NFL FREE AGENCY: TOP 6 AVAILABLE LINEBACKERS

BY ADAM GREENE

With peak free agency and the NFL Draft in the rearview, teams now focus on the task at hand, evaluating their current rosters during Organized Team Activities and seeing where that roster might be wanting. 

Luckily, we still have plenty of quality free agents available, though most come with some concerns. Which, of course, is the reason they’re all currently consciously uncoupled from an NFL team.

It’s a unique list, comprised of three former second-round selections, one former first-rounder and one undrafted free agent that starred on a Super Bowl team. These are all men who can contribute and maybe help push a team over the hump and into the playoffs.

1. ZACH CUNNINGHAM

Age: 28

Size: 6-3, 238 pounds

2022: 24 tackles, one pass defended

PFF Grade: 60.3

Zach Cunningham was one of my favorite defensive players to come out of the 2017 draft and his career has not disappointed. He was nabbed in the second round by the Houston Texans started 13 games as a rookie and in every game in which he was healthy for Houston over the next three seasons. He led the NFL in tackles in 2020 with 164 and solo tackles with 106 that same yar. He was traded at the deadline in 2021 to the Tennessee Titans and missed three games with injury. Last year, he could never really get healthy and only started six games all season.

Where he should end up: Carolina Panthers

Cunningham’s recent injury history is likely what’s kept him unemployed. There’s no reason for a contender who’s close on the salary cap to take a chance on a guy that might only play part of a season. Other teams, like the Arizona Cardinals or Washington Commanders that could use Cunningham won’t sign him simply because they’re actively trying to tank their seasons. Carolina and Frank Reich are going to try to build something and, even though they have a ton of holes on that squad, eight games won the NFC South a season ago. The Panthers were in the race down to the wire and finished with a record of 7-10. They’ll have a better team this year, a better quarterback and a significantly better head coach. They’ll need to add a few talented one-year mercenaries to make potential division title and playoff run possible.

2. MYLES JACK

Age: 27

Size: 6-1, 244 pounds

2022: 104 tackles, three tackles for a loss, three passes defended

PFF Grade: 53.6

Jack is one of few guys on this list who doesn’t come with an injury concern. Which is ironic, because an “injury concern” is what pushed him to the second round of the draft back in 2016. Jack had a solid season for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, starting 13 games and playing in 15. His numbers were pretty much par for the course for his career and he’s been mostly injury free. He missed five games in 2019, but never appeared in fewer than 14 games in any other season.

Where he should end up: Miami Dolphins

While Cunningham, with his recent injury history, probably won’t be able to land on a contender, Jack doesn’t have that baggage. In fact, it’s a mystery to me why he’s still in the wind this late in free agency and the only thing I can figure out is that he’s asking for too much money at a position that is currently undervalued in the NFL. If you combine the current Dolphins’ starting linebackers’ tackle stats from last season, David Long, Jr. and Jerome Baker had 118 tackles. Jack put up that many alone in 2020 in just 14 games.

3. CORY LITTLETON

Age: 29

Size: 6-3, 228 pounds

2022: 47 tackles, one tackle for a loss, 0.5 sacks, two passes defended

PFF Grade: 72.2

In the three seasons since exiting the Los Angeles Rams, Littleton has never matched the production he had for then defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in that system. He had 125 tackles in 2018, helping the Rams make it to the Super Bowl, and 134 in 2019. Signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, he was still putting up solid numbers, but only sniffed triple digits in 2021. Last year, with the Panthers, he appeared in 15 games and started just seven.

Where he should end up: Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll should know all too well what Littleton is capable of doing in the NFC West. The Seahawks were one of the teams Littleton regularly flummoxed, both on defense and on special teams, during his tenure in LA. While Seattle did bring back Bobby Wagner this season and Jordyn Brooks is coming off a solid campaign himself, Littleton would be a low cost, low risk option to add depth and start, especially if Father Time finally decides to tap Wagner on the shoulder.

4. ANTHONY BARR

Age: 31

Size: 6-5, 257 pounds

2022: 58 tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, one pass defended, two fumble recoveries

PFF Grade: 59.7

We’ve had two second rounders (Cunningham and Jack) and one undrafted free agent (Littleton) show up on the list so far. Barr is our first and only former first round pick as he was selected ninth overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2014 NFL Draft. Barr spent the next seven seasons with the Vikes, really only missing significant time in 2020 with an injury. He came back the next year and started 11, but Minnesota, under a new coaching regime, allowed him to vacate the facility. Barr landed in Dallas, starting 10 games and appearing in 14. He’s in the twilight of his career and a little older than most of the other guys on this list, but there’s still some good sellsword years left for the former UCLA Bruin.

Where he should end up: Denver Broncos

The Broncos had a disaster of a season in 2022 that’s been well documented. Unlike other teams who experience such occurrences, they can’t afford a rebuild because they don’t have the free salary cap for it thanks to Russell Wilson’s contract. Barr would add value coming in as a reserve and spot starter, for what should be an economical contract behind Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, who are both coming off decent seasons.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. KWON ALEXANDER

Age: 28

Size: 6-1, 227 pounds

2022: 69 tackles, 0.5 sacks, six tackles for a loss, one pass defended, one forced fumble

PFF Grade: 63.0

Alexander broke out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his second season, recording 145 tackles and leading the NFL with 108 solo tackles. Since then, the former fourth round pick out of LSU has struggled to stay healthy and on the field. He played in 12 games in 2017 and didn’t reach that mark again until 2020. He did appear in all 17 games for the New York Jets las year and started 12, putting his best season since that aforementioned 2017 campaign in the books.

Where he should end up: Las Vegas Raiders

The fact that Alexander suited upper in every game of 2022 bodes well for his chances to do the same this season. He’s still young enough that he’s worth a flyer at worst. Currently the Raiders have former Pittsburgh Steeler Robert Spillane penciled in at middle linebacker, but Alexander is a better option, has started more games (even with the injury year) and could still be capable of a triple digit tackle season.

6. KYLE VAN NOY

Age:  32

Size: 6-3, 250 pounds

2022: 46 tackles, five sacks, eight tackles for a loss, three passes defended, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries.

PFF Grade: 63.4

Van Noy is the oldest man on the list, but he’s also the most versatile. The former second rounder out of BYU can play at any linebacker position in pretty much any scheme. He played as primarily an outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, but was an inside linebacker for the New England Patriots the year before. Most teams have used Van Noy at both, depending on the down and distance, as his 31.5 sacks over the last six campaigns can attest.

Where he should end up: Kansas City Chiefs

Van Noy already has a Super Bowl Ring thanks to his time with the 2018-19 New England Patriots, but there’s no reason to not try for another one. The Chiefs have tried to find an edge rusher in consecutive drafts, taking George Karlaftis in the first round in 2022 and Felix Anudike-Uzomah at No. 31 in April’s draft. They’ve allowed Frank Clark to seek work elsewhere, so they need some insurance at that position. Karlaftis produced just six sacks as a rookie and while Anudike-Uzomah will probably start at some point, Charles Omenihu and his 4.5 sacks last year are currently slotted opposite of Karlaftis. Kansas City’s championship window is open now and it’ll only start to close as more and more talent is drained from the team. Van Noy fills a need and will do it on a one-year deal.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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