Best Linebacking Corps Coming Into the 2019 Season
Now some of these teams run a different defensive scheme, and some of these either have a 3-4 or a 4-3 so if there's any sorta confusion to this list no worries i'll get deep into this as best as possible.This core of guys is the closest thing to what the '85 Bears would potentially produce - devastating, shut-down-the-middle defense. Led by Khalil Mack, it's no wonder he wants to win right now, still in his prime.
This is a pretty studded linebacking corps that is right up there with the Bears. The Houston crew in the middle is very solid, led by the franchise-tagged Clowney, who may be heading into his final season with the team.
Sure, they could not get back Chandler Jones, but hey, Jamie Collins is back home and knows this Belichick system very well. Hightower had a down year from what he normally does, and Van Noy has transcended into being a pretty solid linebacker that the Lions just could never develop correctly. The strongest of the 3-4 set linebacking cores for sure, and honestly, the Patriots' defense has great stability on paper to be the favorites once again.
Green Bay now has a seriously stacked linebacking corps. Move out of the way, Clay Matthews! With some new pieces in Preston and Za'Darius, you're looking at some serious formidability here, led by upstart Blake Martinez.
Pretty solid-to-good core here. You got the dirtiest player in the game, you got the all-tackling hands of Tahir, and on the other end, Marshall, a pretty solid linebacker who, being from Denver... look out for Oakland building up front well rather than in the secondary.
I would put them higher. It all comes down to Josh Allen the II to see exactly what he'll do to thrive in this already stacked defense. Telvin Smith is an up-and-down question mark heading into the season - if he's a go or not - and Myles Jack was a steal for the taking that has worked tremendously for them.
Two young studs - they grabbed true Cowboys in the making - while one old Cowboy might just be a dead horse on his way out soon. Otherwise, Dallas has a mostly pretty good, talented set of pieces on defense.
Chandler is a guy the Patriots never should have dealt with. Such raw, great talent for an edge player, now going to play in the middle of this defense - he can do it all. They also picked up some veteran talent in Jordan Hicks and Terrell Suggs, which I'm very mixed about. Leaving Haason Reddick to either benefit from getting better or getting bounced sooner than later.
Buffalo may be more known for having one of the best secondaries in football currently, but their linebacking core play will get better. Tremaine is expected to have a huge year alongside Milano, and long-time veteran Alexander.
Starting off with an interesting selection, one where the Titans committed a ton to this position last year at linebacker. Woodyard leads the way alongside veteran Cameron Wake, who is changing positions for the first time in his career and not being up front. What I find interesting is how the play of Harold Landry and Rashaan Evans will be, knowing how much stock the Titans have in both guys to produce and contribute more in year two.