeez Al-Shaair Houston Texans LB/ILB $8,786,588
Arvell Reese New York Giants LB $8,696,557
Christian Elliss New England Patriots LB $8,555,000
Cody Barton Tennessee Titans LB/ILB $8,230,000
One linebacker stands out as the big dog in the salary cap ledger, and that is the Ravens´ Roquan Smith. At $32.7 million, Smith is paid handsomely like the best edge rushers. This is understandable, though, with Smith being on the field no matter the down or distance. or field position. That is what separates linebackers in this top tier: the versatility to play everywhere.
Sep 20, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) in the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
2026 Top Linebacker Salaries: Second Tier, Solid Group
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Nakobe Dean Las Vegas Raiders LB/ILB $7,966,666
Zack Baun Philadelphia Eagles LB/ILB $7,588,000
Nathan Landman Los Angeles Rams LB/ILB $7,225,000
Zaire Franklin Green Bay Packers LB/ILB $7,130,000
Devin Lloyd Carolina Panthers LB/ILB $6,773,333
Sonny Styles Washington Commanders LB $6,770,219
Arden Key Indianapolis Colts LB/OLB $6,750,000
Bradley Chubb Buffalo Bills LB/OLB $6,500,000
Jordyn Brooks Miami Dolphins LB/ILB $6,214,167
Alex Singleton Denver Broncos LB/ILB $5,970,000
Devin Bush Chicago Bears LB/ILB $5,666,666
Tremaine Edmunds New York Giants LB/ILB $5,560,784
Lukas Van Ness Green Bay Packers LB/OLB $5,532,575
Terrel Bernard Buffalo Bills LB $5,352,000
Kaden Elliss New Orleans Saints LB/ILB $5,300,000
Jadeveon Clowney Houston Texans LB/OLB $5,264,706
Demario Davis New York Jets LB/ILB $5,000,000
Drue Tranquill Kansas City Chiefs LB/OLB $5,000,000
Jack Campbell Detroit Lions LB/ILB $4,794,237
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Cleveland Browns LB/OLB $4,772,747
Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) during the second half at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
This group of linebackers shows just how undervalued linebackers can be. For instance, the Broncos´ Alex Singleton is a stud and deserves a payday of $12-14 million a year. 2026 Top Linebacker Salaries: Third Tier, Impact Players
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Mack Wilson Arizona Cardinals LB/ILB $4,725,000
Isaiah McDuffie Green Bay Packers LB/OLB $4,326,666
Leo Chenal Washington Commanders LB/OLB $4,083,333
Eric Wilson Minnesota Vikings LB/ILB $3,985,294
E.J. Speed Houston Texans LB/OLB $3,938,000
Pete Werner New Orleans Saints LB/ILB $3,916,837
Trenton Simpson Baltimore Ravens LB/ILB $3,909,531
Daiyan Henley Los Angeles Chargers LB $3,902,692
Dorian Williams Buffalo Bills LB $3,725,000
Jack Gibbens Arizona Cardinals LB/ILB $3,674,000
Dee Winters Dallas Cowboys LB $3,550,000
Drake Thomas Seattle Seahawks LB/ILB $3,550,000
Dre Greenlaw San Francisco 49ers LB/ILB $3,520,000
Ivan Pace Minnesota Vikings LB/ILB $3,485,244
Henry To’oTo’o Houston Texans LB/OLB $3,400,000
Troy Dye Los Angeles Chargers LB/ILB $3,387,176
Jihaad Campbell Philadelphia Eagles LB $3,286,666
Justin Strnad Denver Broncos LB/ILB $3,100,000
Von Miller Dallas Cowboys LB/OLB $3,047,500
D’Marco Jackson Chicago Bears LB/ILB $3,044,117
When we look at this third tier, linebackers in the 40th to 60th highest in salary are, at best, the second and often third-best linebackers on their team. The best in this group are the Commanders´ Leo Chenal, signed from the Chiefs, the Cardinals’ Mack Wilson, and the Packers´ Isaiah McDuffie.
2026 Top Linebacker Salaries: Undervalued Group led by Browns´ Verse
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Micah McFadden New York Giants LB/ILB $2,960,000
D.J. Wonnum Detroit Lions LB/OLB $2,725,000
Akeem Davis-Gaither Indianapolis Colts LB $2,681,909
Carson Schwesinger Cleveland Browns LB $2,675,000
Oren Burks Cincinnati Bengals LB/ILB $2,628,000
Quincy Williams Cleveland Browns LB/OLB $2,345,160
Edgerrin Cooper Green Bay Packers LB $2,300,000
Denzel Perryman Los Angeles Chargers LB/ILB $2,273,529
Jake Hansen Houston Texans LB/OLB $2,170,850
Jared Verse Cleveland Browns LB/OLB $2,111,764
Nick Niemann Green Bay Packers LB/ILB $2,110,336
Jacob Rodriguez Miami Dolphins LB $2,100,000
Dennis Gardeck Jacksonville Jaguars LB/OLB $2,050,000
Jake Hummel Houston Texans LB/ILB $2,048,294
Demetrius Knight Jr. Cincinnati Bengals LB $1,987,500
Cole Holcomb Pittsburgh Steelers LB/ILB $1,982,471
Josiah Trotter Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB $1,972,000
Luke Gifford San Francisco 49ers LB/ILB $1,824,686
Drew Sanders Denver Broncos LB $1,812,295
Keion White San Francisco 49ers LB/OLB $1,745,624
Jake Golday Minnesota Vikings LB $1,715,009
DeMarvion Overshown Dallas Cowboys LB $1,659,808
C.J. Allen Indianapolis Colts LB $1,601,104
Jonah Elliss Denver Broncos LB/ILB $1,552,231
Marist Liufau Dallas Cowboys LB/OLB $1,550,000
Christian Rozeboom Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB/ILB $1,548,552
Ty’Ron Hopper Green Bay Packers LB $1,526,267
Payton Wilson Pittsburgh Steelers LB $1,491,288
Nick Martin San Francisco 49ers LB $1,475,307
Anthony Hill Jr. Tennessee Titans LB $1,415,000
Jack Cochrane Kansas City Chiefs LB/OLB $1,402,500
Malcolm Rodríguez Detroit Lions LB/OLB $1,350,000
Trevor Nowaske Detroit Lions LB/OLB $1,329,234
Ventrell Miller Jacksonville Jaguars LB $1,295,000
Claudin Cherelus Carolina Panthers LB/ILB $1,283,623
Cedric Gray Tennessee Titans LB $1,268,140
Tyrice Knight Seattle Seahawks LB $1,267,070
Cody Simon Arizona Cardinals LB/ILB $1,262,500
Joshua Uche Miami Dolphins LB/OLB $1,262,500
Highlighting the underpaid linebackers is the Cleveland Browns´ Jared Verse.
The Last Word
Taking a look at the top linebacker salaries in 2026, we find that the position has been downgraded in value and expectation. Once a staple of defenses, linebackers are now often two-down players and arguably the least valuable position on defense. With just one linebacker in 2026 earning more than $20 million, it is clear to see how linebackers have dropped in the pecking order of teams´ priorities. In fact, unless a linebacker can excel on special teams, drop into pass coverage, or provide a speed rush, his value plummets. Alas, a changing of the guard in a previously highly valued position.
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