best outside linebacker

best outside linebacker

30.12.2020, , 0

The outside linebacker for these reasons, depending on the scheme, is the most important part of a defense. To view other positions, follow the links below. He led the NFL in tackles as a rookie, which gave him First-Team All-Pro honors. Parsons took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks. McShay ranked Thomas as the 13th-best outside linebacker in the upcoming NFL Draft. A bit undersized linebacker, but can pack a big punch and he has underrated speed. 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. 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. How would you rank the greatest Outside Linebackers in history? Allen is an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker with his ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage. 1. 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. , Smith remains one of the leagues top linebackers. He has prototype size for the position at 6-foot-5, 246 pounds in addition to extensive experience taking on blocks. 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. 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. Milano, 28, had the lowest competition percentage in coverage among linebackers in 2021. . He signed a monster five-year, $95 million extension last July, and is worth it considering he's just 25. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. 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. 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. He was 32 years old when he was selected for his third consecutive All-Pro selection. Jack is a stud and he is stuck in one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the NFL. Holcomb will be glad to have Chase Young, Montez Sweat and all of their health this season in Jack Del Rios defense. The biggest question about Leonard is his health, as hes missed time in each of his four seasons and, The No. Over his career Suggs was a two time Super Bowl Champion, NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year. VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500, CO: CALL 1-800-522-4700, MI: CALL 1-800-270-7117 | Full T&C apply. 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. The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. There are also linebackers who are at their best in coverage, which is useful for todays NFL. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks. 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. He also. The defense might decide on . As the 2022 season approaches, we will be breaking down the top ten players at each position. Where T.J. Watt, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, and more of the best Outside Linebackers rank going into the 2021-2022 NFL 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. 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 | View the best photos of the Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J. 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? He is a typical 4-3 linebacker who can cover, tackle, and run. This performance was followed up by recording a leading 19.5 sacks in 2019. The 33-year-old Davis begins a string of veterans on this list. 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. 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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. 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. The only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. Unfortunately, he took a bit of a step back from his All-Pro and Pro Bowls ways. 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. Watt is as dominant as they come, and he literally keeps the Steelers in games they should be losing. 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. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star, Derrick Thomas became the face of the Chiefs defense after being selected fourth overall during the 1989 NFL draft. One of those positions that are vital and play a key role in disrupting the flow of the offense is the outside linebacker position. 8:44 am ET. During the shortened 2020 season, Domann was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. He earned the same accolade again in 2020 and 2021. David also graded out as the No. Join the contest by ranking below. Van Noy has now had stints in Detroit and Miami, but his good PFF grades are almost exclusively reserved for his time in the Patriots defense. Now with the, , Wagner has the chance to compete for a second Super Bowl. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. Since 2011, J.J. Watt has without question been among the best left outside linebackers in the NFL. Projected 40 Time: 4.60. 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 . 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. 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. 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, Ranking the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022, Mock draft: Colts, Bucs trade up to get their QBs, Ranking each team's free agent crop, 1-32, Report: Snyder charged team $4.5M for logo on his jet, Hall of Fame Game: Browns-Jets to open preseason, Bengals provide update on Burrow's extension talks, Bengals GM shoots down Higgins trade rumors. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 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. Jack had another 100+ tackle season on his record, but it was being wasted by a horrible Jacksonville Jaguars team. 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. Considered one of the greatest pass rush threats of All-Time, Thomas racked up 126.5 sacks to go with 41 forced fumbles earning him nine Pro Bowl selections and three First Team All-Pro honors. 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. 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. Thomas recorded 132.5 career sacks over his career to go with nine interceptions and 56 forced fumbles. 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. 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. 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. 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. Through his first 10 seasons, Wagner has eight Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros. PTS. One of the best edge defenders in the game, Miller can still get to the quarterback in his 30s. Parsons is versatile, smart and instinctive. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. [10] 2 Prevent passes to running backs or fullbacks. 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. 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. 5. 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. Sam Huff 9. 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. 99: 86: 2,167: 3. 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. This tool includes all signings that happen during the Free Agency window only. Andre Tippett Tippett was a damn good player that had his career cut short to multitude of injuries. Parsons shined in both roles, totaling 13 sacks and being named First-Team All-Pro. He also registered a fourth-best 79.4 PFF coverage grade among linebackers despite playing a whopping 680 coverage snaps. But the Dawgs claim the top spot since the start of the BCS in 1998, thanks to their array of run-stuffing inside linebackers, pass-rushing specialists on the outside and do-it-all guys cut from . Bobby Wagner. Join the contest by ranking below. Watt not only led the league in sacks, but also QB hits (39) and fumble recoveries (three). The Bears have fielded four of the best middle linebackers in NFL history: Dick Butkus, Bill George, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher. 11 among linebackers,) his AV of 8 was tied for No. 12 among linebackers in 2021 with a PFF coverage grade of 70 in 295 coverage snaps. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. 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. Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. LAVONTE DAVID, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 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 . Zach Arnett, Mississippi State -- $900,000 5. Teams can sign free agents at 4 p.m. March 15. No linebacker recorded more coverage snaps than Warner in all of 2021. Brooks was the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 11 time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro during his playing days with the Bucs. in preparation for a blitz with both outside linebackers. 11:03 am ET. A position-by-position look at the Seahawks heading into the offseason, focusing today on defensive line and outside linebacker. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. ZaDarius Smith got a sack and flashed this We Eileen undershirt. Campbells career season earned him a five-year, $50 million contract from Green Bay. Top247 247Sports Composite. 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. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. Who is the best linebacker of 2022? And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. When you think of the outside linebacker position, it is hard to look past the long time Pittsburgh Steelers great Jack Ham. 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. Tier 2: The Aging Elite 5. Instinctive and plays downhill in the run game. Campbells ranking could justifiably be at the very top of this list or somewhere in the 30s, based on his career so far. Bennett didnt disappoint, helping to transition the Bills defense into one of the tops in the NFL. When you think of the outside linebacker position, it is hard to look past the long time Pittsburgh Steelers great Jack Ham. 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. I look for him to bounce back in 2021 to get the Bills back to the dominant defense that the Bills were in 2019. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. Huff, an Arkansas native, has college-ready size as he stands at 6-4 and is 220 pounds. Wilber Marshall 7. There's no way he was going to get better, right? 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. 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. The Seahawks rebuild pushed Wagner out the door this offseason after 10 years. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. The longtime New Orleans Saints star put together a brilliant NFL career after being selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. Vote up the best NFL linebackers in 2022, and help decide who is the best LB of 2022! These athletes are called upon to be run-stuffing defensive linemen on some downs, and hybrid cornerbacks on others. 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. 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. Some may think Wagner is too high on this list, and while he took a small step backwards in 2021, he's still one of the best linebackers in the NFL. His 913 snaps for the Raiders last season was a career-high mark and more than doubled his previous best. 25. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. Leonard was drafted one round earlier than Warner in 2018, and hes been equally impactful for the Colts. Feb 27, 2023. Out of that group of four, outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith has turned out to be the best. Leonard burst onto the scene with 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in his rookie season back in 2018. Jackson recorded 1,173 career tackles to go with 128 sacks, eight interceptions and 40 forced fumbles. Barr has been an underrated stalwart of the Vikings defense for many years until a torn pectoral muscle ended his season after two games last season. Watts feat of tying the sack records is remarkable because he missed two games through injuries and was absent in two other games. London Fletcher 4. 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. He's been an All-Pro each year, and a Pro Bowler for three straight seasons now. Through his first 10 seasons, Wagner has eight Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros. 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. 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. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times. He tallied 77 sacks, a number that ranks him second in team history. 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. It also requires two large garbage cans, and it is helpful to have a tackle bag. The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. The Bills have stars all over their defense, but Milano is at the center of it all. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? From that point forward he was plagued with injuries. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 Outside Linebackers All-Time. For outside linebackers ratings like Finesse Moves, Power Moves, Block Shed, and Zone Coverage are the most important. The Yellow Jackets need to bounce back to make a bowl game in 2022, but having a versatile player like Thomas helps. FBS Power 5 Linebacker Physical Measurables: Height: 6'2" Weight: 220 lbs. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. Dan Lanning, Georgia -- $1.4 million 4. One can make the case that both Wagner and David are still as good as it gets at the linebacker position despite getting up there in age, but each player is coming off a relative down year by their standards, which always brings up the looming specter of decline. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. 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. Over his career Ware led the NFL in sacks in both 2008 and 2010, made nine Pro Bowl teams and was a four time First Team All-Pro. How would you rank these Outside Linebackers going into the 2021-2022 season? He seems to be always around the football and will benefit from the defensive line that lays in front of him. Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this Few plays cause momentum swings quite like a timely sack. 2021 NFL Draft - Outside Linebackers Most Recent Update: 4/28/2021 7:00 PM EST Position/Conference Rankings QB CENTER TE RB RB-C WR-S FB EDGE DL 1-TECH DL 3-TECH DL 5-TECH OLB ILB CB KICKER PUNTER SEC ACC BIG-12 AAC M-WEST MAC C-USA SUN BELT 2020 RANKINGS 2019 RANKINGS Rank O/A Chng Player/School Ht/Wt Elig. 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. Wagner is no longer with the Seattle Seahawks, signing with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Ramsthis offseason. 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. 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. Fred Warner has continuously shown during his time with the San Francisco 49ers that he is a great defensive player. Part 3. . 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 | He allowed 81.0% of passes thrown his way to be caught and missed 17 tackles in all. One of the most disruptive players at the outside linebacker position over the past 10-20 years was Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens. What a find he was for the Packers last year. Brooks, Taylor, and Ham are the only outside linebackers of the Super Bowl era to be first ballot Hall of Famers.

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