Rounding out the top-tier of linebackers, Lavonte David is likely another surprise player based on where he tends to go in drafts, but dont let the age fool you. He also made the absolute most of the occasional blitz, tallying 15 pressures, five sacks and three more quarterback hits on 70 pass-rush snaps. PFF ranked him as one of the 30 best players in the NFL last season, which he certainly was. NFL NFL Home Tools NFL Scores NFL Premium Stats NFL Player Grades Free Agent Rankings QB Annual 2022 He also frequently lines up at safety, defensive line and nickel corner, and if he had his way . He may be coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in recent memory, but he also missed five games with injury. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. One of the five highest-graded linebackers last season in his first year with Carolina, Luvu is another Demario Davis trajectory candidate. Linebacker Rankings: 2022 Regular Season, Updated: 9/1/2022 Want Custom Fantasy Scoring? 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. Davis is a player people keep expecting to regress, but he just hasn't. Put some respect on Demario Davis pic.twitter.com/4jzOf4GYS1. 14 overall linebacker with a 72.3 PFF grade, and the No. Tindall is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. Seahawks only have one player in PFF's top-40 graded edge defenders Edmunds made huge strides in coverage in 2022, a major weakness in his game through his first four seasons. A position of concern and potential weakness heading into last season has become a real strength for Kansas City. 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. There are a lot of unknowns in this group due to inexperience. Monson ranked Long, who has been an absolute steal since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, as the No. 2021 PFF grade: 50.6 (51st of 89). Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Why drafting Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons among the top-12 may not be the best decision. 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. 2022 NFL Draft prospects: Ranking top inside linebackers in this year's He set career highs across the board, notching 146 combined tackles, six QB hits and two interceptions. Campbells 90.4 tackling grade is his fifth straight such mark above 75.0, and that sure tackling goes a long way in Green Bay. But in a vacuum, Much of this unit's potential lies with third-round rookie. #1 - Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers LB Fred Warner The San. 3 linebackers Seahawks should . Therefore, they are included in our defensive line rankings despite dropping into coverage at times. Projected contract: Two years, $10 million ($5M per year), $5.5 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 163 Chiefs' Nick Bolton ranked in PFF's 'young ascending' linebacker tier On Tuesday, PFF's Seth Galina released his linebacker rankings for all 32 teams in the NFL. 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. Cole Holcomb could yet turn into a solid linebacker, while 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis could also improve after a poor first season. February 24, 2023 7:45 am CT. A couple of New Orleans Saints standouts were recognized on the list of the top 101 NFL players of the 2022 season from Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson. In 2019 and 2021 with the Ravens, he graded out to 80.0 and 74.8, respectively. Better luck with his health led to a respectable 63.8 overall grade and 72.6 pass-rush grade in 2021. Smith is a complete athletic projection. The Rams have a great defense, and the 32-year-old Wagner could find himself rejuvenated in 2022. Hes not great in other facets, but stopping the run is still an important aspect of the position. A couple of former Clemson stars made this ranking of the NFL's top wide receivers from the 2022 regular season. However, Georgia wide receiver Kearis Jackson is not ranked in Pro Football Focus' NFL draft big board rankings. 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. Brown appeared to be on his way to a strong free agency in the 2021 offseason after three solid seasons as a starter, but he may have been an unfortunate victim of the salary cap drop, as he ultimately agreed to return to the Titans on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. The redshirt junior is a dominant run-stuffer, as his 49 run-defense stops in 2022 ranked second among all linebackers in the country while his 20 tackles for loss/no-gain were tied for third. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. He also registered an absurd pass-rushing grade of 93. Honorable mentions: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Logan Wilson, Shaq Thompson, Alexander Johnson, Deion JonesJeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, C.J. 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. However, he's still a work in progress in coverage and didn't tally a single interception or pass breakup in his college career. 8:44 am ET. Ranking the best linebackers before the 2022 NFL season 4. 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, in 2015. Jerome Baker, MIA: I love Baker this season as a Top 15-20 sleeper. 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Gay hasnt graded as well but possesses the characteristics to become a top linebacker. Denver let Alexander Johnson walk in free agency, which depleted this unit. By Marc. 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. The PFF grades aren't always right on point, but they do serve as a generally effective tool for comparisons . 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. No linebacker corps gets its collective noses dirtier than the Patriots' unit. In this article, I list my top 20 rookie linebacker rankings for your IDP dynasty leagues. 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. Andersen is a converted running back and quarterback who, in his lone full season at linebacker, racked up an absurd 67 stops. Bobby Wagner may surprise some based on his age. A position of concern and potential weakness heading into last season has become a real strength for Kansas City. 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. Al-Shaair missed a lot of time in 2022 but earned a career-best 67.8 overall grade and 79.7 run-defense grade. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. Rashaan Evans and Mykal Walker are solid players, though, and the team will hope that rookie Troy Andersen can make an early impact. His 75.9 grade two years marked a career high. However, he will have to get better in coverage. Potentially losing a step or two with age can be negated by elite play recognition and instincts, both of which David has in spades. Here are the top off-ball linebackers slated to hit free agency in 2022. 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. Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock An error occured while loading Position Grades. 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. Perryman was signed to a two-year, $6.085 million contract before the 2021 season and promptly traded to the Las Vegas Raiders before the first week of the campaign. 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. Aug 9, 2022. Here are the top free agents at linebacker, taken from PFF's free agency rankings. . Kendricks' grade did falter in 2021 a 59.9 mark that was down from 82.6 and 90.1 the past two years, respectively. In Eric Kendricks, the Vikings have had a superb all-around linebacker for years. 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. He even hit 107 combined tackles in 2020 despite playing in just 11 games! 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. Projected contract: Two years, $9.5 million ($4.75M per year), $5.25 million total guaranteed. 2022 NFL Draft Position Rankings: Linebackers By Michael Renner Apr 22, 2022 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. Titans' LB duo lands smack-dab in the middle of PFF's rankings This is likely a polarizing selection. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. The Jaguars replaced Jack with Oluokun, who also has outstanding physical traits. Recently, Seth Galina from PFF ranked all 32 linebacker units in the league. Expect both young studs to push for 140-plus combined tackles, if healthy. San Francisco 49ers . his sure hands also need to be highlighted," PFF's Zoltn Buday wrote. 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. 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. 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. That flexibility is tremendously valuable to the Dallas defense, but Parsons could take his game to another level if he shows development off the ball in Year 2. This is a case of one elite linebacker pulling along another whose narrative hasnt really matched his production. 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. 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. 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. PFF's top linebackers in the 2023 NFL Draft 1. NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler. The best linebackers in todays league are elite coverage players, but they can also affect the game in other ways. Sam Monson of PFF recently ranked the top linebackers in the NFL and organized them in tiers. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. Projected contract: Two years,$12.5 million ($6.25M per year), $8 million total guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 139 NFL LB Position Grades | PFF Click here for PFF's full list of top 100 free agents. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. Projected contract: Four years, $40 million ($10M per year, $22.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 63 His 89.0 run-defense grade in 2022 ranked fourth at the position, with his 13 tackles for loss or no gain tied for 12th. Despite the inconsistent offense, the Chicago Bears had the No. After looking like he might be the next great linebacker earlier in his career, Deion Jones play has fallen off a cliff. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. Their tackle efficiency and every-down roles make them the most coveted players at the position. Edmunds 86.9 coverage grade in 2022 was the third-best mark among off-ball linebackers, and he forced an incompletion on 10.3% of targets into his coverage while allowing just four explosive receptions the entire season (0.9% of targets into his coverage, ninth among linebackers). PFF says the Eagles may have gotten the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Tremaine Edmunds has not quite lived up to expectations, but hes still young and can grow into a good player. David Long, meanwhile, was playing at a solid level before an injury forced him to miss most of the second half of the 2021 season. NFL free agents 2023: Ranking top 10 linebackers Pratts 90.1 coverage grade was the best mark in the NFL. Mosley, Foye Oluokun. Hes the complete package for a modern off-ball linebacker. 2021 PFF grade: 64.2 (24th of 89). It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. 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. Across the three years prior to joining Green Bay, Campbell hadnt earned a grade higher than 56.6 in any season. Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers) earned the top spot and Darius Leonard (Indianapolis Colts). Meanwhile, TJ Watt led the league in sacks (22.5) and was the Defensive Player of the Year. Fantasy Football Draft Rankings (2023) 1 on our list. There's no way he was going to get better, right? 2021 Snaps: 82 Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Jayron Kearse was a top 10 strong safety by their own metric. Turn on this feature to cross off players during your draft. 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. Give him the freedom to play fast, and he'll excel. Where are Georgia Bulldogs ranked on PFF's 2023 NFL draft big board? 1 linebacker on this list entering 2022. At 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, he has legit NFL size and athleticism. This group could rank much higher by the end of next season. Here's what PFF wrote about Wagner's season. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. He had a career year, helping turn around the Eagles' defense with the second-best grade among off-ball linebackers (84.4). Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. He packs a punch as a downhill player, as he can light up offensive linemen with ease. Alex Anzalone and Chris Board are two depth players who start for the Lions. It's like your very own digital cheat sheet. But neither player made the cut for the top 50, which hurts . 2022 NFL Linebacker Rankings and Tiers | NFL News, Rankings and - PFF