You need a solid linebacking corps to have a great defense. NFL teams are always on the lookout for someone who can pressure the passer, stop the run and drop into coverage. The most recent first-round LB pick by each of the 32 teams.
Arizona Cardinals: Haason Reddick (2017)
Haason Reddick traded Temple red for Arizona red. He went from being an Owl to a Cardinal. In his second year in the desert, Reddick showed improvement for Arizona. He’s getting the bigger, faster game and the Cardinals like his future.
Atlanta Falcons: Vic Beasley (2015)
Vic Beasley was a top 10 pick and the Falcons thought they had a strong edge rusher when he led the NFL in sacks with 15.5 and six forced fumbles with six as Atlanta advanced to the Super Bowl. He has been disappointing since and needs to raise his game big time to back the team’s decision to honor the fifth year of his contract.
Baltimore Ravens: C.J. Mosely (2014)
The Baltimore Ravens saw C.J. Mosely make four Pro Bowls in five seasons. That’s why they tried to keep him from leaving as a free agent. It didn’t work because the New York Jets landed Mosely with a five-year, $85 million contract.
Buffalo Bills: Tremaine Edmunds (2018)
Tremaine Edmunds blossomed as a rookie in the Buffalo winter. He moved into the middle linebacker slot and stepped up in the role. In showing what he could do, Edmunds gained the respect of his teammates. “He wants to play so well that he puts guys on his back and leads us to victory,” Lorenzo Alexander said.
Carolina Panthers: Shaq Thompson (2015)
Out of Washington to Carolina. Shaq Thompson has found a home in a sturdy linebacking corps. It’s easy to learn when you are surrounded by Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly. With Davis retired, Thompson will inherit a bigger role.
Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith (2018)
Roquan Smith overcame a holdout that saw him miss much of training camp to become a productive member of a vaunted Chicago defense. To give you an idea of what his former defensive coordinator and current Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio thinks of Smith compared to Devin Bush and Devin White two 2019 draft prospects, try this: “I don’t think either one is as good as Roquan at this stage in their career,’’ Fangio said recently, via Mike Klis of 9News.com. “Roquan is a special player and a special individual. It’s going to take a while to see that in those other two guys.”
Cincinnati Bengals: Keith Rivers (2008)
Keith Rivers came to Cincinnati from USC. He never quite lived up to the billing of the ninth overall pick. Rivers saw much of his rookie season derailed when Hines Ward blocked him and broke his jaw. Overall, he would have to be considered a miss.
Cleveland Browns: Barkevious Mingo (2013)
One of the great names to play the game, Barkevious Mingo was drafted by the Cleveland Browns out of LSU. However, things didn’t pan out in Cleveland for Mingo in the same way it failed for many others for years. He’s on his fourth team, the Seahawks. He does have a Super Bowl ring to show for his career.
Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch (2018)
The Dallas Cowboys grabbed an absolute gem from Boise State when they drafted Leighton Vander Esch. He stepped in big time for the Dallas defense and has shown megastar potential.
Denver Broncos: Shane Ray (2015)
Shane Ray is currently a free agent after having spent four seasons with the Broncos out of Missouri. He will have much to prove as he was a healthy scratch in three games at the end of his run in Denver,
Detroit Lions: Jarrad Davis (2017)
After a rookie season that was somewhat derailed by concussions, Jarrad Davis remains a question mark in Motown. He needs to follow the tutelage of defensive demon Matt Patricia, the Lions’ head coach, to be more of a force.
Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry (2012)
Nick Perry is looking for a new team after being with the Packers since being chosen 28th in the first round in 2012 out of USC, where he was an undersized defensive end. He has been a linebacker in the NFL. He had trouble staying healthy, missing at least four games in four of his seven seasons.
Houston Texans: Whitney Mercilus (2012)
Whitney Mercilus has been an important piece of a tough Texans defense. He’s 29, though, and one has to wonder if he can play at the level he did in the past, like in 2015 when he racked up 12 sacks. Houston has a tough call in deciding whether to keep a valuable player like Mercilus around.
