Ranking the top 30 NFL linebackers for 2022
The off-ball linebacker position is declining in importance in the NFL, but it’s also one of the most interesting roles to study
The off-ball linebacker position is declining in importance in the NFL, but it’s also one of the most interesting roles to study. Linebackers have the widest range of tasks among any position in football, and we’ve seen the position morph to fit modern NFL requirements over the past 20 years. We’ll dive deeper into the league’s linebacker pool today as we break down the position’s top 30 players.
I organized this list by factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers. Stats come from Pro Football Focus (PFF) unless otherwise specified.
There are two 2021 rankings below each linebacker. The first shows where I ranked the linebacker among their peers before the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each linebacker landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 30 Linebackers
Tier 1: The Young All-Pros
1. Micah Parsons, LB Dallas Cowboys
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
2. Fred Warner, LB San Francisco 49ers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 1
2021 Rank: 24
3. Shaquille Leonard, LB Indianapolis Colts
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 4
2021 Rank: 41
Tier 1 consists of the game’s reigning superstar linebackers. These players are perennial All-Pro candidates and franchise cornerstones. Even as teams resist paying hefty prices to re-sign linebackers, these three stars are worth upward of $19 million per year. Tier 1 linebackers impact the game in multiple ways and serve as floor raisers at the second level.
Parsons isn’t a true linebacker. He spent roughly 370 snaps lined up along the defensive line as a rookie compared to about 500 snaps at linebacker. Parsons’ snaps were slanted enough that I felt comfortable classifying him as a linebacker instead of an edge rusher. The 23-year-old is an elite athlete who amassed 67 pressures (tied for ninth in the NFL) and 13 sacks as a rookie.
Parsons has room to grow in coverage and against the run from his off-ball position, but it’s impossible to overlook the value he offers as a versatile defender.
Warner got on the field early in his career because of his skill in coverage. He’s still a high-level player in that area, but his instincts and physicality against the run have improved significantly. At 25 years old, Warner is in the prime of his career. He should earn several more All-Pro selections before all is said and done.
Leonard received four All-Pro selections, including three First-Team nods, in his first four NFL seasons. The former second round pick is a defensive stud who excels at finding his way to the carrier and stripping the ball. Leonard’s long arms and physicality make him difficult for offenses to counter when he drops into zone coverage or rushes the passer.
The 27-year-old is still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after undergoing offseason surgery on his back.
Tier 2: Aging All-Pros
4. Lavonte David, LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 3
2021 Rank: 33
5. Bobby Wagner, LB Los Angeles Rams
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 2
2021 Rank: 29
6. Demario Davis, LB New Orleans Saints
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 6
2021 Rank: 87
7. De'Vondre Campbell, LB Green Bay Packers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
8. Eric Kendricks, LB Minnesota Vikings
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 5
2021 Rank: 45
Older All-Pro candidates who are slightly past or near the end of their primes makeup Tier 2. These fading superstars can post Tier 1 performances week-to-week and even have Tier 1 seasons, but they’re not physically capable of matching the younger All-Pros. The linebackers in this tier are sometimes considered franchise cornerstones and are among the position’s most revered players.
Tier 2 linebackers are highly experienced leaders who often captain their units. Their mastery of the position and intellect allows them to serve as floor raisers for the rest of the defense.
David and Wagner have the best Hall of Fame cases among active off-ball linebackers. However, they are coming off down seasons by their standards. David (32 years old) missed five games but was on pace for his fourth All-Pro selection before getting injured. Wagner (32) missed out on First-Team All-Pro honors last season for the first time since 2015. He’s become weaker in coverage but remains well-rounded enough to stick in the top five.
Davis (33) and Kendricks (30) were First-Team All-Pros in 2019. Since then, Davis earned back-to-back Second-Team selections while Kendricks remained one of the league’s better coverage linebackers. The UCLA product is coming off one of his worst seasons in recent history, but I have faith he’ll rebound. Meanwhile, Davis continued his steady stretch of borderline elite play in 2021.
Campbell is the outlier in Tier 2. He was a below-average linebacker until last season, when he earned First-Team All-Pro honors. It’s difficult to predict if Campbell’s breakout season was a blip on the radar or the 29-year-old’s new normal. We’ll have to wait and see.
