NFL's Top Off-Ball Linebackers Ranked By Coaches, Players, And Execs

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Execs, coaches, players rank NFL's top 10 off-ball linebackers for 2023​

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10. Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers​

Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: Unranked

Greenlaw no longer plays in the shadow of Warner or any other 49er. He emerged as a standout in his fourth season.

"[He] made a huge jump. Relentless, extremely physical and took a big jump in coverage," an NFC exec said. "Obviously benefits from the guys around him, but he made so many big plays this year."

His two forced fumbles tied him for first on the 49ers' defense, and his 127 tackles were the second most. Greenlaw's minus-28.1 expected points added (EPA) when targeted led all NFL linebackers.

"I feel like people didn't know who he was for a while, but he's a major player," a Pro Bowl defensive player said.

 

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9. C.J. Mosley, New York Jets​

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 31 | Last year's ranking: Unranked

Mosley was trending downward after playing in just two games in 2019 because of injury and sitting out the 2020 season during the pandemic.

But last season, he demanded appreciation. He anchored a top-five Jets defense and was excellent against the pass. On 492 coverage snaps and 59 targets, Mosley allowed just 292 yards and had seven pass deflections.

"I don't think people realize how good he is since he's not flashy and a bit of a throwback," an AFC scout said. "But he can do it all. Just a really [good] football player."

He had 158 tackles, one interception, one sack and 9.5 stuffs last season.

"Lots of intangibles and the glue guy as far as communication," another AFC scout added. "Just OK from a physical standpoint. He's slowed down a lot since college."

 

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8. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs​

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: Unranked

The Chiefs knew Bolton was a catalyst during last year's Super Bowl run -- he had 23 tackles and two fumble recoveries in the postseason. The standout linebacker does a little bit of everything, from tackles for loss (20 in his first two seasons) and splash plays (two sacks, two interceptions).

He tied for second among all NFL players with a 16.9% tackle percentage (180).

"For me it's the instincts," an NFC scouting veteran said. "You see the [ability to] diagnose, the trigger and obviously play speed and physicality on contact. I think he's going to continue his ascension as a stacked playmaker."

 

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7. Shaquille Leonard, Indianapolis Colts​

Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 27 | Last year's ranking: 1

Leonard's penchant for causing turnovers earned him last year's No. 1 spot. Through his first four seasons, he produced 11 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 15 sacks. But he played just three games last season before undergoing back surgery to repair two discs.

Before his season came to an end, he had 11 tackles and one interception for 15 yards.

"He still scares [offenses] in the ways he can take away the ball, but I'm not sure he has that one dominant trait, and you wonder about the long-term health at this point," an AFC scout said. "I hope I'm wrong in that. He's a fantastic player."

 

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6. Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints​

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 34 | Last year's ranking: 6

The list of players improving their top-10 rankings at age 34 is short. But Davis continues to play big.

After another 100-tackle season and a fourth consecutive All-Pro nod, Davis also recorded a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2022.

"He's awesome," an NFC exec said. "He seems to be somehow getting better. We hate playing against him."

Davis was not considered a marquee player in his first six seasons in the league but has thrived in New Orleans since 2018.

"He's become a better all-around player each year in that [Saints] scheme and how he's deployed," an NFC scout said. "You see a lot of similarly gifted athletes struggle at LB, especially when drafted high and are asked to be immediately productive, but he had time to figure it out and his game took off."

 

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5. Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers​

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 4

Most agree White did not have his best year in 2022, and at times looked uninspired in a season in which he posted 124 tackles, zero interceptions and five passes defended.

"He's a top-five talent that played outside of the top 10 last year," an AFC scout said.

An NFC scout added that discipline and physicality appeared to be issues last year, and it's hard to crack the top five when that happens.

But the former No. 1 linebacker from 2021 still has the major ability that earned him All-Pro second-team honors two years ago.

White is an elite blitzer, coming for the quarterback on 26.3% of his snaps and recording 5.5 sacks in 2022 -- 20.5 for his career. Some evaluators are still enamored with what could be.

"Sideline-to-sideline playmaking is elite," said one veteran AFC personnel who voted him No. 1. "He's got the versatility to line up and play a variety of roles."

 

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4. Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills​

Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 28 | Last year's ranking: Honorable mention

Long a productive player, Milano reached elite status in 2022, earning All-Pro first-team honors and his first Pro Bowl citation.

Known for his pass defense, Milano had three interceptions and 11 pass deflections on zero touchdowns allowed over 67 targets last season. He added 12 tackles for loss and was also a key run supporter for the league's fourth-ranked rushing defense.

