Highest graded NFL LBers the last 5 seasons

[TheMarathonContinues]

Ah. Gotcha.


Meanwhile, Wagner has his 9th Pro Bowl season in Seattle, and his 10th Pro Bowl season in 2024 in Washington.

You’re right but at the same time he’s a big part in why that defense was bad.

 

[Stash]

They made that decision long before Styles became part of the equation.
I'm guessing it was somewhere around the halfway point of last season!

Oh yeah, I agree. They definitely made the decision to move on prior to the draft. But they turned around and used their top 10 pick to replace him.

 

[Stash]

I mean I don’t disagree with taking a look but I assumed trading for the Texans linebacker that was the resources they wanted to use.

Dee Winters?

 

[Stash]

10m a year is the reason.

They threw away $7.5 and a draft pick for the Kenneth Murray disaster.

 

[Stash]

From
What I’ve read apparently Wagner is good against the run but they wanted to upgrade their linebacker room. To the point they used a top 10
Pick on linebacker. Nevermind they have Frankie Luvu and signed Chanal. Which you can’t blame them they were just as bad as we were.

Oh I don’t blame them. Wagner is at the end of his career. At this point, you hope he’s still got enough to get you through this season.

 

[exciter]

Oh yeah, I agree. They definitely made the decision to move on prior to the draft. But they turned around and used their top 10 pick to replace him.

Considering what was available to them in this draft they didn't have much of a choice!

 

[fivetwos]

Who’s the rookie with the neck problem?

Damone Clark. Spine maybe. Same thing for this purpose.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Dee Winters?

Sorry I was thinking Aziz for some reason but 9ers linebacker lol. Winters.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Oh I don’t blame them. Wagner is at the end of his career. At this point, you hope he’s still got enough to get you through this season.

Yeah it’s tough to say what he is. But I guess maybe the part we aren’t taking inconsideration is maybe he doesn’t want to play for the Commanders. I could see him going to a team that allows him to break the tackles record.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Damone Clark. Spine maybe. Same thing for this purpose.

I forgot about him but I could’ve swore he was hurt to start his career. I don’t remember him being a starter then.

 

[blueblood70]

Sorry I was thinking Aziz for some reason but 9ers linebacker lol. Winters.

They did pick up the phone and to see if the Texans wanted to trade him But yes both of them used to be 49ers and both of them might be a mistake I hope the same thing happens with winners here as what's happened with Aziz that now we got a nice big contract I mean the 49ERS LED a couple of good players go everyone keeps saying yeah but it's a fifth round pick he was trashed they didn't need him really 'cause they let Aziz go as well..

Not like the 49ers are perfect and not prone to making mistakes they've made plenty of them i'm hoping Winners is one of them as well he I don't think he's peaked yet I think his upside has not been met I mean his ceiling whatever you want to call it...

 

[blueblood70]

Damone Clark. Spine maybe. Same thing for this purpose.

Yes but he got over his injury he just didn't live up to expectations they did the same thing when the Kobe Dean in the same draft I believe teams do this they pick up injured player that should have been picked much higher and they hope it works out this happens all over the NFL by the way it's not just the Cowboys but I realize you're talking about something different but his injury did not hold him back He just didn't live up to what they hope for I don't think he's injured at all...

He just doesn't have the instincts his read and react is too slow he doesn't know where he's supposed to be I mean at best he's a 4th Stringer and a rotational role maybe special teams but yeah that's another swinging to miss at linebacker Sean Lee go all the way back to him so they continue to try that..

 

[gimmesix]

As much as I love Wagner, I don't see a fit for him at this time

Don't know if I agree with Akoye. Even though we'll run some 5-1-5, I think our base will be 5-2-4 with Overshown and Winters at LB because both can cover and with Hooker on the bench. I think we'll see Hooker out there primarily when we go to our nickel or dime looks.

