The Mock Drafts have been running for months and most commonly predict the Vikings to use their first-round pick on the defensive side of the ball. But if there's one thing that's certain about the NFL Draft … it's that nothing is certain. So in leading up to this year's three-day event that begins with Round 1 on April 23, 2026, we're previewing prospects by position groups (all except quarterback, where the Vikings have four players on the roster, and specialists, where the Vikings have a trio of All-Pros). This draft prospect series will include rankings by national outlets, stats and background information for a bounty of prospects. Our first six installments dove into the running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and outside linebackers. Cornerbacks and safeties will come soon.
Next up is linebacker, a position that is rather robust this cycle but lacks agreement on who is the No. 2 prospect after Sonny Styles. His Ohio State teammate, Arvell Reese, may play off-ball as a rookie, but he is expected to be an edge eventually. Some experts have touted CJ Allen and Anthony Hill, Jr., as possible choices in Round 1, but there's a dearth of solidarity with the rankings. There is consensus, however, that a run on linebackers will occur on Day 2, contrasting last year when four were drafted within the top 102 picks. Widely liked options in 2026 extend to Jacob Rodriguez, Jake Golday, Kyle Louis and Josiah Trotter.
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Vikings status at linebacker
Minnesota has two sideline-to-sideline studs, one fiery youngster who specializes in creating mayhem, and a couple unproven players who are relatively new to the organization in its inside linebackers room.
Eden Prairie's own Blake Cashman dons the green dot helmet for the Vikings defense, making him the chief point of contact between Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores and the 10 other players on the field.
Cashman was hugely important to Minnesota winning 14 games two seasons ago and he kept rising in 2025 after initially finding his footing as an everydown defender with Houston in 2023 (he never played more than seven games in his first three seasons on the Jets because of injuries) and then signing with his hometown franchise. His 9.5 tackles per game since 2024 represents the second most in the NFL in that span, playing at least 20 games; Miami's Jordyn Brooks, a 2025 First-Team All-Pro, has averaged 9.6.
Eric Wilson files in next to Cash' and is fresh off a career year at 31 years young. Intending to be a leader on special teams, Wilson became a starter in his second stint with the team (first was 2017-20) in Week 2 last season after Cashman injured his hamstring in the opener. "E-Wil" played alongside Ivan Pace, Jr., for a few weeks, then retained his sized-up role when Cashman returned and Pace's rep count dwindled.
Already treasured by the Vikings fan base for his previous contributions as an undrafted player, Wilson hit the lotto as a blitzing, fumble-forcing, splash-play-making and oft-smiling source of energy that capitalized on Flores' schematics. He hit the lotto afterward, too, inking a new deal ahead of free agency.
Although Pace, 25, did not hold on to his role in the starting lineup, he was heavily involved in the third phase and he occasionally got after the quarterback. Pace has a strong history of resisting the run, and executing blitzes, and he was tendered a one-year, right-of-first-refusal contract by the team last month.
The Vikings ILB room is rounded out currently by Jacob Roberts and Josh Ross. The former spent 2025 with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, and posted 97 tackles, plus another 19 on special teams, four sacks and a forced fumble. Ross was added to the Vikings practice squad in December of last year; he's played in 22 NFL games, exclusively on special teams, and made his latest appearance on the Seahawks in 2024.
For what it's worth, Ross was teammates with Vikings safety Joshua Metellus (2017-19) and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (2021) at Michigan, while Roberts was with center Michael Jurgens at Wake Forest in 2023.
View photos of Vikings linebackers from the 2025 season.
With and without Cash'
What Cashman has brought to the Vikings defense cannot be overvalued. Beyond his exuberant tackling, he's graced the unit with vocal leadership, great instincts and a rare consistency that is tough to quantify but translates into a discernable grit and calmness that permeate the defensive front and the secondary.
Simple counting numbers from the past two seasons exhibit Cashman's influence at a fundamental level. It's relevant info, considering Cashman's prior injuries and the opportunity to build depth at the position.
Note: The table below offers splits of the Vikings defense with and without Cashman during the past two regular seasons. YA/G represents yards allowed per game; RYA/G is rush yards allowed per game; T/G is takeaways forced per game; and PA/G is points against per game. W-L indicates the two-season record.
Expert Rankings
Styles is a lock for the Top 10 after blazing the 40 in 4.46 seconds and just missing the roof of Lucas Oil Stadium with a 43.5-inch vertical jump at 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds; it's possible he cracks the Top 5 even. Due to his blue-chip nature, we'll turn our attention to 10 other players who pose to give an NFL defense youth and playmaking juice in its linebackers room. Since the Vikings are thin behind the experienced combo of Cashman, Wilson and Pace, LB prospects may be in play as early as No. 18 and well into Day 3.
