RANKING NFL LINEBACKER CORES GOING INTO THE 2024 SEASON

Linebackers are the field generals of the defense. They are in charge in managing the defense. The have to see the field like no other defensive position and make directional changes and audibles on the fly. Today, we will look at these game managers.

DISCLAIMER: These players are listed as LBs on the depth chart. Even if some may play more as edge rushers.

32. Denver Broncos (LOLB Baron Browning, LILB Cody Barton, RILB Alex Singleton, ROLB Jonathon Cooper)

Barton has been rather unimpressive through his career. I do not see anything changing landing with his third team. Singleton has put together a solid previous two seasons. If he stays consistent, he may be able to take this team higher up the list. Browning has been able to create turnovers but struggled from tackling aspect. I do not dislike him; I just want to see him put the pieces together. Cooper had a breakout season last year. He still needs some work, but he is going the correct direction.

31. Arizona Cardinals (LOLB Dennis Gardeck, WLB Kyzir White, MLB Mack Wilson Sr., ROLB Zaven Collins)

White was horrible last season. Gardeck and Wilson both had breakout seasons. Collins looked like a shell of himself in comparison to his 2022 campaign. Luckily, he is still young. He has another couple of years to get back where he was, otherwise, he may do better moving on from Arizona.

30. Indianapolis Colts (WLB E.J. Speed, MLB Zaire Franklin)

Franklin and Speed both made good improvements last season. They are still a ways away from being great, but they are good enough to take it back another year and hope they break out. Franklin led the league in tackles, but also placed third in missed tackles. If those fix, he might even be elite.

29. Los Angeles Rams (LOLB "Jared Verse," LILB Christian Rozeboom, RILB "Omar Speights," ROLB Byron Young)

It will be the Rams first year without Aaron Donald. It should be interesting to see how the Rams change their defensive game plan. The line still looks okay, but they are really taking a risk throwing two rookies into their LB core. I expect great things from Verse. I do not really know much about Speights, but if the Rams drafted him, he must have a chance to be good considering their recent drafting track record. Aside from these two, Rozeboom did not perform well last season. Byron Young looked very promising his rookie year. The hope is he stays consistent and can get help from the rookies.

28. Houston Texans (WLB Jake Hansen, MLB Azeez Al-Shaair, SLB Henry To'oTo'o)

Shaair had an elite season last year. That should continue being under Ryans. I want to see a little more out of Henry his sophomore season. He was not horrible; I just need to see him start a full season. This will be Hansen's first season starting. I do not hold high hopes for him.

27. Philadelphia Eagles (LOLB Bryce Huff, WLB Zack Baun, MLB Devin White, ROLB Josh Sweat)

White has not lived up to his draft hype. I cannot see him improving in Philadelphia. Baun has started 14 games in his 4 seasons. I can't say much on him aside from he has not played remarkable ball. Sweat is very good at creating pressure and turnovers but does not do much more. What he is good at is certainly not a bad thing. He just needs players surrounding him that can pick up the tackles he does not get. Huff has only started 7 games in his 4 years. He has not played enough to know how he will do.

26. Detroit Lions (WLB Alex Anzalone, MLB Jack Campbell)

Campbell did a fantastic job in the run game; he just needs to learn his way around the passing. Anzalone had his best year in the league last season. I cannot count it for much considering he is on year seven and is just now showing out.

25. Green Bay Packers (WLB Quay Walker, MLB Isaiah McDuffie)

Walker has been very disappointing. I would not be surprised is rookie Edgerrin Cooper ended up in Quay's place by the end of the season. McDuffie started half the season last year and looked pretty good. I am excited to see if he can build onto it.

24. Buffalo Bills (WLB Dorian Williams, MLB Terrel Bernard)

The Bills will not be in a good place until they can get their elite LB, Matt Milano back. At this moment there is no timetable for his return, so I cannot put them higher until I know he is not missing half the season or more. Bernhard did put together a solid season last year, and if he continues to improve, he will be a good starter for years to come. Williams only started two games his rookie year, but the Bills drafted him because of the injuries they had faced on their core in the past. This will be his opportunity to prove he was the right choice.

