Wagner is definitely the best LB in NFL at just 31 years old. 20. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. Zach Arnett, Mississippi State -- $900,000 5. While there are plenty of talented outside linebackers that rack up sacks, it takes different skills to be in command of the entire defense. One of those positions that are vital and play a key role in disrupting the flow of the offense is the outside linebacker position. Another defensive star of the 2000s through 2016 was the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos pass rush specialist DeMarcus Ware. The defensive side of the football is built with a surrounding cast with the goal of slowing down opposing offenses. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. View the best photos of the Vikings outside linebackers, ZaDarius Smith, Danielle Hunter, D.J. Since signing his deal, Smith has put up big numbers for the Packers defense. 1 T.J. Watt - LOLB - 96. Samson Ebukam was the San Francisco 49ers' second-best pass-rush option opposite 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa, totaling 5.0 sacks, the second-most on the team. 12 among linebackers in 2021 with a PFF coverage grade of 70 in 295 coverage snaps. 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. 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. 11 among linebackers,) his AV of 8 was tied for No. Bosa has had 47.5 sacks in 63 career games played. 5. Top 13 Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitchers of all time. David missed five games in 2021 due to injury, but he still had a solid season, recording 97 combined tackles. and his play on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was unanimously awarded the NFL Rookie-of-the Year award this past season. Now, Parsons is the highest-rated outside linebacker in the game. He had some painful penalties against Texas, but he also has made some clutch plays for the Crimson Tide. Leonard burst onto the scene with 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in his rookie season back in 2018. 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 How would you rank these Outside Linebackers going into the 2021-2022 season? Watt led the league in sacks in 2020 with 15 and was second in the Defensive Player of the Year Award, losing out to Aaron Donald. The only current player on the list of the Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time is the current Denver Broncos All-Pro Von Miller. BOBBY WAGNER, LOS ANGELES RAMS 6. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Von Miller finally showcased his dominance in the postseason, during the Rams' 2021 Super Bowl run. For 15 NFL seasons the former Miami Hurricanes outside linebacker Ted Hendricks was as good as any player in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. Jack is now trying to reboot his career in Pittsburgh after suffering similar ill-fortune in Jacksonville. Wilber Marshall 7. Below, we will rank the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022. This list isnt based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. Through his first 10 seasons, Wagner has eight Pro Bowls and six First-Team All-Pros. Travis Kelce TE | Chiefs | Vertical Threat. Feb 27, 2023. He also had three fumble recoveryies. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks. 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. Since entering the league, Warner has 118 or more total tackles in every season and was named First-Team All-Pro in 2020. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? Copyright 2023 FanRankings. Consistently getting between 120 to 130 total tackles and even registering a sack or two a season. with 1,383 total tackles since 2012, 161 more than second-place. Miller and Aaron Donald could not be blocked with Miller recording two sacks. He can play in both the middle and outside linebacker positions. Parsons is very similar to Leonard, except that he can play anywhere in front seven. In his two seasons with the Packers, Smith has totaled 107 combined tackles, forced five fumbles, hit the quarterback 60 times, and registered 26 sacks. The Buffalo Bills will be getting a great team leader. The reigning DPOY is probably the best linebacker in 2022. Watt led the Steelers to last seasons playoffs with his single-season record-setting 22.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. 23 in 2021. For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. In addition, Suggs was a First Team All-Pro and seven time Pro Bowler who racked up 139 career sacks, seven interceptions, forced 39 fumbles and scored three defensive touchdowns. Madden 23. 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. [10] 2 Prevent passes to running backs or fullbacks. Ware, who was a key member of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, was nearly unstoppable by just one offensive blocker. Former five-star prospect Trenton Simpson is an athletic freak who despite weighing in at 240lbs reportedly runs a sub 4.4 forty-yard dash. Linebackers are seen as the leaders of a defense. Van Noy has now had stints in Detroit and Miami, but his good PFF grades are almost exclusively reserved for his time in the Patriots defense. Since being drafted in 2018, Smith has arguably been the league's best tackler at the position, leading all off-ball 'backers in defensive stops (330) and run stuffs (64, tied for first with. Brice Sensabaugh. However, he will have to get better in coverage. 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. Brad White, Kentucky -- $875,000 8. 1986 Boston Celtics - Were they the greatest Team? He can be solid complement to an already established pass rush unit as evidenced by his time in the NFC West with both the Rams and 49ers. Hes proven to be capable of defending both the run and the pass. 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. The 31 teams that didn't win the Super Bowl will spend the coming months bolstering their rosters in order to compete with Patrick Mahomes and the championKansas City Chiefsduring the 2023 season. He got lucky being coached by Mike Vrabel who is one of the finest defensive coaches in the NFL. 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. For 15 NFL seasons the former Miami Hurricanes outside linebacker Ted Hendricks was as good as any player in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. section: | slug: 2023-nfl-free-agency-lb-market-breaking-down-top-players-at-edge-inside-and-outside-linebacker-positions | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. 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. The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. Pro Football Journal: The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. 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. Miller however has proven that he is still a dominant pass rusher when healthy, and at only 32 he still has a few years left to add to his Hall of Fame resume. Rank Player Pos Ht / Wt Rating Team. The 247Sports Composite is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankings. Smith has recorded at least 101 combined tackles in each of his four NFL seasons, and his last two campaigns have been impressive. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. Coach Keys: Shows the ability to take over a game defensively. Thomas would go on to play 11 NFL seasons before his career and life was cut short after an automobile accident. Chuck Drazenovich 10. Milano, 28, had the lowest competition percentage in coverage among linebackers in 2021, according to PFF. The No. 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. Thomas recorded 132.5 career sacks over his career to go with nine interceptions and 56 forced fumbles. The Fallback Tackle Drill (see above video) is designed to help you develop the necessary skills to not get burned by the cutback. 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. His All-Pro season in 2019 was special, but some might have thought it was just a one-year thing. Top 10 Outside Linebackers of All-Time January 27, 2015 DESHAWN HORNBACK 3 Comments 10. Leighton Vander Esch isn't the same electrifying that he was during his lone Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2018, but his ability to read and react against opposing offenses remains. Walker had a career year for the Browns in 2021, and his 78.2 PFF coverage grade was the highest of his career. Tier 2: The Aging Elite 5. 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. Chris Hanburger 2. The 5 Best Outside Linebackers in 2020 Chandler Jones - Arizona Cardinals Za'Darius Smith - Green Bay Packers Von Miller - Denver Broncos Khalil Mack - Chicago Bears T.J. Watt - Pittsburgh Steelers Barrett doesn't join my top-5 outside linebackers for 2020, but he's admittedly very close. He earned the same accolade again in 2020 and 2021. 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. A bit undersized linebacker, but can pack a big punch and he has underrated speed. Watt led the league in sacks in 2012 (20.5) and 2015 (17.5). This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. 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. Aaron Donald once again won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020, but Pittsburgh fans had every right to feel robbed. 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. He was. Sam Huff 9. Just 25, he's on his way. Squat: 445 lbs. Von Miller had a serious leg injury that sidelined him for the 2020 season. Monte Coleman 5. 99: 86: 2,167: 3. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | The list of available free agents and snap count percentages are via. As Buffalo continues to chase a Super Bowl, Milano could become more of a household name. Thomas was a three time Defensive Player of the Year and is one of only two players to ever win the league MVP during the 1986 season. 1. He allowed 81.0% of passes thrown his way to be caught and missed 17 tackles in all. 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