NFL Preview: Best and worst teams at each position group

NFL Preview: Best and worst teams at each position

Dec 28, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) shakes hands with Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during pre game warmups against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Linebacker

Best: New England Patriots

With Brandon Spikes dismissed for off-the-field issues and Rob Ninkovich moved to the defensive line, this position group is a bit weaker than previously perceived. Still, the trio of Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Jerod Mayo make up the strongest linebacking corps in the NFL. Collins and Hightower are some of the best at cleaning up runs on the edges, while Mayo fills gaps between the tackles. All are good in coverage.

Mayo’s injury history puts a damper on this, but the Patriots will still field the top unit in football.

Another linebacker trio strongly considered was Seattle’s group of Bobby Wagner, Bruce Irvin and K.J. Wright. But Irvin’s inconsistency in pass coverage is more of a concern than Mayo’s injury history.

Aug 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert (85) attempts to break a tackle from New York Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason (52) in the first half in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Worst: New York Giants

The Giants linebacker corps looks like a step for a team midway through a transition.

It is safe to assume that Jon Beason will miss some time in 2015, so despite the fact that he is a good defensive leader, he can’t count to heavily on the team’s success. Giants fans might see a lot of Jameel McClain. Devon Kennard was a rather anonymous player for the Giants, one who played solidly towards the end of the year in run support but was unexceptional. And the team brought in J.T. Thomas from Jacksonville, a low-end starter who struggled with power teams.

Individually, the Giants linebackers aren’t egregious starters. But as a whole, the Giants lack upper-end talent. Converting one of their young edge rushers (Damontre Moore? Owa Odighizuwa?) to outside linebacker might change that, but it also would rob the team of edge rushers on the line it desperately needs.

Next: Secondary

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