Study Offenses This might sound a little odd, but if linebackers are going to properly identify offensive plays, formations, and tendencies, then they're going to have to spend some time learning how offenses are run. 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. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. Suggs was a key member of a Ravens defense that ranked near the top in each defensive category over the past 20 NFL seasons. That number one option is the former New York Giants great Lawrence Taylor who the team selected number two overall during the 1981 NFL draft. The No. The Fallback Tackle Drill (see above video) is designed to help you develop the necessary skills to not get burned by the cutback. As Buffalo continues to chase a Super Bowl, Milano could become more of a household name. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Cornelius Bennett just missed out on the Top 10 Outside Linebackers All-Time and was once a key member of the group until some of the players of the last 10-15 years came along. Brice Sensabaugh. It also requires two large garbage cans, and it is helpful to have a tackle bag. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds is the youngest of this group at 25, and he put on a clinic against the Dolphins on Super Wild Card Weekend. 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. In the off-season, every football workout should be position specific. 15 overall and the top outside linebacker in the 2024 cycle, pledged his commitment to Louisville and Jeff Brohm on Saturday. The overall defensive scheme of 4-3 allows the outside linebackers to focus on what they're good at, stopping the run and pass. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. He set career highs across the board, notching 146 combined tackles, six QB hits and two interceptions. When you think of the outside linebacker position, it is hard to look past the long time Pittsburgh Steelers great Jack Ham. 2022 NFL Draft Linebacker Rankings - Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak It's an interesting group of linebackers. Top 100 Right Outside Linebacks. Bennett, who was drafted number two overall during the 1987 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts was traded to the Buffalo Bills before the start of the season. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, JR, Notre Dame. 1. 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. Feb 27, 2023. Von Miller finally showcased his dominance in the postseason, during the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl run. Vote up the best NFL linebackers in 2022, and . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. In contrast to Parsons, Kendricks thrives in pass coverage. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. Tracker. Jackson recorded 1,173 career tackles to go with 128 sacks, eight interceptions and 40 forced fumbles. He recorded 122 combined tackles, four interceptions and a whopping eight forced fumbles, which led the league. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. Stability is one of the most decisive factors for this inside linebacker to lead this ranking. 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. TGT Tips! There are also linebackers who are at their best in coverage, which is useful for todays NFL. The Georgia product was named second-team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, and recorded a career-high 163 combined tackles last year -- which ranked fifth among all linebackers. These athletes are called upon to be run-stuffing defensive linemen on some downs, and hybrid cornerbacks on others. Miller proved that last postseason, that he can be an effective pass rusher, especially in Super Bowl 56. 6 defense in the league last year, and Smith was a big reason why. Travis Kelce TE | Chiefs | Vertical Threat. Watt not only led the league in sacks, but also QB hits (39) and fumble recoveries (three). Active and causes havoc all around the field. Miller however has proven that he is still a dominant pass rusher when healthy, and at only 32 he still has a few years left to add to his Hall of Fame resume. 14 overall linebacker with a 72.3 PFF grade, and the No. He also leads the league with 1,383 total tackles since 2012, 161 more than second-place. View the best photos of the Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J. The list of available free agents and snap count percentages are via overthecap.com. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. 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. Follow. 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. He had some painful penalties against Texas, but he also has made some clutch plays for the Crimson Tide. Tracking the status and signings of all 2023 NFL free agents. section: | slug: 2023-nfl-free-agency-lb-market-breaking-down-top-players-at-edge-inside-and-outside-linebacker-positions | sport: football | route: article_single.us | 1 linebacker according to PFF, with a grade of 89.7. Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. One thing all these 2022 NFL best linebackers have in common is they're at the top of their game. Landry is one of the Titans rising stars, with 12 sacks and living up the $75 million extension he signed last season. 12:46 PM. The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Von Miller had a serious leg injury that sidelined him for the 2020 season. A player with speed, agility and the knack to play on the defensive side of the football. The former No. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. Davis is a player people keep expecting to regress, but he just hasn't. 