Queen’s pass-rushing prowess is not captured below (much like Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu highlighted above), but it carries significant value in addition to his strong play against the run and in coverage over the past two seasons. His 48 quarterback pressures and eight sacks over the past two seasons are both second among off-ball linebackers.
With Baltimore’s addition of linebacker Roquan Smith — the highest-paid player at the position after last year’s extension — and the team having several other pending free agents, Queen should get to test the market and potentially do quite well for himself.
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Patrick Queen | 71.3 | 67.9 | 3.4% | 6.4% | ? |
| Jamie Collins | 74.7 | 67.5 | 3.7% | 9.0% | 7.5% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
Brooks draws tough assignments in coverage, which knocks his grade a bit, but it also illustrates the trust this defense has in him. His ability to return by Week 1 of 2023 from a torn ACL suffered in Week 17 of 2022 was extremely impressive, and he posted career highs in pass-rush grade and coverage grade this season. Brooks is a three-down player who could continue to grow with improved health and experience.
Perhaps it would be wise for Brooks to sign a shorter deal that enables him to get back on the market sooner for another bite at the apple, with more good play to put on tape another year removed from his torn ACL.
Top free agent comparison: Bobby Okereke, 2023
The ageless wonder may not be the elite coverage linebacker he was for the better part of a decade, but he is still a tackling machine sideline to sideline with dogged pursuit on every single snap and the requisite strength to shed blockers when coming forward. Wagner has lost athletic ability in space, but he’s made up a lot of that ground due to his play recognition and football IQ.
Top free agent comparison: Daryl Smith, 2016
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Bobby Wagner | 92.7 | 66.7 | 4.0% | 9.1% | ? |
| Daryl Smith | 77.5 | 62.7 | 5.0% | 8.5% | 1.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
Al-Shaair was the 49ers’ third linebacker while working behind star Fred Warner and the hard-hitting Dre Greenlaw from 2019-22 before signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Titans last offseason. Al-Shaair is completely fearless coming forward and attacking gaps in the run game, bursting through blocks or fighting with a second effort to make a play. There are limitations in coverage, but if any team needs an early-down thumper in the run game, Al-Shaair is the guy.
Top free agent comparison: Todd Davis, 2018
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | 76.5 | 57.2 | 2.8% | 8.0% | ? |
| Todd Davis | 85.3 | 52.5 | 2.6% | 9.1% | 2.8% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
White carries top-five-pick pedigree into free agency, which will always lead to a stronger market, and he’s consistently one of the most productive pass rushers among off-ball linebackers, using his elite athleticism to explode into the backfield. White’s issue at the NFL level has been biting on play action too frequently, freelancing at times and struggling in coverage generally, and it’s not great timing that 2023 was his least productive year by far in terms of defensive stops, tackles and pressures.
Top free agent comparison: N/A
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Devin White | 29.7 | 42.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | ? |
| N/A | – | – | – | – | – |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
Jewell may not be great in any one facet of linebacker play, but he’s good in all of them. And a well-rounded linebacker is an asset to any defense. Jewell covers well in zone, with good spatial awareness to get proper depth, and he has the ability to come forward and blitz up the middle on occasion.
Jewell wears the green dot on defense and gets everyone lined up, and he rarely seems out of position. A team looking for a field general with several years of starter experience could do much worse.
Top free agent comparison: Wesley Woodyard, 2014
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Josey Jewell | 74.1 | 72.4 | 3.6% | 6.0% | ? |
| Wesley Woodyard | 61.2 | 75.5 | 1.6% | 8.8% | 2.9% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
Cashman was acquired via trade from the New York Jets before the 2022 season but went on to play just 149 defensive snaps due to a concussion sidelining him for a while. Flash-forward to 2023 with the arrival of new head coach and former NFL linebacker DeMeco Ryans, and Cashman is having a career year.
Cashman’s pass-rush ability has been the value add we’ve known about even when he logged limited snaps in past years, but his eight tackles for loss or no gain against the run is a top-15 mark, and his 79.7 coverage grade ranks 15th. Among 55 linebackers with at least 50 tackles in 2023, Cashman’s 7% missed tackle rate is a top-15 mark.