Indianapolis Colts: Bjorn Werner (2013)
Injuries took their toll on Bjorn Werner, who never developed into the player Indianapolis hoped he would be after drafting in from Florida State.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Fowler (2015)
Dante Fowler lasted 2 1/2 years in Jacksonville before being dealt to the Los Angeles Rams. He had 14 sacks in 39 games as a Jaguar. They decided to cut ties with him and sent him to Los Angeles, which is hoping he can deliver for their defense in a big way.
Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Johnson (2005)
Derrick Johnson was a four-time Pro Bowler while playing with the Chiefs from 2005-17. That shows he was a strong selection who delivered. He played for the hapless Raiders in 2018 and is currently a free agent.
Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Ingram (2012)
The Chargers wound up with a stellar linebacker when they drafted Melvin Ingram 18th overall out of South Carolina. He’s proven to be a force for their defense and is a two-time Pro Bowler. He’s played in all 16 games the past four seasons and twice has reached double-digits in sacks.
Los Angeles Rams: Alex Ogletree (2013)
Alec Ogletree spent six seasons with the Rams before becoming a New York Giant in 2018. The 30th overall pick out of Georgia has 11 career interceptions and has scored four touchdowns.
Miami Dolphins: Marco Coleman (1992)
Marco Coleman was the 12th overall pick out of Georgia Tech. He spent four seasons with the Dolphins and had 24 of his career 65 1/2 sacks. Coleman wound up playing for five other teams in a 14-year career.
Minnesota Vikings: Anthony Barr (2014)
Anthony Barr has spent his entire NFL career with the Vikings. The former UCLA star flirted with leaving this offseason when the Jets made him a contract offer as a free agent. However, Barr decided to stay put and will remain a Viking for the long-term.
New England Patriots: Dont’a Hightower (2012)
Dont’a Hightower knows winning. He arrived in New England from Alabama, going from one power to another. In his seven seasons as a Patriot, he has started 84 of the 87 games he has played.
New Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony (2015)
Stephone Anthony had a great rookie season as a Saint, accounting for better than 100 tackles. It was the first time a Saints rookie had more than 100 tackles since Rickey Jackson, who went on to a Hall of Fame career. The same doesn’t appear to be true for Anthony. After injury short-circuited his second season, he was dealt to Miami. He’s now a free agent.
New York Giants: Carl Banks (1984)
Carl Banks played for the New York Giants from 1984-92. He then went to the Redskins and Browns. The former Michigan State star was a valuable member of the Giants’ linebacking corps. He is a two-time Super Bowl champ and made one Pro Bowl.
New York Jets: Darron Lee (2016)
Darron Lee came to the Jets by way of Ohio State. He’s played three seasons for Gang Green. He missed the last four games of the 2018 season after being suspended for a PED violation.
Oakland Raiders: Khalil Mack (2014)
One of the best linebackers — the best? — in all of football, Khalil Mack will continue to make Oakland regret being unable to sign him to a new contract and eventually trading him to the Chicago Bears.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jerry Robinson (1979)
Can it honestly be 40 years since the Eagles drafted a linebacker in the first round? Jerry Robinson came to Philly from UCLA. Robinson spent the first six years of his career with the Eagles and then another seven with the Raiders. He made one Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt (2017)
T.J. Watt is part of quite the football family. You might have heard of his brother J.J. of the Texans. Another brother, Derek plays on the Chargers. T.J. Watt had 13 of his 20 sacks in his second season, which saw him make the Pro Bowl.
San Francisco 49ers: Reuben Foster (2017)
The 49ers got more trouble than they bargained for in drafting Reuben Foster. He eventually was released by the team in 2018 after a domestic violence incident. He was picked up by the Washington Redskins in a highly controversial move.
Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry (2009)
Aaron Curry was selected fourth overall. He played two-plus seasons in Seattle. The pick did not work out and he was sent to the Raiders. Considered a bust.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derrick Brooks (1995)
Talk about a steal. Derrick Brooks was the 28th overall pick out of Florida State by the Bucs. All he did was go on to be an 11-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Tennessee Titans: Rashaan Evans (2018)
Rashaan Evans started seven of the 15 games he played in as a rookie out of Alabama. Still a question as to how successful he will be and how the pick will pan out.
Washington Redskins: Ryan Kerrigan (2011)
Drafted out of Purdue, Ryan Kerrigan has been a a stellar linebacker for Washington. He has 84 1/2 sacks and has been in double digits in four of the last five seasons.
