Brice Sensabaugh. 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. Jack had another 100+ tackle season on his record, but it was being wasted by a horrible Jacksonville Jaguars team. That responsibility often falls on middle linebackers. Monte Coleman 5. 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 . 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. Like Wagner, David spent his first 10 seasons dominating for one franchise. Miller hopes to bring his championship pedigree to a Bills defense that has proved stalwart for a while now. Bobby Wagner. Allen could revolve from Sam - strong side - linebacker and defensive end. LaVar Arrington 8. Greene led the NFL in sacks in both 1994 and 1996 while racking up 160 career sacks over his NFL career. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Smith had recorded 26 sacks over the last two seasons. Nevertheless, you also have to consider great linebackers like Shaq Barrett, Von Miller, Eric Kendricks, and Demario Davis, among plenty of other talented and fearsome outside and middle linebackers. Steelers defense against the run was far worse than in years past. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. Now with the, , Wagner has the chance to compete for a second Super Bowl. Swipe right for Outside Linebacker Fan Rankings. Coach Keys: Shows the ability to take over a game defensively. an off-ball linebacker and EDGE rusher in 2022. Bennett recorded 1,190 tackles, 71.5 career sacks and 31 forced fumbles over his career while winning the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. Davis was solid in his first six seasons before joining the Saints, but Dennis Allens defense has truly unleashed him. Fred Warner has continuously shown during his time with the San Francisco 49ers that he is a great defensive player. 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 . And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. The first major step in the offseason process is free agency. UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent SFA = Street Free Agent Void = Voidable Year Contract. Von Miller finally showcased his dominance in the postseason, during the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl run. To view other positions, follow the links below. 1. 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. David also graded out as the No. The former second round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, Bobby Bell was as versatile and athletic as any linebacker to play the position during his time within the NFL. The only current player on the list of the Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time is the current Denver Broncos All-Pro Von Miller. ZaDarius Smith got a sack and flashed this We Eileen undershirt. Campbell recorded the second-highest PFF grade of any linebacker with an 85, and also was the second-highest graded linebacker in coverage with an 82.2. Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Wagner's resume speaks for itself. These athletes are called upon to be run-stuffing defensive linemen on some downs, and hybrid cornerbacks on others. At 6-foot, 232-pounds, hes quick enough to stay with receivers but strong enough to handle tight ends. He was First-Team All-Pro in 2019 before making Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021, showing no signs of aging while leading the Saints defense. While Warner recorded a career-high 137 combined tackles (T-No. 20. McShay ranked Thomas as the 13th-best outside linebacker in the upcoming NFL Draft. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-banner-1-0'); Kevin Green often gets overlooked at the outside linebacker position despite a resume that is filled with great defensive statistics including ranking third All-Time in career sacks with 160 total. Nevertheless, you also have to consider great linebackers like Shaq Barrett, Von Miller, Eric Kendricks, and Demario Davis, among plenty of other talented and fearsome outside and middle linebackers. Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. Many are still waiting for Warner to fully show out and showcase the incredible potential he has shown at times on the field. One player on each defense is allowed to wear the green dot, a helmet device that allows communication between a player and coach. 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. Up next, our Top 10 linebackers.1. Hes proven to be capable of defending both the run and the pass. Brad White, Kentucky -- $875,000 8. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - Email us at: profootballjournal@gmail.com Follow @NFL_Journal Tuesday, November 6, 2018 The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time OPINION By John Turney 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. Despite what PFF says, I don't think there are that many more linebackers who are better in coverage than Kendricks. Smith is the most important player on the Packers' defense that will need the critical stop when playing teams like the Rams or Buccaneers come January. Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. Leonard is another example of how hard it is to earn those elite PFF grades each season, but he is a turnover machine when he is at his best. VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500, CO: CALL 1-800-522-4700, MI: CALL 1-800-270-7117 | Full T&C apply. Projected 40 Time: 4.60. Campbell is a one-year wonder at the moment, but that year was All-Pro caliber and the most recent thing we have seen from him. 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. He started as a traditional off-ball linebacker before moving outside due to injuries to other players. Then, he was named All-Pro again in 2020 with an AV of 14 for the second straight season. Miller is not what he once was, but he is still one of the best at his position. Parson will revolutionize linebacker in the same way as Lawrence Taylor. Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. By Oliver Hodgkinson April 6, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show His All-Pro season in 2019 was special, but some might have thought it was just a one-year thing. He was named First-Team All-Pro, totaling 146 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. 