1 linebacker according to PFF, with a grade of 89.7. One of the best off-ball linebackers of his generation, David is still playing at an extremely high level and may benefit from, Okereke stepped up in a major way in the absence of fellow off-ball linebacker, The 2022 season was Tranquills first as a full-time starter following. Getting outside the . 2021 Snaps: 987 Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. Meanwhile, TJ Watt led the league in sacks (22.5) and was the Defensive Player of the Year. Over the past three seasons, his 19.8% pass-rush win rate and 23.8% pressure rate are both the second-best marks among off-ball linebackers with at least 100 pass-rush snaps over the span. Josey Jewell and Jonas Griffith should be the starters, with free agent signing Alex Singleton looking for snaps, as well. AVG. 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. His elite run-stopping ability was on display against the Packers in the divisional round, too. A position of concern and potential weakness heading into last season has become a real strength for Kansas City. Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Sports (Dean); Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports (Ojabo) 1. the star of the Colts' defense has been rock solid since exploding onto the scene as a rookie. 16 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft as the second-youngest player in the overall class. The Falcons defense has fallen apart around him, and he no longer has a free run to the football as often as he did when he was playing his best football. Alabama linebacker Christian Harris is the last player in PFF's top 100, with a plus 60 overall, pass rush, and run defense grade but just above 50 for his coverage grade. Campbell was one of the big surprises of the 2021 NFL season, as he stepped his game up in a major way for the Green Bay Packers. After ranking the best individual linebackers heading into 2022, here's how each team's linebacking corps stacks up. Singleton earned a career-best 82.6 run-defense grade that ranked eighth among off-ball linebackers, tallying more than 100 tackles for the second year in a row, with his two-year total of 212 ranking sixth among off-ball linebackers. New: Draft Mode! At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. The former third-round pick still has room to grow as a coverage player, but at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, he moves well enough in space to not be a liability in coverage. He was everything for the Green Bay defense, and while he might be the next linebacker to rejuvenate his career with a new team ( la Demario Davis), he very well could also be a one-hit wonder. Still, the. He also made the absolute most of the occasional blitz, tallying 15 pressures, five sacks and three more quarterback hits on 70 pass-rush snaps. He was good as a true linebacker, but his ability to play two different roles on any given snap made him special and provided a hybrid ability that caused problems for offenses. 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. Login or Register Projections: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | DL | LB | DB Subscribe to Sign Up 1. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. In May, Sam Monson of PFF ranked as the league's No.16 linebacker coming into the 2022 NFL season. The Titans ask a lot of their off-ball linebackers, and Long can do it all. Los Angeles' overall defense is so good, at least on paper, that it might not matter who plays linebacker. Edmunds also missed just 6.5% of potential tackles, the lowest rate of his career and another huge sign of continued growth from a football intelligence and play recognition standpoint. 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. Rounding out the top-tier of linebackers, Lavonte David is likely another surprise player based on where he tends to go in drafts, but dont let the age fool you. Gay hasnt graded as well but possesses the characteristics to become a top linebacker. 2021 Snaps: 323 The following tiers reflect which players are in the best situations to produce they're ranked based on the likelihood of doing so every single week. The Packers long searching for a reliable off-ball linebacker brought Campbell aboard on a one-year, $2 million contract, and his 86.7 overall grade was second among linebackers through Week 8 while his 90.7 run-defense grade ranked first, leading to a Pro Bowl nod. Here are the top 10 linebackers scheduled to become free agents in March. Overall, White has had an incredible start to his career, as he's picked up All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl bid and a Super Bowl ring in just three years. The scheme plays a part in them making some plays. In Eric Kendricks, the Vikings have had a superb all-around linebacker for years. Unfortunately, he took a bit of a step back from his All-Pro and Pro Bowls ways. This ranking may be a surprise after the Seahawks lost future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner in free agency this offseason, but Wagner seemed to be on the downslope of his career. For IDP fantasy football leagues, there is a ton of variance in preseason player rankings, but utilizing tiers can help us properly value each group of players in 2023 fantasy football drafts. Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs the ball against Green Bay Packers inside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (59) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kendricks has long been one of the consistent middle linebackers in the league, and he stepped up his game in 2021 with a career-high 143 combined tackles, five sacks and two interceptions. Age: 28. In 2019 and 2021 with the Ravens, he graded out to 80.0 and 74.8, respectively. Perryman has been the embodiment of that in his NFL career, to the point where he was often kept off the field on passing downs. Muma was one of the most productive defenders in all of college football in 2021, generating 68 total defensive stops, three picks and 21 pressures for the Cowboys. His past two years against the run have been horrid, with him posting 39.8 and 30.0 run-defense grades. Please try again later. There are also linebackers who are at their best in coverage, which is useful for todays NFL. 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. Oluokun is coming off a PFF run-defense grade of 44.0 and a coverage grade of 54.4. He rarely leaves the field, having never played less than 90% of defensive snaps when healthy in a season, and is a lock for triple-digit tackles as a result. Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings. The Rams attacked the linebacker position this offseason, adding. 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. But neither player made the cut for the top 50, which hurts . Campbells ranking could justifiably be at the very top of this list or somewhere in the 30s, based on his career so far. The Jaguars replaced Jack with Oluokun, who also has outstanding physical traits. It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. A position of weakness for the Eagles in 2021 might turn into a position of strength in 2022 with the additions of rookie Nakobe Dean and veteran Kyzir White to pair alongside T.J. Edwards, who had a breakout 2021 season. Warner had a transformative effect on the 49ers defense when he became the starter. A defender who can blow up screen plays and make takedowns in the open field. Final Season Stats. In 2022, he boasted a pass . Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Better luck with his health led to a respectable 63.8 overall grade and 72.6 pass-rush grade in 2021. Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks ranked No. David Long, meanwhile, was playing at a solid level before an injury forced him to miss most of the second half of the 2021 season. 4. He even hit 107 combined tackles in 2020 despite playing in just 11 games! With Oluokun one of the few young players available, a market could develop for him that exceeds expectations. Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate. 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. 2021 Snaps: 679 Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Seahawks rookie Ken Walker makes top 20 in PFF's RB grades for 2022 season Tim Weaver January 25, 2023 7:00 am PT Seahawks running back Ken Walker had a special rookie season, posting 1,050. The Steelers brought in former Jaguar Myles Jack to play alongside him. Walker is one of the best run-and-hit linebackers in the class. For IDP fantasy football leagues, there is a ton of variance in preseason player rankings, but utilizing tiers can help us properly value each group of players in. Kendricks is one of the games best coverage linebackers, able to consistently squeeze throwing lanes and make plays on the ball once its in the air. Then, he was named All-Pro again in 2020 with an AV of 14 for the second straight season. However, he will have to get better in coverage. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. 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. His 33 run stops in 2020 were a top-10 mark at the position. The league may be trending ever more toward the passing game, but there is still a place in the NFL for linebackers who are excellent run defenders first and foremost. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. David has been consistent, as only one linebacker has recorded more tackles since he entered the league, and that player is found later on in this list. Linebacker Rankings: 2022 Regular Season, Updated: 9/1/2022 Want Custom Fantasy Scoring? Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers The 49ers struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. 10. He's a Hall of Famer, no doubt, but the reason he's so high on this list is because he's not done just yet. Teams could do a lot worse than White if they are looking for a solid weakside linebacker who has the speed to stay with pass-catchers in coverage for the most part. Al-Shaair missed a lot of time in 2022 but earned a career-best 67.8 overall grade and 79.7 run-defense grade. His 170 combined takedowns ranked third among linebackers this past season. Jack had hovered near 70.0 overall grades before a down 2021 season, and the Steelers will hope that those good years arent behind him. 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. 