23. Tennessee Titans (LOLB Harold Landry III, LILB Ernest Jones IV, RILB Kenneth Murray, ROLB Arden Key)

The Titans went out and picked up Jones despite Jack Gibbens looking very promising last season. It does give them nice depth, but they definitely had other holes to fill. Murray has been horrible since being drafted in 2020. I do not expect he starts the whole season. Landy was a late bloomer, but finally looks like the star we thought he'd be. Key has been disappointing. This is his 5th team in his 6-year journey. He has never had stability. I am curious how a stable environment has him looking year 2.

22. Miami Dolphins (LOLB Jaelan Phillips, LILB David Long Jr., RILB Jordyn Brooks, ROLB Chop Robinson)

Long was elite in run stopping last season. He had his worst year in terms of coverage, so he will need to try and pull those pieces to together. Brroks will not help much where Long hurts. Brooks was never a pass coverage prospect. Robinson out of Penn State feels like a superstar to me. He was one of the best LBs in the draft. Phillips had a mediocre year last season. He is hot and cold when on the field. The Dolphins are hoping for a big year before starting to look into contract negotiations.

21. Dallas Cowboys (WLB Damone Clark, MLB Eric Kendricks)

Kendricks has always been a great LB, but he did struggle in coverage last year. Clark has some work to do this season, he could find himself benched fast if he does not start producing more plays.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LOLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, LILB Lavonte David, RILB KJ Britt, ROLB Yaya Diaby)

David is still playing good ball but is aging slowly. He was fallen from elite to great, which is not a bad place to be. Britt has not started much but will have a chance to learn from David on the field, and that could make all of the difference in his career path. Joe has improved every year of his career in most aspects. I would like to see him get more pressure. This year will be his prove it year in Tampa. Yaya earned all-pro and defensive rookie of the year last year. He will be a force on this team for years to come.

19. Carolina Panthers (LOLB Jadeveon Clowney, LILB Shaq Thompson, RILB Josey Jewell, ROLB K'Lavon Chaisson)

Jewell and Thompson have been solid and consistent in their careers. They bring stability to a Panthers team who need as many consistent, stable veterans as possible. Clowney can be inconsistent, but he will be a great teacher to Chaisson who will be starting his first season. The Panthers have taken their time with Chaisson. They were so loaded; they did not need him to start unless injury. This year he will have a chance to show what he has learned and be given patience with good players surrounding him.

18. Las Vegas Raiders (WLB Divine Deablo, MLB Robert Spillane)

Deablo is good at making stops. He goes under the radar, due to his lack of playmaking. Spillane was a top 20 LB in his first full season last year. I am interested to see how this core performs with the Antonio Pierce's move from DC to HC.

17. New England Patriots (WLB Anfernee Jennings, MLB Ja'Whaun Bentley, SLB Jahlani Tavai)

Tavai looked great for the first time in his career last season. Bentley has of course looked great for pretty much his whole career. Jennings put together a pretty good year last season. The Patriots sign Sione Takitaki, but he is on the PUP list. Once he comes off, I would not be shocked to see him get the starts over Jennings. I just need to see the group without Belicheck before pushing them up the list.

16. Seattle Seahawks (WLB Jerome Baker, MLB Tyrel Dodson, SLB Uchenna Nwosu)

Baker brings a skillset for football. He isn't bad in any form of play. He is a great athlete. Dodson was the best LB last season in his 10 starts. The Seahawks hope he can replicate that for a full season, and under new HC, Mike MacDonald, he will have his best chance too. Nwosu fought with injuries last season. He is expected to miss a week or two but can hopefully return to his productive self upon his comeback.

15. Cincinnati Bengals (WLB Germaine Pratt, MLB Logan Wilson)

Pratt and Wilson both had down seasons for their standards, but they are a top 10 duo if they can get back on the right track.

14. Kansas City Chiefs (WLB Drue Tranquill, MLB Nick Bolton, SLB Leo Chenal)

Tranquill had the best year of his career in KC. I expect he continues to perform at a high level. On the other side is Nick Bolton who had his worst career year. If Bolton can regather himself and begin to play as well as he had been, he and Tranquill will be one of the better duos in the league. Chenal started 10 games last season and look very good. I cannot wait to see a full season out of him.

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (WLB Foyesade Oluokun, MLB Devin Lloyd, SLB Chad Muma)

Lloyd and Oluokun were both top 25 LBs last year. They went unnoticed due to the poor offensive play on the team. Muma has only started 4 games in two seasons. I need to see more before making any determinations.

