Please try again later. Defensively, the attrition was less significant; however, one of the unit's leaders did leave in free agency Foye Oluokun. White has had four straight seasons with coverage grades above 60.0, which is not an easy feat for an off-ball linebacker in todays NFL against so many hi-lo concepts and the increase in run-pass options putting a ton of stress on the position. 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. Projected contract: Two years, $15 million ($7.5M per year, $10M total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 86 His processing skills took massive steps forward in 2021, causing his grade to jump from 57.1 to 76.3. 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. Here's the top 10 entering the 2022 season: 1. Falcons linebacker core ranked dead last by PFF Ranking NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022: New No. may surprise some based on his age. Anthony Brown is an okay slot and Kelvin Joseph was actually the highest rated CB. In two weeks, NFL GMs will begin negotiating with free . Still, the. section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-10-linebackers-entering-2022-new-no-1-as-bobby-wagner-finally-dethroned | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Where are Georgia Bulldogs ranked on PFF's 2023 NFL draft big board? That's still a very good grade, but there should be concerns about his age and a potential decline going forward. As stated in the article, Galina only included true off-ball . 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. At 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, he has legit NFL size and athleticism. Typically, David is the ideal linebacker for IDP. PFF ranks 49ers Fred Warner as the top linebacker in the NFL Minnesota Vikings players on both sides of the ball, including Kendricks, have already opened up about the culture change they have felt early on this offseason with Kevin O'Connell. Christian Kirksey has not had a season of note since 2016 with the Browns, yet he projects as a starter in this defense once again. Honorable mentions: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Logan Wilson, Shaq Thompson, Alexander Johnson, Deion JonesJeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, C.J. Hes not only straight-line fast, but he also processes and reacts with elite quickness. Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, and Lee Smith (don't hate on the importance of the old school tight end) will no longer be suiting up for the team in 2022. His first year with the Packers resulted in a whopping 85.0 mark. Lavonte David is still one of the best linebackers in the game . After looking like one of the worst linebackers in the NFL for a few years in Green Bay. Perhaps most importantly in todays NFL, Tranquill followed up his 74.6 coverage grade in 2021 with a career-high 75.4 mark, with his 18 stops in coverage a top-20 figure among off-ball linebackers. . The only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. 3 Rams make PFF's top 101 players of 2022 Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West Broncos Chargers. 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. Aug 9, 2022. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. 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 even hit 107 combined tackles in 2020 despite playing in just 11 games! He signed a monster five-year, $95 million extension last July, and is worth it considering he's just 25. JaWhaun Bentley is a hard-nosed player like his counterpart Mack Wilson. NFL Defensive Line Rankings 2022 - ftnfantasy.com 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. The Georgia Bulldogs have a 12 players participating at the 2023 NFL combine. He subsequently graded out to 76.5 in his first season. 10 among linebackers last year. 2021 PFF grade: 80.1 (3rd of 89). Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. 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. Diggs had a high EPA and was an all pro who bad habits come from gambling. His 33 run stops in 2020 were a top-10 mark at the position. 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. Hes a high-upside player now playing with a future Hall of Famer. 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. Nevertheless, he may have to play on a one-year prove-it deal as he recovers. All Rights Reserved. Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. 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. Kendricks' grade did falter in 2021 a 59.9 mark that was down from 82.6 and 90.1 the past two years, respectively. Edwards has shown that as much as linebacker is one of the most athletic-traits-driven positions in football, prospects with marginal physical tools can still become solid NFL starters. Warner had a transformative effect on the 49ers defense when he became the starter. I also gave a target round for your rookie drafts, these are just suggestions as all drafts are different. 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. Typically, David is the ideal linebacker for IDP. Brown appeared to be on his way to a strong free agency in the 2021 offseason after three solid seasons as a starter, but he may have been an unfortunate victim of the salary cap drop, as he ultimately agreed to return to the Titans on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. He packs a punch as a downhill player, as he can light up offensive linemen with ease. 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. Pro Football Focus has finalized the regular season grades for the 2022 NFL season. 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. is likely another surprise player based on where he tends to go in drafts, but dont let the age fool you. Two former Tigers lower on this list of NFL's best receivers New: Draft Mode! The best linebackers in todays league are elite coverage players, but they can also affect the game in other ways. Cody Barton is another interesting player who will finally get a chance to start this season. That could be a problem for folks expecting the same numbers. 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. Editor's note: For up-to-the-minute updates based on everythingwerehearing around the NFL, go to PFF's free agency rankings, where you can sort by position, team needs, and more all offseason long. NFL Linebacker Rankings 2022 - ftnfantasy.com Below, we will rank the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. on Pro Football Focus' Top-100 players of 2022 rankings. Losing Kyle Van Noy, the highest-graded coverage linebacker in 2021, will hurt. heading into 2022, here's how each team's linebacking corps stacks up. 