Going against the historical tide, the Eagles 2017 Super Bowl win proved that you do not need to spend on linebackers to win a championship. This is the rhetoric that has been pushed down the throats of whoever would listen for the last three years. It’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of teams with cheap linebacking corps that have experienced regular success. However, is it fair to say that linebackers have gone the way of running backs, wherein any resources spent are relatively wasted?
The premise of saving money at the position hinges on the idea that whatever money or draft picks being saved at the position can be spent elsewhere. Electing to spend money elsewhere, the Eagles had one of the cheapest collections of linebackers in the league in 2019 (24th). Guess what? They made the playoffs. They did the year before too, without any first-round ‘backers or any making premium dollar. On the surface, it seems as if the front office is on to something.
Still, the fact of the matter remains every year they have been sliding further from the ultimate goal of returning to a Superbowl. This year the Eagles spent a third-round and a sixth-round selection on linebackers. While it’s not a first or a second, spending such resources on the position could indicate a change in thinking. While they do have a Superbowl ring to their name, have they done enough to change the historical tide?
Does spending on linebackers really make a difference?
Regular Season Success
Now, the Eagles have gotten one thing right. It seems as if it is not necessary to sink resources into the linebacker position to win regular-season games. The reality is, you need to win regular-season games to make the playoffs. So, on paper, it should follow that you do not need first-round linebackers to make the playoffs.
Spending Draft Picks
In 2019, 22 of 32 teams started first-round linebackers in one capacity or another — that includes 3-4 teams and teams with hybrid LBs. Those teams with first-round linebackers had a record of 166-184-2 (.474 win rate) and teams without had a record of 89-71 (.556 win rate).
There are some curious cases in both categories. There are some teams featuring first-round ‘backers that simply couldn’t make up for the chaos surrounding them. In other cases, they are a part of a young core that has yet to develop. This list includes teams such as the 3-13 Redskins, the 5-11 Dolphins, the 5-10-1 Cardinals, and the 8-8 Bears.
However, it’s the other side of the coin we’re concerned with. The Ravens, Chiefs, Packers, and Saints all finished the season with impressive records (averaging 13-3), but were without first-round linebackers.
The ten teams who did not start first-round LBs are below, playoff teams featured in bold. Because wins do not paint a full picture, I have also included each defense’s yards allowed and point allowed. Outside of the Ravens, it’s unsurprising that as a whole, these defenses were not stellar.
| Yds Against | Pts Against | |
| Ravens | 4th | 3rd |
| Eagles | 10th | 15th |
| Saints | 11th | 13th |
| Chiefs | 17th | 7th |
| Packers | 18th | 9th |
| Colts | 16th | 18th |
| Raiders | 19th | 24th |
| Browns | 22nd | 20th |
| Jaguars | 24th | 21st |
| Bengals | 29th | 25th |
Risk
Herein lies the crux of the matter. Regardless of how much impact a first-round linebacker can be, there is always the worry that they won’t pan out. A first-round selection can’t be taken lightly and are generally more readily spent on other positions. So, how did the first round LB selections pan out over the last 10 years?
Since we’re focused on the immediate impact of these first-rounders I have included their rookie stats. Numbers don’t tell the whole story and the value of some of these players may be under or overrated. Also, it may be too soon to judge some of the names on this list. Still, there is a clear history of immediate success for first-round ‘backers — granted some were moved to DE or were slotted into an OLB role in a 3-4 defense. The players in bold have been selected to a Pro Bowl.