I expect us to start off on first down with: DE Quinnen Williams, NT Otitto Ogbonnia or Kenny Clark, DE Kenny Clark or Jonathan Bullard, OLB Donovan Eze, ILB DeMarvion Overshown, ILB Dee Winters, OLB Rashan Gary, CB DaRon Bland, S Caleb Downs, S Jalen Thompson, CB Shavon Revel

Nickel/Dime: DE Malachi Lawrence/Donovan Eze, DT Quinnen Williams, DT Rashan Gary, DE James Houston/Malachi Lawrence, ILB DeMarvion Overshown/Dee Winters, ILB Dee Winters/Marquese Bell, CB DaRon Bland, NCB Caleb Downs, S Jalen Thompson, S Malik Hooker, CB Shavon Revel

Obviously, players like Barham, Overton, Locke and Durant will be competing for roles and/or rotating in. I could easily see Barham becoming one of the 5-2-4 inside linebackers and Overton getting some rotational snaps as a 5-2-4 DE. Durant might get some nickel snaps or even beat out Revel or Bland for starter snaps if Bland is slowed coming off injury. Locke also might challenge Hooker for snaps.

 

[gimmesix]

There’s something weird with the Cowboys and Bobby Wagner. For some strange reason, they don’t like him. Even when Dan Quinn was here, he couldn’t manage to get the Cowboys organization to sign him.

It wasn’t until he went to Washington that the two could reunite.

All the guy does is play well, but this team wants nothing to do with him.

No reason other than money. Wagner wanted more than Dallas was willing to pay. Don't know if that is still the case now, but it was the case then.

 

[Stash]

No reason other than money. Wagner wanted more than Dallas was willing to pay. Don't know if that is still the case now, but it was the case then.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

 

[gimmesix]

Penny wise, pound foolish.

That has been the method around here since 2013. I'm just shocked that we actually gave an outside free agent a three-year contract this year. I'm really hoping that Jalen Thompson is highly successful this year because the Joneses are reactionary. Their penny-pinching was an overreaction to their Brandon Carr contract (along with a few others). Would love to see them start valuing at least some quality outside free agents, even if it's at more low-cost positions like safety.

I think the misses at linebacker in free agency, though, show that they are only going to go so far with it and not get into bidding wars for players. There is evidence that we went after several before settling for Winters, but the cost was too high, whether it should have been considered too much or not.

I don't know now with Wagner if the cost is too high or we're just not interested in him because he's a more limited linebacker now as far as coverage skills go. Considering no one has signed him, I assume either he doesn't want to sign at the moment, is asking too much or teams are concerned that his skills will decline further compared to his asking price.

 

[fivetwos]

Yes but he got over his injury he just didn't live up to expectations they did the same thing when the Kobe Dean in the same draft I believe teams do this they pick up injured player that should have been picked much higher and they hope it works out this happens all over the NFL by the way it's not just the Cowboys but I realize you're talking about something different but his injury did not hold him back He just didn't live up to what they hope for I don't think he's injured at all...

He just doesn't have the instincts his read and react is too slow he doesn't know where he's supposed to be I mean at best he's a 4th Stringer and a rotational role maybe special teams but yeah that's another swinging to miss at linebacker Sean Lee go all the way back to him so they continue to try that..

I get it. You’re right. That one just sticks with me because it was so obvious. Does it make much of a difference if they sign him? That’s tough to say, but I just hope they’ve learned that when you’re on the cusp of winning, you don’t have break the bank so to speak, but you should probably extend the lines of comfort a bit.

Those 22 and 23 teams were good, but got attacked hard up the gut on defense. Then I hear that Quinn asked for Wagner and was told no. Things like that are why people claim that winning isn’t important to the Joneses.

I don’t agree with that thought, but I do think they rely on the draft and rookies a little more than they ought to for a team that’s expecting/hoping to win.

That said, I think there’s a really good shot that this draft was a lot like 2005 and can remake this defense quickly,

Let’s stay with that. I’m sure you’re in.