Tier 3: The Next Generation
9. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Cleveland Browns
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
10. Roquan Smith, LB Chicago Bears
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 7
2021 Rank: 113
11. Nick Bolton, LB Kansas City Chiefs
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
Tier 3 includes three linebackers who are 25 years old or younger. This crop of players has displayed tremendous potential on limited snaps. While they might eventually settle into Tier 4, Bolton, Owusu-Koramoah, and Smith have the potential to reach Tier 2 or 1 in a few years. Each young linebacker has several flaws in his game, but they’re young enough to grow out of those limitations.
Owusu-Koramoah (22) only made ten starts as a rookie, but he flashed a dynamic, versatile skill set in those limited opportunities. The Notre Dame product only fell to the second round in the draft because of injury concerns. His elite potential was never in question. Owusu-Koramoah is on the smaller side for a linebacker, but he has a nose for the football in run defense and the agility to handle slot assignments in coverage.
Smith (25) recently asked for a trade from the Bears following the team’s failure to negotiate an extension with the two-time Second-Team All-Pro. This could impact how many games he plays in 2022, but it’s too early to tell how long this process will continue. Smith is a reliable tackler and coverage linebacker, but his frame sometimes causes issues in run defense.
Bolton (22) is the opposite of Smith in some ways. The 2021 second round pick struggles in coverage, but he’s a Mack truck flying downhill against the run. Very few linebackers can match Bolton’s explosive downhill strikes.
Tier 4: Quality Starters
12. Shaq Thompson, LB Carolina Panthers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
13. Matt Milano, LB Buffalo Bills
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
14. Logan Wilson, LB Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
15. Jordyn Brooks, LB Seattle Seahawks
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
Tier 4 consists of impact starters who generally fall into the “above-average” bucket. These players are crucial to their teams’ schemes and defensive success but lack the floor-raising capabilities of Tier 1 and 2 players. NFL teams prefer to retain these linebackers considering they’re both culture and scheme fits who occasionally flash high-end play.
Thompson took over as a leader on Carolina’s defense after Luke Kuechly retired. In 2021, the veteran Washington product had one of his best seasons in coverage while doing everything he could to hold Matt Rhule’s team together.
Analysts question what value Milano and Wilson brought to the table in recent years, but the linebackers elevated themselves with impressive 2021 campaigns. Milano is a reliable coverage linebacker who occasionally offers upside as a blitzer and run defender. Wilson, who had a tremendous postseason, faces more issues in coverage because of his agility and frame but still adds value to Cincinnati’s defense.
Brooks was horrendous in coverage this past season, but he showed plenty of upside against the run. The 24-year-old is still getting his feet wet on a Seahawks team searching for stability.
Tier 5: Quality Starters with Question Marks
16. Alexander Johnson, LB Denver Broncos
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
17. T.J. Edwards, LB Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
18. Zach Cunningham, LB Tennessee Titans
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
19. Devin White, LB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 8
2021 Rank: 131
20. Denzel Perryman, LB Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
21. Devin Lloyd, LB Jacksonville Jaguars*
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: College
2021 Rank: College
Tier 5 includes quality starters who sometimes string together multiple weeks of high-end play. These linebackers sometimes compete for spots in Tier 3 but usually travel back-and-forth between Tiers 4 and 5. Some Tier 5 linebackers are specialized players who primarily focus on the run or pass game, but their high-level play in that one area balances out their inadequacies.
NFL teams covet Tier 5 linebackers for the right price. Franchises don’t want to overspend on these players since their impact is minimal compared to Tier 1 or 2 linebackers.
White is a unique case. He received Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2020 when he amassed 31 pressures, nine sacks, and 140 tackles. White also put on an excellent display in the playoffs, intercepting two passes in three games. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old’s playoff heroics didn’t carry into 2021.
White is exceptionally athletic, but he’s a poor coverage linebacker. Like fellow 2019 top-ten pick Devin Bush Jr., White struggles against the run. He often runs himself out of plays or becomes stuck on linemen.
Cunningham, Johnson, and Perryman are primarily run defenders who lack high upward mobility because of their one-dimensional play. This past season was a unique experience for the downhill run stoppers. Houston traded Cunningham to Tennessee, Perryman experienced a breakout season and made his first Pro Bowl, and Johnson missed 11 games with a torn pectoral.
Unlike the trio we just mentioned, Edwards offers some upside in pass coverage. Eagles fans often complain about their linebacker room, but they have at least one above-average player in the mix.