| Devin White | 91 TK, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 3 FF, 1 INT |
| Devin Bush | 109 TK, 9 TFL, 1.0 SK, 1 FF, 2 INT |
| Rashan Gary | 21 TK, 3 TFL, 2.0 SK |
| Bradley Chubb | 60 TK, 14 TFL, 12.0 SK, 2 FF |
| Roquan Smith | 121 TK, 8 TFL, 5.0 SK, 1 INT |
| Tremaine Edmunds | 121 TK, 5 TFL, 2.0 SK, 2 FF, 1 INT |
| Leighton Vander Esch | 140 TK, 2 TFL, 2 INT |
| Rashaan Evans | 53 TK, 2 TFL (7 Games Started) |
| Haason Reddick | 36 TK, 4 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 FF (3 GS) |
| Jarrad Davis | 96 TK, 4 TFL, 2.0 SK, 1 FF, 1 INT |
| T.J. Watt | 54 TK, 10 TFL, 7.0 SK, 1 FF, 1 INT |
| Reuben Foster | 72 TK, 7 TFL |
| Leonard Floyd | 33 TK, 6 TFL, 7.0 SK, 1 FF |
| Darron Lee | 73 TK, 3 TFL, 1.0 SK |
| Bud Dupree | 26 TK, 4 TFL, 4.0 SK (5 GS) |
| Shaq Thompson | 50 TK, 4 TFL, 1.0 SK |
| Stephone Anthony | 112 TK, 5 TFL, 1.0 SK, 2 FF, 1 INT |
| Khalil Mack | 76 TK, 16 TFL, 4.0 SK, 1 FF |
| Anthony Barr | 70 TK, 6 TFL, 4.0 SK, 2 FF |
| Ryan Shazier | 36 TK, 2 TFL (5 GS) |
| C.J. Mosley | 133 TK, 8 TFL, 3.0 SK, 1 FF, 2 INT |
| Marcus Smith | NOTHING. (0 GS) |
| Jarvis Jones | 41 TK, 4 TFL, 1.0 SK |
| Alec Ogletree | 119 TK, 9 TFL, 1.5 SK, 1 INT |
| Luke Kuechly | 164 TK, 12 TFL, 1.0 SK, 2 INT |
| Melvin Ingram | 41 TK, 4 TFL, 1.0 SK, 1 FF (2 GS) |
| Dont’a Hightower | 60 TK, 10 TFL, 4.0 SK |
| Nick Perry | 18 TK, 1 TFL, 2.0 SK (5 GS) |
| Von Miller | 50 TK, 19 TFL, 11.5 SK, 3 FF |
| Aldon Smith | 37 TK, 13 TFL, 14.0 SK, 2 FF |
| Rolando McClain | 85 TK, 6 TFL, 0.5 SK, 1 INT |
| Jason Pierre-Paul | 30 TK, 7 TFL, 4.5 SK (0 GS) |
| Sean Weatherspoon | 42 TK, 1 TFL, 1.0 SK (5 GS) |
| AVERAGE | 59 TK, 6 TFL, 3.0 SK, 1 FF |
Thirteen of the thirty-three linebackers selected in the first round over the last ten years have been selected to the Pro Bowl. That’s one of the highest rates of any position group. Despite some clunkers (ahem.. Marcus Smith), there’s a ton of talent on this board that had incredible rookie seasons or went on to post incredible numbers in the following years.
59 tackles — skewed by the amount of 3-4 OLBs — would have been just behind Nigel Bradham (61) for fourth among linebackers. 6 TFLs — again offset by the 3-4 ‘backers — would have placed first among Eagles LBs. Considering a number of the players on this list started fewer than 10 games (some none at all), that’s an impressive stat line.
It seems that unless you’re Chip Kelly, it’s fairly common to hit on a first-round linebacker. Even if they aren’t a Pro Bowler, they are likely to be a key contributor to your defense. There’s certainly some risk, but first-round linebackers seem a safer bet than most.
Resources = More Wins?
Now, obviously this breakdown is an oversimplification. There are plenty of other factors and position groups that play a role in a successful defense. Regardless of the success of the defense, five teams that didn’t feature a first-round linebacker still made the playoffs and seven teams didn’t have to spend big to make it there either, (the Packers being the exception). Therefore it seems as if on the outset, spending resources on linebackers does not guarantee any regular-season success. However . . .