 

[blueblood70]

I get it. You’re right. That one just sticks with me because it was so obvious. Does it make much of a difference if they sign him? That’s tough to say, but I just hope they’ve learned that when you’re on the cusp of winning, you don’t have break the bank so to speak, but you should probably extend the lines of comfort a bit.

Those 22 and 23 teams were good, but got attacked hard up the gut on defense. Then I hear that Quinn asked for Wagner and was told no. Things like that are why people claim that winning isn’t important to the Joneses.

I don’t agree with that thought, but I do think they rely on the draft and rookies a little more than they ought to for a team that’s expecting/hoping to win.

That said, I think there’s a really good shot that this draft was a lot like 2005 and can remake this defense quickly,

Let’s stay with that. I’m sure you’re in.

Be one thing I will admit and typically I agree with Jerry that most of these players are not worth signing that may be ready to fall off a Cliff He was hesitant to sign Wagner and at the time I agreed I felt like what happened last year and why there's very little interest this year was going to happen two or 3 years ago and it didn't to his credit he and Derek Henry and guys like Terrell Owens are just different they're built different They're like aliens They can play at that level for that long.. Yes I can add in Emmett Smith I mean longevity is important but I was wrong on Wagner 100% I wish they would have put him there..

But most players with that much wear and tear at certain positions typically there's reasons why an owner or GM doesn't want to bring them in.. But yes in hindsight I was wrong... And yes we've been fumbling around at the linebacker positions for a very long time and haven't had a set that played together with consistency since Hitchens and Wilson and I can't remember who else was in there but that was a pretty good room people undervalued that room but Kansas City took both those players and still won a ring, With our cast offs..

So yes I'll give you that... Going back in time in hindsight they made a mistake not bringing in Wagner knowing Dan Quinn's defense having a few good years left yes they made a mistake...

 

[fivetwos]

Be one thing I will admit and typically I agree with Jerry that most of these players are not worth signing that may be ready to fall off a Cliff He was hesitant to sign Wagner and at the time I agreed I felt like what happened last year and why there's very little interest this year was going to happen two or 3 years ago and it didn't to his credit he and Derek Henry and guys like Terrell Owens are just different they're built different They're like aliens They can play at that level for that long.. Yes I can add in Emmett Smith I mean longevity is important but I was wrong on Wagner 100% I wish they would have put him there..

But most players with that much wear and tear at certain positions typically there's reasons why an owner or GM doesn't want to bring them in.. But yes in hindsight I was wrong... And yes we've been fumbling around at the linebacker positions for a very long time and haven't had a set that played together with consistency since Hitchens and Wilson and I can't remember who else was in there but that was a pretty good room people undervalued that room but Kansas City took both those players and still won a ring, With our cast offs..

So yes I'll give you that... Going back in time in hindsight they made a mistake not bringing in Wagner knowing Dan Quinn's defense having a few good years left yes they made a mistake...

In hindsight I can see how they thought he might have been cooked, but Quinn didn’t think so and they should have listened to him. They needed a thumper and leader in the middle of that defense, not a rookie with injury issues. Maybe I’m wrong but them being high on Clark is the reason they passed.

It was simply the wrong decision, which happens, but it’s also the type of mistake thats underrated in the big picture.

A team could lose games when plays aren’t made on the field, but they lose many more when the team is built in the off-season, and the “drought” is real with this one, so they are going to be questioned.

Again though, right now I’m as positive as I have been about this team in a long while. I prefer to focus on that for now, but not signing Wagner was a mistake at the time, and I thought so then.

As for now, if Quinn isn’t signing him he is probably actually done at this point in time. He will catch on with like the Rams in October. I don’t see him in an NFL camp this year.

 

[rambo2]

That would be very bad. You never wanna see your safety be the teams leading tackler.

It wasn't bad for Alabama.