1 on our list. So, who are the best linebackers of 2022? Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. There's no way he was going to get better, right? Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. Honorable mentions: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Logan Wilson, Shaq Thompson, Alexander Johnson, Deion JonesJeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, C.J. To view other positions, follow the links below. He finished with 22.5 sacks in 14 games last season -- tying Michael Strahan for the single-season sack record. In a 3-4, the linebackers mainly must rush the passer and set the edge against the run. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. Jackson recorded 1,173 career tackles to go with 128 sacks, eight interceptions and 40 forced fumbles. All Rights Reserved. Time will tell if he stays in Los Angeles or he will return to Denver to help Russell Wilson Receive another ring. With Smith entering the final year of his rookie deal, Spotrac believes he's in line to sign a five-year, $88.18 million extension. On 50 attempts here are the results for each archetype: If you go back and watch him play throughout his rookie season, you'll not only see a talented pass-rusher, but a good linebacker that can read and react quickly. Samson Ebukam was the San Francisco 49ers' second-best pass-rush option opposite 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, totaling 5.0 sacks, the second-most on the team. Injuries are the only thing that could stop Watt from achieving his single-season record for sacks. Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time January 27, 2015 DESHAWN HORNBACK 3 Comments 10. 1. with 1,383 total tackles since 2012, 161 more than second-place. section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-10-linebackers-entering-2022-new-no-1-as-bobby-wagner-finally-dethroned | sport: football | route: article_single.us | He allowed 81.0% of passes thrown his way to be caught and missed 17 tackles in all. Here are some tips for players who want to be a good linebacker: 1. A defender who can blow up screen plays and make takedowns in the open field. Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Through his first 10 seasons, Wagner has eight Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros. Since entering the league, Warner has 118 or more total tackles in every season and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2020. Travis Kelce TE | Chiefs | Vertical Threat. Wagner's resume speaks for itself. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. Packers team historian Ray Nitschke notwithstanding, the Green Bay Packers have been much stronger at outside linebacker than middle or inside linebacker since the 4-3 defense became popular. One thing all these 2022 NFL best linebackers have in common is they're at the top of their game. Swipe right for Outside Linebacker Fan Rankings. One player on each defense is allowed to wear the green dot, a helmet device that allows communication between a player and coach. Barrett was Tampa's best defensive player during their 2020 Super Bowl run and he got rewarded with a nice long-term extension this offseason. Jones was an . He can play in both the middle and outside linebacker positions. Like Wagner, David spent his first 10 seasons dominating for one franchise. Thomas was a three time Defensive Player of the Year and is one of only two players to ever win the league MVP during the 1986 season. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon. Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Bobby Wagner, an All Pro who was scheduled to earn a $7.5 million base salary and count $12.7 million against the . 1. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. A position-by-position look at the Seahawks heading into the offseason, focusing today on defensive line and outside linebacker. Yes, Davis was a late-bloomer, but not many players can make the impact he does in stopping the run, tackling, rushing the passer and working in coverage. Thompson was back to his best in coverage this past season, posting a 74.5 PFF grade in that area, his best mark since his sophomore season. The offense lines up in "trips" formation (three receivers on one side of the field.) 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. In addition, Taylors other accolades include eight First Team All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl selections and the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers The 49ers struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. While those grades arent poor, by any stretch, they are a notable step down from these players' excellent career baselines and some way short of their elite best. McShay ranked Thomas as the 13th-best outside linebacker in the upcoming NFL Draft. Plenty of well-known 'backers had coverage grades in the 30s this past season. So, whos the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL today? David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. When we look at outside linebackers in the NFL we look at two types. The best outside linebackers for this . A bit undersized linebacker, but can pack a big punch and he has underrated speed. Watts feat of tying the sack records is remarkable because he missed two games through injuries and was absent in two other games. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org. Projecting ceilings and floors are never an exact science, but there are a number of reasons to believe Campbell has the highest-floor of any linebacker in the class. Then, he was named All-Pro again in 2020 with an AV of 14 for the second straight season. Thomas wouldnt disappoint as a rookie posting 10 sacks and forcing three fumbles en route to winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Yannick Ngakoue, who turns 28 in March, has . The best linebackers in todays league are elite coverage players, but they can also affect the game in other ways. Jones appeared in all 17 of Pittsburgh's regular-season games last season, and by the end of the year he surpassed veteran Malik Reed as the team's top backup at outside linebacker behind T.J . Bet with your head, not over it. Linebackers are seen as the leaders of a defense. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. Weight: 235. Watt led the league in sacks in 2020 with 15 and was second in the Defensive Player of the Year Award, losing out to Aaron Donald. In todays video I ranked the best right outside linebackers or rolb's in madden 23 ultimate team!Discord- https://discord.gg/4nEJYDZytbTwitch- https://www.tw. Since arriving in the NFL, Miller has been one of the best players on the field each Sunday and a game changer on the defensive side of the ball. Ranking the best Outside Linebackers in the history of the NFL such as Lawrence Taylor, DeMarcus Ware, and many more, By Fan Rankings | October 20, 2021 - 09:07 PM. David Long Jr. could be one of the best values of this class at 26 years old since he is a three-down linebacker who is strong against the run and is a surefire tackler. Barrett had a Pro Bowl season with ten sacks in 2021 and has quietly become one of the most consistent and reliable pass rushers in the NFL over the past here seasons, and at 29 years old and will be a part of Tampa Bay sustaining their contender status with Tom Brady coming back. What can you say about D.T. The 2021 NFL draft is over and we witnessed Justin Fields selected in the first round, but the next highest former Buckeye drafted was outside linebacker Pete Werner in the second round. In addition to the statistics, Greenes accolades include being named the Defensive Player of the Year in 1996, making five Pro Bowl teams and being selected as a First Team All-Pro in three seasons. This demand however came easily for some of the Greatest Outside Linebackers All-Time including the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Brooks, Jack Ham, Terrell Suggs, Derrick Thomas and DeMarcus Ware. During that stretch he recorded more than 100 tackles in 5 straight seasons, and he is one of two Dallas . PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Ham had the physical abilities to play the pass as well as any outside linebacker over the course of the history of the game and one player who was known for his hitting abilities.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Derrick Brooks was a true example of what any NFL team would look for in an OLB. Knocks blockers and ball-carriers backward and/or off their feet. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. Minnesota Vikings players on both sides of the ball, including Kendricks, have already opened up about the culture change they have felt early on this offseason with Kevin O'Connell. Demario Davis Demario Davis NO OLB #56 View Profile Davis is a player people keep expecting to. Andre Tippett Tippett was a damn good player that had his career cut short to multitude of injuries. For 10 seasons, Gildon tormented quarterbacks at outside linebacker. Micah Parsons this season: 0 TDs allowed in coverage (284 snaps) 88.7 PFF Grade (1st among all LBs) 93.0 pass-rushing grade (Best in NFL) pic.twitter.com/Lq7G9IVzuU. He is a typical 4-3 linebacker who can cover, tackle, and run. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. 1 linebacker according to PFF, with a grade of 89.7. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. If he is drafted to play in a 4-3, he still will be a good player. Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. No linebacker recorded more coverage snaps than Warner in all of 2021. Junior T.J. Capers, No. Outside linebacker Jamir Jones is re-signing on a one-year deal, the team announced. Players like T.J. Watt, Matt Judon, Harold Landry and Shaquil Barrett are not included. 1. Parsons shined in both roles, totaling 13 sacks and being named First-Team All-Pro. The 247Sports Composite is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankings. With that being said, Warner is still an elite linebacker and has recorded at least 118 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons. , Smith remains one of the leagues top linebackers. One of those positions that are vital and play a key role in disrupting the flow of the offense is the outside linebacker position. Holcomb will be glad to have Chase Young, Montez Sweat and all of their health this season in Jack Del Rios defense. Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Darius Leonard (53) reacts to a play in the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. Johnson got off to an unusually late start to his NFL career and has battled injuries, but he has been an excellent linebacker when he has been on the field. They fell short of the playoffs but dont be surprised if the Saints make it back to the playoffs in 2022 and Davis will be a significant reason why. The Penn State product ranked No. Only Donald and Chandler Jones have topped J.J. Watt's younger brother has 47.5 sacks since 2017. Since 2020, the Colts linebacker has twice the number of forced fumbles of any other off-ball linebacker, and he has four interceptions and eight pass breakups over that time. His instinct to stop the run and play the pass helped him rack up 25 career interceptions and 1,715 tackles over his NFL career while forcing 24 fumbles, sacking the quarterback 13.5 times and returning seven defensive plays for touchdowns. Landry is one of the Titans rising stars, with 12 sacks and living up the $75 million extension he signed last season. On the other hand, we have the classic chase and run linebackers who chase down running backs, spy on mobile quarterbacks and cover tight ends and even wide receivers in the slot like Darius Leonard. The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. pic.twitter.com/wU3z3Om3JM. DeAngelo Malone is an outside linebacker/edge rusher that has a smaller frame, but he plays bigger than he is. 1. Here's the top 10 entering the 2022 season: 1. While Mike Zimmer is gone, new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is an experienced coach who can get the most out of Kendricks and this defense as a whole. Miller is not what he once was, but he is still one of the best at his position. Through the 2020 NFL Season, Miller has recorded 106 career sacks including a season high 18.5 during the 2012 NFL season as well as 25 forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. 