Defensive Statistics
Over the last three years, almost all teams that drafted a linebacker in the first round improved in both scoring defense and opposing total yards. Below are team’s defensive rankings before and after drafting a first-round linebacker, the times that a team got worse in either category is in bold.
| Opp. Yds | Opp. Pnts | |
| 2018 Bucs | 27th | 31st |
| 2019 Bucs | 15th | 29th |
| 2018 Steelers | 6th | 16th |
| 2019 Steelers | 5th | 6th |
| 2018 Packers | 18th | 22nd |
| 2019 Packers | 18th | 9th |
| 2017 Broncos | 3rd | 23rd |
| 2018 Broncos | 22nd | 13th |
| 2017 Bears | 10th | 9th |
| 2018 Bears | 3rd | 1st |
| 2017 Bills | 26th | 18th |
| 2018 Bills | 2nd | 18th |
| 2017 Cowboys | 8th | 14th |
| 2018 Cowboys | 7th | 6th |
| 2017 Titans | 13th | 17th |
| 2018 Titans | 8th | 3rd |
| 2016 Cardinals | 2nd | 14th |
| 2017 Cardinals | 6th | 19th |
| 2016 Lions | 18th | 13th |
| 2017 Lions | 27th | 21st |
| 2016 Steelers | 12th | 10th |
| 2017 Steelers | 5th | 7th |
| 2016 49ers | 32nd | 32nd |
| 2017 49ers | 24th | 25th |
Although there are other factors in play — the Bears adding Khalil Mack for example — the results are staggering. In recent years, it seems almost guaranteed that spending a first-round selection on a linebacker will immediately and notably improve your defense, even if it doesn’t manufacture wins. The same can not be said of all positions.
2019-2020 Playoff Teams
It’s all fine and dandy to make it to the playoffs or improve your defense, but if the ultimate goal is hoisting the Lombardi, then it’s a pretty sorry consolation prize. Being the champion comes down to having success in the playoffs. So, how can having a first-round linebacker influence a team’s win rate in the playoffs?
For this article, I have considered Ezekiel Ansah, a LB for the Seahawks as he spent much of his time in the LEO role. While he spent a bulk of his snaps rushing the passer, Seattle also used Shaqueem Griffin in this role, which indicates the versatility the Seahawks necessitated of the position.
It’s also important to note that the Chiefs added Terrell Suggs late in the season, who then played an average of 52% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps. Therefore, although they were without a first-round linebacker during the season, they will be in the opposite category in the playoffs.
Of the five playoff teams that did not have a first-round LB, the Chiefs, Ravens, and Saints were able to achieve regular-season success because they all house top five scoring offenses. Let’s be honest, the Eagles squeaked into the playoffs in Week 17 and were probably not deserving of the opportunity on paper. However, they were able to buckle down in the last few weeks and come out on top of some must-win games.
In this case, it is the Packers that are the real outlier. They finished middle of the pack in almost all categories — except money spent at the linebacker position. In 2020, they will be on the hook for a whopping $44M owed to just their linebackers (5th highest).
Still, simply making the playoffs isn’t good enough — we want to know if spending on linebackers can help you win a Super Bowl. So how did these teams fair?
Well, the regular season favorite Baltimore Ravens were decimated by the Titans ground attack to the tune of 217 rushing yards. Green Bay had a similar experience in San Francisco when Raheem Mostert dumped 220 yards on them. The Saints were in the midst of another controversial loss, but also allowed 136 rushing yards, which didn’t help matters. For how much talk there is about how important the run game is in January, there is little discussion on how important it is to stop it.
