# Bradley Locker: PFF's offseason ranking of the NFL's best linebackers heading into 2026 places Fred Warner first, followed by Detroit's Campbell, Devin Lloyd and Zack Baun, with Bobby Wagner 10th and Henley last at 32. The piece also expects Chenal to finally get a starter's workload in Washington in 2026. **Claimed:** Aug 6, 2026 **Pundit:** Bradley Locker — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/bradley-locker **Outlet:** Pro Football Focus — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/pro-football-focus **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.pff.com/news/pff-linebacker-rankings-the-top-32-players-ahead-of-the-2026-nfl-season/ 2 checkable claims — 1 depth chart call and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Fred Warner is still the best: Even in an injury-shortened season, Warner produced the highest overall PFF grade among NFL linebackers. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **With PFF's offseason rankings now entrenched on the defensive side of the ball, it's time to assess the NFL's premier linebackers. ... 10. Bobby Wagner, free agent** - Kind: Top Player Lists - Verdict: not settled yet - **Leo Chenal to be 1st on the depth chart** - Kind: Depth Chart Calls · About: Leo Chenal, Washington Commanders - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Leo Chenal — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/leo-chenal - Washington Commanders — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/commanders ## What others said about the same people - Seth Walder on Kayshon Boutte: Walder proposes five trades he believes should happen before Week 1 of the 2026 season: Jessie Bates III to the 49ers, Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Patriots, Keon Coleman to the Colts, Walker Little to the Cardinals, and Kayshon Boutte to the Commanders, where he says Boutte would immediately be Washington's No. 2 receiver. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0263bd78-6c5c-41c5-8615-0467d8ef521a (scored 0) - Garrett Podell on Stefon Diggs: An unsigned CBS Sports report frames Stefon Diggs as filling Washington's vacant No. 2 receiver role opposite Terry McLaurin after his reported one-year deal, expecting him in that spot in the 2026 passing game with Jayden Daniels. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bc79861b-dbde-474e-9d55-bf50f7b766d2 (scored 100) - Bucky Brooks on Stefon Diggs: In a quarterback rapid-fire segment and later discussion, Brooks named starters for several clubs (Kyler Murray over JJ McCarthy in Minnesota, Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland, Tua in Atlanta, Jeremiah Love as Arizona's starting running back), called Chris Olave a No. 1 receiver, backed Stefon Diggs landing with the Commanders and Aaron Donald returning to the Rams, argued Baker Mayfield belongs among the top 15-17 quarterbacks, and published a top-five defensive tackle list topped by Jeffrey Simmons. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9538b827-fc12-4c2e-8e32-eaa69edc6c2d (scored 100) - Joe Marino on Stefon Diggs: Marino projects DJ Moore to bounce back in Buffalo's offense with over 1,000 receiving yards (talking up around 1,200), and expects rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun (IGB) to win a starting job opposite Christian Benford. He also thinks free agent Stefon Diggs ends up signing with Washington. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/eef9205a-1efb-4b83-821d-a7553d3ad6b4 (scored 100) - Gregg Rosenthal on Stefon Diggs: Rosenthal picked rookies he expects to start right away — a Steelers left tackle and Colts linebacker — said Terry McLaurin is Washington's clear No. 1 receiver, and said he wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders signed Stefon Diggs as a solid No. 2. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/2ea758f8-ab4d-4480-aaf9-ab24fd822c3f (scored 100) - David Harrison on Washington Commanders: Harrison predicts the Commanders will upset the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 1 by a score of 27-24, driven by Jayden Daniels and timely defensive pressure. He also projects the active interior offensive line group and expects a good defensive day would hold Saquon Barkley to around 85-90 grinding yards. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/429352ff-506a-40ec-8a47-119e673b7d5b (scored 0) ## More depth chart calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Tyler Sullivan on Drew Lock: In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/8a14b5e6-066b-457f-b409-a3ddbd512aca (scored 0) - Ralph Vacchiano on Tua Tagovailoa: Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/6f782be9-64d3-47cf-b054-6566e14194d6 (scored 0) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/70a7844a-2fb6-44d7-814f-30ec9fbcc26d (scored 100) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Kyler Murray: Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/0653fc24-437c-4aba-89ee-f1f417e1983d (scored 100) - Steven Ruiz on Michael Penix Jr.: In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/968b3764-11ef-41b5-a370-ff570b3219d1 (scored 0) - Mike Florio on Shedeur Sanders: Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/cf6258b2-b55f-4f50-84f9-24269a5a006a (scored 0) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=bradley-locker