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. So, whos the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL today? Davis was a part of a defense that nearly single-handedly led their team to the playoffs with 10 tackles, three sacks and three sacks. 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. Since being drafted in 2018, Smith has arguably been the league's best tackler at the position, leading all off-ball 'backers in defensive stops (330) and run stuffs (64, tied for first with. That hypothetical AAV of $17.6 million would make Smith the third highest-paid linebacker in the NFL. Some of the players in this group have been All-Pro caliber linebackers in the past, but Jones is coming off a PFF grade in the 30s after once looking like the next great young linebacker in the league. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 2024 Top Linebacker Recruits. 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. TGT Tips! Zach Arnett, Mississippi State -- $900,000 5. However, he will have to get better in coverage. The 12th pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. The Minnesota Vikings did an outstanding job of drafting linebackers in 1974. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. So, who are the best linebackers of 2022? Eileen is the mother one of the #Packers equipment staff members. 11 among linebackers,) his AV of 8 was tied for No. Davis is proof that age does not matter. His third year in he recorded 18 sacks and followed that season up with 16.5 sacks the next year. Knocks blockers and ball-carriers backward and/or off their feet. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. Watt is as dominant as they come, and he literally keeps the Steelers in games they should be losing. # Player OVR GEN TOTAL; 1. He led the NFL in tackles as a rookie, which gave him First-Team All-Pro honors. 8:44 am ET. In addition, Taylors other accolades include eight First Team All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl selections and the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year. 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. And with free agency on the horizon, we continue to look at the top availble players at each position. 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. Former five-star prospect Trenton Simpson is an athletic freak who despite weighing in at 240lbs reportedly runs a sub 4.4 forty-yard dash. That flexibility is tremendously valuable to the Dallas defense, but Parsons could take his game to another level if he shows development off the ball in Year 2. A player with speed, agility and the knack to play on the defensive side of the football. Terrell Suggs = ageless wonder.pic.twitter.com/XuSH2fbv6I. Now, it remains to be seen if Campbell can replicate his 2021 campaign, but based off of how he played last year, Campbell deserves a place on this list. This guy. Now with the Rams, Wagner has the chance to compete for a second Super Bowl. Tracking the status and signings of all 2023 NFL free agents. His PFF run-defense grade over the last two seasons has been in the 30s, and last seasons 47.1 overall grade was the worst of his NFL career. He should be able to continue to get 100+ tackles per season if he is able to stay healthy. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II and Luiji Villian during the 2022 season. 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. 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. 247Sports Composite. One of the best edge defenders in the game, Miller can still get to the quarterback in his 30s. Over his career Suggs was a two time Super Bowl Champion, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year. 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. Huff is a priority to the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the Sooners will have no easy fight trying to pull him . Consistently getting between 120 to 130 total tackles and even registering a sack or two a season. Bennett didnt disappoint, helping to transition the Bills defense into one of the tops in the NFL. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks. He earned the same accolade again in 2020 and 2021. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. 9 linebacker in coverage with a 73.9. At 6'4" 238 pounds, he certainly has enough size for linebacker, while being one of the most athletic players in the class regardless of position. 1 T.J. Watt - LOLB - 96. 5. Most of the time they will either be rushing the QB, trying to stop the run, or dropping back into zone coverage so we put much more weight on these attributes than others. Instinctive and plays downhill in the run game. We have seen elite play from the seventh-year pro, but we've not nearly seen enough of it, given his physical talents. 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. He went from having a one-year contract worth $2 million to signing a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $10 million! In his two seasons with the Packers, Smith has totaled 107 combined tackles, forced five fumbles, hit the quarterback 60 times, and registered 26 sacks. Top 10 NFL Outside Linebackers of All Time Rankings Honorable Mention Rickey Jackson Team (s): New Orleans Saints & San Francisco 49ers The longtime New Orleans Saints star put together a brilliant NFL career after being selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. For 15 NFL seasons the former Miami Hurricanes outside linebacker Ted Hendricks was as good as any player in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. A bit undersized linebacker, but can pack a big punch and he has underrated speed. 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. By Brandon Walker | August 27, 2021 - 11:49 AM. LAVONTE DAVID, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 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. 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. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. During the shortened 2020 season, Domann was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. 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. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. TGT Play! 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