We don’t have to discuss the Eagles . . . it still hurts. They actually did an admiral job of containing Seattle’s rushing attack. Still, the inability to contain Russell Wilson has been a thorn in the team’s side for years. Although, they’re not the only ones who’ve met the same fate.
| Playoff Teams with 1st Round LB | Playoff Wins | Playoff Teams without 1st Round LB (Highest Pick) | Playoff Wins |
| Bills | 0 | Ravens (3rd) | 0 |
| Texans | 1 | Saints (2nd) | 0 |
| Titans | 2 | Eagles (4th) | 0 |
| Patriots | 0 | Packers (2nd) | 1 |
| Vikings | 1 | ||
| Seahawks | 1 | ||
| 49ers | 2 | ||
| Chiefs | 3 | ||
| Win Rate (10-7) | .588 | Win Rate (1-4) | .200 |
The Packers were the only team to win a playoff game without a first-round linebacker last season. While the results are not always so dramatic, it seems as if there is some correlation for first-round LBs and playoff success after all. Still, this is only one year.
Recent Playoff Success
Limiting the search to only last season would give an unfair picture of the question at hand. Instead, let’s expand the discussion to the last 10 years. Also, since we’re concerned with winning a Super Bowl, let’s narrow the search to just AFC and NFC title winners.
Since 2010, only two teams have played in a Super Bowl without a first-round linebacker in the starting rotation. Only one of those teams were without a first or second-rounder. On the other hand, some teams even sported a full cast of first-round LBs. The 2015-2016 showdown between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers featured six first-round linebackers.
| Teams with multiple first round LBs | 8 |
| Teams with one first round LB | 10 |
| Teams with no first but a second round LB (2017 Eagles) | 1 |
| Teams with no first or second round LB (2013 Broncos) | 1 |
Of the twenty teams that have made the Super Bowl in the last ten years, I took the top ‘backers in terms of snaps played (> 25%). I also included some other names that were key components of their team’s respective playoff runs. Of those 67 linebackers, 34.3% were drafted in the first round and 47.8% were drafted before the third round. Here’s the breakdown by round:
| First Round | 23 |
| Second Round | 9 |
| Third Round | 5* |
| Fourth Round | 9 |
| Fifth Round | 5 |
| Sixth Round | 6 |
| Seventh Round | 1 |
| UDFA | 9 |
Just so that you can do your own research and shout out any of the players I missed, this is the full list of linebackers I used, listed by round:
| Mark Barron | 1st |
| Vic Beasley | 1st |
| Thomas Davis | 1st |
| James Farrior | 1st |
| Dee Ford | 1st |
| A.J. Hawk | 1st |
| Dont’a Hightower | 1st |
| Bruce Irvin | 1st |
| Mathias Kiwanuka | 1st |
| Luke Kuechly | 1st |
| Ray Lewis | 1st |
| Clay Matthews | 1st |
| Jerod Mayo | 1st |
| Shea McClellin | 1st |
| Von Miller | 1st |
| Shane Ray | 1st |
| Aldon Smith | 1st |
| Terrell Suggs | 1st |
| Shaq Thompson | 1st |
| Lawrence Timmons | 1st |
| Bobby Wagner | 1st |
| Demarcus Ware | 1st |
| Patrick Willis | 1st |
| Akeem Ayers | 2nd |
| Jamie Collins | 2nd |
| Deion Jones | 2nd |
| Mychal Kendricks | 2nd |
| Paul Kruger | 2nd |
| Reggie Ragland | 2nd |
| Brandon Spikes | 2nd |
| Kyle Van Noy | 2nd |
| Lamarr Woodley | 2nd |
| Navorro Bowman | 3rd |
| Ahmad Brooks | 3rd* |
| Jordan Hicks | 3rd |
| Fred Warner | 3rd |
| Phillip Wheeler | 3rd |
| Kwon Alexander | 4th |
| Nigel Bradham | 4th |
| Devondre Campbell | 4th |
| Samson Ebukam | 4th |
| Larry Foote | 4th |
| Anthony Hitchens | 4th |
| Shaun Phillips | 4th |
| Damien Wilson | 4th |
| K.J. Wright | 4th |
| Michael Boley | 5th |
| Dre Greenlaw | 5th |
| A.J. Klein | 5th |
| Brandon Marshall | 5th |
| Rob Nincovich | 5th |
| Desmond Bishop | 6th |
| Greg Jones | 6th |
| Marquis Flowers | 6th |
| Elandon Roberts | 6th |
| Danny Trevathan | 6th |
| Jacquain Williams | 6th |
| Malcolm Smith | 7th |
| Shaquil Barrett | UDFA |
| Dannell Ellerbe | UDFA |
| Gary Guyton | UDFA |
| James Harrison | UDFA |
| Cory Littleton | UDFA |
| Jameel McClain | UDFA |
| Ben Niemann | UDFA |
| Wesley Woodyard | UDFA |
| Frank Zombo | UDFA |
The numbers speak for themselves. 34.4% of all starting linebackers in the last ten Superbowls were drafted in the first round. That does not include those who were featured in multiple (the math on that one was a lot to tackle). The Eagles have been the only team in the last ten years to win a Superbowl without a first-round linebacker and only one other team came close — and then lost 43-8.