Over the past two seasons, Cashman has racked up 19 pressures, five sacks and five quarterback hits on just 94 pass-rush snaps, and that will be the skill he hangs his hat on in free agency.
Top free agent comparison: Zaire Franklin, 2022
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Blake Cashman | 82.7 | 71.9 | 7.8% | 8.0% | ? |
| Zaire Franklin | 74.9 | 73.0 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 1.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
It came as a surprise last offseason when Tranquill’s free agent market didn’t pan out, but he eventually joined the Chiefs on a one-year, $3 million flier. Tranquill is light on his feet and can get washed out of plays against the run, but he more than makes up for it in coverage and as a free rusher. Tranquill has recorded 33 quarterback pressures and 10 sacks dating back to 2022.
As a coverage backer, Tranquill has recorded 36 stops in coverage since 2022, and his 0.85 yards per coverage snap allowed over the span is a top-25 mark. Tranquill possesses the change-of-direction ability to carry running backs on out-breaking routes to the flat, as well as the backpedaling speed to patrol the deep middle in a variety of Tampa 2-esque looks that Steve Spagnuolo likes to deploy and disguise, making his fit and big role in this defense unsurprising despite a lot of draft capital invested at the position in recent years.
Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson had a similar profile before signing a one-year, $2.75 million contract in 2021.
Top free agent comparison: Kyzir White, 2022
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Drue Tranquill | 47.3 | 73.4 | 3.1% | 7.0% | ? |
| Kyzir White | 53.5 | 70.6 | 3.7% | 6.3% | 1.4% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
11. LB Jordan Hicks, Minnesota Vikings
2024 Free agency rank: 96
Hicks was having his best season in a half-decade through Week 10 before a scary injury required a trip to the hospital and an extended absence from football, but he did return in Week 16. Hicks moves well north to south and packs a punch as a tackler, rarely missing many opportunities despite a very high volume in defensive stops and total tackles over the past five years. He has some limitations in coverage at this stage of his career, with average stop-and-start ability horizontally, but Hicks is a tone-setter over the middle who makes a ton of plays each week.
Top free agent comparison: Kevin Burnett, 2013
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Jordan Hicks | 83.8 | 49.5 | 4.5% | 8.7% | ? |
| Kevin Burnett | 73.2 | 50.8 | 4.6% | 9.2% | 2.3% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
12. LB Willie Gay, Kansas City Chiefs
2024 Free agency rank: 105
Top free agent comparison: Cody Barton, 2023
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Willie Gay | 63.6 | 56.2 | 1.0% | 6.7% | ? |
| Cody Barton | 64.5 | 53.3 | 3.3% | 7.3% | 1.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
13. LB Tyrel Dodson, Buffalo Bills
2024 Free agency rank: 109
Top free agent comparison: Nick Kwiatkoski, 2020
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Tyrel Dodson | 77.2 | 66.2 | 4.7% | 10.3% | ? |
| Nick Kwiatkoski | 69.3 | 64.8 | 4.7% | 7.7% | 3.5% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
14. LB Oren Burks, San Francisco 49ers
2024 Free agency rank: 112
Burks will always carry special teams value which should establish a higher floor for him contractually, in line with recently-signed linebackers like Zaire Franklin and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, among others.
Top free agent comparison: Zaire Franklin, 2022
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Oren Burks | 76.1 | 76.5 | 2.4% | 6.8% | ? |
| Zaire Franklin | 74.9 | 73.0 | 5.6% | 6.0% | 1.6% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
15. LB Nicholas Morrow, Philadelphia Eagles
2024 Free agency rank: 140
Top free agent comparison: Kyzir White, 2023
| Player | Run-defense grade | Coverage grade in the box | Forced incompletion rate | Run-stop rate | APY as % of Cap at signing |
| Nicholas Morrow | 58.5 | 63.9 | 3.4% | 7.9% | ? |
| Kyzir White | 64.8 | 67.0 | 4.4% | 7.8% | 2.2% |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF’s free agency rankings
