Top 10 Middle Linebackers in NFL 2021 Rankings

Where Bobby Wagner, Fred Warner, Lavonte David, and more of the best Middle Linebackers rank going into the 2021-2022 NFL Season.

By admin | September 7, 2021

The middle or inside linebacker, depending on the alignment, is the key to the defense. They are the quarterback of the defense and the extension of the defensive coordinator. For years there has been debate on who is the best in the business. My choice is Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks. However, Fred Warner of the 49ers and Devin White of the Bucs are nipping at the veteran’s heels. So here are my to10 middle linebackers for 2021.

Honorable Mention

Zach Cunningham

Team: Houston Texans

2020 Stats: 106 Solo, 3 Sacks, 1 FF

Cunningham is the best cog on a bad Houston defense. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded the best run-stop percentage of any linebacker in the league at 12.8%. He doesn’t quite make the top 10 because he is prone to whiffing on tackles.

Jayon Brown

Team: Tennessee Titans

2020 Stats: 45 Solo, 1 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT

Brown had his season cut short last season, but he was on his way to another 100-tackle season. Brown led the league among linebackers in forced in completion percentage at 11.3%

Devin Bush

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2020 Stats: 16 Solo, 1 Sacks, 0 FF

Bush has yet to put it all together in his first two years in Keith butler’s defense but he has shown flashes of his playmaking potential. We will see how he comes off a torn ACL that ended his season last year.

Alexander Johnson

Team: Denver Broncos

2020 Stats: 72 Solo, 1 Sacks, 2 FF

Johnson took a unique route to the NFL; he did not get to play for three seasons after college but he has proven his worth to the Broncos. He recorded 124 tackles and 58 defensive stops last season.

Top 10 Middle Linebackers

10. Dont’a Hightower

Team: New England Patriots

2020 Stats: 0 Solo, 0 Sacks, 0 FF

Hightower sat out the 2020 season as he opted out due to COVID, but he is all around linebacker that can rush the passer from the middle linebacker. His 81 pressures were the most among inside linebackers the previous two seasons that he played.

9. Tremaine Edmunds

Team: Buffalo Bills

2020 Stats: 77 Solo, 2 Sacks, 0 FF

Edmunds trails only Bobby Wagner over the last three seasons on talks for loss or no gain with 19. He needs to clean up his tackling a bit and if he does, he will shoot to the top of this list by next season.

8. Roquan Smith

Team: Chicago Bears

2020 Stats: 98 Solo, 4 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 INT

Smith has been one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL since he came into the league. Smith graded at an 84 according to PFF last season, and he has recorded 100 plus tackles in each of his first three seasons in the NFL.

7. Blake Martinez

Team: New York Giants

2020 Stats: 86 Solo, 3 Sacks, 2 FF, 1 INT

Martinez was a big addition to the Giants’ defense in 2020. He recorded at least 140 tackles and three sacks in each of the past three seasons. Two of which were in Green Bay.

6. Deion Jones

Team: Atlanta Falcons

2020 Stats: 73 Solo, 4.5 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 INT

Jones has been one of the best coverage linebackers in football. He is a sure bet for over 100 tackles and he should bounce back under legendary Dean Pees. Jones surrendered four touchdowns in coverage last year.

5. Lavonte David

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 Stats: 82 Solo, 1.5 Sacks, 3 FF, 1 INT

David before last season had been one of the best-kept secrets in the NFL. David was stuck on mediocre teams over his career and his skills were not always on display.

However, he showed that he can cover the best tight end in football in Travis Kelce in the Super Bowl. Davis has recorded 100 plus tackles eight times in his career.

4. Devin White

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2020 Stats: 97 Solo, 9 Sacks, 1 FF

White is the other half of the inside linebacker duo and had nine sacks as an inside linebacker. In his first two seasons, he had 33 tackles for a loss or no gain. White is on his way to being one of the best linebackers in football.

3. Eric Kendricks

Team: Minnesota Vikings

2020 Stats: 69 Solo, 0 Sacks, 0 FF, 3 INT

Kendricks has graded at 91.7 over the last two years according to PFF. That is the highest among all linebackers. Kendricks has also recorded 100 plus tackles in each of the past five seasons. During that time Kendricks has broken up 40 passes as a linebacker which is tops in the NFL.

2. Fred Warner

Team: San Francisco 49ers

2020 Stats: 79 Solo, 1 Sacks, 1 FF, 2 INT

Kendricks has had a coverage grade of over 90 the past two seasons. Warner has recorded 100 plus tackles in each of his first three seasons. Warner is one of the best in the business because of his ability to competently cover not only tight ends but wide receivers in the slot.

1. Bobby Wagner

Team: Seattle Seahawks

2020 Stats: 81 Solo, 3 Sacks, 0 FF

Wagner has been the most consistent man in the middle since he came into the NFL in 2012. He is great in run support, coverage and now he has become one of the best blitzers from the middle linebacker position. Wagner has been a staple of the Seahawks defense post-Legion of Boom and he will be the best bet to make the Hall of Fame out of this iconic unit.

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