Accolades
You’d be right in saying there’s more to winning a Super Bowl than just spending on linebackers. Making the playoffs is also dependent on a plethora of factors. Still, there is no denying that the Eagles are an outlier. They may have broken the mold, but it seems as if they are one of few. The reality is, it is often the most talented team that wins the championship and eschewing a linebacker for another position of need is always a respectable option. It’s always possible to find talent later in the draft. If that’s the case, why bother giving up a first-rounder?
We have looked at how what effects that spending a first-round selection on an LB can have on the win column and on your defense. However, there are many other ways to gauge the success of an individual player. Let’s take Pro Bowls for example. Although voted on by fans, tagging a player as a Pro Bowler is a widely accepted indication that they are a cut above the rest. Here are the Pro Bowl Starters from 2016 – 2020 under the AFC vs. NFC format:
| Chandler Jones (x2) | 1st |
| Von Miller (x4) | 1st |
| T.J. Watt | 1st |
| Khalil Mack | 1st |
| Ryan Kerrigan (x3) | 1st |
| Luke Kuechly (x2) | 1st |
| Jadeveon Clowney (x2) | 1st |
| C.J. Mosley (x2) | 1st |
| Vic Beasley | 1st |
| Bobby Wagner | 1st |
| Dont’a Hightower | 1st |
| Jaylon Smith | 2nd |
| Darius Leonard | 2nd |
| Shaquil Barrett | UDFA |
| Lorenzo Alexander | UDFA |
If you’ve noticed a trend, that’s because there is one. Voters recognize the names of first-round linebackers. This may be more of an indication that Barrett and Alexander did a commendable job breaking that barrier when earning their Pro Bowl nod. However, it extends beyond just the Pro Bowl.
Another universal measure of success is being voted to the Associated Press All-Pro Team. In the last five years, no linebacker drafted after the third round has been selected to the All-Pro First Team. If you added the number of linebackers selected to the team drafted after the first round together, they wouldn’t account for half the votes given to first-rounders.
Below is the collection of ‘backers voted to the First Team from 2015-2019.
| Bobby Wagner (x4) | 1st |
| Luke Kuechly (x4) | 1st |
| Von Miller (x4) | 1st |
| Chandler Jones (x2) | 1st |
| Khalil Mack (x2) | 1st |
| T.J. Watt | 1st |
| Thomas Davis | 1st |
| Sean Lee | 2nd |
| Eric Kendricks | 2nd |
| Darius Leonard | 2nd |
| Demario Davis | 3rd |
| NaVorro Bowman | 3rd |
| Justin Houston | 3rd |
Do first round linebackers matter?
Absolutely. It is definitely possible to win a championship without a first-round ‘backer, as the Eagles have proven. Is it likely to happen again in the near future? History says no. Even the current champions, who made it to the playoffs without a star LB added a former first-round pick for their playoff run. It seems as if they had read up on their history books.
While the Birds broke their habit of completely neglecting the linebacker position in the draft, it seems as if a third-round pick may not be the ultimate answer. Perhaps they can again defy the odds; after all, the team has become incredibly comfortable playing under the underdog mantra.
. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
