Fantasy Football 2022: Top 5 NFL Free Agent Linebackers
The NFL season recently ended, but that doesn’t mean we’re finished talking about football! Truthfully, the NFL offseason can be one of the more exciting times in the sport with free agency, the NFL Draft, and trades – not to mention the rumors and speculation swirling around these events. The legal tampering period for the NFL begins in under two weeks, on March 14, and the gold rush officially begins on March 16. So, we don’t have much time left before free agency hits.
If you thought we were going to leave you IDP folks out – never fear! Quite a few linebackers are set to hit the free-agent market in the next couple of weeks, and several of these players could command big contracts. With the salary cap issues many teams are experiencing, it’s likely that most of these top players find themselves in a different city next season. Keep your eyes on the following linebackers in the weeks leading up to the free agency period.
If you want to talk about a breakout season, look no further than De’Vondre Campbell. The sixth-year linebacker posted the best numbers of his career – racking up 146 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions while also earning first-team All-Pro honors. Campbell fits well in the Packers’ scheme and deserves to get paid, but Green Bay has some severe salary cap issues. With Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams being top priorities, Campbell’s future there is uncertain. If he doesn’t get a deal in Green Bay, the Lions, Bengals, and Browns could all be contenders to offer Campbell a long-term contract.
Foyesade Oluokun has consistently improved every year in the league, but last year was a huge step up in his game. He finished the season with 192 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and a forced fumble – making him IDP gold. The Falcons, like so many teams, are dealing with their own salary cap issues and it’s unlikely they can keep Oluokun when they’re trying to work out so many positions on the offensive side. At only 26 years old, he has plenty left in the tank and could become a cornerstone piece on any team’s defense. The Bears, Dolphins, and Giants all need linebacker help and have plenty of cap space to sign him.
AJ Johnson is a bit of an anomaly in the NFL, as he’s 30 years old but has only played four years in the league. He also only played six games last season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle. In those six games, though, he had 32 tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He possesses the mental maturity of a veteran but has low wear-and-tear on his body, giving him an intriguing advantage over some of the other free-agent linebackers. Fellow Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell is also set to hit free agency, so Johnson may end up staying in Denver if Jewell walks. If Denver lets him go, Dallas or Baltimore are both intriguing landing spots.
The Dallas Cowboys have problems this off-season, and all of them revolve around the number of impending free agents and the lack of cap space to keep them. Leighton Vander Esch showed flashes last season of what made him a first-round pick, but he was inconsistent and posted dismal run-stopping grades against New England, Carolina, and New Orleans. The Cowboys have Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox, so they shouldn’t feel pressured to keep Vander Esch when they have so many other players in question. The Eagles, Raiders, and Panthers could have their eye on him if Dallas lets him walk.
After sitting out the 2020 season, Dont'a Hightower started the 2021 season with some rust but ended up putting together a consistent season with 64 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He’s never played anywhere but New England, and it’s hard to think of him anywhere else. but a long-term extension seems unlikely at almost 32 years old. If the Patriots don’t re-sign him, the Lions and Titans need a veteran presence in their locker room and could be prime landing spots for the veteran.
RELATED LINKS
Looking for the rest of the top unsigned free agents? Check out the links below for what's been published already:
- Free Agent Quarterbacks
- Free Agent Running Backs
- Free Agent Wide Receivers
- Free Agent Tight Ends
- Free Agent Linebackers
Player News
Free agent Gabe Davis will visit the New York Giants.
Cut by the Jaguars after one season last week, Davis visited the 49ers on Monday. New York would be a reunion of sorts, as he played for Giants coach Brian Daboll in Buffalo. The G-Men already have several wideouts capable of stretching the field, but 26-year-old Davis could still be a decent role player in a strong offense. The problem, of course, is that the Giants profile as anything but, but rookie QB Jaxson Dart is comfortable throwing down the field.
Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington has been diagnosed with a torn achilles suffered during offseason training.
The fifth-year pro became a weekly starter for the first time last season, earning elite PFF marks in the process. He was a restricted free agent this spring but had yet to sign his $3.26 million tender. That’s a tough break, to put it mildly. Achilles timelines have shortened significantly in recent years, but Washington will probably still miss the entire 2025 campaign. The Ravens are protected in part by their first-round selection of fellow S Malaki Starks, but May is not the month you already want to be dipping into your depth. Going on 26, Washington’s career future is murky after he worked so hard to finally become a regular contributor last season.
Chiefs signed fourth-round WR Jalen Royals to a four-year contract.
Royals doesn’t have an obvious and open spot in the receiving corps to build short-term fantasy value with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice operating in the opening 11-personnel package. He may or may not play his way into WR4 duties depending on how the team feels about JuJu Smith-Schuster. Royals has plenty of talent and Brown is on a one-year deal, so there is a future where Royals is more than a bit player for the Chiefs. It likely won’t happen in his first season without injuries in front of him.
Matthew Judon said he “probably” won’t return to the Falcons in 2025.
The Falcons, of course, drafted both Jalon Walker and James Pearce in the first round. In an exclusive interview with CardPlayer.com — not to be confused with our PokerNews.com James Cook scoop a few days ago — Judon said that his sack total was down because “I dropped (into coverage) on 60 percent of the plays. It’s hard to get a pick and a sack on the same play.” Judon also told Kyle Odegard that “a couple” teams had expressed interest in him but he was in no rush to sign.
Jets released P Thomas Morstead.
Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger will compete for the Jets punter job this year. The 39-year-old former Saint was the league’s oldest punter last season. If he wants to keep punting, he can absolutely join the tryout circuit or a competition elsewhere. But this is probably a sign that the Morstead’s 16-year career is close to an end at this point.
Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said it’s “going to be a breakout year” for Jameson Williams.
Morton said he’d never “been around someone that fast,” then quickly corrected himself to note that Jhamyr Gibbs is also that fast. Williams came on strong last year with a 58/1001/7 receiving line, but offensive coordinator praise could mean even more targets are coming. It would likely come at the expense of Amon-Ra St. Brown’s production if Williams were to truly break out, though there’s plenty for St. Brown to give and still be a top-flight fantasy wideout. It’s risky to read too much into statements like this in the offseason, but the new offensive coordinator telling you he thinks it’ll be a breakout year for Williams is certainly noteworthy.