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. 8 in total pressures. Subscribe to Sign Up 1. Linebacker Rankings 2022 NFL Draft The Seahawks selected Cody Barton out of Utah with the No. Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate. Seahawks only have one player in PFF's top-40 graded edge defenders When healthy, Johnson is among the best sideline-to-sideline run-defenders at off-ball linebacker in the league. Smith is a complete athletic projection. PFF ranks Ravens linebackers No. 17 - Baltimore Beatdown PFF says the Eagles may have gotten the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Last but certainly not least, Pratt also peaked at the right time, with his 90.1 overall grade since Week 8 the top mark among linebackers. He pairs with the solid Matt Milano, who posted the second-best season grade of his career (67.0) in 2021. 2021 Snaps: 987 The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. 2022 NFL linebacker unit rankings: San Francisco 49ers claim the - PFF 2021 PFF grade: 84.3 (2nd of 89). There are also linebackers who are at their best in coverage, which is useful for todays NFL. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. 7 ranking in Pro Football Focus' list of the top 25 safeties of the 2022 . Parsons was the No. 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. Unfortunately, he took a bit of a step back from his All-Pro and Pro Bowls ways. Projected contract: Three years, $25.5 million ($8.5M per year, $16.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 65 15 overall among NFL linebackers.Bolton was in his sixth tier, which was reserved for "young ascending" players at the linebacker position. He has not graded above 70.0 since. Although Wagner might be on the downswing of a great career, this unit could push for a top-five spot by the season's end if he rebounds after a poor 2021. 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. You dont want to line him up against an opposing receiving weapon in a one-on-one, but he demonstrated better recognition of route patterns and improved as a zone coverage backer. It's like your very own digital cheat sheet. Jewell also provides value on the occasional pass-rush snap and very rarely misses tackles. 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. 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. However, he will have to get better in coverage. 2022 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Linebackers By Michael Renner Apr 22, 2022 Devin Lloyd and Nakobe Dean will be the talk of the class and likely the only two first-round linebacker prospects in 2022, but there's still a lot of talent at the position on Days 2 and 3 of the draft. Login or Register Projections: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DEF | DL | LB | DB The former undrafted free agent is in for a big pay raise this offseason after making the absolute most of his one-year deal. Unfortunately for Vander Esch, he once again finds himself in the middle of the pack of a deep free-agent group at linebacker, but he should do a bit better this time around. 3) Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints. Projected contract: Two years,$12.5 million ($6.25M per year), $8 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 139 The first week of March will see the NFL Combine which will be followed by College Pro Days. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. Shaq Thompson is a bona fide star, and he may be playing alongside a diamond-in-the-rough partner in Frankie Luvu. PFF analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2022 NFL season. Vander Eschs 70.8 grade is his best since his rookie season in 2018, and he also set career highs in missed tackle rate (6.5%) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.49). He had been one of the more consistent players at the position in the NFL, and so theres a chance he regains his form. 10. However, both Mike Williams and Tee Higgins didn't get a whole lot of love and are lower on the list. 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. The ACC consisted of 14 members in two divisions. The Tennessee Titans are set to sport a talented and exciting inside linebacker duo in 2022 with David Long and Zach Cunningham, but where do they rank as compared to others in the NFL?. Bolton, then a rookie, produced one of the highest individual grades for a linebacker. The entire schedule was released on January 31, 2022. Best Cornerbacks in the NFL 2022: Rookie Sauce - Pro Football Network Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks ranked No. 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. Leonard burst onto the scene with 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in his rookie season back in 2018. Jerome Baker, MIA: I love Baker this season as a Top 15-20 sleeper. 2021 Snaps: 1,148 Los Angeles' overall defense is so good, at least on paper, that it might not matter who plays linebacker. Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons just wrapped up his second season in the NFL, and he continues to leave little doubt the Dallas Cowboys made the smart decision using a first-round draft pick on him. Now, Brown hits free agency coming off a career-low 421 snaps, though he still maintained a 60.0-plus coverage grade, which is where he derives a lot of his value as an off-ball linebacker. Players like T.J. Watt, Matt Judon, Harold Landry and Shaquil Barrett are not included. He was arguably the best player on the best college defense of all time but slipped into the third round of the draft with some potential medical red flags. PFFs Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position. Best Bets Tool, PFF Free Agency Rank: 27 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. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. 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. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. Linebacker Rankings: 2022 Regular Season, Updated: 9/1/2022 Want Custom Fantasy Scoring? Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. This is a precarious spot for the Packers to be in, even with 2021 All-Pro DeVondre Campbell back for another season in the same defense he broke out with. The rest of 1A should surprise no one, with this group almost filling out the consensus top-five linebackers in ADP terms,. The Vikings also brought in the underrated Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals in free agency. 