Phil Steele ranks Top 25 Outside Linebackers for 2026 NFL Draft ahead of 2025 college football season

The 2025 college football season is just a few weeks away. For many elite players around the country, this will be the start of the last year they can put what they’re capable of on film for the NFL teams ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Ahead of the season, sportswriter Phil Steele shared his ranking of the Top 25 outside linebackers who are going to be eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s a deep group this upcoming year, with massive names highlighting the top of the draft class. This is a group that’s ready to create chaos and harass offenses all next season.

With all of that in mind, here’s how Steele ranks the best draft-eligible outside linebackers. That list starts at the top, with Steele’s current top talent at the position. Of course, there’s always time for players to move up these rankings during the season.

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