Both players posted the highest grades of their career, helping the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance. 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. 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). Diggs had a high EPA and was an all pro who bad habits come from gambling. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. After looking like he might be the next great linebacker earlier in his career. After missing most of the regular season, Dre Greenlaw came back for the end of the regular season and playoffs to form the perfect linebacker tandem with Warner. Jewell also provides value on the occasional pass-rush snap and very rarely misses tackles. 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. Aug 9, 2022. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. "Latest Update" refers to when we last checked for . 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. Its a rebuilt Jaguars linebacking corps after losing. 1 on our list. 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. The ACC consisted of 14 members in two divisions. His 18 quarterback pressures ranked fourth among off-ball linebackers, as Patriots head coach Bill Belichick continued to deploy the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder all over the place in his constantly evolving defense. David also graded out as the No. 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. However, Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson is not ranked in Pro Football Focus' NFL draft big board rankings. Edmunds made huge strides in coverage in 2022, a major weakness in his game through his first four seasons. With both Bengals starting safeties in Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell pending free agents, a big extension for wide receiver Tee Higgins likely in play and fellow off-ball linebacker Logan Wilson also eligible for an extension after the season, its possible Pratt hits the market even after a career year. 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. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is a solid all-around off-ball linebacker who has three straight seasons logging at least 750 snaps, and he took a major leap in 2022 with the. 2021 Snaps: 323 His processing skills took massive steps forward in 2021, causing his grade to jump from 57.1 to 76.3. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. Johnson got off to an unusually late start to his NFL career and has battled injuries, but he has been an excellent linebacker when he has been on the field. Like the Chiefs, the Bengals also went into last season with a lot of unknowns surrounding the linebacker position but found a really good pair in, A position of weakness for the Eagles in 2021 might turn into a position of strength in 2022 with the additions of rookie, The Ravens are still looking for that breakout year from. 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 . 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. Therefore, they are included in our defensive line rankings despite dropping into coverage at times. Maybe the most volatile position in football, linebackers have seen their worth in the NFL fluctuate over the years. Singleton earned a career-best 82.6 run-defense grade that ranked eighth among off-ball linebackers, tallying more than 100 tackles for the second year in a row, with his two-year total of 212 ranking sixth among off-ball linebackers. Now its just a matter of how nice itll be. 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. 88 selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. A couple of former Clemson stars made this ranking of the NFL's top wide receivers from the 2022 regular season. Teams could do a lot worse than White if they are looking for a solid weakside linebacker who has the speed to stay with pass-catchers in coverage for the most part. 10. Micah Parsons is one of the best young talents in the league, but he does split his time between off-ball linebacker and edge rusher, where he's at his best work. 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. There are a lot of unknowns in this group due to inexperience. The rest of 1A should surprise no one, with this group almost filling out the consensus top-five linebackers in ADP terms,. 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. 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. Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Sports (Dean); Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports (Ojabo) 1. Please try again later. 2021 PFF grade: 65.1 (T-23rd of 89). Projected contract: Two years, $14.5 million ($7.25M per year), $8.5 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 99 Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate. However, he's still a work in progress in coverage and didn't tally a single interception or pass breakup in his college career. 3 min read. 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. Edwards has posted 75.0 grades or better in two of his three NFL seasons and is one of the more underrated players in the league. When healthy, Johnson is among the best sideline-to-sideline run-defenders at off-ball linebacker in the league. That could be a problem for folks expecting the same numbers. 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. Seven 49ers listed on PFF Top 101 Players of 2022 ranking By Site Staff follow Feb 23, 2023 at 12:56 PM -- shares Seven San Francisco 49ers landed on Pro Football Focus' Top 101 Players. 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. Nick Bolton and Willie Gay are two young linebackers who came on strong last season. 4. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Overall, Georgia has 11 players in PFF's big board including six players ranked in the top 80 NFL draft prospects. 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! Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports. According to training camp reports, that is paying off big time for the Eagles. This past offseason,San Francisco 49erslinebackerFred Warnerand subsequentlyIndianapolis ColtslinebackerDarius Leonardreset the market at the position just under $20 million per year after years of stagnation. Defensively, the attrition was less significant; however, one of the unit's leaders did leave in free agency Foye Oluokun. Best Bets Tool, PFF Free Agency Rank: 27 There are also linebackers who are at their best in coverage, which is useful for todays NFL. 6 defense in the league last year, and Smith was a big reason why. He missed just two tackles in coverage and allowed only four explosive receptions. 8 in total pressures. 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. 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. Meanwhile, David will have to get it there himself, given that the Bucs defense wasnt exactly bereft of talent last season. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys The first-ever unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year has quickly become the standard for linebacker play in the NFL. 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. The Rams have a great defense, and the 32-year-old Wagner could find himself rejuvenated in 2022. Brown has seen his play taper off after a really nice sophomore campaign in 2018 in which he posted an 81.2 grade. 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. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers 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. 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 posted a 1.5 percent drop rate in 2022, which . 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. Nakobe Dean was widely considered to be a potential first-round pick before the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. Perhaps no player better sums up the volatility of linebacker play than the newly minted All-Pro, De'Vondre Campbell. No linebacker corps gets its collective noses dirtier than the Patriots' unit. Still one of the more underrated players in the league, Demario Davis has been the heartbeat of one of the league's best defenses over the past five seasons. Projected contract: Three years, $25.5 million ($8.5M per year, $16.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 65 This ranking may be a surprise after the Seahawks lost future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner in free agency this offseason, but Wagner seemed to be on the downslope of his career. But in a vacuum, Drue Tranquill and Kenneth Murray are just not good enough players. This was the last season that the conference used divisions in its football scheduling. 2021 Snaps: 783 PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Lloyd, who earned a 90.0-plus grade at Utah in 2021, does look set to start. 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. He pairs with the solid Matt Milano, who posted the second-best season grade of his career (67.0) in 2021. 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. Luckily for the Philadelphia Eagles, he was still available in the third round. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. 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. Its hard to overstate Fred Warners effect on the 49ers' defense in their run to the NFC championship in 2021. A pair of Seahawks came in at No. The former No. New: Draft Mode! Projected contract: Two years, $18 million ($9M per year, $11.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 55 Drue Tranquill. 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. Within 2021 and 2022's class, Detroit made use of the later rounds to nab names such as wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and edge James Houston. Click here for PFF's full list of top 100 free agents. 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. In two weeks, NFL GMs will begin negotiating with free . Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. 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. Here are the top off-ball linebackers slated to hit free agency in 2022. By Marc. Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. More Stats. Los Angeles' overall defense is so good, at least on paper, that it might not matter who plays linebacker. Wagner's resume speaks for itself. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. 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. I laid out some of my thoughts on their situations, rambling on longer for some more than others. The Vikings also brought in the underrated Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals in free agency. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Here's why that is important: PFF's Fantasy Football Expected Points tool is primarily used for identifying potential over and undervalued players. 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. The Saints had been looking for someone to play the linebacker position opposite him for years and seem to have found one in Pete Werner, who was outstanding as a rookie in 2021. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. 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. Their tackle efficiency and every-down roles make them the most coveted players at the position. The former undrafted free agent is in for a big pay raise this offseason after making the absolute most of his one-year deal. He at least improved upon his 29.7 grade as a rookie with a 43.5 mark in Year 2. 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. 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. Jewell is the other Denver off-ball linebacker who missed the majority of the 2021 season with a torn pectoral muscle, but hes three years younger than Johnson. 2021 Snaps: 987 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. Give him the freedom to play fast, and he'll excel. 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. 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. He can chase down the fastest of running backs. Mosley endured the worst-graded season of his NFL career. In May, Sam Monson of PFF ranked as the league's No.16 linebacker coming into the 2022 NFL season. Cole Holcomb could yet turn into a solid linebacker, while 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis could also improve after a poor first season. The 1B tier has just as much going for them, with zone-heavy defenses, expected positive tackle efficiency and an every-down roles. This group could rank much higher by the end of next season. 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. Anzalone has always shown promise but is probably better coming off the bench, especially after finishing with a bottom-10 overall grade among 94 qualifying linebackers in 2021. 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. The 12th. 2 in the NFL, only trailing Fred Warner and the San Francisco 49ers. Okereke is now coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 100 tackles and 50 defensive stops. . Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. Harris is one of the most physical linebackers in the class who relishes the ability to hit anyone on the other side of the ball. However, he will have to get better in coverage. 2022 NFL linebacker unit rankings: San Francisco 49ers claim the top spot, Seattle Seahawks crack the top 10 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. The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. He signed a monster five-year, $95 million extension last July, and is worth it considering he's just 25. The first week of March will see the NFL Combine which will be followed by College Pro Days. Gay hasnt graded as well but possesses the characteristics to become a top linebacker. 2021 PFF grade: 83.5 (N/A). 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.
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