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. Jack recorded 118 combined tackles in 2020if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-box-4','ezslot_2',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-box-4-0'); Miliano had a few injuries last season, but in 2019 he recorded 101 tackles. While the other two are akin to hammers pounding the lead and secondary blockers, the Will's job is to penetrate and make a play on the ball. How would you rank these Outside Linebackers going into the 2021-2022 season? 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. 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. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon,Fanatics.com, or more that is specific to you. Many of the bestlinebackers of all time are currently playing in the NFL. an off-ball linebacker and EDGE rusher in 2022. Outside linebacker Jamir Jones is re-signing on a one-year deal, the team announced. Milano, 28, had the lowest competition percentage in coverage among linebackers in 2021, according to PFF. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. 1. Here are some tips for players who want to be a good linebacker: 1. Bet with your head, not over it. A short, compact 6-2, 265 pounds, Incoom lacks great speed or the typical desired length of a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he compensates for that deficiency with a powerful upper body that allows . The only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. In addition, Taylors other accolades include eight First Team All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl selections and the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year. His 2021 campaign wasn't his best, but he seems like a player that's just going to get better, and someone who could end up becoming the next Lavonte David for the Bucs. David also graded out as the No. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. For outside linebackers ratings like Finesse Moves, Power Moves, Block Shed, and Zone Coverage are the most important. Jewell is actually more of an all-around linebacker, but run defense has been his best area in the NFL. Warner had a transformative effect on the 49ers defense when he became the starter. 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. So, who's the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL today? The 33-year-old Davis begins a string of veterans on this list. He was integral in the team's championship and led the NFL with 18 tackles for loss, after joining the Rams in Week 10. All Rights Reserved. In 2021, Davis was given a career-high AV of 15 while again being named an All-Pro after he recorded 105 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss and three sacks. 1. The Iowa Hawkeyes will travel tonight to play He cant call himself a professional boxer because Arkansas, which is unranked (19-10 SU and 15-13-1 Indiana Basketball Postgame Show W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Purdue recap, Indiana Basketball W/Steve Risley: Hoosiers fall to Spartans recap plus IU/Purdue Preview, Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Michigan State preview and Illinois recap, First deposit only | 21+ & located in CO, MI, VA | Promo code as seen| A qualifying bet is $20 or more | Min odds of +120 or more | Free Bet Tokens credited after bet is settled and expire after 7 days | Free Bet stakes not included in winnings | Please Gamble Responsibly - Gambling Problem? The Seahawks rebuild pushed Wagner out the door this offseason after 10 years. Wagner gets a new opportunity on a new team with a lot more talent around him this season, so there is good reason to suspect that his grade might bounce back. For contending teams needing help on the cheap, there's a number of established veterans to choose from in this class, including Jason Pierre-Paul, Carlos Dunlap, Jadeveon Clowney, Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Robert Quinn and Bruce Irvin. With all that said, let's jump in. 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. 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. Ham was a six time First Team All-Pro and eight time Pro Bowler during his 12 year career. Over his career Bell recorded nine defensive touchdowns including two on fumble recoveries, six interception returns and one onside kick return. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. A defender who can blow up screen plays and make takedowns in the open field. While the former Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers star comes in at number six, it can be debated whether he is well worthy of a higher ranking. Davis is proof that age does not matter. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. To create this list, we took into consideration basic statistics, Pro Football Reference/Stathead's Approximate Value, PFF grades and a guess on how the player will perform moving forward. In addition, Suggs was a First Team All-Pro and seven time Pro Bowler who racked up 139 career sacks, seven interceptions, forced 39 fumbles and scored three defensive touchdowns. 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. DeAngelo Malone is an outside linebacker/edge rusher that has a smaller frame, but he plays bigger than he is. # Player OVR GEN TOTAL; 1. Allen is an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker with his ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage. 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. Creating some top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019 similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville Miller proved that last postseason, he! Campaign, when he Moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach Texas! But Milano is at the top of their game these outside linebackers ratings like Moves... Block Shed, and his last two campaigns have been impressive run-stuffing defensive linemen on downs! According to PFF proved that last postseason, during the Rams ' 2021 Super champion... 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