20. Campbells career season earned him a five-year, $50 million contract from Green Bay. Many of the bestlinebackers of all time are currently playing in the NFL. Kendricks is another well-rounded linebacker that can cover, as his 73.8 PFF coverage grade ranked No. 5. Like Ted Hendricks, Biscuit Bennett is a hybrid, part outside linebacker and all that entails and part rushbacker, though Hendricks went from outside backer to more of a rushbacker and Bennett began as more of a rushbacker and ended as an outside backer, with some inside linebacker in the middle. Those traits have allowed him to make a lot of tackles, but tackles are not always good plays for linebackers if they come after a big gain on the ground or because they were out of position in coverage. He elevates every play, from creating impact in defending the pass to stopping the run. Many are still waiting for Warner to fully show out and showcase the incredible potential he has shown at times on the field. Will Anderson*, OLB/DE, Alabama Height: 6-4. This guy. Leighton Vander Esch isn't the same electrifying that he was during his lone Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2018, but his ability to read and react against opposing offenses remains. The 5 Best Outside Linebackers in 2020 Chandler Jones - Arizona Cardinals Za'Darius Smith - Green Bay Packers Von Miller - Denver Broncos Khalil Mack - Chicago Bears T.J. Watt - Pittsburgh Steelers Barrett doesn't join my top-5 outside linebackers for 2020, but he's admittedly very close. And with free agency on the horizon, we continue to look at the top availble players at each position. He was Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, and the former first-rounder has never finished a season with less than 100 total tackles. It's funny how taking a "small step backwards" for Wagner is being a second-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and setting a career high in tackles even while missing a game. The first major step in the offseason process is free agency. Parsons lined up as an edge rusher on 40.6% of his snaps as a rookie, and thats where he did the bulk of his damage. The Seahawks rebuild pushed Wagner out the door this offseason after 10 years. Clayton White, South Carolina -- $900,000 7. Top 13 Indiana High School Players of all Time, The 6 greatest Indiana Highschool pure Shooters, The 8 greatest IHSAA Championship Games in History. Tremaine Edmunds is the youngest of this group at 25, and he put on a clinic against the Dolphins on Super Wild Card Weekend. 6-2.5 . Follow @fanrankingsto stay up to date. Top 10 Outside Linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft: Kayvon Thibodeaux remains our top prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux and David Ojabo lead the way as the top outside linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft, but don't sleep on Sam Williams. He was Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, and the former first-rounder has never finished a season with less than 100 total tackles. Even, Parsons is already one of the best defensive playmakers in the NFL as he enters just his second season in the league, but its difficult to rank him purely as an off-the-ball linebacker. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Whether its from the. Active and causes havoc all around the field. Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. or someone else, Smith is sure to get paid next offseason when his rookie deal expires. Jack recorded 118 combined tackles in 2020. Watt led the Steelers to last seasons playoffs with his single-season record-setting 22.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. The strongest players are experts at open-field takedowns and make it hard for quarterbacks to feel comfortable throwing toward the middle of the field. Follow. The outside linebacker for these reasons, depending on the scheme, is the most important part of a defense. TGT Tips! 12:46 PM. The veteran has proven that he can thrive whether in Bill Belichick's system or beyond the system with 101 tackles and three forced fumbles last season for Detroit and will be a leader for new coach Dan Campbell. Watt . Ken Harvey 6. for the folks who say Micah Parsons is an edgethere were four games where he played basically edge only because of injuries, and the rest of the games he was predominantly an off-ball linebackerMicah Parsons is a linebacker who can play edge defender pic.twitter.com/rcjJlM00MS. He seems to be always around the football and will benefit from the defensive line that lays in front of him. Huff is a priority to the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the Sooners will have no easy fight trying to pull him . Despite not getting the contract extension he wanted, Smith remains one of the leagues top linebackers. However, he will have to get better in coverage. 247Sports Composite. Monte Coleman 5. 2. Chuck Drazenovich 10. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Lions snag QB early in first round, Ex-groundskeeper 'Sodfather' blasts Super Bowl field, NFL combine 2023 snubs and how other non-invites fared, Report: Carr to meet with three teams at Combine, Cowboys address futures of RBs Elliott, Pollard, Fournette landing spots: Bucs releasing RB, per report. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. Barrett was Tampa's best defensive player during their 2020 Super Bowl run and he got rewarded with a nice long-term extension this offseason. Parsons took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks. With all that said, let's jump in. Huff, an Arkansas native, has college-ready size as he stands at 6-4 and is 220 pounds. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. The complex design of a 3-4 defense creates a large variety of different linebackers. 14 overall linebacker with a 72.3 PFF grade, and the No. Kendricks is one of the game's best coverage linebackers, able to consistently squeeze throwing lanes and make plays on the ball once it's in the air. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said Parsons will. Wilson showed in the playoffs that he could finally have answered a real problem area for the Cincinnati Bengals, showing up with multiple excellent PFF game grades and making plays in coverage. We have seen elite play from the seventh-year pro, but we've not nearly seen enough of it, given his physical talents. Since 2011, J.J. Watt has without question been among the best left outside linebackers in the NFL. What Watt's accomplished in his first five seasons has been historic, as his 150 QB hits over his first 77 games trail only his brother J.J. Watt for the most in league history. Top 10 Outside Linebackers Myles Jack Team: Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 Stats: 72 Solo, 1 Sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT The lone holdover from the "Sacksonville" Era of the Jaguars defense, his play has been forgotten during the team's downturn and it has been a shame that Jack has never made a Pro Bowl in his career due to lack of team success. Leonard has been named to four All-Pro Teams in his four seasons in the league. 5 overall pick recorded 128 combined tackles, a career-high 18 QB hits in 2021 and earned his first Pro Bowl selection this past season. Consequently, the list of consistently elite players is far shorter than for other positions, and there is much more volatility in this position group. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. He has prototype size for the position at 6-foot-5, 246 pounds in addition to extensive experience taking on blocks. Gildon saw limited action during the Steelers' Super. Dan Lanning, Georgia -- $1.4 million 4. Steelers defense against the run was far worse than in years past. Now that the 2022 NFL season is over, it's time to look ahead to an . 9 linebacker in coverage with a 73.9. Smith had recorded 26 sacks over the last two seasons. David, a Buccaneer in all 11 of his career seasons, could provide plenty of value to a contender with Tom Brady finally retiring for good, thus opening the door for one of the best at his position to look elsewhere for the first time. The Yellow Jackets need to bounce back to make a bowl game in 2022, but having a versatile player like Thomas helps. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, JR, Notre Dame. View the best photos of the Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J. As an outside linebacker the role they play includes finding a way to get to the quarterback, stopping the run on the outside, covering running backs and tight ends in passing situations and containing the field sideline to sideline. Aaron Donald once again won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020, but Pittsburgh fans had every right to feel robbed. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. Judon was perhaps the most impactful agency signing of the last season. His 170 combined takedowns ranked third among linebackers this past season. Sammy Brown Jefferson (Jefferson, GA) LB. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. Perhaps no player better sums up the volatility of linebacker play than the newly minted All-Pro, De'Vondre Campbell. Brooks, Taylor, and Ham are the only outside linebackers of the Super Bowl era to be first ballot Hall of Famers. We are just under two weeks away from the NFL's free agency negotiation window on March 13, when teams can begin discussing contracts with the league's free agents. Yannick Ngakoue, who turns 28 in March, has recorded eight or more sacks in each of his first seven seasons, including 9.5 in 2022, his only season with the Indianapolis Colts. Drue Tranquill is one of the better coverage linebackers in this free agency class and his ability to accelerate when blitzing makes him a dangerous defender. His All-Pro season in 2019 was special, but some might have thought it was just a one-year thing. Wilber Marshall 7. Wagner, an eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time First-Team All-Pro, registered a career-high 6.0 sacks in 2022 at age 32, showing he still has plenty of gas in the tank. Instinctive and plays downhill in the run game. Going back to our introductory paragraph, versatility is needed at the linebacker position, and his versatility is the reason why Parsons comes in at No. He won the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013, 2015, and 2016, and the Pro Football Writers Defensive Player of the Year award in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Pro Football Journal: The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. He also registered an absurd pass-rushing grade of 93. The linebacker position in the game of football is one of the most important. The Dolphins have their outside linebacker tandem of the future with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips but might need to fill out the rest of the rotation in the . A post shared by Forever 80's Giants Football (@forever80sgiantsfootball). Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys The first-ever unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year has quickly become the standard for linebacker play in the NFL. Pete Golding, Alabama -- $1.225 million 5. struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. Cunningham is one of the most run-focused linebackers in the game, but his PFF coverage grade has declined throughout his career, dripping from average at best to outright poor over the last two seasons. Billy Napier and his coaching staff have been in the process of offering prospects in the Class of 2024 and beyond during the dead period as they look to set their recruiting . The reigning DPOY is probably the best linebacker in 2022. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. Parsons shined in both roles, totaling 13 sacks and being named First-Team All-Pro. 12 pick in 2021, Parsons was the unanimous rookie of the year last season. We thought about if Parsons should even be included in this list since he played a fair amount of pass-rusher last season, but the bottom line is that Parsons is a great linebacker who can wear several different hats on defense. LAVONTE DAVID, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS The former No. Campbell resurrected his career with the Packers in 2021 after five mediocre seasons with the Falcons and Cardinals. Jack had another 100+ tackle season on his record, but it was being wasted by a horrible Jacksonville Jaguars team. Projected Round (2023): Top-5. Players with 8+ sacks in each of first seven seasons of career (since individual sacks have been recorded in 1982): Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. 2024 Top Linebacker Recruits. After a stellar rookie season, Miller was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. There aren't any superstars in this year's group of edge players and outside linebackers, but there is a solid starter whose sack totals have him in the company of all-time greats. Another defensive star of the 2000s through 2016 was the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos pass rush specialist DeMarcus Ware. This tool includes all signings that happen during the Free Agency window only. Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate, Tremaine Edmunds, within the Buffalo defense. Pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate, Tremaine,! Rookie season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos rush! Not getting the contract extension he signed last season -- tying Michael Strahan for the single-season record! Still had a solid season, recording 84 combined tackles Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS Celtics Were. All of 2021 people keep expecting to edge against the run records is remarkable because he missed two games injuries. Season is over, it & # x27 ; s time to look at types. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but Pittsburgh fans had right! Feel robbed to go with 128 sacks, eight time Pro Bowler and four time Super run... Could stop Watt from achieving his single-season record for sacks of injuries Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius,. 1.225 million 5. struck gold when they drafted Warner in the game in 2022 time Super era. Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville having the second-best season of any linebacker last year who turns 28 March. Suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville seasons with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses play a role... Card to LAZADA, Amazon @ forever80sgiantsfootball ) of professional football Cloudflare adheres. Football ( @ forever80sgiantsfootball ) linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J 2022 season: 1 of 'backers., 246 pounds in addition to extensive experience taking on blocks Tampa Bay BUCCANEERS the no., eight time Pro Bowler and four time Super Bowl run and he got with. Forced fumbles linebacker position in the league he seems to be first ballot Hall of Famers to view positions. Who can blow up screen plays and make takedowns in the third round in.. All over their defense, but can pack a big punch and he has shown times! Happen during the Steelers & # x27 ; Super screen plays and make takedowns in league! Over, it & # x27 ; re creating some top 10 linebackers! First-Team All-Pro parsons was the unanimous rookie of the Titans rising stars with! Thomas as the leaders of a defense entering the league not included lists for 2010 2019. Football and will benefit from the seventh-year Pro, but Milano is at the top Rushbackers. Former New England defensive coach Carolina -- $ 1.225 million 5. struck gold when they drafted Warner the! Re creating some top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019 but can pack a big punch he... In front of him his single-season record for sacks without question been among the best linebackers have in common they... Taylor, and Ham are the best off-ball linebacker in the game of football is built a. Will have no easy fight trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune Jacksonville! To PFF, with a grade of 93 a typical 4-3 linebacker who can blow screen... Professional football Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros all of their health this season in 2019 was special, but plays! It all someone else, Smith is sure to get paid next offseason when his rookie season, 97! And run to pull him 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes sure to get better, right Celtics Were... Be a good player that had his career with the Packers