Every Wednesday from now until preseason I’ll be going through each position group in the NFC South. I’ll rank them from worst to first. Here is a list of the positions already covered:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers 

Tight Ends 

Offensive Tackles

Offensive Guards

Centers

Defensive Tackles

Edge

As we continue this series, we come to a position group that is surprisingly strong across the division. Inside linebacker.

Linebacker

1. Saints

Bucs QB Tom Brady and Saints MLB Demario Davis – Photo by: USA Today

In a division that boasts Lavonte David, the Saints still have a real claim to having the best linebacker in the division. And rather than quibble over who is best, given that both are over 33 can we not just appreciate the fact that two of the best linebackers of a generation competed for years in the NFC South? Demario Davis, at 35 years old last year, was still playing at a high level. And like David, while his athleticism is waning he still wins with his football IQ and processing.

One of my favorite clips from last year is this one of Davis against the Bucs.

Demario Davis knowing that Evans needs to cross the formation and calling it out before Baker does…THEN helping get Mike’s attention has me rolling 🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/6VRi9U6FJS

— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) October 2, 2023

The Saints getting this ranking isn’t me saying I think he is the better than Lavonte. But it is the combination of Davis’ strong play at the top combined with great depth behind him that gives the Saints the top spot in the linebacker rankings.

Next to Davis is Pete Werner, who has quietly been one an above average linebacker for several seasons now. He is solid in coverage and instinctive as a run defender. Werner may face a camp challenge from two-time Super Bowl champion Willie Gay Jr. Gay signed a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason. The Saints run a base 4-3 defense so the talented linebacker trio will see more time on the field together than most other groups.

Khaleke Hudson comes to New Orleans this year after spending four years with the Commanders. He got his most extended action in 2023 and played solidly as a blitzing run defender.

2. Panthers

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson – Photo by: USA Today

The Panthers have a good duo with less upside than Davis, but a strong base to work on. Shaq Thompson has been a historically good run defender who is coming off of an injury-shortened season due to a fractured fibula. Those types of injuries do not tend to have lingering effects and so I don’t expect a falloff in his solid level of historical play. He is capable, but unspectacular in coverage but does his best work on early downs.

The Panthers opted to pair an underrated Josey Jewell with Thompson by signing him in free agency to a three-year, $18.75 million contract. Given all the needs the team had from a roster standpoint, giving this kind of contract to an inside linebacker is telling as to what their priorities are. Jewell has a reputation as a strong coverage backer but is still talented as a run defender due to his plus instincts. The key for him will be health. He has missed significant parts of three of his six seasons in the league.

Behind the two veterans are a couple of young unproven commodities. Carolina took Trevin Wallace in the third round out of Kentucky. Despite the day two pick being spent on him, he’s a project who will need time to develop. His instincts are suspect at best currently, but he should be a strong special teams contributor. Claudin Cherelus was an undrafted free agent last year who didn’t log any defensive snaps.

3. Bucs

The Bucs placing third on this list may come as a shock. They have a good case for second, but I’ll take depth over ceiling in this situation. Lavonte David continues to operate at a herculean level and the fact he was left off the top-ten list of the recent poll of league personnel by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is egregious in my opinion. David is almost clairvoyant in his ability to know where to be and get to spots ahead of schedule.

#Bucs LB Lavonte David.

12 years in the league. And he’s still cutting off the ball on the perimeter.

Play recognition. No wasted movement. Pursuit angles. pic.twitter.com/wep1IjeRqT

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) May 20, 2024

David is still a plus defender in every facet of the game as he enters his 13th year in the league and continues to operate as one of the focal points of Todd Bowles’ defense.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lions TE Sam LaPorta – Photo by: USA Today

2024 will be a big year for K.J. Britt, who is entering his first year as a full-time starter as well as a contract year. Britt will be given every opportunity to prove he can be a quality starter, and his limited play last year was promising. He’s a limited athlete who was still shielded from pass coverage duties even after he was given the starting job late last year. But Britt is a strong, gap-sound run defender who thumps.

As depth the Bucs have a trio of young, unproven options in SirVocea Dennis, J.J. Russell and Kalen DeLoach. Dennis is the most intriguing option as his athletic profile and aptitude as a blitzer give him the highest theoretical upside. Russell has had the most success in limited opportunities of the three. DeLoach is a fan favorite as an undrafted free agent.

David is the only known quantity in this group which gives the Bucs a lot of potential variance. However, it is because of those unheralded and unknown quantities that they rank third in the NFC South linebacker rankings.

4. Falcons

The Falcons are not devoid of talent at linebacker, but their top-end is more good than great and it falls off quickly after their LB1. Kaden Elliss may be the best linebacker you have never heard of. The former seventh rounder played well in limited opportunities his first four years in the league with the Saints. When former defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen came to Atlanta last year, he prioritized signing Elliss to help implement his new defensive scheme. The gambit paid off and the Falcons defense improved with Elliss serving as a catalyst for the jump.

Falcons LB Kaden Elliss – Photo by: USA Today

Elliss has shown he is adept in every facet of a linebacker’s responsibilities. He was 2nd among off-ball linebackers in pressures last year with 26 despite ranking 11th in rushes with 101. He was targeted just 59 times in coverage on the year and surrendered just 0.57 yards per coverage snap. To top it off, Elliss had 30 defensive stops which was top 20 among linebackers last year. There is a real chance that when David and Davis retire, Elliss may be able to carry on the tradition of strong linebacker play in the division.

It’s after Elliss that the cliff drops quickly. Troy Andersen is currently set to start opposite Ellis. The former Montana State Bobcat generated a lot of buzz coming out of college in 2022 due to his impressive speed and athletic profile. That led the Falcons to selecting him in the second round. A late convert to the position from quarterback, he has been unable to channel his athleticism to this point. Andersen has less than 700 NFL snaps under his belt so there is still time for him to break out, but the odds are slim that it will happen.

Nate Landman may usurp Andersen as the second starter and has a good platform season in 2023 to build a case for it. He showed himself to be a strong run defender but needs to improve his consistency in tackling as well as his feel for zone coverage. He plays well in small spaces but can be exposed for a lack of speed on longer developing plays.

The Falcons selected J.D. Bertrard in the fifth round of this year’s draft and he will most likely play a special teams and developmental role.