12. Washington Commanders (WLB Frankie Luvu, MLB Bobby Wagner)

Wagner and Luvu are both elite LBs. Wagner is aging, so I do worry about consistency, but he has still been able to perform with the best of them up to this point.

11. Chicago Bears (WLB TJ Edwards, MLB Tremaine Edmunds)

Edmunds did not have a great first year in Chicago for his standards. I love Edmunds and believe he will get right back to his elite game-wrecking self. Edwards will be a game-wrecker right next to him. He looked great in his first season for Chicago.

10. New Orleans Saints (WLB Pete Werner, MLB Demario Davis, SLB Willie Gay)

Davis is still an elite LB. Gay looks great despite a down year last season. I expect the Saints use him correctly. Werner looked very good in his first full season in New Orleans. I do not expect to see him decline by any standard.

9. Minnesota Vikings (LOLB Jonathan Greenard, LILB Blake Cashman, RILB Ivan Pace Jr., ROLB Andrew Van Ginkel)

Cashman and Pace both had career years last year. Pace earned his starting position with the team, while Cashman was picked up in free agency. Cashman started 13 games last season in Houston and looked good but has not really done much more. The Vikings are hoping his upside pays off. Greenard and Van Ginkel both create tremendous pressure. They really help bolster this core.

8. Atlanta Falcons (LOLB Lorenzo Carter, LILB Kaden Elliss, RILB Troy Andersen, ROLB Matthew Judon)

Carter and Judon are both two of the best at what they do. Judon coming off an injury can hopefully bring the same production to the table. Elliss looks promising in run blacking and blitzing. Andersen is still a mystery. He only played two games last season and did not look great. It is not fair judge him off of so little, so I understand the Flacons wanting to give him a full year.

7. Cleveland Browns (WLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, MLB Jordan Hicks, SLB Devin Bush)

JOK has been excellent for the Browns. Jordan Hicks played his best season in years and should add excellent production to the group. Finally, Devin Bush. When Bush is healthy, he is a great LB. He just has trouble staying healthy. Hopefully a move can keep him healthy.

6. Baltimore Ravens (LOLB Odafe Oweh, MLB Roquan Smith, WLB Trenton Simpson)

Smith is a top 5 LB in the league. Simpson has not really done enough to judge. Oweh will also be starting his first full season. Similar to the Patriots, I just need to see what this team does without DC Mike MacDonald.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (LOLB Joey Bosa, LILB Daiyan Henley, RILB Denzel Perryman, ROLB Khalil Mack)

Perryman has not been great in 4 years. I don't expect to see him make any big jumps. Henley has not started enough to judge. What springs this group to the top are the two OLBs. Mack and Joey Bosa are both bigtime playmakers. Bosa has issues staying healthy, but Mack helps pick up any slack. Mack got a career high 17 sacks last season. I do not see them slowing down, especially not under new HC, Jim Harbaugh.

4. San Fransisco 49ers (WLB De'Vondre Campbell Sr., MLB Fred Warner, SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles)

Warner is the 3rd best LB in the league. Similar to the Bears' Roquan Smith, it does not matter who you pair with them, because they produce the same as multiple good players. That being said I would take Warner's surrounding cast over Roquan's. Campbell has looked great in his reps. Demetrius has not played enough to judge.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (LOLB TJ Watt, LILB Patrick Queen, RILB Elandon Roberts, ROLB Alex Highsmith)

Every player on this line is good. TJ Watt might be the best defensive player in the league. Highsmith and Queen are both very good to elite. Roberts had a breakout year last season. He has broken out the last two seasons. He just needs to keep it consistent.

2. New York Giants (LOLB Brian Burns, WLB Micah McFadden, MLB Bobby Okereke, ROLB Kayvon Thibodeaux)

Burns, Thibodeaux, and Okereke are all great to elite. The pass rush tandem maybe the best in the league. McFadden looked fine is his second season. He is obviously the worst of the three, but still has starter talent.

1. New York Jets (WLB Quincy Williams, MLB CJ Mosley)

Williams and Mosley were both the first and second in pass coverage. Don't mistake that for a lack of pass rush. These two can do it all and earned this number 1 spot going into the season.

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