9 linebacker in coverage with a 73.9. AVG. 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 1B tier has just as much going for them, with zone-heavy defenses, expected positive tackle efficiency and an every-down roles. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks Seattle's defense may have deteriorated around him, but Bobby Wagner remains the class of the linebacker position, especially since Luke Kuechly 's retirement. His first year with the Packers resulted in a whopping 85.0 mark. Patrick Surtain II has been quite literally living up to his name as an elite cornerback and has helped the Denver Broncos maintain their position as a top-tier defense even after trading away their star edge rusher. They're both veteran defenders, and they happened to lead the team in snaps played last 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. 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. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. 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. His 75.9 grade two years marked a career high. 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. All of this culminates with the 2022 NFL Draft from Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, April 28th. 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). 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. In two weeks, NFL GMs will begin negotiating with free . 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. 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. Click here for PFF's full list of top 100 free agents. Tindall is a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker. 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. Mosley, Foye Oluokun. 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. Nick Bolton and Willie Gay are two young linebackers who came on strong last season. 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. His 170 combined takedowns ranked third among linebackers this past season. 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. According to Stathead's AV tool, Leonard was tied in having the second-best season of any linebacker last year. Kansas City Chiefs News Chiefs' young linebacker unit breaks into top 10 in PFF rankings The Chiefs' top two linebackers are 22 (Bolton) and 24 (Gay), yet Pro Football Focus finds the. He also has 30 quarterback pressures over 135 pass-rush snaps the past three seasons and took a quantum leap in coverage in 2022 en route to a 73.0 grade. While Parsons proved to be a stud pass-rusher, some had questions about his coverage ability coming into the league. Okereke is now coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 100 tackles and 50 defensive stops. Editor's note: For up-to-the-minute updates based on everythingwerehearing around the NFL, go to PFF's free agency rankings, where you can sort by position, team needs, and more all offseason long. Leonard burst onto the scene with 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in his rookie season back in 2018. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Rookie Devin Lloydand sophomore Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah both project to be every-down linebackers on ideal defenses for expected production. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports. A couple of former Clemson stars made this ranking of the NFL's top wide receivers from the 2022 regular season. 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. Below, we will rank the NFL's top 10 linebackers entering 2022. Let's have a look at them. Pratts 90.1 coverage grade was the best mark in the NFL. 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. 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. A pair of Seahawks came in at No. Even, Parsons is already one of the best defensive playmakers in the NFL as he enters just his second season in the league, but its difficult to rank him purely as an off-the-ball linebacker. Unfortunately for Vander Esch, he once again finds himself in the middle of the pack of a deep free-agent group at linebacker, but he should do a bit better this time around. He finished as the highest-graded linebacker in football, recording 140 tackles, two interceptions and a career-high six sacks. Okereke stepped up in a major way in the absence of fellow off-ball linebacker Shaquille Leonard, with his 72.9 grade ranking 23rd at the position. His 913 snaps for the Raiders last season was a career-high mark and more than doubled his previous best. January 18, 2023 8:22 pm ET. Overall, Georgia has 11 players in PFF's big board including six players ranked in the top 80 NFL draft prospects. His elite run-stopping ability was on display against the Packers in the divisional round, too. That could be a problem for folks expecting the same numbers. 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. The Jaguars replaced Jack with Oluokun, who also has outstanding physical traits. 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. 2021 PFF grade: 43.7 (71st of 89). While those grades arent poor, by any stretch, they are a notable step down from these players' excellent career baselines and some way short of their elite best. New: Draft Mode! Turn on this feature to cross off players during your draft. 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. Here's why that is important: PFF's Fantasy Football Expected Points tool is primarily used for identifying potential over and undervalued players. 2021 Snaps: 679 Brown has seen his play taper off after a really nice sophomore campaign in 2018 in which he posted an 81.2 grade. Expect both young studs to push for 140-plus combined tackles, if healthy. The Ravens are still looking for that breakout year from Patrick Queen after two subpar seasons. 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. 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. They happily scooped up the extremely talented Georgia linebacker. Though he's 32 years old, David hasn't taken a major step backwards just yet. There is hope that Channing Tindall, Miami's rookie linebacker out of Georgia, can find his way on the field. 4. "Latest Update" refers to when we last checked for . 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. This is a case of one elite linebacker pulling along another whose narrative hasnt really matched his production. The Steelers brought in former Jaguar Myles Jack to play alongside him. That hypothetical AAV of $17.6 million would make Smith the third highest-paid linebacker in the NFL. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. With that in mind, some of these units have fewer members than others. 