Rankings&Projections |WR/CB Matchup Chart |NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props Tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings 9 linebacker in coverage with a 73.9. . White was a reliable presence at linebacker following the loss of 2020 first-rounderKenneth Murrayduring Weeks 4-9 and when Murray was battling injuries over Weeks 11-15. He told us last week that 15 sacks are the "minimum" in 2022. A position of concern and potential weakness heading into last season has become a real strength for Kansas City. Hightower will be 32 years old in Week 1 of 2022, but there's an argument that taking the 2020 season off has his body refreshed and revitalized. The second linebacker tier features 17 linebackers on teams that are expected to be less zone-heavy than those in the tier above. This is a case of one elite linebacker pulling along another whose narrative hasnt really matched his production. 2021 PFF grade: 43.7 (71st of 89). Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers The 49ers struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. March 2, 2023 3:21 pm ET. The folks over at PFF are going through the process of creating rankings and tiers for every position ahead of the 2022 NFL season. Defensively, the attrition was less significant; however, one of the unit's leaders did leave in free agency Foye Oluokun. Alabama linebacker Christian Harris is the last player in PFF's top 100, with a plus 60 overall, pass rush, and run defense grade but just above 50 for his coverage grade. The scheme plays a part in them making some plays. What a find he was for the Packers last year. . Here are the top off-ball linebackers slated to hit free agency in 2022. The 12th. 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. Lavonte David is still one of the best linebackers in the game . 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. The grades for the Detroit Lions in their 9-8 campaign offer up an analytically-based glimpse of how the Lions performed. Click here for PFF's full list of top 100 free agents. PFF Free Agency Rank: 86 2021 Snaps: 783 2021 PFF grade: 64.2 (24th of 89) Barr agreed to a pay cut before the 2021 season that also voided the 2022 and 2023 seasons on his five-year extension signed in 2019. PFF themselves had the Cowboys 2021 secondary in the top 10. His 94.1 run defense grade wasn't too far behindMicah Parsons (94.8) PFF college record. Rookie Devin Lloydand sophomore Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. 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. After looking like he might be the next great linebacker earlier in his career. 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. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. One of the five highest-graded linebackers last season in his first year with Carolina, Luvu is another Demario Davis trajectory candidate. Van Noy also has the complicating factor of being one of the multiple linebackers who only seems to function at a high level within the New England Patriots defense. Let's have a look at them. 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. Give him the freedom to play fast, and he'll excel. Projected contract: One year, $6 million, $4.5 million guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 75 PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. PFF ranks 49ers Fred Warner as the top linebacker in the NFL According to PFF's Sam Monson, the 49ers have the best linebacker in the NFL and another top-20 player at the position. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports. That hypothetical AAV of $17.6 million would make Smith the third highest-paid linebacker in the NFL. Philadelphia brought Edwards back in 2022 on a one-year, $2.15 million deal at a position they have all but refused to invest in with top draft capital or free-agent dollars in many years, but Edwards may put the Eagles positional value to the test this offseason if they want to keep him around. Typically, David is the ideal linebacker for IDP. Ranking NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022: New No. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. His first year with the Packers resulted in a whopping 85.0 mark. NFL free agency is a year-round process, as teams scout opposing players in an effort to defeat them during the year and perhaps sign them in the offseason. PFFs Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position. The 30-year-old linebacker will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career after a delayed start to his NFL career, and now hell be working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle injury. He has yet to post a sub-70.0 grade, with three out of his four years coming in above 78.0. In May, Sam Monson of PFF ranked as the league's No.16 linebacker coming into the 2022 NFL season. Potentially losing a step or two with age can be negated by elite play recognition and instincts, both of which David has in spades. Andersen is a converted running back and quarterback who, in his lone full season at linebacker, racked up an absurd 67 stops. 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. Chenal is going to thrive in man-blitz-heavy schemes. 