To help set the table, we are including position and overall rankings from three plugged-in draft experts: The Athletic's Dane Brugler, the proprietor of "The Beast," as well as ESPN's Matt Miller and Jordan Reid.
Notes: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name). Also, Miller and Reid listed Reese as a linebacker instead of an edge rusher; Reid listed Louis as a safety.
School: Texas | Age: 21 | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 238 pounds
2025 stats: 69 tackles (37 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, pass defended, three forced fumbles, fumble recovery
Career: 249 tackles (136 solo), 31.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, three interceptions, four passes defended, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 5; overall: 50
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 3; overall: 31
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 7; overall: 56
Fun facts: One read of Brugler's background reporting on Hill left us bewildered in a good way, so we read it again. Here's the SparkNotes version — get'cha popcorn ready. Born at the same hospital in Wichita, Kansas, as Barry Sanders, Hill accounted for 70 touchdowns as a sixth grader while playing for a pee-wee team that was led by former Longhorns All-American and 2006 No. 7 overall pick Michael Huff. In high school, Hill teamed with 2024 fourth-round tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2025 fourth-round safety Billy Bowman, Jr. (among others), at Denton, Texas powerhouse Billy Ryan High School and captured the 2020 5A State Championship. The next year, Hill had a game for the ages — 18 tackles and a win-sealing forced fumble off Ashton Jeanty (yes, that Ashton Jeanty, as in the 2025 No. 6-drafted Raiders running back). Whew, we're out of breath — like offenses who dared to deny Hill's frenetic blitzing or his nose for the football.
School: Texas Tech (after Virginia) | Age: 23 | Ht: 6-foot-1 3/8 | Wt: 231 pounds
2025 stats: 128 tackles (63 solo), 11 tackles for loss, sack, four interceptions, six passes defended, seven forced fumbles (led FBS), two fumble recoveries, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown
Career: 317 tackles (179 solo), 25.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, six interceptions, 12 passes defended, 13 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, two fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 2; overall: 40
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 4; overall: 37
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 3; overall: 38
Purple ambition: Rodriguez dreamed a probably very common dream for competitive youth in Minnesota — to become the starting quarterback of the Vikings. The Hastings native grew up winning youth wrestling state championships (age 5 and 7), moved with his family at age 10 to Wichita Falls, Texas, and accepted a scholarship offer to play quarterback at Virginia. Fast-forward and Rodriguez ended his collegiate career as an All-American, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and fifth-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy voting, the highest for an off-ball linebacker since Notre Dame's Manti Te'o (2nd) in 2012.
School: Cincinnati (after Central Arkansas) | Age: 22 | Ht: 6-foot-4 1/2 | Wt: 239 pounds
2025 stats: 105 tackles (39 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes defended, forced fumble
Career: 288 tackles (118 solo), 25.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, five passes defended, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 4; overall: 48
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 7; overall: 67
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 6; overall: 49
MVP connection: Golday is set to become the second alumnus from Arlington High School (TN) to play in the NFL. The first was recently crowned Super Bowl LX MVP and even more recently signed a deal with the Chiefs in free agency — running back Kenneth Walker III. They were HS teammates for two seasons.
School: Pittsburgh | Age: 22 | Ht: 5-foot-11 7/8 | Wt: 220 pounds
2025 stats: 81 tackles (43 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, three passes defended, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Career: 201 tackles (93 solo), 25.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, six passes defended, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 7; overall: 75
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 8; overall: 87
Jordan Reid safety rank: 6; overall: 20
Hybrid playmaker: Louis isn't an obvious fit at one position in the pros as he's lighter than preferred to handle a traditional linebacker role and he doesn't have the coverage experience in the deep parts of the field that true safeties in this class do. He has practically everything else, though, that is coveted from an instant impact defender: tremendous play speed, ball skills and instincts. Louis impressed in Mobile during Senior Bowl practices. He flat-out moved differently, and he was sticky in coverage, giving up virtually nothing to running backs and tight ends over multiple days of 1-on-1 reps.
School: Georgia | Age: 21 | Ht: 6-foot-0 3/4 | Wt: 230 pounds
2025 stats: 88 tackles (47 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, fumble recovery
Career: 205 tackles (117 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, interception, 10 passes defended, two forced fumbles, fumble recovery
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 3; overall: 46
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 5; overall: 41
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 4; overall: 43
Strong résumé: The clear-cut leader of Georgia's defense, Allen was an All-SEC First-Teamer in 2025, as well as an Associated Press First-Team All-American. He seemingly checked the final box of his pre-draft evaluation this week, reportedly running the 40 in 4.47 seconds during a workout at Georgia. If Allen's name is called Thursday, he'll join fellow off-ball 'backers Quay Walker (2022), Roquan Smith (2018), Alec Ogletree (2013) and Thomas Davis (2005) as Bulldogs drafted on the event's opening night. His full name is Christian Jamar Allen.
