The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. 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 . He was. He tallied 77 sacks, a number that ranks him second in team history. Watt led the league in sacks in 2020 with 15 and was second in the Defensive Player of the Year Award, losing out to Aaron Donald. Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. When we look at outside linebackers in the NFL we look at two types. Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. However, he will have to get better in coverage. Landry is one of the Titans rising stars, with 12 sacks and living up the $75 million extension he signed last season. 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. 1. 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. As the 2022 season approaches, we will be breaking down the top ten players at each position. The inside linebacking group is headlined by the NFL's top two leaders in tackles across the last 11 seasons in Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David. The Penn State product ranked No. Chris Hanburger 2. BIO 1 26 -- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah A post shared by Fan Rankings (@fanrankings), Swipe right for Outside Linebacker Fan Rankings. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks. He was unanimously awarded the NFL Rookie-of-the Year award this past season. Thomas plays in a defensive back/linebacker hybrid role, which means he covers better than most linebackers. The biggest question about Leonard is his health, as hes missed time in each of his four seasons and, The No. Tracker. Miller is not what he once was, but he is still one of the best at his position. The 32-year-old David will stick with the Bucs for 2022 after a slight regression last year. 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. If you go back and watch him play throughout his rookie season, you'll not only see a talented pass-rusher, but a good linebacker that can read and react quickly. VA: CALL 1-888-532-3500, CO: CALL 1-800-522-4700, MI: CALL 1-800-270-7117 | Full T&C apply. The linebacker position in the game of football is one of the most important. Watt's greatness deserves more than just a few paragraphs. 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? All Rights Reserved. Pro Football Journal: The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. He had 70 tackles in 2021 as well. FBS Power 5 Linebacker Physical Measurables: Height: 6'2" Weight: 220 lbs. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys The first-ever unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year has quickly become the standard for linebacker play in the NFL. Follow @fanrankingsto stay up to date. Brooks, Taylor, and Ham are the only outside linebackers of the Super Bowl era to be first ballot Hall of Famers. 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. Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. 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. During his playing days Hendricks recorded 60.5 sacks to go along with 26 interceptions and forcing four safeties. With a good performance at the Georgia Tech pro day and the NFL combine, Thomas could move up the draft boards . [10] 2 Prevent passes to running backs or fullbacks. 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. Kendricks is another well-rounded linebacker that can cover, as his 73.8 PFF coverage grade ranked No. The 12th pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Though he's 32 years old, David hasn't taken a major step backwards just yet. Yannick Ngakoue, who turns 28 in March, has recorded eight or more sacks in each of his first seven seasons, including 9.5 in 2022, his only season with the Indianapolis Colts. section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-10-linebackers-entering-2022-new-no-1-as-bobby-wagner-finally-dethroned | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Top 9 Most Underrated Running Backs in NFL History, QB Derek Carr to visit Jets on Saturday after leaving Raiders, Top 9 Worst Draft Picks in Bengals History, Super Bowl XIX: Montana and Walsh establish dominance, The 5 Greatest Quarterbacks Who Never Won a Championship, Top 11 Single Game Performances in NCAA Football History, Top 10 College football's greatest true freshman seasons of all time, Top 10 Two Year Runs in College Football History, where do the Georgia Bulldogs rank, NCAA FB Championship TCU vs Georgia: Odds, Tips and Predictions 01/09/23, Georgia vs. TCU National Championship: Preview & Prediction, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh facing possible suspension from the NCAA, The night Cassius Clay shook up the world, Boxing Paul vs Fury: Odds, Tips and Predictions 02/26/23, Matias vs. Ponce: Cant Miss Scrap Brings Heat To Chilly Minneapolis. Sammy Brown Jefferson (Jefferson, GA) LB. Jones was an . ZaDarius Smith got a sack and flashed this We Eileen undershirt. 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. The Jaguars replaced Jack with Oluokun, who also has outstanding physical traits. 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. 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 . 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. 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. While Mike Zimmer is gone, new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is an experienced coach who can get the most out of Kendricks and this defense as a whole. 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. He signed a monster five-year, $95 million extension last July, and is worth it considering he's just 25. Yes, that means Bobby Bell was not a first-ballot choice. 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. For 10 seasons, Gildon tormented quarterbacks at outside linebacker. Jack recorded 118 combined tackles in 2020. He should be able to continue to get 100+ tackles per season if he is able to stay healthy. Chuck Drazenovich 10. 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. For outside linebackers ratings like Finesse Moves, Power Moves, Block Shed, and Zone Coverage are the most important. Zach Arnett, Mississippi State -- $900,000 5. It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. His play on the field showcased his talents including his ability to find the end zone on the defensive side of the ball. 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. Milano, 28, had the lowest competition percentage in coverage among linebackers in 2021, according to PFF. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. Since entering the league, Warner has 118 or more total tackles in every season and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2020. 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. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. Nick Bolton (Chiefs); Jordyn Brooks (Seahawks); Shaq Thompson (Panthers); Denzel Perryman (Raiders); Foye Oluokun (Jaguars). 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 only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. He made the full-time switch to outside linebacker for the 2019 season, starting six games and recording 52 tackles that season. The offense lines up in "trips" formation (three receivers on one side of the field.) 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. 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. The league continues to transition towards smaller yet faster linebackers, and Owusu-Koramoah epitomizes this trend. 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. BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2021 outside linebacker prospects at all levels of college football. Micah Parsons this season: 0 TDs allowed in coverage (284 snaps) 88.7 PFF Grade (1st among all LBs) 93.0 pass-rushing grade (Best in NFL) pic.twitter.com/Lq7G9IVzuU. 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. Now with the, , Wagner has the chance to compete for a second Super Bowl. As the decade comes to a close, we're creating some Top 10 lists for 2010 to 2019. Eileen is the mother one of the #Packers equipment staff members. We have seen elite play from the seventh-year pro, but we've not nearly seen enough of it, given his physical talents. and his play on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs. He's thoughtful in his rushing schemes, and he has the capability to make impact. Jack had another 100+ tackle season on his record, but it was being wasted by a horrible Jacksonville Jaguars team. 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. 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. Teams can sign free agents at 4 p.m. March 15. View the best photos of the Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J. 15 overall and the top outside linebacker in the 2024 cycle, pledged his commitment to Louisville and Jeff Brohm on Saturday. 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. Watt led the league in sacks in 2012 (20.5) and 2015 (17.5). 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