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. Oluokun leads the way for a very underwhelming free-agent class at off-ball linebacker, though his timing of reaching unrestricted free agency could work out nicely in his favor. on Pro Football Focus' Top-100 players of 2022 rankings. 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. 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. 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. Pro Football Focus supported claims of San Francisco's top-end roster by putting seven of their players in the top 101 of the 2022 season. This means zone-heavy coverages and, more specifically, a Cover-2 heavy scheme, which proves to be the most effective coverage at propping up linebacker tackle numbers (as illustrated below). Jordyn Brooks is an ascending star who will get more snaps this year. Where are Georgia Bulldogs ranked on PFF's 2023 NFL draft big board? 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. 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. . Nakobe Dean is a dark horse with this group. The grades for the Detroit Lions in their 9-8 campaign offer up an analytically-based glimpse of how the Lions performed. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. So, who's the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL today? Lavonte David is still one of the best linebackers in the game . If the Cardinals had spent those picks elsewhere and held on to Jordan Hicks in free agency, they would be in a much better spot. Tuesday Round-Up: Seahawks No.8 In Pro Football Focus 2022 Linebacker 1. Although Parsons didn't walk away from the 2022 season with hardware to show off for his accomplishments in 2022 the way he did in his rookie season in 2021, Parsons continues to . Its hard to overstate Fred Warners effect on the 49ers' defense in their run to the NFC championship in 2021. Pundit Says Ravens Are 'Perfect Spot' for Yesterday's Combine Standout ECR VS. ADP. Campbells ranking could justifiably be at the very top of this list or somewhere in the 30s, based on his career so far. Final Season Stats. However, Dean played his role at an elite level, ranking 10th among all corners graded by PFF. NFL Defensive Line Rankings 2022 - ftnfantasy.com 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. They're both veteran defenders, and they happened to lead the team in snaps played last season. Here's what PFF wrote about Wagner's season. A lot is riding on the development of Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons, who have simply not played well enough especially for first-round picks. PFFs Fantasy Strength of Schedule (SoS) metric provides a league-wide, season-long view of opponent matchups for each fantasy position. 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. Leonard was a beast in stopping the run, as his 91.1 PFF run defense grade was second among all defenders in 2021 -- not just linebackers. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. PFF ranks 49ers Fred Warner as the top linebacker in the NFL 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. Amid replacement-level cornerback and safety play at times, Warner's gravitas over the middle of the field allowed the team to play a high percentage of zone coverage to protect its outside cornerbacks. 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. PFF says the Eagles may have gotten the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL 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. 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. LB Rankings: 2022 Regular Season - FF Today Best Bets Tool, PFF Free Agency Rank: 27 Tindall is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. Hes not great in other facets, but stopping the run is still an important aspect of the position. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker group ranked as 9th-best in NFL by PFF 2021 PFF grade: 80.1 (3rd of 89). Its a rebuilt Jaguars linebacking corps after losing. Jerome Baker, MIA: I love Baker this season as a Top 15-20 sleeper. 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. Linebacker Rankings: The 32 best LBs entering the 2021 NFL season - PFF 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. 3 min read. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. , who draws all the attention at the offensive line, opening up room for the linebackers for clean tackle opportunities. It's good news, then,. Post-Draft IDP Rookie Linebacker Rankings for 2022 No. Projected contract: Two years, $10 million ($5M per year), $5.5 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 163 After Warner's monster 2020 campaign, we thought he could be the No. The main contributors to a linebackers IDP success are the volume of defensive snaps combined with playing in zone-heavy defenses, which rack up tackles more efficiently. He started in 16 games after starting in only 11 total in his previous three NFL seasons. Davids 88.5 coverage grade this season ranked second among off-ball linebackers, and his elite 93.0 mark over the past four seasons is the top mark at the position. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 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. 9 linebacker in coverage with a 73.9. Edmunds is just 24 years old and entering his fifth NFL season. He put forth a monster rookie season in 2019 but hasnt quite attained the same highs in subsequent seasons. 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. 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. The Rank value requires a minimum number of snaps played. Warner had a transformative effect on the 49ers defense when he became the starter. 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. Bolton, then a rookie, produced one of the highest individual grades for a linebacker. This is likely a polarizing selection. The 12th. Projected contract: Two years, $14.5 million ($7.25M per year), $8.5 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 99 They also signed linebacker Myles Jack and D-lineman Larry Ogunjobi. The scheme plays a part in them making some plays. Teams are afraid to throw at Surtain, and he has one of the lowest target totals among . 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. Hes aggressive, has a quick trigger and finds the ball carrier. Cole Holcomb, WAS: Impressive young linebacker who could see the numbers improve in 2022. Parsons actually finished No. Milano was a fifth-round draft pick back in 2017 but has dramatically outperformed his first-round teammate, Tremaine Edmunds, within the Buffalo defense. Al-Shaair missed a lot of time in 2022 but earned a career-best 67.8 overall grade and 79.7 run-defense grade. Wagner's resume speaks for itself. PFF ranked him as one of the 30 best players in the NFL last season, which he certainly was. Chicago Bears Roquan Smith and Indianapolis Colts Shaquille (Darius) Leonard stock is falling due to availability concerns, making E.J. 