NFL Free Agency 100: Top 14 3-4 Outside Linebackers
In the NFL media world, we like to rank things. You'll see plenty of rankings this offseason on the best job openings, the best draft prospects and the best free agents available. But how many of these lists break down why a player is ranked at his respective spot in the order?
This list does that.
Everyone wants to know who the best available free agents are this offseason, and we'll tackle that, but we're also looking at what makes the best players so valuable in the same way an NFL front office evaluates available free agents. By scouting each player and assigning a number grade to him, we're able to objectively look at a player's value and upside as he hits the market.
And thus, the NFL Free Agency 100 was born.
In this series, we'll look at the best available 3-4 outside linebackers, ranking their Production (30 possible points), Durability (10 points), Intangibles (15 points), Upside (20 points) and Value (25 points) for a possible 100 overall points.
Production: Not just stats; is the player able to produce if given starting reps? This area looks at on-field ability and success.
Durability: NFL teams won't spend big money on a player who can't stay healthy. Durability addresses existing injury concerns.
Intangibles: The "it" factor. Intangibles encompass a player's presence in the locker room, with the media, in the huddle and how he'll impact the team's chemistry and dynamics.
Upside: What does the player have left in the tank? Can he improve with better coaching, better talent around him or a new scheme?
Value: Are we talking about a starter, a backup or a potential sleeper? Here is where the player's value on the open market is weighed.
14. John Abraham, Arizona Cardinals
1 of 14
Production
John Abraham’s desire to play in 2015 will be worth monitoring. He’s no doubt an impact player when on the field, but his durability and longevity are doubtful after he missed 16 weeks of the 2014 season with a concussion. In 2013, he showed his value by notching 11.5 sacks in 16 games for the Cardinals at 35 years old.
Durability
As mentioned above, a concussion sent Abraham to the injured reserve after Week 1 and he never came off it.
Intangibles
A strong leader on the field, Abraham has his issues off it. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI in June, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, and missed part of training camp over it.
Upside
Abraham will be 37 when the season begins and just missed all but one game with a concussion. Relying on him is a huge gamble.
Value
If cleared to play in 2015, Abraham must be signed to a one-year deal. His off-field issues and on-field injuries make him far from a sure thing.
Overall
13. Dwight Freeney, San Diego Chargers
2 of 14
Production
Dwight Freeney is a future Hall of Famer and one of the NFL’s most productive pass-rushers of the last 20 years. But entering the 2015 season, he’s on his last legs as a pro. Over the last two seasons, he’s posted just four sacks. He struggled to keep a starter spot in 2014. Freeney is a legitimate star, but he’s definitely on the decline.
Durability
Freeney played all 16 games in 2014, but he missed 12 games in 2013 with a quad injury.
Intangibles
A consummate pro, Freeney would be a quality leadership addition and can work as a de facto linebackers coach to the young players on a team.
Upside
Freeney turned 35 after the season, making his upside very limited. Any team signing him should be thinking of a one-year deal.
Value
If you’re signing Freeney, it needs to be a one-year deal with heavy incentives and low guarantees. But he could still have an impact as a situational pass-rusher like he did in 2014.
Overall
12. Kroy Biermann, Atlanta Falcons
3 of 14
Production
The former fifth-round pick has outplayed his draft status and become a chess piece for the Atlanta Falcons over the last seven seasons. Kroy Biermann has lined up all over the field in Atlanta and enters the free-agent market as a defender who is scheme versatile. His 4.5 sacks in 2014 playing defensive end and linebacker were his most since 2009 (five sacks), and his 43 tackles were a career high.
Durability
Biermann tore his Achilles in 2013 and missed the final 14 games of the season.
Intangibles
Some may worry that Biermann’s role in a reality TV show with his wife might be a distraction, but it didn’t affect him during the 2014 season.
Upside
Biermann, 29, isn’t likely to become a star, but he does have plenty left in the tank. And in the right scheme, he could best his career highs in 2015.
Value
As a strong-side defensive end, Biermann is very good against the run and is an adequate pass-rusher. That role isn’t sexy, but it’s valuable, and he does it well.
Overall
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11. Osi Umenyiora, Atlanta Falcons
4 of 14
Production
An All-Pro with the New York Giants in 2005, Osi Umenyiora is entering the twilight of his career, and his production matches that. Two seasons in Atlanta produced 10 sacks and 13 starts in 32 games. In 2014, he didn’t start a single game and logged just 2.5 sacks. His production is on the decline, but he’s still productive in short bursts.
Durability
Umenyiora has spent the last three seasons active for every game and enters the offseason with a clean bill of health.
Intangibles
Leadership and work ethic are keys with Umenyiora, and he’ll bring both to a locker room. He has no issues that would prevent him from being signed.
Upside
At 33 years old, Umenyiora has reached his peak and started to decline. He’s best viewed as a short-term investment and role player only.