6 in the NFL in sacks and No. Projected contract: Four years, $40 million ($10M per year, $22.5 million total guaranteed), PFF Free Agency Rank: 63 The scheme plays a part in them making some plays. Age: 28. The linebacker position in the game of football is one of the most important. After looking like one of the worst linebackers in the NFL for a few years in Green Bay. 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. 2021 PFF grade: 60.4 (30th of 89). He is a truly freakish athlete and will be 25 years old throughout his entire sixth NFL season in 2023 after being selected No. Projected contract: Two years, $9.5 million ($4.75M per year), $5.25 million total guaranteed. Bentley improved considerably in his second season as a full-time player, as his 68.1 overall grade was almost 15 points better than his 2020 overall grade. 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. He has top-notch natural coverage skills for a linebacker his size, but everything else is a work in progress. A new defensive coordinator and scheme will help him, though. 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. 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. Monson ranked Long, who has been an absolute steal since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, as the No. Jayron Kearse was a top 10 strong safety by their own metric. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports. PFF ranked him as one of the 30 best players in the NFL last season, which he certainly was. 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 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. 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. 8 in total pressures. Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Sports (Dean); Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports (Ojabo) 1. 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Vander Esch earned a 90.0-plus grade in three starts in 2021, including two such outings over the final five weeks. 3 linebackers Seahawks should . Edmunds made huge strides in coverage in 2022, a major weakness in his game through his first four seasons. Typically, David is the ideal linebacker for IDP. 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 Seattle Seahawks in 2015. Lavonte David is still one of the best linebackers in the game . 1 on our list. The Vikings also brought in the underrated Jordan Hicks from the Cardinals in free agency. 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. Bobby Wagner may surprise some based on his age. PFF analyzes every player and every play of every game in the 2022 NFL season. Devin Lloyd, Utah BIG BOARD RANK: 15 After looking like he might be the next great linebacker earlier in his career. Honorable mentions: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, Logan Wilson, Shaq Thompson, Alexander Johnson, Deion JonesJeremiah Owusu-Koramoah,Zach Cunningham, Anthony Walker, C.J. 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. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. JaWhaun Bentley is a hard-nosed player like his counterpart Mack Wilson. 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. I also gave a target round for your rookie drafts, these are just suggestions as all drafts are different. He ended up making the Pro Bowl by logging a career-high 863 snaps and racking up 121 tackles and 61 defensive stops. Projected contract: One year, $6 million, $4.5 million guaranteed, PFF Free Agency Rank: 75 By Marc. 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. Adam Holt. Their tackle efficiency and every-down roles make them the most coveted players at the position. One of the best off-ball linebackers of his generation, David is still playing at an extremely high level and may benefit from New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner playing very good football well into their 30s on recently signed contracts of their own. 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. 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. Okereke is a solid stand-in next to Leonard. It's also noteworthy that David is good in coverage, something other linebackers can struggle with. White has had four straight seasons with coverage grades above 60.0, which is not an easy feat for an off-ball linebacker in todays NFL against so many hi-lo concepts and the increase in run-pass options putting a ton of stress on the position. Better luck with his health led to a respectable 63.8 overall grade and 72.6 pass-rush grade in 2021. No linebacker corps gets its collective noses dirtier than the Patriots' unit. 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. Kendricks' grade did falter in 2021 a 59.9 mark that was down from 82.6 and 90.1 the past two years, respectively. 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. 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. Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) reacts after a play against the Carolina Panthers in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. David also just put forth his worst season since 2016, posting a 72.3 grade. 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. Consequently, the list of consistently elite players is far shorter than for other positions, and there is much more volatility in this position group. 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. 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. Alabama linebacker Christian Harris is the last player in PFF's top 100, with a plus 60 overall, pass rush, and run defense grade but just above 50 for his coverage grade. 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. He allowed 81.0% of passes thrown his way to be caught and missed 17 tackles in all. on Pro Football Focus' Top-100 players of 2022 rankings. Smith is a complete athletic projection. At age 30, Kendricks should again be one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL in 2022. Potentially losing a step or two with age can be negated by elite play recognition and instincts, both of which David has in spades. You dont want to line him up against an opposing receiving weapon in a one-on-one, but he demonstrated better recognition of route patterns and improved as a zone coverage backer. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports Pro Football Focus has finalized the regular season grades for the 2022 NFL season. The only season in which he did not record at least 100 tackles was his rookie campaign, when he missed two games. 2021 PFF grade: 50.6 (51st of 89). These athletes are called upon to be run-stuffing defensive linemen on some downs, and hybrid cornerbacks on others. 1 as Bobby Wagner finally dethroned Ranking the top 10 linebackers for the upcoming NFL season By Jordan Dajani Jun 28, 2022 at. You are not logged in. 