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. According to PFF, T.J. Edwards was the 10 th-ranked linebacker in 2021 but is still unproven and only has started 30 games in the NFL. Nevertheless, he may have to play on a one-year prove-it deal as he recovers. Defensively, the attrition was less significant; however, one of the unit's leaders did leave in free agency Foye Oluokun. Tranquill is coming off a career year in L.A. 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 2023 fantasy football drafts. Foyesade Oluokun, JAC: New team, new official scorer. Therefore, they are included in our. All Rights Reserved. Therefore, they are included in our defensive line rankings despite dropping into coverage at times. #1 - Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner The San. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. David has been consistent, as only one linebacker has recorded more tackles since he entered the league, and that player is found later on in this list. Their tackle efficiency and every-down roles make them the most coveted players at the position. 23 in 2021. . 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. Something to note is that 3-4 pass-rushers will not appear on this list. Ranking the best linebackers before the 2022 NFL season Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports 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. He may be coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in recent memory, but he also missed five games with injury. 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF NFL free agents 2023: Ranking top 10 linebackers In this article, I list my top 20 rookie linebacker rankings for your IDP dynasty leagues. 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. NFL LB Position Grades | PFF Projected contract: Two years,$12.5 million ($6.25M per year), $8 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 139 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. Hes expected to return for Dallas playoff run after a shoulder injury knocked him out down the stretch, which will provide a big boost to the ferocious Cowboys defense. Jewell missed almost all of 2021 due to injury but is a run-stuffing force when on the field. Vander Esch quietly played some good football in 2022 after signing a one-year flier to return to the Cowboys following a free agency period that didnt pan out as hed hoped. 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. Hightower opted out of the 2020 season, and after a bit of a slow start getting reacclimated to the speed of the NFL game, he was back to his old self for stretches of the 2021 season. Two former Tigers lower on this list of NFL's best receivers Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. He went from having a one-year contract worth $2 million to signing a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $10 million! PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Edmunds also missed just 6.5% of potential tackles, the lowest rate of his career and another huge sign of continued growth from a football intelligence and play recognition standpoint. Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. His 75.9 grade two years marked a career high. Hes not only straight-line fast, but he also processes and reacts with elite quickness. When healthy, Johnson is among the best sideline-to-sideline run-defenders at off-ball linebacker in the league. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. One of the five highest-graded linebackers last season in his first year with Carolina, Luvu is another Demario Davis trajectory candidate. 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. Rookie Devin Lloydand sophomore Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. 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. Edwards was one of just four linebackers to earn grades above 75.0 in run defense and coverage, generating 11 quarterback pressures on just 26 pass-rush snaps, as well. 2021 PFF grade: 43.7 (71st of 89). Hes the complete package for a modern off-ball linebacker. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports. 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. 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. Projected contract: Two years, $18 million ($9M per year, $11.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 55 2021 PFF grade: 50.6 (51st of 89). his sure hands also need to be highlighted," PFF's Zoltn Buday wrote. Projected contract: Two years, $9.5 million ($4.75M per year), $5.25 million total guaranteed. Dean's range at the linebacker position is unparalleled in this draft class. Speed and Matthew Adams late-round dart throws. Galina ranked the Colts at No. Eichenberg was a PFF first-team All-American this past season and is the most valuable returning linebacker according to PFF's wins above average metric. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. Click here to view PFF's full IDP rankings for the 2022 season and tiers for the defensive linemen and defensive backs. Let's have a look at them. 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. Chicago signed Nicholas Morrow from Las Vegas to fill the spot next to Smith for 2022. If he can play more consistently week to week, teams may view him as a low-risk, high-reward option in a weak linebacker class. He subsequently graded out to 76.5 in his first season. Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith (58) stares into the backfield during pre-game at Nissan Stadium. Brown has seen his play taper off after a really nice sophomore campaign in 2018 in which he posted an 81.2 grade. Bobby Wagner may surprise some based on his age. 3 Rams make PFF's top 101 players of 2022 Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock An error occured while loading Position Grades. 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. 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. Some may think Wagner is too high on this list, and while he took a small step backwards in 2021, he's still one of the best linebackers in the NFL. 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. PFF's top linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft 1. PFF predicts Bears will sign three top-50 free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. This ranking may be a surprise after the Seahawks lost future Hall of Famer. 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. 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. 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. Cole Holcomb could yet turn into a solid linebacker, while 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis could also improve after a poor first season.