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. It had been three full seasons since his best play, and that best play was nowhere near elite. Kansas City Chiefs News Chiefs' young linebacker unit breaks into top 10 in PFF rankings The Chiefs' top two linebackers are 22 (Bolton) and 24 (Gay), yet Pro Football Focus finds the. Offensive Line | Quarterback | Backfield | Pass-Catcher | Secondary | Linebackers | Special Teams) 2022 NFL Defensive Line Rankings Below is every team ranked 1-32 by how their defensive line shapes up for 2022. . Bolton, then a rookie, produced one of the highest individual grades for a linebacker. Here are PFF's top 32 linebackers ahead of the 2021 NFL season. There's no telling what he could be with more reps at the position. 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. Lloyd can take on blocks, blitz and cover tight ends at a high level, which is why he earned a 90.2 grade this year with above-average grades in every facet. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. Foyesade Oluokun was brought in from Atlanta, but there is certainly hope that the team's two rookie picks at the position, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma, can play early. In two weeks, NFL GMs will begin negotiating with free . 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 former No. heading into 2022, here's how each team's linebacking corps stacks up. 2021 Snaps: 1,148 Its a rebuilt Jaguars linebacking corps after losing Myles Jack to the Steelers. 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. Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) lines up over Green Bay Packers center Josh Myers (71) during the first quarter at Levi's Stadium. 88 selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. 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 may be coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in recent memory, but he also missed five games with injury. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. The first week of March will see the NFL Combine which will be followed by College Pro Days. 2021 PFF grade: 84.3 (2nd of 89). 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. After looking like he might be the next great linebacker earlier in his career, Deion Jones play has fallen off a cliff. 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. 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. 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 strongest players are experts at open-field takedowns and make it hard for quarterbacks to feel comfortable throwing toward the middle of the field. No. He is set to play next to Anthony Walker, who is a solid if unspectacular player. 2021 Snaps: 979 Expect both young studs to push for 140-plus combined tackles, if healthy. Hes not only straight-line fast, but he also processes and reacts with elite quickness. Lavonte David has been one of the best linebackers in the league for almost a decade, whereas teammate Devin White has not graded above the 51.9 mark he attained as a rookie. 8:44 am ET. Nevertheless, he is clearly an ascending young player contributing immensely to Tennessees defense that finished first in expected points added per rush allowed on the season. However, both Mike Williams and Tee Higgins didn't get a whole lot of love and are lower on the list. Now that we're at the end of the 2021-22 NFL season, the free agency picture is coming into focus and teams are beginning to identify potential targets to improve their roster weaknesses. 1 pick, Ex-Patriots star McGinest facing eight years in prison, Commanders rip 'blatantly false' team sale report. 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. 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. At 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, he has legit NFL size and athleticism. 3 linebackers Seahawks should . Parsons took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks. 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. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports. That's because he's both a speedy 240 pounds and one of the best tacklers in the class, having missed only seven times on 138 career attempts. 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. Hes earned himself a nice raise. 7 ranking in Pro Football Focus' list of the top 25 safeties of the 2022 . 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. His 75.9 grade two years marked a career high. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. With that said, an elite linebacker does make a defense better there just arent that many of them in the league at this moment. 2021 Snaps: 323 Jewell is actually more of an all-around linebacker, but run defense has been his best area in the NFL. 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. Alex Anzalone and Chris Board are two depth players who start for the Lions. Rashaan Evans and Mykal Walker are solid players, though, and the team will hope that rookie Troy Andersen can make an early impact. The six players in the 1A tier figure to be the favorites to post the highest tackle numbers in the league based on their expected role in their defenses. Perryman was looking for a new contract heading into 2022 but ultimately played out the year, earning a strong 80.5 run-defense grade. Jordyn Brooks is an ascending star who will get more snaps this year. He has top-notch natural coverage skills for a linebacker his size, but everything else is a work in progress. Cole Holcomb could yet turn into a solid linebacker, while 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis could also improve after a poor first season. Diggs had a high EPA and was an all pro who bad habits come from gambling. The Seahawks selected Cody Barton out of Utah with the No. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Tranquill is coming off a career year in L.A. 