Welcome to Part 3 of our draft preview series, which will be a position-by-position look at key prospects and where the Chargers roster stands ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. This series will include a look at which prospects could be options for the Chargers later this month.
We chatted with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid to break down the linebackers in this draft class. Reid can be found on X/Twitter @JordanReid for his analysis.
Chargers status at linebacker
Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del'Shawn Phillips, Junior Colson, Marlowe Wax and Emany Johnson
Daiyan Henley continued to show why he's emerging as one of the team leaders in the middle of the Chargers defense.
Selected as a team captain for the first time in his young career, Henley once again led the team in total tackles with 103 and added 3.5 sacks, two picks and five pass breakups.
He became one of eight NFL players in 2025 to record 80 tackles, multiple sacks, multiple interceptions and five passes defensed in his second season as the full-time starter.
The second linebacker spot did see some variance, as veteran Troy Dye stepped up in a big way with seven starts and the second-most tackles among the position (58).
Dye was integral again when Denzel Perryman, who started 10 games, was placed on Injured Reserve as the two rotated throughout the season.
Del’Shawn Phillips, who earned Second-Team All-Pro honors as a special teamer, was also a valuable veteran piece as he also worked into the defense as the season progressed.
The room is rounded out by a couple of younger players such as Junior Colson, a 2024 third-round pick that has battled injuries throughout his first two seasons. Marlowe Wax, who played all 17 games as a rookie in a crucial special teams role and Emany Johnson, who spent the year on the practice squad, are also on the roster.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign. Henley recorded 103 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 3.5 sacks in the 2025-2026 NFL season.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Take a look back at the best photos of Daiyan Henley's 2025 campaign.
Is it a position of need?
The Chargers have a lot of experience among the linebacker room heading into 2026.
Of course there's Henley, who has been a mainstay of the defense, but there's also Perryman, Dye and Phillips, all of whom have logged a significant amount of snaps over the last couple of years.
It's not a position that is a must-have in 2026, according to Reid, but it's a valuable position that you want to continue to develop impact players.
"It's a position you always want to invest in, even if you don't need any of those frontline guys," Reid said. "You can develop somebody on special teams, or eventually you want them to come in and contribute down the line.
"I think they do have a need at linebacker, especially if they want someone to develop behind Daiyan Henley or Denzel Perryman or somebody like that," he added.
The preseason will also be a big showcase for Colson and Wax, but as the draft analyst put it, linebacker is a position you can always add depth to.
"You always can use some depth, and I think this is a great class to do that," Reid said. "I think linebacker you can make an argument is one of the strongest positions in this year's class from a depth standpoint."
Key Questions for 2026
1. How did you evaluate Henley coming out and what have you made about his level of play through three years?
"I loved Daiyan when he was coming out. I thought he was super underrated and should've went higher than what he did. I'm really happy he's found a home with the Chargers and I think he's really thriving there with them. I was a huge fan of him coming out and it's really good to see him blossom."
2. What do you make of Colson, who has had some issues with injuries through his first two seasons, heading into Year 3?
"Whenever you get to that third year in the rookie contract, you want to see them but unfortunately for him it hasn't happened in those first two years. You're hoping with the familiarity that he has with Jim [Harbaugh] and the scheme they're doing there, you're hoping he can make that big jump this year. I think they do have to protect themselves a little bit in case he doesn't and you have to invest in a linebacker."
3. Who are some Day 3 targets that you think could fit the Chargers defense?
"If they're looking for a true MIKE, somebody like Deontae Lawson from Alabama, I think they would get him in the fourth round. I think he's somebody that fits them really well as far as what they want to do from a traditional MIKE standpoint. Another is Bryce Boettcher out of Oregon, he's one my favorites in the draft. I think he can go as high as the third round. Somebody who's played MIKE, who's played on the weak side, has a great story and baseball background. I think that's something they'll take a liking to as far as how smart he is and how athletic he is too."
Expert rankings
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah currently has four linebackers in his latest Top 50 list, while ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., has one in his Top 25.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler has 10 linebackers in his most recent Top 100 list, with the highest coming in at No. 1 (Arvell Reese).
Pro Football Focus has eight linebackers in the top 100 in their Big Board Rankings, with a high of No. 2 (Reese).
Potential Chargers options
Note: Heights and weights are from each player's profile on NFL.com (linked for each player's name).
School: Pittsburgh | Year: Redshirt Junior | Ht: 6-foot-0 | Wt: 220 pounds
2025 stats: 11 games (11 starts); 81 tackles (43 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, five passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Quick fact: Louis earned a First-Team All-America honor from Sporting News in 2024, becoming Pitt's first sophomore defensive player to earn that stature from an NCAA-recognized selector since 1978.
School: Texas A&M | Year: Junior | Ht: 5-foot-11 | Wt: 226 pounds
2025 stats: 13 games (13 starts); 73 tackles (32 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, three passes defensed, one fumble recovery
Quick fact: A team captain for the Aggies, York became a starter as a true freshman and finished his collegiate career with Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2025.
School: LSU | Year: Redshirt Junior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Wt: 223 pounds
2025 stats: 12 games (11 starts); 56 tackles (26 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, six passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
Quick fact: Perkins earned First-Team All-SEC honors as a true freshman in 2022 and added Second and Third-Team selections to his resumé over his four seasons at LSU.
Reid's take: "The role is going to be very key for him, especially as an undersized player. That's something LSU really struggled with as far as finding a true role for him, whether it was off the edge or playing him in the middle. I still go back and forth with where I want him to play."
School: Arizona State | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Wt: 231 pounds
2025 stats: 12 games (12 starts); 98 tackles (54 solo), 14.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, two passes defensed
Quick fact: The linebacker capped off his collegiate career with a stat-stuffing season in 2025, becoming one of two FBS players with at least 90 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks.
Reid's take: "He's somebody that really has helped himself during the pre-draft process. He's really climbed forward quite a bit. The feedback that I'm getting is probably the third round is where he'll probably go. Really active, love the physicality he plays with. Love the way he's able to read offenses and come down and strike."