Lloyd’s appearance on this list is largely based on the unique skill set and production he generated at Utah. Rookie linebackers often struggle, but Lloyd projects as the most pro-ready member of the incoming class.
Tier 6: High-Variance Starters
22. David Long, LB Tennessee Titans
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
23. Cole Holcomb, LB Washington Commanders
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
24. Tremaine Edmunds, LB Buffalo Bills
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
25. Foyesade Oluokun, LB Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
26. Josey Jewell, LB Denver Broncos
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
27. Anthony Walker, LB Cleveland Browns
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: NR
Tier 6 linebackers sometimes perform at Tier 4 levels, but they’re inconsistent week-to-week and have serious flaws that prevent them from climbing higher in the rankings. Tier 6 linebackers have limited upward mobility since their high-end play is more flashy than consistent. These are solid starters, but most NFL teams are comfortable letting these players walk for cheaper options.
Several linebackers in Tier 6 are specialized players who don’t possess well-rounded skill sets. Jewell, who missed 15 games in 2021 with a torn pectoral, is one of those specialized players. He primarily posts wins as a run defender while battling to stay above water in coverage.
On the other hand, Long and Walker bring upside in pass coverage. Neither is elite in the area, but Long’s performance in coverage was above-average in 2021. The 25-year-old has never started more than nine games or played over 700 snaps in a season. More exposure could reveal Long as a hidden gem or cause him to come crashing down.
Holcomb knows more snaps aren’t always a good thing. The North Carolina product had a terrific year in coverage during his shortened 2020 season. However, Holcomb struggled in 2021 as his snap count nearly doubled.
Edmunds and Oluokun are slightly overrated by the public right now. Oluokun signed a three-year, $45 million contract with Jacksonville this offseason after leading the NFL with 192 tackles last year. However, raw tackle data doesn’t reflect Oluokun’s struggle navigating and shedding blocks and his average at best coverage profile.
Edmunds is listed at 6'5", 250 lbs., making him three inches and 35 lbs. bigger than Oluokun. As you might expect, a player with Edmunds’ size struggles in coverage. He’s one of the few liabilities in the passing game on Buffalo’s entire defense. Edmunds made Pro Bowls in 2019 and 2020, but his stagnation has turned the former Tier 3 hopeful into just an average starter.
Tier 7: Fighting Age and Injuries
28. Deion Jones, LB Atlanta Falcons
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: NR
2021 Rank: Honorable Mention
29. Blake Martinez, LB New York Giants
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 9
2021 Rank: 171
30. Myles Jack, LB Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 10
2021 Rank: 173
Tier 7 linebackers are mostly former high-end players who experienced significant declines because of age and injuries. These are veterans who have fallen on tough times. There’s hope for these players bouncing back in 2022, but they’re becoming increasingly removed from their glory days. Tier 7 linebackers formerly held Tier 2, 3, or 4 ranks.
Tier 7 linebackers have high upward mobility since we know they can perform at top-20 levels.
Jack was a highly touted prospect with injury concerns when he fell to the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Even after six seasons, the UCLA product is only approaching his 27th birthday. Unfortunately, injuries and normal wear and tear have reduced his effectiveness, especially in coverage.
Jones (27) was also a second round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. He was electric early in his career and even fought through injuries to remain an above-average contributor until last year. The wheels came off in 2021 as Jones allowed over 800 yards in coverage (per PFF). Even Pro Football Reference credits nearly 600 yards allowed to Jones.
Martinez performed at a Tier 3 or 4 level in 2020. It was his best year in coverage and gave the Giants a strong presence in the middle of their defense. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cut Martinez’s 2021 season short after only three games. He would’ve ranked higher on this list if he was more consistent in his first four NFL seasons.
Honorable Mentions
Azeez Al-Shaair, LB San Francisco 49ers
Jerome Baker, LB Miami Dolphins
Ja'Whaun Bentley, LB New England Patriots
Jamie Collins, LB New England Patriots
Willie Gay Jr., LB Kansas City Chiefs
Dre Greenlaw, LB San Francisco 49ers
Jordan Hicks, LB Minnesota Vikings
C.J. Mosley, LB New York Jets
2021 Top 200 Linebacker Rank: 11
2021 Rank: 193
Isaiah Simmons, LB Arizona Cardinals
Kyzir White, LB Philadelphia Eagles
Kyle Van Noy, LB Los Angeles Chargers
Leighton Vander Esch, LB Dallas Cowboys