Highlights
- Linebackers play an exciting role in the NFL, being the sack and fumble generators in Madden NFL 24 as teams regularly blitz them.
- Matthew Judon deserves a higher ranking due to his impressive performance, making four consecutive Pro Bowls and setting a career-high in sacks last year.
- Bobby Wagner is one of the best middle linebackers of all time, with a Super Bowl win and eight consecutive Pro Bowl awards, and his return to the Seahawks is highly anticipated.
Linebackers are in an exciting moment in NFL history. As defensive linemen eat up blocks and safeties are increasingly tasked with tackling, linebackers get to be the sack and fumble generators in Madden NFL 24. Teams are regularly blitzing their linebackers.
The aggressiveness makes this an exciting position that keeps offenses guessing. The best linebackers make the most of this freedom, smashing opponent backfields in Madden NFL 24 and preventing running backs from getting past the line of scrimmage.
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10 Matthew Judon - LOLB - 89 OVR
Of all players who should be higher on this list, Matthew Judon's case is the easiest to plead. He has made the last four consecutive Pro Bowls and just set a career-high in sacks last year. He's never played better than this and he was already playing well before then.
This may have more to do with New England than Judon personally as the team took a pretty steep step backward. In fact, Judon was the only Patriot to make the Pro Bowl. Gamers predicted where the highest-ranked players would land and this was a particularly low score.
9 Bobby Wagner - MLB - 89 OVR
After one year with the Rams, Bobby Wagner is back with the Seahawks, the team where he won the Super Bowl and eight consecutive Pro Bowl awards. If this list were about career accomplishments at the linebacker position, Wagner would be the highest MLB on it.
He's one of the best of all time. Although he didn't get the Pro Bowl nod last year, he recorded career highs in games played and sacks, so his snub was more about the Rams not playing well than his own play. Seattle fans will be hoping he never leaves again.
8 Haason Reddick - LOLB - 90 OVR
The Eagles made it to the Super Bowl last year after acquiring Haason Reddick and those two events are definitely related. Reddick tied for the league lead in forced fumbles and was disruptive for Philadelphia all year, making his first Pro Bowl in the process.
The are some likely stars for the Madden NFL 24 cover but if the Eagles would have won that Super Bowl, there is a good argument to be made that Reddick would have been on the shortlist. If the team can keep things going on the offensive end, the Eagles could easily win it all this upcoming season.
7 Demario Davis - MLB - 90 OVR
Over eleven years, Demario Davis has only missed one game. He's playing his best football now, making his first Pro Bowl in 2022 and setting career highs in interceptions and sacks. That's a scary prospect for those looking to pass or run around the veteran.
Davis has established himself on four different teams as a quality middle linebacker. The Saints are bringing him back in 2023 and hoping they can get their offense fixed. If they do, Davis is ready to do his part on the other side of the ball.
6 Lavonte David - MLB - 91 OVR
Super Bowl champion Lavonte David may have eleven years in the NFL and be eight years removed from his lone Pro Bowl season but his consistency makes him indispensable. He started all 17 games last season and has never started less than 12 games during a campaign in his career.
David's tackle numbers are up, too. Tampa Bay still has a Super Bowl team with the right quarterback, especially with David playing this well. If he can hold on for a few more years, the Buccaneers have a chance to get him a second title.
5 Joey Bosa - LOLB - 91 OVR
In seven seasons, Joey Bosa has only managed to play a full season three times. Unfortunately, this includes last year as he missed all but five games. Even so, Bosa has four Pro Bowl selections because, when he is on the field, he changes the game.
The Chargers have one of the best safeties in football to help shut down passing. If Bosa stays healthy and shuts down the run, the Chargers are a squad that can definitely win a championship. Los Angeles just needs some health and good luck for Bosa to be widely recognized as a true superstar.
4 Roquan Smith - MLB - 92 OVR
In a mid-season trade, Chicago traded Roquan Smith to Baltimore and they immediately regretted it. Smith made his first Pro Bowl and set a career-high in tackles and interceptions. Against the most talented quarterbacks, Smith locked down the middle of the field.
The Ravens only need some luck when it comes to health so long as Smith handles business on the defensive side of the ball. If the team plays defense the way he does, this squad is worthy of championship consideration.
3 T.J. Watt - LOLB - 94 OVR
With T.J. Watt missing 7 of the 17 games last year, fans would have accepted a simply average season. Yet Watt still made the Pro Bowl and played at a high level. It wasn't 2021 where he set the NFL single-season sack record but it was impressive to see.
Madden might skip a year at some point but Watt wouldn't let injury stop him. The former Defensive Player of the Year could easily improve statistically, especially if Pittsburgh commits to the supporting cast around their notable superstars.
2 Maxx Crosby - LOLB - 94 OVR
A stellar 2022 season gave Maxx Crosby his second Pro Bowl nod in a row. He set career highs in tackles and sacks, anchoring a defense in dire need of help. The Raiders fell apart last season on both sides of the ball despite Crosby playing like the best in the business.
With a shakeup, hopefully Las Vegas will give Crosby some more help. It's scary to think that Crosby is this good going against constant double teams. With one of the best wide receivers in football, the Raiders can easily be better overall so long as Crosby continues to play at this level.
1 Fred Warner - MLB - 96 OVR
Middle linebackers are often overlooked by fans because they're in charge of stuffing runs and keeping quarterbacks from throwing the ball, those stats that don't often show up. Thankfully, the ratings adjusters are on top of it and recognize the strength of Warner's game.
Against the game's best running backs, Warner is fearless, limiting the ground game and forcing opposing teams to take longer, riskier passes. The 49ers defense is recognized as one of the greatest around and it's spearheaded by Warner.
Madden NFL 24 will be released on August 18th, 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.