The Chicago Bears boast one of the NFL’s premier linebacker units. Earlier, Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards among the league’s top 32 linebackers, placing both within the top half. This prompted the question: Do the Bears have a top-10 linebacking group?
With the latest PFF rankings focusing on position groups, the Bears’ linebackers have been elevated to the third spot overall.
In these rankings, T.J. Edwards stands out for his impressive debut season in Chicago. He achieved PFF grades above 75.0 in both run defense and coverage, and also recorded 13 quarterback pressures as a blitzer. Although Tremaine Edmunds had a less stellar season with a PFF grade of 56.6, he had an outstanding final season in Buffalo the previous year, earning a 90.0 PFF coverage grade.
Notably absent from the initial discussion was strong-side linebacker Jack Sanborn. However, PFF rated Sanborn higher than Edmunds in 2023, giving him a grade of 67.3, which was the fifth-highest on the Bears’ defense. Sanborn is known for his instincts and filled in effectively at the Mike position during the two games Edmunds missed.
Looking ahead, second-year player Noah Sewell is expected to step up if any starters are injured. Additionally, the Bears bolstered their depth by signing 25-year-old Amen Ogbongbemiga, who is anticipated to be a key special teams contributor.
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