The 2023 NFL season has now come and gone with the Super Bowl in our rearview. As the 32 teams around the league turn their complete focus to the offseason, things like the upcoming NFL Draft and free agency get brought to the forefront.
A major factor in the offseason is the start of free agency, which officially kicks off on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET when the new league year begins. With so much talent now becoming available and teams having roster gaps to fill ahead of the draft, there will surely be money spent. But who are the top NFL free agent linebackers?
2024 Top Free Agent Linebackers
The following ranking is from Pro Football Network’s NFL analyst Dallas Robinson.
1) Frankie Luvu
2) Patrick Queen
3) Lavonte David
4) Jordyn Brooks
5) Willie Gay Jr.
6) Drue Tranquill
7) Bobby Wagner
8) Tyrel Dodson
9) Blake Cashman
10) Devin White
Frankie Luvu and Patrick Queen Highlight a Subpar Group of Free Agent Linebackers
Overall, the group lacks real game-changing talent. With players such as Luvu and Queen at the top, the rest of the group leaves more to be desired.
In addition to there not being a ton to be excited for with this group, linebackers have slowly started to be treated like running backs of the defense in the sense that teams are choosing to draft and develop rather than investing and paying for the position.
A lot of people feel that linebackers, at times, are as good as the defensive line in front of them, with the game-breakers at the second level coming few and far between.
This group specifically is a mixed bag of older guys, less proven commodities, and names that leave more to be desired. Players such as Bobby Wagner are in the back nine of their careers, while Devin White has dealt with injuries and has seen his play decline. Meanwhile, Queen and Brooks have a history of injury.
Willie Gay Jr. and Drue Tranquill are fresh off a Super Bowl title, but will that be enough for them to be brought back to the Chiefs, or will the back-to-back champs just be OK with letting them test the open market and ultimately leave?
MORE: PFN’s Top 100 Free Agents in 2024
Teams will look to the group to round out their roster, but after top names are spoken for, it will come down to the right money for any of these guys. Teams typically adopt a wait-and-see approach to the first week of free agency and the draft before they fill in the gaps.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!