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. 1 linebacker according to PFF, with a grade of 89.7. 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. However, Dean played his role at an elite level, ranking 10th among all corners graded by PFF. Leighton Vander Esch has not lived up to the hype he created for himself after a monstrous rookie season, and so we may see another linebacker eventually fill in for him. Vander Esch has had an up and down first four years in the NFL, but the talent that made him a first-round pick in 2018 still flashes on occasion and will certainly draw attention. Luckily for the Philadelphia Eagles, he was still available in the third round. Oluokun is coming off a PFF run-defense grade of 44.0 and a coverage grade of 54.4. This is a case of one elite linebacker pulling along another whose narrative hasnt really matched his production. They happily scooped up the extremely talented Georgia linebacker. What a find he was for the Packers last year. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports. 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. Perryman was looking for a new contract heading into 2022 but ultimately played out the year, earning a strong 80.5 run-defense grade. NFL free agents 2023: Ranking top 10 linebackers Consequently, the list of consistently elite players is far shorter than for other positions, and there is much more volatility in this position group. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. NFL NFL Home Tools NFL Scores NFL Premium Stats NFL Player Grades Free Agent Rankings QB Annual 2022 Nevertheless, there were several interested teams last time he was a free agent he came very close to signing with theNew York Jetsbefore ultimately returning to Minnesota so it seems defensive coaches think they can find a way to put him in positions to succeed and utilize his athletic ability. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. 4) Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos. 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. 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. 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. With the new league year just around the corner, it's time for all 32 NFL teams to turn their attention to NFL free agency in a bid to improve their rosters for a new campaign. 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. The grades for the Detroit Lions in their 9-8 campaign offer up an analytically-based glimpse of how the Lions performed. Pittsburgh Steelers (94/100) Cameron Heyward was second behind only Aaron Donald in PFF's grades of interior defensive linemen last season. Drue Tranquill. David also graded out as the No. For the purposes of these rankings, we are looking only at true off-ball linebackers, as 3-4 outside linebackers though designated as linebackers are in truth edge rushers. February 24, 2023 7:45 am CT. A couple of New Orleans Saints standouts were recognized on the list of the top 101 NFL players of the 2022 season from Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. Clemson junior Trenton Simpson Simpson had a solid role as a freshman in 2020, totaling 28 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, in addition to a forced fumble. Colts linebackers receive high praise in latest linebacker rankings January 18, 2023 8:22 pm ET. Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith (58) stares into the backfield during pre-game at Nissan Stadium. Therefore, they are included in our. Dynasty Rookie Draft Primer: Tight Ends (2023 Fantasy Football) He's been an All-Pro each year, and a Pro Bowler for three straight seasons now. Perhaps most importantly in todays NFL, Tranquill followed up his 74.6 coverage grade in 2021 with a career-high 75.4 mark, with his 18 stops in coverage a top-20 figure among off-ball linebackers. Potentially losing a step or two with age can be negated by elite play recognition and instincts, both of which David has in spades. 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. One of the five highest-graded linebackers last season in his first year with Carolina, Luvu is another Demario Davis trajectory candidate. 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. The Rams attacked the linebacker position this offseason, adding Bobby Wagner. 2021 PFF grade: 83.5 (N/A). A position of concern and potential weakness heading into last season has become a real strength for Kansas City. Dean's range at the linebacker position is unparalleled in this draft class. The top 10 linebackers in NFL currently are dynamic weapons and reliable leaders. He allowed 81.0% of passes thrown his way to be caught and missed 17 tackles in all. Still, the Rams ranked fourth in the NFL last season in zone coverages (82.60%). Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah put together a great rookie season transitioning from more of an out-of-the-box linebacker at Notre Dame to an in-box linebacker. 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. According to training camp reports, that is paying off big time for the Eagles. Mosley endured the worst-graded season of his NFL career. Vander Esch earned a 90.0-plus grade in three starts in 2021, including two such outings over the final five weeks. He tallied a career-high six pass breakups in 2022. These athletes are called upon to be run-stuffing defensive linemen on some downs, and hybrid cornerbacks on others. Research past fantasy performance with sortable player stats including PFF-exclusives like aDOT and fantasy points per opportunity. PFF's top 101 NFL players has top five ranking for former Nittany Lion While Parsons proved to be a stud pass-rusher, some had questions about his coverage ability coming into the league. It had been three full seasons since his best play, and that best play was nowhere near elite. This group could rank much higher by the end of next season. 2 in the NFL, only trailing Fred Warner and the San Francisco 49ers. Ranking NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022: New No. 1 as Bobby 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. 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. 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!
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