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. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia . According to training camp reports, that is paying off big time for the Eagles. 88 selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. His processing skills took massive steps forward in 2021, causing his grade to jump from 57.1 to 76.3. However, he earned an additional $500,000 in incentives along with a trip to the Super Bowl, so it couldve been worse, all things considered. 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. And even though he hasnt quite been able to maintain an elite level of play every season, his impact on the field is obvious. The 49ers applied the second-round restricted free agent tender at a price tag of $3.986 million to Al-Shaair for the 2022 season, perhaps illustrating that they feared he would get signed to an offer sheet elsewhere if they went with the right of first refusal tender. PFF analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2022 NFL season. Below, we will rank the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022. Hes aggressive, has a quick trigger and finds the ball carrier. Harris is one of the most physical linebackers in the class who relishes the ability to hit anyone on the other side of the ball. After sitting out in 2020, C.J. Edmunds 86.9 coverage grade in 2022 was the third-best mark among off-ball linebackers, and he forced an incompletion on 10.3% of targets into his coverage while allowing just four explosive receptions the entire season (0.9% of targets into his coverage, ninth among linebackers). For IDP fantasy football leagues, there is a ton of variance in preseason player rankings, but utilizing tiers can help us properly value each group of players in 2023 fantasy football drafts. Adam Holt. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is a solid all-around off-ball linebacker who has three straight seasons logging at least 750 snaps, and he took a major leap in 2022 with the Denver Broncos. I laid out some of my thoughts on their situations, rambling on longer for some more than others. Overall, Georgia has 11 players in PFF's big board including six players ranked in the top 80 NFL draft prospects. His 62 run stops over the last two seasons ranks ninth among off-ball linebackers, and his 18 tackles for loss or no gain is tied for 14th. The folks over at PFF are going through the process of creating rankings and tiers for every position ahead of the 2022 NFL season. Milano has put up outstanding PFF grades in both coverage and against the run but has struggled to put it all together over one season. Okereke is a solid stand-in next to Leonard. The main contributors to a linebackers IDP success are the volume of defensive snaps combined with playing in zone-heavy defenses, which rack up tackles more efficiently. Within 2021 and 2022's class, Detroit made use of the later rounds to nab names such as wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and edge James Houston. Perryman was signed to a two-year, $6.085 million contract before the 2021 season and promptly traded to the Las Vegas Raiders before the first week of the campaign. Now its just a matter of how nice itll be. March 2, 2023 3:21 pm ET. Those tools caused Edwards to go undrafted despite an excellent college career, and he had to fight his way into a starting job by excelling in the preseason and on special teams. Over the past decade, virtually every stage of the offensive evolution has increased stress on linebackers, putting them in a bind and asking them to account for multiple things on the same play. There is hope that Channing Tindall, Miami's rookie linebacker out of Georgia, can find his way on the field. Speed and Matthew Adams late-round dart throws. Campbells 90.4 tackling grade is his fifth straight such mark above 75.0, and that sure tackling goes a long way in Green Bay. Okereke is a solid stand-in next to Leonard. The 2022 season was Longs first as a full-time starter at middle linebacker, but hes made the most of opportunities in the past. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. Devin Bush has not lived up to his draft status as a first-round pick, and 2022 might be his last chance to prove himself at the NFL level. Some of it is because he's been a little bit dependent on good play from the defensive line in front of him, but a good deal of it has been his ability to more . 2021 PFF grade: 60.4 (30th of 89). The 2022 season was Tranquills first as a full-time starter following Kyzir Whites departure, and his 105 tackles were more than his first three seasons combined. His 89.0 run-defense grade in 2022 ranked fourth at the position, with his 13 tackles for loss or no gain tied for 12th. PFF ranks 49ers Fred Warner as the top linebacker in the NFL According to PFF's Sam Monson, the 49ers have the best linebacker in the NFL and another top-20 player at the position. He has top-notch natural coverage skills for a linebacker his size, but everything else is a work in progress. He is a truly freakish athlete and will be 25 years old throughout his entire sixth NFL season in 2023 after being selected No. Lloyd, who earned a 90.0-plus grade at Utah in 2021, does look set to start. The six players in the 1A tier figure to be the favorites to post the highest tackle numbers in the league based on their expected role in their defenses. White backed up his first season as a starter in 2021 with another solid campaign in 2022, earning grades of at least 62.0 against the run and in coverage. Davids 72.3 overall PFF grade is the lowest mark he has posted in a single season since 2016, and Wagners 71.8 was his lowest since 2015. Here are the top free agents at linebacker, taken from PFF's free agency rankings. PFFs Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position. The Super Bowl has come and gone in 2022 and we have started to turn our attention to the next football season. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. A quick thread on the most efficient coverage scheme for linebacker tackling since 2019, per @PFF: Cover-2 has allowed for >15% tackle efficiency for LBs since 2019 (average being 11-13%) acting as a true edge for #FFIDP leagues! The 12th. 2022 NFL linebacker unit rankings: San Francisco 49ers claim the top spot, Seattle Seahawks crack the top 10 Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) lines up over Green Bay Packers center Josh Myers (71) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. Sam Monson of PFF recently ranked the top linebackers in the NFL and organized them in tiers. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Here are the best available players remaining heading into Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft. 2021 PFF grade: 53.0 (50th of 89). The second linebacker tier features 17 linebackers on teams that are expected to be less zone-heavy than those in the tier above. Still, its an interesting group because of Ernest Jones, especially after his very good Super Bowl performance as he came back from an injury-plagued season. Eichenberg was a PFF first-team All-American this past season and is the most valuable returning linebacker according to PFF's wins above average metric. The redshirt junior is a dominant run-stuffer, as his 49 run-defense stops in 2022 ranked second among all linebackers in the country while his 20 tackles for loss/no-gain were tied for third. Hes the complete package for a modern off-ball linebacker. PFF themselves had the Cowboys 2021 secondary in the top 10. The Ravens are still looking for that breakout year from Patrick Queen after two subpar seasons. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Vander Esch earned a 90.0-plus grade in three starts in 2021, including two such outings over the final five weeks. Elandon Roberts and Jerome Baker are average linebackers who have just one 70.0-plus season grade among their 10 combined years in the NFL. Like the Chiefs, the Bengals also went into last season with a lot of unknowns surrounding the linebacker position but found a really good pair in, A position of weakness for the Eagles in 2021 might turn into a position of strength in 2022 with the additions of rookie, The Ravens are still looking for that breakout year from. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. Across the three years prior to joining Green Bay, Campbell hadnt earned a grade higher than 56.6 in any season. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. In 10 seasons, he has been named an All-Pro eight times, made the Pro Bowl eight times and led the NFL in tackles twice. Like the Chiefs, the Bengals also went into last season with a lot of unknowns surrounding the linebacker position but found a really good pair in Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. Tae Crowder and Micah McFadden will look to compete for the spot opposite Martinez. His first year with the Packers resulted in a whopping 85.0 mark. In two weeks, NFL GMs will begin negotiating with free . 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. While Warner recorded a career-high 137 combined tackles (T-No. After looking like one of the worst linebackers in the NFL for a few years in Green Bay. No linebacker corps gets its collective noses dirtier than the Patriots' unit. There's no telling what he could be with more reps at the position. He tallied a career-high six pass breakups in 2022. What a find he was for the Packers last year. Click here to view PFF's full IDP rankings for the 2022 season and tiers for the defensive linemen and defensive backs. both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. A new defensive coordinator and scheme will help him, though. He has not graded above 70.0 since. Oluokun leads the way for a very underwhelming free-agent class at off-ball linebacker, though his timing of reaching unrestricted free agency could work out nicely in his favor. Shaq Thompson is a bona fide star, and he may be playing alongside a diamond-in-the-rough partner in Frankie Luvu. Pro Football Focus has finalized the regular season grades for the 2022 NFL season. 