"He doesn't look imposing, but you look up at the end of the game and he's stuffed the stats in every area," an AFC scout said. "Been a productive player for a long time. Just has a ton of instincts and savvy."

 

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3. Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears​

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 7

Edmunds showed his massive value in free agency -- the Buffalo Bills didn't extend him, and he still got $72 million over four years from the Bears when getting paid top dollar was hard for non-defensive linemen.

He didn't make enough splash plays to persuade Buffalo -- which already had big linebacker dollars allocated to Matt Milano -- to pay an over-the-top contract to keep him. Edmunds has just 6.5 sacks and five interceptions in five NFL seasons. But the Bills also knew they were letting an elite talent and home-grown player walk out, and that was not easy.

The two-time Pro Bowler started 74 regular-season games for Buffalo and has recorded at least 100 tackles every season he has played.

Evaluators say his talent is clear.

"He's such a presence out there with his size (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) and his range and ability to close on the ball that he affects the quarterback, makes him think twice about decisions," an NFL coordinator said. "You always know you have a Pro Bowl talent roaming the middle of the field when he's out there."

 

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2. Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens​

Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 4
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 5

The Baltimore Ravens sent second- and fifth-round picks to the Bears in the middle of the season for Smith, who then received a five-year, $100 million deal from his new team. Talk about illustrating a player's worth.

"I can't believe [the Bears] let him out of their building," an NFL coordinator said. "He's a stud."

While with Chicago, Smith posted 606 tackles, 16.5 sacks and seven interceptions. His 692 career tackles since 2018 are the second most among linebackers behind Bobby Wagner (745).

He jumped three spots in this year's rankings thanks to a first-team All-Pro season in 2022, registering 4.5 sacks, three interceptions and 169 tackles. Smith was tied for second in the league in stuffs with 21.

"He's everything a linebacker is supposed to be," an NFL coordinator said. "Doesn't have a weakness. Intelligence, versatility, consistent tackler, plus athleticism."

 

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1. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers​

Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 3
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 3

It seems curious that Warner was No. 3 last year after the way he dominated this voting -- he was the No. 1 on more than 60% of the ballots.

Through five seasons, he is tied for first among linebackers in passes defended (35), fourth in tackles (633) and fifth in pass breakups (37).

"He's the perfect new-age linebacker, great against the pass but can handle himself against the run, a big athlete with plus leadership and communication," an AFC scout said.

His lack of splash in 2021 hurt his case in last year's ranking, finishing the season with 0.5 sacks, zero interceptions and four pass deflections. In 2022, Warner upped those totals to two sacks, one interception and a career-high 10 pass deflections.

Warner anchored the middle of a defense that ranked first in scoring (16.3 points per game), second in rushing (77.7 yards per game) and first in total defense (300.6 yards per game).

 

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Honorable mentions​

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks: In his lone season with the Los Angeles Rams, Wagner posted 140 total tackles and two interceptions with career highs in sacks (six) and stuffs (16.5). He's back in Seattle for his 11th season with the team. "I thought he was done, but he played his ass off last year," an AFC executive said. "Might be declining a bit physically but still makes a ton of plays and is so reliable."

Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs' longest-tenured player returned to the team in the offseason, signing a one-year contract. "Love Lavonte. Never seems to drop off," a national NFL scout said. "Still might be the best linebacker on his own team. I wish we would have signed him in free agency."

Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars: Oluokun had 128 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles last season. "Maybe not the standout athlete like some others but extremely durable and extremely consistent," an AFC executive said. "Has a lot on him mentally in that system to get everyone lined up, and he plays it at a high level."

Logan Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals: In the Bengals' postseason run, Wilson had 23 total tackles, two stuffs and one forced fumble. "He's definitely one of the most underrated linebackers," an AFC scout said. "He's a little like Fred Warner lite. Big, strong player who's good against the pass but not afraid to mix it up in the run, gets everyone lined up and organized, leader."

Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens: Queen started all 17 regular-season games last season and posted career highs in sacks (five), tackles (117), interceptions (two) and passes defended (six). "Hard hitter, versatile, fits the physical Baltimore culture," an AFC scout said. "Was surprised to see they didn't pick up his fifth-year option, but it's hard to pay two linebackers when you have to pay a quarterback."

Also receiving votes: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Cleveland Browns), Jordyn Brooks (Seattle Seahawks), De'Vondre Campbell (Green Bay Packers), Jerome Baker (Miami Dolphins), Shaq Thompson (Carolina Panthers)