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How well can Jaylon Smith play this season?
The linebackers across the NFC East are talented but just how good are they? While Sean Lee is the best linebacker in the division, his supporting cast remains suspect. Let's take a look at how the linebacking corps fare across the division.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks
Hicks and Kendricks lead the Eagles defense this year and enter this season with the best linebacking group in the division. Hicks and Kendricks are accompanied by Nigel Bradham who has had a string of great performances at outside linebacker. This trio is very talented and will lead the Philadelphia defense all season.
Dallas Cowboys: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, Anthony Hitchens
In all likelihood, the Cowboys will start the season with Smith and Hitchens playing alongside All-Pro Sean Lee. It is clear that Lee is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and this year will be no different. His talent, speed, intuition, and leadership is undeniable and absolutely critical for the Cowboys to be successful this season. What will separate this group from the rest is the potential play of Smith. At best, Smith can be a superstar in his own right, but given his injury history, only time will tell how successful he can be. Given the uncertainty surrounding Smith, the Cowboys linebacking corps ranks as the second best group in the division.
Washington Commanders: Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan leads the linebacking group in Washington but he has limited talent around him. While this group will benefit from adding a pair of new defensive line starters in Jonathan Allen and Terrell McClain, the group lacks the talent needed to make a substantial impact in the middle of the field. Look for Ryan Anderson, their new second-round pick, to make an impact this season. The Commanders have the second least talented linebacking group in the division.
New York Giants: B.J. Goodson
While the Giants boast a remarkable defensive line, their linebacking group is a combination of misfits and mediocre players. In prior seasons, their linebackers have gone unnoticed because of how talented their defensive line and secondary has been, particularly last season when they saw Landon Collins erupt onto the scene. At this point, it is unclear who the starters will be and as a result, they have the least talented linebacking group in the NFC East.
Summary
Philadelphia Eagles: 4 points
Dallas Cowboys: 3 points
Washington Commanders: 2 points
New York Giants: 1 point
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Previous articles in this series: QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, O-line, D-Line.
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