2021 PFF grade: 65.1 (T-23rd of 89). We have already seen that play from Smith in Chicago, but the decline of the defense around him and perhaps more importantly directly in front of him has led to a decline in his play. Potentially losing a step or two with age can be negated by elite play recognition and instincts, both of which David has in spades. They happily scooped up the extremely talented Georgia linebacker. Johnson finds himself in one of the most unique contract situations in NFL history. Devin Lloyd, Utah BIG BOARD RANK: 15 He was not as good a coverage or run-stopping linebacker as he was as a pass rusher, but his talent makes you think he will figure it out shortly. He pairs with the solid Matt Milano, who posted the second-best season grade of his career (67.0) in 2021. The 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, part of the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season, was the 70th season of college football played for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). . 10 among linebackers last year. While Bobby Okerekes grade has fluctuated over the years, Darius Leonard the star of the Colts' defense has been rock solid since exploding onto the scene as a rookie. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. PFF's top linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft 1. 7 ranking in Pro Football Focus' list of the top 25 safeties of the 2022 . Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. He was All-Pro just one year ago, and has been a leader for this Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense since the days when the franchise was going 2-14. 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. More Stats. Parsons was the No. This group could rank much higher by the end of next season. Linebackers with the most INT's in both man and zone coverage last season Man: Bobby Okereke (2) Zone: Darius Leonard (4) pic.twitter.com/RJ4JbjcbYx That's still a very good grade, but there should be concerns about his age and a potential decline going forward. Perryman was looking for a new contract heading into 2022 but ultimately played out the year, earning a strong 80.5 run-defense grade. 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. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports. Van Noy also has the complicating factor of being one of the multiple linebackers who only seems to function at a high level within the New England Patriots defense. The Penn State product ranked No. It's like your very own digital cheat sheet. Brown has seen his play taper off after a really nice sophomore campaign in 2018 in which he posted an 81.2 grade. . The former undrafted free agent is in for a big pay raise this offseason after making the absolute most of his one-year deal. 1. He didn't end the 2021 campaign in the best fashion, but did rebound to record 13 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, four QB hits and two passes defensed in Tampa Bay's two postseason games. Click here for PFF's full list of top 100 free agents. Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. He may be coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in recent memory, but he also missed five games with injury. Wagner is no longer with the Seattle Seahawks, signing with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Ramsthis offseason. Kendricks is another well-rounded linebacker that can cover, as his 73.8 PFF coverage grade ranked No. Jewell also provides value on the occasional pass-rush snap and very rarely misses tackles. Seahawks only have one player in PFF's top-40 graded edge defenders Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC. Jordyn Brooks is an ascending star who will get more snaps this year. 4) Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos. The 1B tier has just as much going for them, with zone-heavy defenses, expected positive tackle efficiency and an every-down roles. Divine Deablo had some interesting moments as a rookie in 2021 and is worth keeping an eye on. Why drafting Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons among the top-12 may not be the best decision. 12 among linebackers in 2021 with a PFF coverage grade of 70 in 295 coverage snaps. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks Seattle's defense may have deteriorated around him, but Bobby Wagner remains the class of the linebacker position, especially since Luke Kuechly 's retirement. Kansas City Chiefs News Chiefs' young linebacker unit breaks into top 10 in PFF rankings The Chiefs' top two linebackers are 22 (Bolton) and 24 (Gay), yet Pro Football Focus finds the. He was. at He ended up making the Pro Bowl by logging a career-high 863 snaps and racking up 121 tackles and 61 defensive stops. 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. Rounding out the top-tier of linebackers. Projected contract: Four years, $40 million ($10M per year, $22.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 63 NFL NFL Home Tools NFL Scores NFL Premium Stats NFL Player Grades Free Agent Rankings QB Annual 2022 White was a reliable presence at linebacker following the loss of 2020 first-rounderKenneth Murrayduring Weeks 4-9 and when Murray was battling injuries over Weeks 11-15. Their tackle efficiency and every-down roles make them the most coveted players at the position. He also registered an absurd pass-rushing grade of 93. From Week 9 of 2020 through Jewells injury in Week 2 of this season, his 79.8 overall grade ranked fourth among off-ball linebackers and his 79.5 coverage grade ranked fifth.