Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard was ranked fourth among linebackers in the NFL, according to a survey by ESPN.
The survey was conducted by executives, scouts and coaches around the league. It’s the same one that had DeForest Buckner ranked third among interior defensive linemen.
“4. Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 9
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: 4No linebacker does the splash play quite like Leonard, whose knack for getting the ball is elite. Through three seasons, Leonard has seven interceptions and nine forced fumbles to go with 15 sacks.
“He doesn’t have the ideal size [6-foot-2, 230 pounds], and you can argue at certain points he’s hybrid, but he plays bigger and is so productive,” an NFC coach said. “Are you getting to the ball and making plays? That’s such a big part of the game and this guy does that.”
Leonard has made two All-Pro teams in three years, putting him on a potential Hall of Fame track. The only thing that might be keeping Leonard out of the top-three is “loose” playmaking, an AFC coach said — meaning he’s best on plays going away from him, ones in which he can chase down.
“Box plays that go at him where you have to play true linebacker, he’s still good but not as explosive a hitter or playmaker as those guys ahead of him,” the coach said.”
Since he burst onto the scene in 2018 as a second-round pick, Leonard has been in the discussion as a top-five linebacker in the league. Entering Year 4, he’s out to prove that he deserves to be leading that discussion.
If Buckner is the engine of the defense from the three-technique, Leonard is its heart. He flies around the field, fills gaps in the run game extremely well and has shown solid coverage in the pass game as well. His long arms and technique allow him to be one of the most efficient tacklers in the league.
Leonard is due for a big extension coming up before the season, and it will be interesting to see how the Colts pay the 25-year-old linebacker in accordance to the rest of the position.
