best outside linebacker

I look for him to bounce back in 2021 to get the Bills back to the dominant defense that the Bills were in 2019. His first season in Green Bay produced an overall PFF grade of 85.0 and earned him a $50 million extension, but before that, Campbells PFF grades fell between 49.0 and 69.1 for two different teams. Please play responsibly. 12 among linebackers in 2021 with a PFF coverage grade of 70 in 295 coverage snaps. Terrell Suggs = ageless wonder.pic.twitter.com/XuSH2fbv6I. Madden 23. HONORABLE MENTION: Bob Breunig, Greg Ellis. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. The Yellow Jackets need to bounce back to make a bowl game in 2022, but having a versatile player like Thomas helps. 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. Going into his fifth season at the age of 26, Warner will be smack in the middle of his prime, and just signed a monster extension this offseason. We have the edge rushers that play in a 3-4 scheme like a T.J Watt and Khalil Mack who specializes in rushing the passer. Meanwhile, David will have to get it there himself, given that the Bucs defense wasnt exactly bereft of talent last season. 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. Holcomb and Jonathan Allen, a defensive tackle, were Washingtons best players last season with 143 tackles. The only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. Another player without elite physical tools, Jewell reads the game very quickly and is consistently in the right place at the right time against the run. 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. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link: Top 10 Athletes past the age of 40: Where does Tom Brady rank? For outside linebackers ratings like Finesse Moves, Power Moves, Block Shed, and Zone Coverage are the most important. 12 pick in 2021, Parsons was the unanimous rookie of the year last season. 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. Scouting points: College scouts look for smaller defensive ends with high-level speed and flexibility to make the move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. He elevates every play, from creating impact in defending the pass to stopping the run. 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. 11 among linebackers,) his AV of 8 was tied for No. There is no debating who is the Top 10 Outside Linebacker All-Time. Hes proven to be capable of defending both the run and the pass. 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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 . Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. 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. Even while playing with talented teammates Nick Bosa, DeForest Bucker and Richard Sherman, Warner has been the straw that stirs the drink. Watt led the Steelers to last seasons playoffs with his single-season record-setting 22.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. Vote up the best NFL linebackers in 2022, and . The defense might decide on . 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. 1 on our list. He also leads the league with 1,383 total tackles since 2012, 161 more than second-place. Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week. thegruelingtruth.com is available in the following countries: Top 10 Outside Linebackers for the 2022 NFL Season. Only four others have done that since individual sacks have been recorded, since 1982: three Hall of Famers (DeMarcus Ware, Derrick Thomas, Reggie White) and Los Angeles Rams defensive Aaron Donald, a future Hall of Famer. Just 25, he's on his way. Leonard was a beast in stopping the run, as his 91.1 PFF run defense grade was second among all defenders in 2021 -- not just linebackers. In addition, Taylors other accolades include eight First Team All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl selections and the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Ham was a six time First Team All-Pro and eight time Pro Bowler during his 12 year career. While Warner recorded a career-high 137 combined tackles (T-No. Follow. 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. Sam Huff 9. 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. In the off-season, every football workout should be position specific. 1. He led the NFL in tackles as a rookie, which gave him First-Team All-Pro honors. Since entering the league, Warner has 118 or more total tackles in every season and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2020. He started as a traditional off-ball linebacker before moving outside due to injuries to other players. The Penn State product ranked No. 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. Watts feat of tying the sack records is remarkable because he missed two games through injuries and was absent in two other games. A post shared by Fan Rankings (@fanrankings), Swipe right for Outside Linebacker Fan Rankings. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II and Luiji Villian during the 2022 season. 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. He, perhaps critically, chose to stay in the defense that helped produce that phenomenal season, but we are all too aware of the folly of using just one season of play to determine everything we know about a player. Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. 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. # Player OVR GEN TOTAL; 1. Tremaine Edmunds is the youngest of this group at 25, and he put on a clinic against the Dolphins on Super Wild Card Weekend. Gildon saw limited action during the Steelers' Super. 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. 12:46 PM. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. He was integral in the team's championship and led the NFL with 18 tackles for loss, after joining the Rams in Week 10. 8 in total pressures. He had some painful penalties against Texas, but he also has made some clutch plays for the Crimson Tide. His PFF grade of 77.9 ranked eighth last year among linebackers, and he once again showed he's a well-rounded linebacker that doesn't get the kind of credit he deserves. The complex design of a 3-4 defense creates a large variety of different linebackers. 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. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. 