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. Campbell resurrected his career with the Packers in 2021 after five mediocre seasons with the Falcons and Cardinals. As Buffalo continues to chase a Super Bowl, Milano could become more of a household name. 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. He returned to the lineup in 2018 and saw time at both safety and linebacker, making two starts at outside linebacker. During his playing days Hendricks recorded 60.5 sacks to go along with 26 interceptions and forcing four safeties.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fanrankings_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-medrectangle-4-0'); A post shared by Lets Talk NFL (@talkfootball34). 12 pick in 2021, Parsons was the unanimous rookie of the year last season. The best outside linebackers for this . No linebacker recorded more coverage snaps than Warner in all of 2021. After a stellar rookie season, Miller was selected as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. FromT.J. Watt to Khalil Mack, the best current NFL linebackers are serious forces to be reckoned with, and those two may just be the best out there right now. 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. Miller proved that last postseason, that he can be an effective pass rusher, especially in Super Bowl 56. Top 10 Boxers of the 1990s: Was Roy Jones Jr. the best? Weight: 235. Up next, our Top 10 linebackers.1. 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. Follow us on Twitter: @NFL_Journal - Email us at: profootballjournal@gmail.com Follow @NFL_Journal Tuesday, November 6, 2018 The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time OPINION By John Turney 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. One of the most disruptive players at the outside linebacker position over the past 10-20 years was Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens. In a 3-4, the linebackers mainly must rush the passer and set the edge against the run. The former No. 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. Active and causes havoc all around the field. 12:46 PM. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. 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. 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. The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, JR, Notre Dame. Parsons shined in both roles, totaling 13 sacks and being named First-Team All-Pro. At 6'4" 238 pounds, he certainly has enough size for linebacker, while being one of the most athletic players in the class regardless of position. 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. Watt's greatness deserves more than just a few paragraphs. 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. Campbells ranking could justifiably be at the very top of this list or somewhere in the 30s, based on his career so far. Warner had a transformative effect on the 49ers defense when he became the starter. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 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. In addition, Taylors other accolades include eight First Team All-Pro honors, 10 Pro Bowl selections and the 1981 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Jack recorded 118 combined tackles in 2020. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. 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. 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. 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 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. This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier). Yes, that means Bobby Bell was not a first-ballot choice. 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. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey New York North Carolina Landry was 25 when he made his first Pro Bowl appearance and is sure to continue making more. Vote up the best NFL linebackers in 2022, and . Bennett, who was drafted number two overall during the 1987 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts was traded to the Buffalo Bills before the start of the season. 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. Smith had recorded 26 sacks over the last two seasons. He went from having a one-year contract worth $2 million to signing a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $10 million! The Iowa Hawkeyes will travel tonight to play He cant call himself a professional boxer because Arkansas, which is unranked (19-10 SU and 15-13-1 Indiana Basketball Postgame Show W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Purdue recap, Indiana Basketball W/Steve Risley: Hoosiers fall to Spartans recap plus IU/Purdue Preview, Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Michigan State preview and Illinois recap, First deposit only | 21+ & located in CO, MI, VA | Promo code as seen| A qualifying bet is $20 or more | Min odds of +120 or more | Free Bet Tokens credited after bet is settled and expire after 7 days | Free Bet stakes not included in winnings | Please Gamble Responsibly - Gambling Problem? The Steelers took care of some more offseason housekeeping Monday. 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. Sam Huff 9. Since entering the league, Warner has 118 or more total tackles in every season and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2020. 1. Bosa has had 47.5 sacks in 63 career games played. 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. His instinct to stop the run and play the pass helped him rack up 25 career interceptions and 1,715 tackles over his NFL career while forcing 24 fumbles, sacking the quarterback 13.5 times and returning seven defensive plays for touchdowns. 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. 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. Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time January 27, 2015 DESHAWN HORNBACK 3 Comments 10. Wills are often a bit lighter and faster than strong-side outside linebackers and middle linebackers. 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. 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. With Smith entering the final year of his rookie deal, Spotrac believes he's in line to sign a five-year, $88.18 million extension. 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. Part 3. . He made the full-time switch to outside linebacker for the 2019 season, starting six games and recording 52 tackles that season. He had some painful penalties against Texas, but he also has made some clutch plays for the Crimson Tide. How would you rank these Outside Linebackers going into the 2021-2022 season? To create this list, we took into consideration basic statistics, Pro Football Reference/Stathead's Approximate Value, PFF grades and a guess on how the player will perform moving forward. He should be able to continue to get 100+ tackles per season if he is able to stay healthy. 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. 10. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. PTS. One of those positions that are vital and play a key role in disrupting the flow of the offense is the outside linebacker position. Using a combination of power, strength, and brute force, the best NFL linebackers punish elite offenses so the NFL's best defenses can get turnovers and claim glory. After Warner's monster 2020 campaign, we thought he could be the No. 247Sports Composite. 23 in 2021. We have seen elite play from the seventh-year pro, but we've not nearly seen enough of it, given his physical talents. 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. 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. He was named First-Team All-Pro, totaling 146 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Stability is one of the most decisive factors for this inside linebacker to lead this ranking. With a good performance at the Georgia Tech pro day and the NFL combine, Thomas could move up the draft boards . 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. Now that the 2022 NFL season is over, it's time to look ahead to an . 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. Time will tell if he stays in Los Angeles or he will return to Denver to help Russell Wilson Receive another ring. 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. Now, Parsons is the highest-rated outside linebacker in the game. Consequently, the list of consistently elite players is far shorter than for other positions, and there is much more volatility in this position group. 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. 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