Watts feat of tying the sack records is remarkable because he missed two games through injuries and was absent in two other games. 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. 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. Players with 8+ sacks in each of first seven seasons of career (since individual sacks have been recorded in 1982): Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. Travis Kelce TE | Chiefs | Vertical Threat. There aren't any superstars in this year's group of edge players and outside linebackers, but there is a solid starter whose sack totals have him in the company of all-time greats. 1. Up next, our Top 10 linebackers.1. Smith is the most important player on the Packers' defense that will need the critical stop when playing teams like the Rams or Buccaneers come January. One thing all these 2022 NFL best linebackers have in common is they're at the top of their game. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. Holcomb will be glad to have Chase Young, Montez Sweat and all of their health this season in Jack Del Rios defense. 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 | Trent Williams LT | 49ers | Power. Through the 2020 NFL Season, Miller has recorded 106 career sacks including a season high 18.5 during the 2012 NFL season as well as 25 forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. Ware recorded 138.5 sacks over his NFL career while forcing 35 fumbles and intercepting three passes. Bell might be the most well-rounded outside linebackers ever, and is in the discussion for best 4-3 OLBs ever . He was. He elevates every play, from creating impact in defending the pass to stopping the run. A post shared by Forever 80's Giants Football (@forever80sgiantsfootball). 99: 86: 2,167: 3. Yannick Ngakoue, who turns 28 in March, has . Parsons took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, recording 84 combined tackles and a Dallas Cowboys rookie record 13 sacks. Since 2020, the Colts linebacker has twice the number of forced fumbles of any other off-ball linebacker, and he has four interceptions and eight pass breakups over that time. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Lions snag QB early in first round, Ex-groundskeeper 'Sodfather' blasts Super Bowl field, NFL combine 2023 snubs and how other non-invites fared, Report: Carr to meet with three teams at Combine, Cowboys address futures of RBs Elliott, Pollard, Fournette landing spots: Bucs releasing RB, per report, Ranking the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022, Mock draft: Colts, Bucs trade up to get their QBs, Ranking each team's free agent crop, 1-32, Report: Snyder charged team $4.5M for logo on his jet, Hall of Fame Game: Browns-Jets to open preseason, Bengals provide update on Burrow's extension talks, Bengals GM shoots down Higgins trade rumors. Top 100 Right Outside Linebacks. 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. He was 32 years old when he was selected for his third consecutive All-Pro selection. 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. Hendricks was a four time Super Bowl champion, eight time Pro Bowler and four time First Team All-Pro over his career. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode. Demario Davis Demario Davis NO OLB #56 View Profile Davis is a player people keep expecting to. Perhaps no player better sums up the volatility of linebacker play than the newly minted All-Pro, De'Vondre Campbell. So, whos the best off-ball linebacker in the NFL today? Here's a look at the top linebackers hitting the market, both edge rushers and traditional, inside linebackers. 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. 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. 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. Get the latest NFL Draft prospect rankings from CBS Sports. 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. He was named First-Team All-Pro, totaling 146 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Teams can sign free agents at 4 p.m. March 15. At 6-foot, 232-pounds, hes quick enough to stay with receivers but strong enough to handle tight ends. 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. In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. 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. Despite what PFF says, I don't think there are that many more linebackers who are better in coverage than Kendricks. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. 10. Greene led the NFL in sacks in both 1994 and 1996 while racking up 160 career sacks over his NFL career. He should be able to continue to get 100+ tackles per season if he is able to stay healthy. Who has the second-most tackles since 2012, you ask? 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. Campbell recorded the second-highest PFF grade of any linebacker with an 85, and also was the second-highest graded linebacker in coverage with an 82.2. After relaying the play call to his teammates, off-ball linebackers can be responsible for defending the run, covering receivers or rushing the quarterback. Ham, who played 12 NFL seasons all with the Steelers recorded 32 career interceptions to go along with two defensive touchdowns while helping the Steelers to win four Super Bowls over his career. As the 2022 season approaches, we will be breaking down the top ten players at each position. Pete Kwiatkowski, Texas -- $1.7 million 3. 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. It also requires two large garbage cans, and it is helpful to have a tackle bag. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said Parsons will see time as both an off-ball linebacker and EDGE rusher in 2022. February 28, 2023. 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. 10. Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this Few plays cause momentum swings quite like a timely sack. The defense might decide on . 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. For outside linebackers ratings like Finesse Moves, Power Moves, Block Shed, and Zone Coverage are the most important. Wagner is no longer with the Seattle Seahawks, signing with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Ramsthis offseason. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Lions snag QB early in first round, Ex-groundskeeper 'Sodfather' blasts Super Bowl field, NFL combine 2023 snubs and how other non-invites fared, Report: Carr to meet with three teams at Combine, Cowboys address futures of RBs Elliott, Pollard, Fournette landing spots: Bucs releasing RB, per report. Pro Football Journal: The Top 3-4 Rushbackers of All-Time Dedicated to reporting mainstream and esoteric aspects of professional football. He can play in both the middle and outside linebacker positions. He also leads the league with 1,383 total tackles since 2012, 161 more than second-place. 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. 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. David Long Jr. could be one of the best values of this class at 26 years old since he is a three-down linebacker who is strong against the run and is a surefire tackler. Jones was an . Follow @fanrankingsto stay up to date. 1. By Brandon Walker | August 27, 2021 - 11:49 AM. 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. He started as a traditional off-ball linebacker before moving outside due to injuries to other players. The longtime New Orleans Saints star put together a brilliant NFL career after being selected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He got lucky being coached by Mike Vrabel who is one of the finest defensive coaches in the NFL. When we look at outside linebackers in the NFL we look at two types. Stability is one of the most decisive factors for this inside linebacker to lead this ranking. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. One of our representatives will be in touch shortly. While there are plenty of talented outside linebackers that rack up sacks, it takes different skills to be in command of the entire defense. Top247 247Sports Composite. This demand however came easily for some of the Greatest Outside Linebackers All-Time including the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Brooks, Jack Ham, Terrell Suggs, Derrick Thomas and DeMarcus Ware. 14 overall linebacker with a 72.3 PFF grade, and the No. Part 3. . He also had three fumble recoveryies. 1. This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier). Brooks was the 2002 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 11 time Pro Bowler and a five time First Team All-Pro during his playing days with the Bucs. 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