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. Mosley, Foye Oluokun. He started as a traditional off-ball linebacker before moving outside due to injuries to other players. VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500, CO: CALL 1-800-522-4700, MI: CALL 1-800-270-7117 | Full T&C apply. 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. Eileen is the mother one of the #Packers equipment staff members. Every snap, these mighty run stuffers must stymie the most athletic skill players, while demolishing any blockers who stand in their way, which sounds easier than it is. 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. Honorable mentions: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Logan Wilson, Shaq Thompson, Alexander Johnson, Deion JonesJeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, C.J. Since 2011, J.J. Watt has without question been among the best left outside linebackers in the NFL. Landry is one of the Titans rising stars, with 12 sacks and living up the $75 million extension he signed last season. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. 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. Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. The biggest question about Leonard is his health, as hes missed time in each of his four seasons and could be out for the start of 2022. UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent SFA = Street Free Agent Void = Voidable Year Contract. Despite not getting the contract extension he wanted, Smith remains one of the leagues top linebackers. While Parsons proved to be a stud pass-rusher, some had questions about his coverage ability coming into the league. When you think of the outside linebacker position, it is hard to look past the long time Pittsburgh Steelers great Jack Ham. Jewell is actually more of an all-around linebacker, but run defense has been his best area in the NFL. Weight: 235. He can be solid complement to an already established pass rush unit as evidenced by his time in the NFC West with both the Rams and 49ers. 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. Brice Sensabaugh. The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. 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. LSU is promoting analyst John Jancek to special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, a team source tells The Athletic.Here's what you need to know: Jancek will fill the vacant LSU . 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. From that point forward he was plagued with injuries. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys The first-ever unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year has quickly become the standard for linebacker play in the NFL. Feb 27, 2023. He was the best pass rusher Belichick has signed in years and was a major reason why the Patriots made the playoffs, recording 12.5 sacks and becoming his third consecutive Pro Bowler. The Rams have a great defense, and the 32-year-old Wagner could find himself rejuvenated in 2022. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Linebackers are some of the most intense players in football, and with all the new schemes today - athletes are coming in all different shapes and sizes. 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. in preparation for a blitz with both outside linebackers. Watt's greatness deserves more than just a few paragraphs. Miller and Aaron Donald could not be blocked with Miller recording two sacks. A position-by-position look at the Seahawks heading into the offseason, focusing today on defensive line and outside linebacker. 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. Over his career Bell recorded nine defensive touchdowns including two on fumble recoveries, six interception returns and one onside kick return. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings and to have a chance to win a gift card to LAZADA, Amazon, Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Running Backs of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Wide Receivers of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Tight Ends of All Time Rankings, Top 10 NFL Strong Safeties of All Time Rankings. During his playing days Hendricks recorded 60.5 sacks to go along with 26 interceptions and forcing four safeties. Ham, who played 12 NFL seasons all with the Steelers recorded 32 career interceptions to go along with two defensive touchdowns while helping the Steelers to win four Super Bowls over his career. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. Top 10 Outside Linebackers for the 2022 NFL Season - The Grueling Truth Ranking the top 10 Outside Linebackers headed into the 2022 NFL season. It got me thinking how many outside linebackers in Ohio State history were drafted that high or higher. 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. Time will tell if he stays in Los Angeles or he will return to Denver to help Russell Wilson Receive another ring. The former No. He made the full-time switch to outside linebacker for the 2019 season, starting six games and recording 52 tackles that season. at Team Spending. Steelers defense against the run was far worse than in years past. Thomas plays in a defensive back/linebacker hybrid role, which means he covers better than most linebackers. By Oliver Hodgkinson April 6, 2022 Jump Around This Article Click to show 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. Demario Davis Demario Davis NO OLB #56 View Profile Davis is a player people keep expecting to. Ham was a six time First Team All-Pro and eight time Pro Bowler during his 12 year career. Unfortunately, he took a bit of a step back from his All-Pro and Pro Bowls ways. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. We have seen elite play from the seventh-year pro, but we've not nearly seen enough of it, given his physical talents. Bosa missed four games last season due to concussions, and he has a little injury history. How would you rank these Outside Linebackers going into the 2021-2022 season? Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. 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. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. Parson will revolutionize linebacker in the same way as Lawrence Taylor. 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. Von Miller finally showcased his dominance in the postseason, during the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl run. 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. Clayton White, South Carolina -- $900,000 7. He is a typical 4-3 linebacker who can cover, tackle, and run. Oluokun is coming off a PFF run-defense grade of 44.0 and a coverage grade of 54.4. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. Here's the top 10 entering the 2022 season: 1. Projected Round (2023): Top-5. BOBBY WAGNER, LOS ANGELES RAMS 6. 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. 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. There's no way he was going to get better, right? 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. Bell was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1969, a Super Bowl Champion, three time Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro as well as a five time First Team All-AFL. Bennett didnt disappoint, helping to transition the Bills defense into one of the tops in the NFL. Campbells career season earned him a five-year, $50 million contract from Green Bay. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. 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. Today, all four men are enshrined in the Pro Football. 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? 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. He tallied 77 sacks, a number that ranks him second in team history. No linebacker recorded more coverage snaps than Warner in all of 2021. The reigning DPOY is probably the best linebacker in 2022. Swipe right for Outside Linebacker Fan Rankings. struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. Judon was perhaps the most impactful agency signing of the last season. McShay ranked Thomas as the 13th-best outside linebacker in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Ramsrecently releasedWagner just one season into a five-year, $50 million contract due to salary cap issues. 99: 90: 3,280: 2. He set career highs across the board, notching 146 combined tackles, six QB hits and two interceptions. 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. Andre Tippett Tippett was a damn good player that had his career cut short to multitude of injuries. Stats: 40yd: 4.6 Bench: 315 lbs. Still, the veteran is always in the right place and often capitalizes on any mistake by an offense. Injuries are the only thing that could stop Watt from achieving his single-season record for sacks. TGT Tips! That hypothetical AAV of $17.6 million would make Smith the third highest-paid linebacker in the NFL. DeAngelo Malone is an outside linebacker/edge rusher that has a smaller frame, but he plays bigger than he is. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | With all that said, let's jump in. Tier 2: The Aging Elite 5. The 31 teams that didn't win the Super Bowl will spend the coming months bolstering their rosters in order to compete with Patrick Mahomes and the championKansas City Chiefsduring the 2023 season. 1. The Steelers couldnt function on defense when Watt was away from the field. . Bet with your head, not over it. Davis is proof that age does not matter. This tool includes all signings that happen during the Free Agency window only. After Warner's monster 2020 campaign, we thought he could be the No. Upon his retirement, the former Saints and 49ers outside linebacker held a long list of NFL records including recording an NFL record four sacks in a game, most fumble recoveries during a season and over an entire career. One player on each defense is allowed to wear the green dot, a helmet device that allows communication between a player and coach. 1. 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. Bradie James was one of the more productive defensive players of the Bill Parcells/Wade Phillips era. 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. Chuck Drazenovich 10. 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. 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. 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. Wagner's resume speaks for itself. Whether its from the Bears or someone else, Smith is sure to get paid next offseason when his rookie deal expires. The Seahawks rebuild pushed Wagner out the door this offseason after 10 years. Up next, our Top 10 linebackers.1. 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. 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. Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate, Tremaine Edmunds, within the Buffalo defense. Sammy Brown Jefferson (Jefferson, GA) LB. The No. [10] 2 Prevent passes to running backs or fullbacks. Allen is an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker with his ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage. In the first round, the team tabbed Fred McNeill of USC, who became a fixture at the outside linebacker spot for many . Buy Buckeyes Tickets. The list of available free agents and snap count percentages are via. Greene led the NFL in sacks in both 1994 and 1996 while racking up 160 career sacks over his NFL career. The 33-year-old Davis begins a string of veterans on this list. He earned the same accolade again in 2020 and 2021. He told us last week that 15 sacks are the "minimum" in 2022. Even while playing with talented teammates Nick Bosa, DeForest Bucker and Richard Sherman, Warner has been the straw that stirs the drink. He has prototype size for the position at 6-foot-5, 246 pounds in addition to extensive experience taking on blocks. 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. 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. Here are the rankings on who I think will be the best in 2021. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'fanrankings_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-medrectangle-3-0'); The Cowboys' prized rookie out of Penn State is looking to change the shape of the defense that has the most points (473) and the second-most points allowed in team history. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. Many are still waiting for Warner to fully show out and showcase the incredible potential he has shown at times on the field. If a team needs at least eight sacks and more juice for its pass rush, Ngakoue should be the first call.

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