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Darius Leonard, IND: The top five or so LBs are essentially interchangeable based on the tackle and assist numbers, but I can't give anybody else the top spot here, as Leonard benefits from a generous official scorer in Indy and his ridiculous rookie numbers -- 163 total tackles (111 solos).
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Lavonte David, TB: David has maybe lost a step, but without Kwon Alexander he's going to eat up tackles as he mentors a young Devin White. Health is a concern, but this defense is on the field a lot.
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Bobby Wagner, SEA: Wagner is still a hot IDP commodity and should be poised for another solid season -- but last season's 11 PD were high in relation to his career numbers, and a defensive TD inflated his ranking a bit. Still a lock for Top 15-20, but a better real-life LB than IDP guy.
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Blake Martinez, GB: Martinez made 144 tackles for the second straight season and he doesn't have a lot of help. He's a lock for the Top 10 LBs.
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Luke Kuechly, CAR: Kuechly is IDP royalty and still a producer, but there are plenty of risks. I'd just as soon focus on younger players and avoid guys who have concussion histories as significant as his.
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Deion Jones, ATL: Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal after missing 10 games with a foot injury last season. He could fly under the radar in IDP drafts.
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Leighton Vander Esch, DAL: I had my doubts when the Cowboys took him pretty early in last year's draft, but they were quickly cast aside when this guy's talents came to light. His 138 total tackles last season may be tough to hit again, but he's definitely going to make plays and had plenty of upside with his excellent work in short pass coverage.
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Tremaine Edmunds, BUF: Edmunds is in a great spot for production and should excel in his role as Buffalo's top LB. He posted 121 tackles in his rookie season.
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Roquan Smith, CHI: Smith got off to a slow start because of his holdout, but he's the real deal. He's a lock for around 90-100 tackles and could be the top LB in IDP.
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Myles Jack, JAC: Jack propels up the rankings with the news that Telvin Smith is taking a year away from football. He's poised for a career season and could go under the radar in drafts.
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Devin White, TB: White is a playmaker looks a lot like last year's Roquan Smith. He's going to turn a lot of heads and make a lot of tackles as a three-down LB.
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Cory Littleton, LAR: Littleton received high grades in pass coverage in 2018 (13 PD, 3 INT) and is viewed as the "quarterback of the defense" by the Rams -- which helps him bolster already solid tackle numbers.
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Devin Bush, PIT: Bush could be the next great linebacker in Pittsburgh and helps them replace Ryan Shazier. He enters the NFL (after his junior season in college) after earning 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and amassing 19.5 career TFLs with ten sacks and 15 PD.
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Jaylon Smith, DAL: Smith and Vander Esch make up one of the league's best young LB combos. Smith just keeps getting better and making play after play.
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Alec Ogletree, NYG: Ogletree could end up much higher on this list, but he's a player whose IDP numbers belie some poor play. He's a risk.
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Khalil Mack, CHI: Mack depends a lot on sack numbers and other big plays. As an LB he's just a decent LB2, but as a DE he's a clear DL1.
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C.J. Mosley, NYJ: The venue change may not be great for Mosley's IDP numbers, but he's still a top performer who's among the best real-life LBs in the NFL.
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Joe Schobert, CLE: Schobert, when healthy, is among the best IDP producers out there. He posted 144 tackles in 2017 but missed three games last season with hamstring woes.
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Kiko Alonso, MIA: Alonso is still hanging around in IDP rankings and should be busy for Miami as the defense looks to shake off a terrible 2018 season.
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Jordan Hicks, ARI: Hicks has been outstanding when healthy throughout his career, but he has played just 43 of a possible 64 games in four seasons. He could have a career year with the move to Arizona and their weak LB corps.
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Christian Kirksey, CLE: Kirksey's high water mark came in 2017 (146 total tackles) but he missed 9 games last season. He's a candidate for a huge bounceback.
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Mason Foster, WAS: Foster doesn't have a lot of help at ILB in Washington so for now, he's the guy. He's a risk, though -- because he's just not that great a player.
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DeMario Davis, NO: Davis is the top IDP LB in New Orleans and should be busy in 2019. I'm including him in my LB sleepers who could surprise this season.
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Jarrad Davis, DET: Davis had a solid sophomore campaign in 2018 and should improve on his numbers this season. Keep an eye on him if he slips in drafts.
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Tahir Whitehead, OAK: Whitehead is the best option among the Oakland LBs, but that's not saying much. He's a veteran playmaker who'll see plenty of opportunities -- so he could very well outperform my projections and end up among the Top 15-20 IDP LBs.
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Patrick Onwuasor, BAL: With C.J. Mosley off to the Jets, Onwuasor will rack up more tackles and be the Ravens top LB.
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T.J. Watt, PIT: T.J. Watt may not be as good as J.J., but he's certainly a Top 25 NFL LB in terms of IDP -- for his playmaking ability and monster sack totals (13 in 2018).
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= Upside
= Risk
ADP = Average Draft Position
