Fabulous Five: Top Linebackers

The Fabulous Five series aims to set the record on who the best are at every position as we look ahead to the 2023 NFL season. This past season (2022) plays a big part in determining these rankings, but a player’s entire body of work is fair consideration. Consistency and availability will count as much as a high total of stats just from one season.

*Above image credit to both NBCSports and Yahoo Sports*

The Fabulous Five series rolls on by counting out the top linebackers. For the record, edge rushers will appear in both this list and the top defensive linemen countdown. The scheme of each team will determine which list a player may appear in, so the likes of Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa won’t be appearing in this list. If you missed the earlier parts of this series, you can get caught up below:

Coaches

Honorable Mentions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers boast an elite linebacking duo with Lavonte David and Devin White. Two generations of great second-level playmakers helped lead the Bucs’ defense to a title run back in 2020. Since then, they’ve both cooled off a bit. The entire Tampa defense has a bit, but David and White have both been a consistent presence. David may be towards the end of his tenure in Tampa, and who better to pass the torch to than his young protege?

The Kansas City Chiefs sure know how to draft, huh? A second round pick in 2021, Nick Bolton has outplayed his draft position in just two years. He nearly had two scores in the Super Bowl, but one was called back. Even still, Bolton was my pick for Super Bowl MVP because he was all. over. the. place. He’ll continue to ascend as he overtakes the lead role on the Chiefs’ opportunistic defense.

Hasaan Reddick took awhile to get things going in his NFL career, but the Eagles were ecstatic to see those results come to fruition. After being drafted by the Cardinals, Reddick enjoyed a short stint in Carolina before joining the Eagles a year ago. In his first season with Philly, Reddick exploded for 16 sacks, helping to lead an elite Eagles defense to become NFC champions.

Back in Carolina, Brian Burns has staked his claim to being one of the better pass rushers in the NFL. As it stands now, Burns will play on his fifth-year option in 2023. But after a great 12.5 sack season in 2022, and the importance of his skillset, I expect Burns to get a hefty contract sooner rather than later. I’ll ignore those trade rumors to the Los Angeles Rams.

#1(a) - Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers

There were only two names that could realistically take the top spot: Fred Warner and TJ Watt. Two completely different styles of linebacker, but the same level of game-breaking potential and elite athletic ability. Fred Warner takes the “a” to Watt’s “b” for no other real reason than my bias in defensive scheme, and the traits I like to see at the second level. Warner is an off-ball linebacker, tasked with a range of responsibilities on any given down. Man coverage on the opposing tight end? Zone coverage locking down the center field? What about run defense? Oh, and he can come in on a blitz too. Warner has a penchant for the big moments as well, and is the leader of this elite defense. He takes the “top” spot in my rankings.

#1(b) - TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

Watt takes the “b” spot to Fred Warner’s '“a” spot, but again, he is every bit the elite talent that Warner is. In fact, Watt would come in at the top spot of a pure “pass rushers” list, had I decided to go that route. For a stand-up edge rushing linebacker, Watt is very good in other aspects of his game, evidenced by his six interceptions in as many years in his career. That’s a pretty solid number for someone who also routinely leads the league in sacks (or threatens to) any given year. A severe injury knocked him out a good chunk of the 2022 season, but that really only opens the door for Watt to potentially run away with Comeback Player of the Year in 2023, adding to his already impressive list of accolades.

#3 - Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

Parsons has been a phenom since entering the league only two years ago. Racking up 13 sacks in 2021 (where he took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors) and 13.5 sacks a year later will launch you into superstar status. It also helps that he plays for “America’s Team”, but I don’t know how official that title is. I do know that Parsons is officially a monster of the edge. I’d like to see him develop other parts of his game, like TJ Watt, before I put him in the same category as guys like Watt or Aaron Donald. But make no mistake, Parsons has become the face of his franchise in just two seasons, supplanting Dak Prescott for that distinction in my eyes.

#4 - Darius “Shaquille” Leonard, Indianapolis Colts

Cal him Darius, or call him Shaq, just make sure you call him The Maniac, and one of the best linebackers in the game. Leonard has become synonymous with the “peanut punch”, a move popularized by Charles Tillman of Chicago Bears legend. In the last few years, Leonard has seventeen forced fumbles, including a league-leading eight in 2021. He also has nineteen takeaways (12 interceptions/7 fumble recoveries) and fifteen sacks. Leonard didn’t play much in 2022 due to lingering injuries (Colts fans have seen this story before), so hopefully The Maniac returns to full form in 2023. Like Watt, he could be a big contender for Comeback Player of the Year. The Colts will need that sort of play from Leonard again, especially with Bobby Okereke departing for the New York Giants in free agency.

#5 - Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens

We all just want to be wanted, right? Well, the Ravens wanted Smith to be the centerpiece of their defense, so they went and got him. I do find it odd that Chicago, with all their cap space, chose to deal Smith away instead of paying one of their own, only to then pay Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards in free agency. Maybe Smith truly did not want to stick around the Windy City for a rebuild, but he now finds himself carrying one of the true vaunted roles in all of football: Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker. Ray Lewis and CJ Mosely are the well knowns, and Patrick Queen did his best to fit the mold. But Roquan Smith, who held a similar prestigious spot as the same role with those Bears, feels like the next best iteration. After being the “next Brian Urlacher”, Smith can continue his great play as Urlacher’s counterpart in that era, Ray Lewis. Baltimore gave up a second round pick in the 2023 draft for Smith, then handed him a 5-year, $100-million deal to keep him around. Hopefully Smith can live up to his end of the proverbial deal.