PFF rankings: 49ers linebackers the ‘gold standard’ of the NFL

Pro Football Focus continues its annual offseason position group rankings. The latest entry has Dalton Wasserman ranking all 32 linebacker groups across the NFL, and the choice for the top spot was easy for the analyst.

Wasserman notes that modern NFL offenses have taken a toll on NFL linebackers, with defenses more often deploying five defensive backs on the field and the same time. That means linebackers are asked to do more than they were in previous years, being depended on in coverage.

In Wasserman’s opinion, which unit best represents the modern NFL and is the overall best? That would be none other than the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers.

“They finished second in the NFL in run-defense grade (90.7) and led the NFL with an outstanding 88.5 coverage grade,” wrote Wasserman.

“The 49ers boast two legitimate stars in Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. Warner is the NFL’s most consistent coverage linebacker and posted a career-high 89.7 run-defense grade this past season, too. Greenlaw had a career year in 2022, earning a 79.6 overall grade bolstered by a nearly 20-point jump in coverage grade.”

Pro Football Focus recently ranked Warner as the league’s best linebacker. Greenlaw came in at No. 8 on the list. But the unit is more than a two-person show.

“The group lost situational run defender Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency, but Oren Burks seems poised to take over that role,” Wasserman continued.

“The 49ers have the best pair of linebackers in football and the depth to fill in if one of them were to suffer a short-term injury. They are the current gold standard at the position.”

The Chicago Bears followed the 49ers at No. 2. The Baltimore Ravens were listed at No. 3.

As for the rest of the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks came in at No. 7, the Arizona Cardinals sit at No. 23, and the Los Angeles Rams were last in the league at No. 32.