Roquan Smith Cracks The List Of The NFL's Top Linebackers
We're ranking each positional group of the Top 100 NFL Players of 2022 blog, and today we dive into (Off-Ball) Linebackers. We've already went through:
Just Missed: Will Compton - Free Agent
Despite only having one tackle last year, Will nearly made my list. He's just a great dude. And as a Father of two, the last thing I wanna do is hate on a new Dad! Last year, we were successful with the #SignWillCompton movement. The boy made the Raiders after GM Mike Mayock clearly saw this video and brought Will on not once, but twice.
Will another GM take a shot this year? If you like guys that can tackle, he undoubtedly did that last year. No reason to think he can't replicate that success and stuff the stat sheet again in #Year10.
7) Roquan Smith - Chicago Bears
Smith has really come into his own the past two seasons and he is definitely one of the elite Linebackers in Football. He's a tackling machine (had 163 last year), which the Bears have been known to produce, but he couples incredible athleticism with tremendous instincts. I mean watch this play and tell me this guy shouldn't be in the Top 100.
6) Demario Davis - New Orleans Saints
Demario Davis is a do-it-all Linebacker on an elite defense. He has no real weaknesses in his game. He's a little long in the tooth at age 33, but he's had nine straight seasons of 90+ tackles and had 105+ in five straight. He's a continual Pro Bowl snub, having never made the team, but do let that fool you, he's an incredible player.
5) Bobby Wagner - Los Angeles Rams
He's made eight straight Pro Bowls and set a career high in tackles last year. But his sacks, QB hits, and TFLs were all down last year and the Seahawks let the 32 year old go this offseason. Their trash is another team's treasure and the defending champs get richer. He should anchor an already elite defense with plenty of veteran leadership. And with the Rams in the NFC West, I have a feeling he'll have a little extra something for the Seahawks twice next year.
4) Lavonte David - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injuries limited him to 12 games last year in his 10th season, but David continues to make game changing plays. I have an extra close eye on him having broken down the All-22 for every Bucs game since 2015 and he is just a football robot. Always in the perfect spot and always making the right play. This play below led to a missed FG and literally won them the game.
3) Fred Warner - San Francisco 49ers
This guy is dripping with instincts and he's got the athleticism to make things happen. Warner is an elite coverage Linebacker, but can also dole out the big hits. In the play below, he reads and reacts so quickly and winds up getting a critical TFL on a 3rd down. And this is just one of many plays I could have shown.
2) Darius Leonard - Indianapolis Colts
The Maniac! Another one of my favorite guys in the league just took his game to another level in 2021 leading the league with 8 forced fumbles. In addition to his insane tackle numbers, the guy is punching the ball out too! I'm looking forward to continuing to watch him grow in this new Colts defense which will be without Matt Eberflus.
1) Micah Parsons - Dallas Cowboys
Micah Parsons took the league by storm. I tried to tell you all…
Parsons is such a freak show because he not only an incredible pass rusher, using his other worldly speed and strength to dominate bigger, slower Lineman, but he is great in coverage too!
Not only do we see him take on a switch designed to attack him, but he has the speed to recover and beat the opposing team's #1 Receiver to the spot. He is an incredible player that I like to win Defensive Player of the Year this coming season.
Here is the full list in an easily digestible graphic: