We all love best-of lists, but what if people around the NFL created their own? To preview the 2022 NFL season, we surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from edge rusher to interior offensive lineman. This is the third edition of these rankings, and there are several players who moved up or dropped from last year's lists. Today, we focus on the linebackers.
Here's how our process worked: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average, hundreds of interviews, research and film-study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 50 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. We had several ties, so we broke them with the help of additional voting and follow-up calls with our rankers. Each section is packed with quotes and nuggets from the voters on every guy -- even the honorable mentions.
The objective is to identify the best players right now for 2022. This is not a five-year projection or an achievement award. Who are the best players today? Pretty simple.
We rolled out a position per day over 11 days. Here's the schedule: edge rushers (July 5), defensive tackles (July 6), off-ball linebackers (July 7), cornerbacks (July 8), safeties (July 9), interior offensive linemen (July 10), quarterbacks (July 11), running backs (July 12), wide receivers (July 13), tight ends (July 14) and offensive tackles (July 15).
Racking up tackles doesn't get a linebacker high on this list. What matters most to league execs, coaches, scouts and players when evaluating the NFL's top linebackers is how they affect game plans -- and how often they create turnovers.
Splash plays are paramount at the "stack" or off-ball linebacker position. That helps explain the top two in the voting: One is imperfect but elite at getting the ball back to his offense, the other is so good at sacking quarterbacks he might not even be an off-the-ball linebacker a year from now.
The position is lacking in undeniable stars. The depth of playmaking is strong, however, with more than 20 players garnering at least one vote. Plus, several 30-year-olds are still playing at a high level. Let's look at some of the game's top linebackers as ranked by execs, coaches, scouts and players around the NFL.
1. Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 6
Age: 26 | Last year's ranking: 4
Leonard remains a splash-play generator. His combination of eight forced fumbles and four interceptions in 2021 led this group by a wide margin. The Colts gave Leonard a $99.2 million extension before last season because of his ability to get the ball back to his offense with length and explosion.
"He can flip the game at any moment," a high-ranking AFC executive said. "That worries you more as an opponent than a traditional linebacker because he gets his hands on the ball all of the time."
Through four seasons, Leonard has 11 interceptions, 17 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 15 sacks. As a rookie in 2018, the Colts used him in a role that allowed for more blitzes, resulting in seven sacks. His sacks have decreased every year since then, due in large part to how Indianapolis uses him in space and coverage more often.
Leonard sometimes can struggle with sturdiness and tackling in the box, one exec told me, and he also started 2021 slowly because of an ankle injury. His elite instincts easily make up for that, however.
"He's already the most disruptive linebacker, and he can do things to clean up his technique and get even better," a veteran NFL defensive player said. "Sometimes you'll see him standing straight up before the ball is snapped instead of in a linebacker position and you're like, 'What?' But then he takes the ball away and you're like, 'Oh, OK.'"
One thing to keep an eye on: Leonard had back surgery in July and will miss part of training camp recovering.
2. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 23 | Last year's ranking: Unranked (rookie)
Parsons is the best singular talent at the position. "He's a one-percenter," an AFC scout said.
Parsons' positional flexibility as a rookie created challenges in the voting. He emerged as one of the NFL's elite defensive players, ripping through 13 sacks as a part-time pass-rusher. He added 64 tackles and three forced fumbles and had a stellar 89.8 Pro Football Focus grade. That was all while playing at least 115 snaps at four different positions: left outside linebacker, left inside linebacker, right outside linebacker and right inside linebacker.
"I don't see Micah as an off-the-ball LB at all," an NFL coordinator said. "He's really a 3-4 OLB that DQ (Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn) is scheming into situational opportunities."
Here's why Parsons fell into this category: The Cowboys still expect to split his snaps between rushing from the line of scrimmage and playing off the ball as a traditional linebacker.
Parsons likely will be in the edge rusher rankings eventually. His pass rush win rate (29.2%) would have ranked No. 1 in the league among edge rushers if he had played the snaps to qualify. His ability there will help the Cowboys deal with Randy Gregory leaving for Denver in free agency.
"If Dallas does anything but let him rush, they are crazy," an NFC exec said.
Added an AFC executive: "Regardless, he's the best playmaker on this list. Incredible talent. The speed is so good that they are smart to use him all over."
3. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 2
Warner is a true middle linebacker in every sense, with throwback toughness but a modernized skill set with range in pass coverage.
"A true three-down linebacker, can be the quarterback of a complex defense, can blitz, great in coverage, great awareness," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's the safest bet."
The voting validated this claim, with Warner dominating the Nos. 2-4 slots.
The lack of splash plays hurt Warner, though. He admitted during the season he wasn't playing up to his usual standard. Warner had zero interceptions, 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits in 16 games. Later in the season, Warner had constructive talks with the 49ers -- who value his leadership more than just about any other player on their roster -- about not pressing. His play inevitably perked up.
Luckily for Warner, his game transcends stats. His savvy, awareness and leadership compensate.
"What separates him is his ability against the pass -- that's what makes him great," an NFL personnel director said. "He had a down year from what I saw. But I expect him to bounce back."
4. Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 1
There's no way around it: White disappointed some voters after a stellar 2020 season, which vaulted him to the top of last year's rankings.
"Chasing sacks and big plays, not making routine plays," an NFL scouting director said. "Had some of the same concerns last year, but he was just unreal late in the season."
In three playoff games during the Bucs' run to Super Bowl LV, White was all over the place, with 38 tackles (three for loss), two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
White's speed (4.4-second 40-yard dash) was still on display plenty in 2021. He had 128 total tackles with 3.5 sacks, plus a 34.6% run stop win rate, which ranked 24th in the league among linebackers.
Year 4 will be the time to put it all together.
"His ability to close on a ball carrier is special," an AFC coach said. "Problem is he's not always the best linebacker on his own team," the coach said, referring to veteran Lavonte David, who appears later on this list.
5. Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 25 | Last year's ranking: 6
Smith's body of work in Chicago is impressive. Over four seasons, he has reached premier status by filling up the stat sheet, with 524 tackles (43 for a loss), 14 sacks, 17 pass deflections and five interceptions. He ranked fifth in the league in tackles last season (163). He plays all three downs and impressed in coverage.
"Best overall LB in football in my opinion," an NFL coordinator said. "Others might be slightly better in one of the four facets of the game -- run game, pass coverage, blitzer, leadership -- but that kid is top four in every category."
What hurts Smith? Where he plays. Leaguewide expectations are low for Chicago in 2022.
"If he was in somewhere like Dallas, he'd be celebrated as maybe the best," a Pro Bowl NFL player said. "He doesn't get the credit he probably deserves."
6. Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 33 | Last year's ranking: 6
Evaluators keep waiting on the decline from the 10-year veteran, but it hasn't happened yet.
"He might start to decline this year, but he's so damn smart that it almost doesn't matter," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "Does everything well."
Davis has been a revelation for New Orleans since joining in 2018, earning All-Pro first- or second-team status in each of the past three seasons. In 2021, he had three sacks and seven pass deflections, the only linebacker on this list to hit both marks.
"He's always been an exceptional athlete and worker, and just the maturity that comes from being in the position for so long and being in multiple schemes and the game evolving to more sub-based packages has allowed him to become the three-down prototype," an NFC scout said.
7. Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: 8
Edmunds is one of the toughest evaluations at the position. He has elite physical traits, but his tape can leave evaluators wanting more.
"He's always been really good, but there's always a level you want him to go to but he hasn't gotten to," an AFC scout said. "Some of that is instinctual. He's a great turn-and-chase player, going laterally."
Multiple scouts say Edmunds, as a middle linebacker, might be miscast and would be more effective coming from the weak side. He didn't have a great season in coverage; he allowed 476 yards as the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which ranked sixth-highest among linebackers who were targeted at least 25 times.
It's not hard to see why Edmunds, who enters his fifth NFL season, can make plays: He's 6-foot-5, 250 pounds with 4.5 40 speed. This has helped him put up 463 tackles (26 for a loss) and 28 pass deflections, though 21 of those came in his first two seasons.
"Elite physical talent who had taken a few years to grow into being a signal-caller and nerve center of the defense," an NFC scout said. "His skill set has always been more natural as a [weakside linebacker], but he's improved in his reactionary quickness, angles and ability to defeat blocks to be a solid [middle linebacker].
You're just always wondering how good he'd be with greater freedom to run and hit because he's got so much range and closing speed."
8. Bobby Wagner, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 3
As a six-time All-Pro first teamer, eight-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Wagner's legacy is cemented. The longtime Seahawks star was released in March but landed a nice deal with the Rams later that month.
Yes, some voters agree he's declining after 10 seasons. But the Rams obviously like what they saw on tape, including the sixth-best run stop win rate among linebackers (38.9%).
"You know what you're getting with Bobby -- production, athleticism, leadership," an AFC scout said. "It's just his game was elite athleticism and speed, and when that starts to go a bit, that can affect you."
Added an NFL coordinator: "He might be in decline but [is] still a damn good player. ... He was probably a 4.45 guy coming into the league, so he's still really fast compared to most guys, just not at the top speed he was at. He did a lot for that [Seattle] defense, so it will be interesting to see how they [the Seahawks] adjust."
One league exec said Seattle's system protected Wagner as he aged with an alignment that allowed him to rack up tackles (170 last season). The flip side is Wagner wasn't asked to blitz much, and he was the league's most-targeted linebacker in coverage, with pass-catchers hauling in 63 of 82 targets for 596 yards when he was the nearest defender, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The Rams could use him more as a blitzer than Seattle.
9. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 32 | Last year's ranking: 5
When tallying linebacker output over the past decade, it's had to do better than David's stat line: 1,222 tackles, 26 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, 54 pass deflections, 12 interceptions, 17 fumble recoveries. That's serious production.
"For whatever reason, I don't think he's ever gotten enough credit," a veteran AFC scout said. "Always thought he was a top guy. He's good at everything that matters: instincts, playmaking, tackles, forced fumbles, PBUs, sacks ... very consistent."
A foot injury cost David five games last season, and perhaps he's on the decline at age 32. Two years ago, David was No. 2 in these rankings. Evaluators say, however, he plays the same physical style as always with mostly the same results. He has long been one of the NFL's best coverage linebackers, and his rate stats from last season were near the top again.
10. Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks
Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: Out of top 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: Unranked
Brooks elevated his game in Year 2 with 10 tackles for a loss, five pass deflections and 184 total tackles, which ranked second in the league. The 2020 first-round pick now steps into a leadership role with the departure of Wagner.
"Brooks is outstanding in the run game and one of the most explosive hitters in the game," an NFL coordinator said. "His pass coverage needs a lot of work."
That last part shows in the advanced metrics, as NFL Next Gen Stats credited Brooks with a league-high 658 yards allowed as the nearest defender in coverage, along with four touchdowns. Still, his ability to win head-to-head matchups was impressive. He rushed the passer only 58 times, but on those rushes, he produced a stellar 43.3% win rate. His 37.5% run stop win rate ranked 11th in the league among linebackers.
"An ascending player," an NFC scouting executive said. "If he can get more refined in the passing game, his game can take off."
Honorable mentions
Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings: Kendricks is known for his pass coverage but finished 2021 with a career-high five sacks. "Still really good, but there have been other guys who have passed him up somewhat," an AFC scout said. "Probably somewhere high in that second tier of guys."
De'Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers: Campbell, a role player before signing a one-year deal with Green Bay in 2021, put up an All-Pro season. "He's a reason why some teams don't want to take a linebacker super high in the draft, because in the right scheme you might be able to find a veteran who was miscast but really good and can be super impactful," an AFC scout said.
C.J. Mosley, New York Jets: Mosley played just two total games in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but he put up 168 tackles and two sacks last season. "Still really solid, always strong and smooth, never been a twitchy athlete," an NFC exec said. "Hasn't declined as much but on is on that trajectory."
Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens: Queen has made an instant impact for Baltimore in his first two years and embodies the Ravens' physical style of play. "Really good player -- fast, explosive, not very big but overcomes a lot of that," a veteran NFC scout said.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns: The rookie had a strong season with 57 tackles, two forced fumbles and a 76.5 Pro Football Focus grade. "I really liked what I saw when I studied him," an AFC personnel director said. "He'll be a top-10 linebacker by the end of next year."
Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville Jaguars: His breakout season in Atlanta resulted in an NFL-leading 192 tackles and six pass deflections. The Jaguars gave him a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency. "He surprised a lot of people where he started to where he is," an NFC scout said. "He's a solid starting linebacker."
Denzel Perryman, Las Vegas Raiders: Finally healthy, Perryman put together a Pro Bowl season in Las Vegas. "He's always been super instinctive," an AFC scout said. "Not great against the pass but can do everything else."
Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons: Once a top-10 fixture, Jones appears to be on the trading block after six seasons in Atlanta. He is rehabbing offseason shoulder surgery. "Those undersized guys, when they get hurt, the wall hits you quicker," an AFC scout said. "Still above average as a cover guy. Not dominant like he was those first few years."
Also receiving votes: Myles Jack (Pittsburgh Steelers), Blake Martinez (New York Giants), Matt Milano (Buffalo Bills), Isaiah Simmons (Arizona Cardinals), Nick Bolton (Kansas City Chiefs), Shaq Thompson (Carolina Panthers)