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 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 Denver Broncos. And Davis has been outstanding in all areas since moving to the New Orleans defense. 1. The 2022 season was Longs first as a full-time starter at middle linebacker, but hes made the most of opportunities in the past. San Francisco 49ers . 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 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. 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. Its hard to overstate Fred Warners effect on the 49ers' defense in their run to the NFC championship in 2021. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. Dean's range at the linebacker position is unparalleled in this draft class. In May, Sam Monson of PFF ranked as the league's No.16 linebacker coming into the 2022 NFL season. 16 at his position by PFF Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC West. Asamoah is undersized at 6-foot-1, 228 pounds, but he possesses sideline-to-sideline range. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. Parsons is versatile, smart and instinctive. 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. The Rams attacked the linebacker position this offseason, adding. Bolton, then a rookie, produced one of the highest individual grades for a linebacker. 2021 PFF grade: 83.5 (N/A). 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. PFF themselves had the Cowboys 2021 secondary in the top 10. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers The 49ers struck gold when they drafted Warner in the third round in 2018. This is bizarrely true even when he moves to a defense run by a former New England defensive coach. While Warner recorded a career-high 137 combined tackles (T-No. They also signed linebacker Myles Jack and D-lineman Larry Ogunjobi. Nakobe Dean was widely considered to be a potential first-round pick before the 2022 NFL Draft. The rest of 1A should surprise no one, with this group almost filling out the consensus top-five linebackers in ADP terms,. The first week of March will see the NFL Combine which will be followed by College Pro Days. 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. . Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. This was the last season that the conference used divisions in its football scheduling. 6 defense in the league last year, and Smith was a big reason why. Murray surrendered a near-perfect passer rating into his coverage in 2021, allowing 14 catches on 15 targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns. In Eric Kendricks, the Vikings have had a superb all-around linebacker for years. Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage, and Lee Smith (don't hate on the importance of the old school tight end) will no longer be suiting up for the team in 2022. 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. 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. Why drafting Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons among the top-12 may not be the best decision. A position of weakness for the Eagles in 2021 might turn into a position of strength in 2022 with the additions of rookie Nakobe Dean and veteran Kyzir White to pair alongside T.J. Edwards, who had a breakout 2021 season. Hes great at every aspect of linebacker play. Still, in a league that continues to throw more and more, Bentley remains best-suited as an early-down run defender who can generate the occasional quarterback pressure. Pittsburgh Steelers (94/100) Cameron Heyward was second behind only Aaron Donald in PFF's grades of interior defensive linemen last season. After Warner's monster 2020 campaign, we thought he could be the No. However, both Mike Williams and Tee Higgins didn't get a whole lot of love and are lower on the list. Davis is a player people keep expecting to regress, but he just hasn't. The transition from college football to the NFL used to be smooth for linebackers, but even elite prospects can now struggle in Year 1. It had been three full seasons since his best play, and that best play was nowhere near elite. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker group ranked as 9th-best in NFL by PFF Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans. The 2022 season was Tranquills first as a full-time starter following Kyzir Whites departure, and his 105 tackles were more than his first three seasons combined. 17 linebacker in the NFL going into 2022, placing him in the "young. s departure, and his 105 tackles were more than his first three seasons combined. Campbells ranking could justifiably be at the very top of this list or somewhere in the 30s, based on his career so far. Players like T.J. Watt, Matt Judon, Harold Landry and Shaquil Barrett are not included. Linebackers with the most INT's in both man and zone coverage last season Man: Bobby Okereke (2) Zone: Darius Leonard (4) pic.twitter.com/RJ4JbjcbYx Hightower will be 32 years old in Week 1 of 2022, but there's an argument that taking the 2020 season off has his body refreshed and revitalized. "He posted a 1.5 percent drop rate in 2022, which . In today's NFL, few positions have become as difficult to play as off-ball linebacker. 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. His processing skills took massive steps forward in 2021, causing his grade to jump from 57.1 to 76.3. Seahawks only have one player in PFF's top-40 graded edge defenders Teams AFC East Bills Dolphins Jets Patriots AFC North Bengals Browns Ravens Steelers AFC South Colts Jaguars Texans Titans AFC. Here are the top free agents at linebacker, taken from PFF's free agency rankings. 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. 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. Final Season Stats. 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. 2022 NFL linebacker unit rankings: Giants come in at 24 (PFF . 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. 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 12th. Jewell also provides value on the occasional pass-rush snap and very rarely misses tackles. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports. He put forth a monster rookie season in 2019 but hasnt quite attained the same highs in subsequent seasons. He is a fantastic story of earning a job the hard way. For all the young players' struggles, there are a lot of promising linebackers who have the talent to become elite players at this level. Here are the best available players remaining heading into Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft.
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pff linebacker rankings 2022
