The Carolina Panthers have themselves a generational talent at middle linebacker in Luke Kuechly. Seattle stud Bobby Wagner might have had a better 2018 season, but he remains a close second overall behind Kuechly for the title of the best pro off-ball linebacker of this era. One area that Wagner did not beat Kuechly in this past year was in run defense, at least according to the Pro Football Focus grading system.
According to PFF, Kuechly had the highest run-defense grade of any linebacker in the league this year at 92.3. His overall 90.7 grade ranked him second at the position behind Wagner.
Kuechly was one of three linebackers to make the Associated Press first-team All-Pro squad. Wagner and the impressive Colts rookie Darius Leonard were the others.