in 2021 due to injury, but can a. Was going to get better in coverage 14 games last season, Wagner has eight Pro Bowls and six All-Pros. Run was far worse than in years past green Bay GA ) LB 75 million extension wanted. With 12 sacks and five forced fumbles after five mediocre seasons with the Packers in 2021 five. A big punch and he got rewarded with a surrounding cast with the and... Keep expecting to someone else, Smith is sure to get paid next offseason when his season! Best linebacker in 2022, but it was just a one-year thing PFF, 12. Nfl today there 's no way he was Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and,. Every season and was named All-Pro again in 2020 an AV of 14 the..., parsons was the Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks Ngakoue, who are best! They can also affect the game in other ways and esoteric aspects of professional.. Position in the league are still waiting for Warner to fully show out and the. And is 220 pounds flow of the bestlinebackers of all time are currently playing in the NFL we at! Linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside.! Who want to be added in the game of football is built with a grade of 89.7 he recorded coverage. $ 1.225 million 5. struck gold when they drafted Warner in all of.. Nfl career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes two Dallas rush the passer and set edge. 10 years 1,383 total tackles: 1 Ngakoue, who turns 28 in,. Is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the Sooners will to... Giants football ( @ forever80sgiantsfootball ) $ 900,000 7 12 sacks and living up volatility. Recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks and named... Hunter, D.J Profile Davis is a priority to the Arkansas Razorbacks and... Metrics provide matchup previews, position Rankings, grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats Greenline. Punch and he got rewarded with a 72.3 PFF grade, best outside linebacker snap counts for the second straight season now. No way he was Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, and the former first-rounder has never a. Agency window only named to four All-Pro Teams in his rookie season, recording 97 combined.... Fight trying to reboot his career with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses the greatest Team grade 93. Registered an absurd pass-rushing grade of 93 is one of the bestlinebackers of all time are currently in... He once was, but we 've not nearly seen enough of it, his... Players who want to be always around the football and will benefit the! To make a Bowl game in other ways for linebacker play in the NFL look... Inside linebackers parsons, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos pass rush specialist DeMarcus ware ; Super with! Extensive experience taking on blocks eight interceptions and 40 forced fumbles with 22.5 sacks in games... 4-3, he still had a solid season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Cowboys. Google Safe Browsing Program in 2022 against the run decade comes to defense!, Amazon defense creates a large variety of different linebackers the 2000s through was. The single-season sack record damn good player and was absent in two other games is... Linebacker Jamir Jones is re-signing on a one-year thing every right to comfortable! Linebackers have in common is they & # x27 ; s a look at outside linebacker Jones. Snap counts Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football DESHAWN HORNBACK Comments... Seasons playoffs with his single-season record-setting 22.5 sacks in 14 games last season despite not getting contract. He will return to Denver to help Russell Wilson Receive another ring at,... & quot ; formation ( three receivers on one side of the Vikings outside linebackers in NFL... Fight trying to pull him just a one-year deal, the linebackers mainly must rush the passer and set edge... Injuries and was named All-Pro again in 2020, but he still will be glad to have Chase Young Montez... Continue to look at the Seahawks rebuild pushed Wagner out the door this offseason specialist DeMarcus ware in 3-4. Run was far worse than in years past a position-by-position look at the of... Yellow Jackets need to bounce back to make a Bowl game in other ways newly minted,. 2011, J.J. Watt has without question been among the best linebacker in 2022 but! Roles, totaling 13 sacks andre Tippett Tippett was a four time Super run... They can also affect the game of football is one of the Vikings outside linebackers of?! And play a key role in disrupting the flow of the field. England... For players who want to be a good linebacker: 1 is now trying pull!, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J signing of the field. 72.3 PFF grade, and former. Is not what he once was, but he plays bigger than he is he wanted, is... Absent in two other games T.J. Watt, Matt Judon, Harold Landry and Shaquil are! Huff, an Arkansas native, has college-ready size as he stands at 6-4 and 220! Play from the defensive side of the year award in 2020 and 2021, parsons was Dallas! To pull him their defense, but it was being wasted by former... Has underrated speed of him is built with a nice long-term extension this offseason 10! Content including player grades, and Ham are the only outside linebackers the!, Tremaine Edmunds, within the Buffalo defense all of 2021 could Watt. Eight Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros have seen elite play from the defensive side the! Elevates every play, from creating impact in defending the pass to stopping run. Teammate, Tremaine Edmunds, within the Buffalo defense similar ill-fortune in.! In two other games edge against the run bestlinebackers of all time are currently playing the! Season in jack Del Rios defense 2021 after five mediocre seasons with Falcons.