Value
As a third pass-rusher, Umenyiora does bring some value. Look for him to be added to a team needing a veteran 4-3 defensive end (maybe Dallas?) at a low cost.
Overall
10. Dan Skuta, San Francisco 49ers
5 of 14
Production
Largely playing in a replacement-player role, Dan Skuta has stepped in for Aldon Smith often over the last two seasons and had an impact. With 18 starts in the past two years, Skuta has shown to be a solid three-down player with good coverage skills, a decent pass rush (five sacks in ‘14) and good run-stuffing ability. He’s also versatile enough to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
Durability
An ankle injury limited Skuta in 2014 and is something to monitor moving ahead—as is the foot injury that kept him on the injury report for the second half of 2013.
Intangibles
A leader on and off the field, Skuta is part of the Sack Francisco group that donates sack lunches to kids in the Bay Area.
Upside
At 28 years old, Skuta doesn’t have as much raw upside as others, but his role as a starter has never been completely opened up. If asked to start 16 games, he could be a solid starter with the skills to help anchor a young defense.
Value
Skuta won’t get big money, but he’ll be a big contributor on and off the field.
Overall
9. Sam Acho, Arizona Cardinals
6 of 14
Production
Sam Acho has produced well in his four years with the Arizona Cardinals, especially if you factor in his draft position as a fourth-round pick. Acho has 13 sacks in 32 starts (51 games)—average numbers—but played very well in his first two seasons, producing 11 sacks. He wasn’t a full-time starter in 2014 but has versatility thanks to the Cardinals’ hybrid defensive scheme.
Durability
Acho missed 13 games in 2013 with a broken left fibula and suffered a neck injury in 2014 that didn’t cause him to miss time.
Intangibles
Acho has no issues to report on or off the field. He’s never been suspended, arrested or rumored to be a distraction.
Upside
Acho has good upside as a pass-rusher and three-down linebacker, but teams will question why his regressed statistics have come while the Cardinals defense has improved. He has talent and versatility, but teams tend to pay for potential, and that could be in his favor.
Value
Acho will be a value signing compared to other linebackers, but he could be a starter immediately in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense.
Overall
8. Brooks Reed, Houston Texans
7 of 14
Production
A four-year starter at outside linebacker, Brooks Reed has been on the field for the Houston Texans since he was drafted in the second round. As a pass-rusher in a 3-4 defense, he hasn’t produced huge numbers—just 14.5 sacks. Reed is a classic strong-side linebacker with the strength to stop the run and attack the backfield. He projects as a solid mid-level starter.
Durability
Reed missed four starts in 2012 and then saw his action dip in 2014 (he still appeared in 16 games). A groin injury has been nagging him and should be checked.
Intangibles
Reed is a leader on the field and a hard worker off it. He’ll be a solid contribution to any locker room.
Upside
Reed’s production dropped from 6.0 sacks in 2011 (his rookie year) to just 8.5 over the last three years. That dip in sacks is concerning.
Value
Reed has tools and traits to be a starting quality linebacker in a 3-4, but his numbers could hurt his value. That’s what could drive down his salary on the open market.
Overall
7. Jabaal Sheard, Cleveland Browns
8 of 14
Production
A versatile pass-rusher with the skill set to play defensive end or outside linebacker, Jabaal Sheard has notched 23 sacks in four seasons. The issue is that his production has dipped in each of those years. From a career high of 8.5 sacks in his rookie season, Sheard produced only 2.0 sacks in a career-low five starts in 2014. Regression before free agency isn’t a good sign.
Durability
Sheard missed three starts in 2013 with a knee injury and was on the injury report often in 2014 with a foot injury. The foot injury is worth monitoring as a potential long-term problem.
Intangibles
Sheard presents no concerns as an off-field player. He has a clean record and won’t be a locker room issue.
Upside
The drop in production each of the last four seasons is a concern, to be sure. Sheard has produced at a high level and has ability that’s unquestioned, but he must answer as to why his role dropped on a talent-deprived team.
Value
Sheard will come at a low cost and offers a potentially high impact right off the bat. A team that doesn’t feel like it’ll be able to draft a starter should look at Sheard as a good one-contract starter.
Overall
6. Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles
9 of 14
Production
While rarely being a starter over his five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brandon Graham has produced at a high level when on the field. He’s a dangerous pass-rusher who produced 5.5 sacks and 35 tackles in 2014—his best season yet. With 3-4 outside linebackers in high demand, Graham could be a hot commodity on the open market.
Durability
Graham has no injury issues and hasn’t missed a game in three seasons. He’s a reliable player.
Intangibles
On and off the field, Graham has no concerns or issues that would keep him from being signed.
Upside
More snaps should produce more sacks for Graham, but there is always the unknown. If he’s taken out of a part-time role, can he produce as a full-time player?
