Micah Parsons

[Whatever]

(12-30-2020, 01:09 PM)Au165 Wrote: Yea, but the games move to a more spread out game has changed it a lot in the last five years I'd say. Look at the playoff field this year. The only star linebacker I'd really say that is in the playoff field is Bobby Wagner and that defense has been awful most of the year until Dunlap got there and they found some pass rush. Now there are some good linebackers in the field like Demario Davis in NO and a few more who could get in like Roquan Smith in CHI and Dareous Leonard in IND, but none of those guys are carrying their teams in any way. 

Now look at a lot of the other teams and their linebackers are bad....

Chiefs- Bad
Bills- Have guys we know but are bad
Steelers- Everyone is hurt and has been for most the year
Titans- Very Average
Packers- Bad
Bucs- Lavonte David is really good White has not been this year

In reality, our linebackers are better than a lot of the teams in the playoffs this year. We didn't miss the playoffs because of bad linebackers we missed it because of bad play on the lines which is why a lot of teams miss it. This kind of lends itself back to why teams value those positions in top 5-10 picks over linebackers. The biggest issue for us is the lack of pass rushers worth the potential pick we have but I am not going to get too bent out of shape over that until combine time because there is still a lot to be seen over the next week or two in college.

The other thing people are missing is that teams that have spent 1st rounders on stack LB's recently have not seen a quick return on investment.  Here are the PFF grades for the 4 stack LB's taken in the 1st this year...

Isaiah Simmons 60.5(sub package player, not starting)
Kenneth Murray 50.9
Patrick Queen 29.9
Jordyn Brooks 49.0

And the '19 and '20  grades for '19 1st rounders...

Devin White 51.9/43.4
Devin Bush 62.9/59.7

It doesn't make much sense to invest a 1st round pick in a position group where you can get similar performance from journeyman FA's.  Josh Bynes has a 54 grade by comparison.  Plus, we've drafted 4 stack backers over the last two drafts.