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. He subsequently graded out to 76.5 in his first season. He recorded 122 combined tackles, four interceptions and a whopping eight forced fumbles, which led the league. NFL 2022 Draft Positional Rankings: Linebackers By Jacob Wayne | Mar 30, 2022, 1:34pm #1: Devin Lloyd - Utah #2: Nakobe Dean - Georgia #3: Chad Muma - Wyoming #4: Leo Chenal - Wisconsin #5: Christian Harris - Alabama #6: Brian Asamoah - Oklahoma #7: Brandon Smith - Penn State #8: Channing Tindall - Georgia #9: Damone Clark - LSU Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. 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. Jewell also provides value on the occasional pass-rush snap and very rarely misses tackles. 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. Zach Cunningham, if nothing else, stops the run. Muma was one of the most productive defenders in all of college football in 2021, generating 68 total defensive stops, three picks and 21 pressures for the Cowboys. It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock An error occured while loading Position Grades. He pairs with the solid Matt Milano, who posted the second-best season grade of his career (67.0) in 2021. at His All-Pro season in 2019 was special, but some might have thought it was just a one-year thing. The 2022 season was Long's first as a full-time starter at middle linebacker, but he's made the most of opportunities in the past. On Tuesday, PFF's Seth Galina released his linebacker rankings for all 32 teams in the NFL. 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. He also registered an absurd pass-rushing grade of 93. 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. Still one of the more underrated players in the league, This is a precarious spot for the Packers to be in, even with 2021 All-Pro. Ranking 10 best NFL landing spots for Richardson, 2023 NFL combine: WR/TE winners and losers, Takeaways from NFL combine measurements for WR, TE, Pete Prisco's top 100 NFL free agents of 2023, NFL combine: Grading top QBs, plus winners and losers, NFL combine 2023 tracker: Top performances, highlights, Ranking the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022, NFL Combine: Grading top QBs; winners and losers, NFL Draft: Top landing spots for Richardson, Mock Draft: Panthers, Colts trade up for QBs, Colossal Richardson sets multiple QB combine records, Pascal robbed at gunpoint, assaulted; WR 'doing fine', Bryce Young measures similar to former No. While Chicago lost Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mackin the offseason, this unit could be rather strong again with some of the additions made in the secondary, and with the defensive-minded Matt Eberflus taking over as head coach. Overall, Georgia has 11 players in PFF's big board including six players ranked in the top 80 NFL draft prospects. His 913 snaps for the Raiders last season was a career-high mark and more than doubled his previous best. The PFF grades aren't always right on point, but they do serve as a generally effective tool for comparisons . Projected contract: Two years, $15 million ($7.5M per year, $10M total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 86 Hes the complete package for a modern off-ball linebacker. Foyesade Oluokun, JAC: New team, new official scorer. One of the best off-ball linebackers of his generation, David is still playing at an extremely high level and may benefit from New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner playing very good football well into their 30s on recently signed contracts of their own. Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings. Then there's the added bonus of playing behind Aaron Donald, who draws all the attention at the offensive line, opening up room for the linebackers for clean tackle opportunities. Best Bets Tool, PFF Free Agency Rank: 27 PFF ranked him as one of the 30 best players in the NFL last season, which he certainly was. Chicago signed Nicholas Morrow from Las Vegas to fill the spot next to Smith for 2022. They happily scooped up the extremely talented Georgia linebacker. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. 2021 Snaps: 717 He finished as the highest-graded linebacker in football, recording 140 tackles, two interceptions and a career-high six sacks. Aug 9, 2022. There may be no better all-around linebacker in the class. 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. both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. Only Micah Parsons graded out higher than Werner among first-year linebackers last season. 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. Cody Barton is another interesting player who will finally get a chance to start this season. "He posted a 1.5 percent drop rate in 2022, which . It's funny how taking a "small step backwards" for Wagner is being a second-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowler and setting a career high in tackles even while missing a game. 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. In his recent post on linebackers, PFF's Sam Monson ranked Nick Bolton No. 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. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. 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. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Anthony Brown is an okay slot and Kelvin Joseph was actually the highest rated CB. No linebacker recorded more coverage snaps than Warner in all of 2021. Plenty of well-known 'backers had coverage grades in the 30s this past season. Asamoah is undersized at 6-foot-1, 228 pounds, but he possesses sideline-to-sideline range. The Rams have a great defense, and the 32-year-old Wagner could find himself rejuvenated in 2022. The Ravens are still looking for that breakout year from Patrick Queen after two subpar seasons. White landed with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $3 million flier last offseason after his market didnt pan out too well. The top 10 linebackers in NFL currently are dynamic weapons and reliable leaders. 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. Below, we will rank the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022. 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. Meanwhile, David will have to get it there himself, given that the Bucs defense wasnt exactly bereft of talent last season. However, Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson is not ranked in Pro Football Focus' NFL draft big board rankings. White backed up his first season as a starter in 2021 with another solid campaign in 2022, earning grades of at least 62.0 against the run and in coverage. 5 overall pick recorded 128 combined tackles, a career-high 18 QB hits in 2021 and earned his first Pro Bowl selection this past season. Nakobe Dean was widely considered to be a potential first-round pick before the 2022 NFL Draft. Leonard burst onto the scene with 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in his rookie season back in 2018. Las Vegas brings in Jayon Brown from the Titans to play alongside Denzel Perryman. The Georgia Bulldogs have a 12 players participating at the 2023 NFL combine. The former undrafted free agent is in for a big pay raise this offseason after making the absolute most of his one-year deal. There's no way he was going to get better, right? He put forth a monster rookie season in 2019 but hasnt quite attained the same highs in subsequent seasons. 2021 PFF grade: 50.6 (51st of 89). 23 in 2021. 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. ECR VS. ADP. The 1B tier has just as much going for them, with zone-heavy defenses, expected positive tackle efficiency and an every-down roles. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. David also just put forth his worst season since 2016, posting a 72.3 grade. Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) reacts after a play against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. NFL NFL Home Tools NFL Scores NFL Premium Stats NFL Player Grades Free Agent Rankings QB Annual 2022 Projected contract: Two years, $18 million ($9M per year, $11.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 55 1 as Bobby Wagner finally dethroned Ranking the top 10 linebackers for the upcoming NFL season By Jordan Dajani Jun 28, 2022 at. He went from having a one-year contract worth $2 million to signing a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $10 million! All of this culminates with the 2022 NFL Draft from Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 28th. Josey Jewell and Jonas Griffith should be the starters, with free agent signing Alex Singleton looking for snaps, as well. 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! Galina ranked the Colts at No. This is a case of one elite linebacker pulling along another whose narrative hasnt really matched his production. The Packers long searching for a reliable off-ball linebacker brought Campbell aboard on a one-year, $2 million contract, and his 86.7 overall grade was second among linebackers through Week 8 while his 90.7 run-defense grade ranked first, leading to a Pro Bowl nod. the star of the Colts' defense has been rock solid since exploding onto the scene as a rookie. Hes great at every aspect of linebacker play. 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?. The 2022 season was Longs first as a full-time starter at middle linebacker, but hes made the most of opportunities in the past. For IDP fantasy football leagues, there is a ton of variance in preseason player rankings, but utilizing tiers can help us properly value each group of players in. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. He at least improved upon his 29.7 grade as a rookie with a 43.5 mark in Year 2. 70 & No.71 on PFF's Top-101 players for the 2022 NFL season. Some of it is because he's been a little bit dependent on good play from the defensive line in front of him, but a good deal of it has been his ability to more . 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. on Pro Football Focus' Top-100 players of 2022 rankings. Projected contract: Two years, $9.5 million ($4.75M per year), $5.25 million total guaranteed. Bentley improved considerably in his second season as a full-time player, as his 68.1 overall grade was almost 15 points better than his 2020 overall grade. Subscribe to Sign Up 1. I laid out some of my thoughts on their situations, rambling on longer for some more than others. AVG. 3 min read. Pratt didnt miss many tackles as a run defender, either, whiffing on just 5.9% of opportunities after three straight seasons above 10% to start his career. Singleton has had quite the career path to this point, finally reaching unrestricted free agency ahead of the 2023 season after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent of the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. A couple of former Clemson stars made this ranking of the NFL's top wide receivers from the 2022 regular season. James Bradberry (74.1) 2022 PFF Grade 20th ranked Darius Slay (73.1) 2022 PFF Grade 25th ranked Avonte Maddox (71.3) 2022 PFF Grade 33rd ranked Josiah Scott (58.4) 2022 PFF Grade. Okereke is a solid stand-in next to Leonard.