Value
Graham won’t break the bank like Justin Houston or Jerry Hughes, but he will be a priority signing for some team. That may be Philadelphia when it’s all said and done.
Overall
5. Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins
10 of 14
Production
When he’s healthy and on the field, Brian Orakpo has the athleticism and tools to be a premier pass-rusher. But injuries have limited him for two seasons (2014, 2012). In his four healthy seasons, he produced 38.5 sacks, showing the type of production that can be expected when he’s on.
Durability
A torn pectoral muscle limited Orakpo to just seven games in 2014. He also missed 14 games in 2012 with a torn left pectoral muscle. Durability is definitely a factor for Orakpo.
Intangibles
Orakpo is known as a hard worker in the weight room and a solid leader on the field. Teams have no issues to worry about when pursuing him.
Upside
If Orakpo is healthy, he’s worth big money. But his upside could be limited by his inability to stay on the field. Any team signing him must weigh risk versus reward.
Value
Orakpo is likely to sign a short-term deal revolving around his health, so expect heavy incentives in his contract. That could in turn make him an incredible value.
Overall
4. Jason Worilds, Pittsburgh Steelers
11 of 14
Production
A former second-round-pick, Jason Worilds had to bide his time behind veteran stars like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley before taking his place as a starter. Since moving into the lineup full time, Worilds has impressed as a pass-rusher on the edge. His 15.5 sacks in the last two seasons (playing on a talent-depleted team) have flown under the radar, making Worilds one of the more underrated outside linebackers in the NFL.
Durability
Worilds battled an abdominal injury this season and has been dinged up throughout his career. He ended the year on a high note, though, and played in all 16 games.
Intangibles
Worilds is a high-class locker room player, a leader in the community and has no issues off the field.
Upside
Worilds has improved each season. He has carried a bad Pittsburgh defense for the past two seasons.
Value
As a starting-caliber player, Worilds won’t get the hype of Justin Houston but has the production, athleticism and youth (26 years old) to make a huge impact for a 3-4 defense.
Overall
3. Pernell McPhee, Baltimore Ravens
12 of 14
Production
The Baltimore defense is loaded with stars, which has caused Pernell McPhee’s big ability to be overshadowed at times. His paycheck will reflect his impact. McPhee is a disruptive presence and a versatile defender able to play defensive end or linebacker. He’s the type of player who will never come off the field and can make plays against any offensive scheme.
Durability
In four seasons, McPhee has missed only four games (all in the 2012 season) and has been one of the more durable defenders in the NFL over that time period.
Intangibles
McPhee is a strong locker room presence and a leader in terms of work ethic and how he presents himself. He’s a great addition as a veteran leader.
Upside
As with any player coming out of Baltimore, you have to worry that McPhee could be the product of the talent around him and not a standout individual player. That said, his individual traits are impressive.
Value
McPhee has starter qualities despite rarely being listed as a starter in Baltimore. His sub-package skill set and ability to help the defense on every down is incredibly valuable.
Overall
2. Jerry Hughes, Buffalo Bills
13 of 14
Production
A forgotten man in Indianapolis with Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney in the starting roles, Jerry Hughes went to Buffalo and became a star. His 20 sacks over the last two seasons are evidence of his production, and he’s done that while becoming a focal point for offenses in the passing game. Hughes has played top-tier football despite not being recognized as a Pro Bowler.
Durability
Hughes hasn’t missed a game in three seasons and enters the offseason with a fully clean bill of health.
Intangibles
Hughes has no issues on or off the field and has been a great locker room player for the Bills.
Upside
Was Hughes’ major turnaround a result of his figuring out the NFL or being on a stacked defense in Buffalo? That much remains to be seen and will definitely influence teams looking to sign him as a top-tier edge-rusher.
Value
Hughes’ production, age (26 years old) and low wear and tear are rare for the free-agent market. If he’s not given the franchise tag by Buffalo, he could make huge money on the open market.
Overall
1. Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs
14 of 14
Production
Justin Houston has been one of the most dominant players in the NFL over the last three seasons. During that time, he’s posted 43 sacks, including 22 during the 2014 season—a half-sack from tying Michael Strahan’s single-season record. Houston is playing his best football as he enters his fifth NFL season. He was named a Pro Football Writers of America All-Pro following the 2014 season.
Durability
Houston missed five games in 2013 with an elbow injury, but he was not slowed by this at all in 2014.
Intangibles
Since a failed drug test in college led to his falling down draft boards, Houston has been an ideal citizen on and off the field.
Upside
Houston has played his entire career with Tamba Hali lining up opposite him, but he’s surpassed his teammate as a threat on the field. Any concerns about Houston being a system or scheme-specific linebacker should be eliminated.
Value
It would be a huge shock if Houston ever sees true free agency, as the Kansas City Chiefs should slap the franchise tag on him as soon as possible.
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