School: Missouri (after West Virginia) | Age: 21 | Ht: 6-foot-1 7/8 | Wt: 237 pounds
2025 stats: 84 tackles (43 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, pass defended
Career: 176 tackles (79 solo), 17 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, interception, three passes defended
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 6; overall: 73
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 6; overall: 66
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 5; overall: 47
Family tackles: Sixty-hundred-and-sixty-eight. That's how many tackles the Trotters — Josiah, plus dad Jeremiah and older brother Jeremiah, Jr. — combined for across three stellar college careers. Trending to be a Day 2 selection, Josiah has fantastic linebacking role models. His father, recognizable, of course, was a four-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles in the early 2000s after starring at Stephen F. Austin (300 tackles). And Josiah's big bro was drafted in the fourth round by Philadelphia in 2024 after creating his own legacy at Clemson (192 tackles). The next Trotter up has the makings of a starting Mike linebacker, per Brugler.
School: Michigan | Age: 22 | Ht: 6-foot-2 1/2 | Wt: 238 pounds
2025 stats: 73 tackles (47 solo), 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, interception, two passes defended, fumble recovery
Career: 118 tackles (70 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, interception, two passes defended, fumble recovery
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 11; overall: not in Top 100
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 11; overall: 100
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 13; overall: 162
One-year wonder: A four-star recruit, Rolder finally became a starter for the Wolverines in 2025 after overcoming what Brugler described as "numerous minor injuries" as an underclassman. Rolder didn't disappoint given his chance. He posted a mighty fine missed tackle rate of 4.7 percent, according to Pro Football Focus. It tied for the fifth-lowest mark among FBS linebackers who played at least 500 defensive snaps last season. Two of the four players better than Rolder were Styles (2.2%) and Hill (4.5%).
School: TCU (after California) | Age: 22 | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 234 pounds
2025 stats: 130 tackles (60 solo), 11 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two passes defended
Career: 276 tackles (135 solo), 19 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, interception, seven passes defended, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 9; overall: not in Top 100
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 10; overall: 98
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 9; overall: 142
Stuffed the stat sheet: Elarms-Orr, who once played alongside presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza at Cal, was one of three FBS players last season to ledger 130 or more tackles and 10 or more tackles for loss. The others were Buffalo's Khalil "Red" Murdock and North Carolina State's Caden Fordham. The feat has been achieved by 17 players (20 different times) since 2020; that includes Minnesota's Pace, who had 137 and 21.5 in his lone go at Cincinnati before matching with the Vikings.
School: Oregon | Age: 23 | Ht: 6-foot-1 1/8 | Wt: 230 pounds
2025 stats: 136 tackles (56 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, sack, interception, six passes defended, two forced fumbles
Career: 269 tackles (121 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two interceptions, 10 passes defended, four forced fumbles, fumble recovery
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 10; overall: not in Top 100
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 13; overall: 117
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 12; overall: 158
All-time Ducks athlete: An outfielder on the Oregon baseball team, Boettcher was selected in the 13th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros. He slashed .242/.364/.421 with nine doubles, one triple, 14 home runs and 48 RBIs, as well as 27 swiped bags, across 188 college games. Boettcher also turned out to be a dang good linebacker, walking on and eventually entering the record books. His 136 tackles were the most by a Duck in one season since Chris Cosgrove notched 140 in 1979, and the eighth most in program history. Twenty-four extra-base knocks and nearly 270 tackles ain't a bad college career.
School: Arizona State (after New Mexico State) | Age: 22 | Ht: 6-foot-1 3/4 | Wt: 231 pounds
2025 stats: 98 tackles (54 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, two passes defended
Career: 301 tackles (154 solo), 28.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, interception, 10 passes defended, forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Dane Brugler linebacker rank: 8; overall: 83
Matt Miller linebacker rank: 9; overall: 95
Jordan Reid linebacker rank: 8; overall: 129
Old school mold: Elliott is more equipped to fly downhill than he is to sink into coverage, but he apparently has the want-to that's necessary to improve. He was the top dog (Brugler wrote Sun Devils LBs nicknamed themselves "Werewolves") on Arizona State's defense in 2025, two seasons after he transferred from New Mexico State. There, he was part of former Gophers Head Coach Jerry Kill's 2022 recruiting class that also featured Heisman Trophy runner-up and 2026 quarterback prospect Diego Pavia.
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