2022 Rookie Linebackers Worth Holding?

[Menace2010]

A number of fairly high-profile (and highly drafted) rookie LBs did absolutely nothing this season. Need to make some roster cuts to clear IR ahead of the off-season in multiple leagues and debating what to do with them. What are people's opinions on:

Terrel Bernard, BUF LB
Channing Tindall, MIA LB
Brian Asamoah, MIN LB
Damone Clark, DAL LB

Which are worth holding onto and which can get kicked to waivers? I can basically talk myself into all four, but can't keep them all lol.

[Oddball456]

I have no clue as I don't need to do cut downs until close to the start of the NFL season next year. That said, it will almost certainly depend on the contact status of the starters on those teams. If you dropped these players, would anyone else in your league even pick them up?

[Dunville]

Just want to preface this by saying at this stage it’s hard to say for definite what will play out, there’s so many moving parts with the playoffs, FA, rookie drafts etc… so at best we can speculate.

Terrel Bernard - Bills - Milano is going nowhere and is balling for the Bills in their playoff run he’s going nowhere. Tremaine Edmunds is a FA so there is definitely an opening. Bernard garnered one start playing nearly 100% snaps but from accounts it wasn’t a great game and was basically relegated to special teams, he holds good draft capital and has a shot at a starting job which is a pretty lucrative spot since the Bills run a lot of 2LB+ sets. A hold but wouldn’t be surprised if the Bills looked to the draft/FA since they are right in a contending window.

Channing Tindall - Dolphins - Jerome Baker is signed for the foreseeable and is on a relatively reasonable contract and the dead cap - savings wouldn’t appear worth it, he’s likely here through 2023 and 2024. I’m not 100% certain on the Miami scheme off the top of my head but it doesn’t strike me as one that generally supports 2LBs. Tindall has played minimal defensive snaps this year so it’s hard to truly pass judgement. For transparency I haven’t watched a ton of Miami defensive football this year so someone else may be able to wade in.

Brian Asamoah - Vikings - both Kendricks and Hicks are signed through 2023 but are out of contract after that. Both have relatively cheap “outs”. Cutting Kendricks would save $9.5m with $2m in dead cap and Hicks would save $5m with $1.5m in dead cap. Asamoah is a solid hold at this time to see what happens. If both the starters are back then playing time will be minimal but if the Vikings move on from one or even both then it’s easy to imagine he gets first crack. Towards the end of the season his snaps increased but it was nominal playing in the teens and I think 21 against the colts.

Damone Clark - Cowboys - The Cowboys haven’t featured many full time year but it was LVE who manned that spot for most of the year. LVE is out of contract but I could see a situation where they re-sign him. Clark has played well when called upon so in the event they don’t re-sign LVE Clark has the inside track for a full time role (80+% snaps). However it would be hard pressed to see the Cowboys go into next year so thin at LB, especially since they’re in the midst of a playoff run this year.

If I had to rank them based on the info today and my own personal feelings I’d go;

Asamoah
Clark
Bernard
Tindall

[Menace2010]

This is unbelievably helpful and why I appreciate these boards. Thanks for the very detailed analysis/response!

For context I'm in 16 team leagues where we can start up to 4 LBs (and tackle heavy, so they are usually what you want in the DP slots). So to answer the first question, I'm not sure they'd be picked up immediately but it'd help a lot if I keep the ones that actually pan out haha.

[SN9-7Titans]

Completely apart from the names listed, and have nothing really to add to what others have said, one name i will watch closely and will definitely hold in deeper leagues:

Brandon Smith CAR

Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu are only signed for 2023. the latter might get his extension, but there is an opening theoretically after 2023. Smith is only 21 right now. There is so much upside for him and his tape and highlights are insane to watch how he lays out other players.

[Dunville]

Just as an update - Kendricks was cut.

Asamoah gets a bump but remember the off-season is long, there’s FA and the draft to go.

I can’t imagine they sign an expensive FA given they let kendricks go to save money.

[Pantherbro13]

Completely apart from the names listed, and have nothing really to add to what others have said, one name i will watch closely and will definitely hold in deeper leagues:

Brandon Smith CAR

Shaq Thompson and Frankie Luvu are only signed for 2023. the latter might get his extension, but there is an opening theoretically after 2023. Smith is only 21 right now. There is so much upside for him and his tape and highlights are insane to watch how he lays out other players.

As Panthers fan I would call this a long shot now with Shaq signed for two more years. Word is Chinn is going to be used more at LB this year too. If an injury happens, absolutely worth a pickup. They’ll be running a 3-4 base this year so it’ll be a rotation of Shaq/Luvu/Chinn manning those two interior spots. Luvu and Chinn both will be moved around a lot but I’d bet they each play a lot of ILB snaps. Luvu moving around to rush the passer and Chinn moving around at LB/nickel/safety. Chinn could also be the LB in the dime package. If either of Shaq/Luvu were to miss games, Smith would be worth a pickup. But even then he may only see snaps in the 3-4 look. If Carolina’s secondary stays healthy can expect Ejiro to use Horn like Surtain. Leaving Jackson/Henderson/Rowe/Taylor/Whoever is drafted taking the other CB snaps. Chinn/Woods/Bell will share the safety snaps and signing Bell allows Chinn to play where he’s better closer to the LOS. I see the secondary players being used a lot as opposed to a Smith possibly seeing some 3rd LB snaps.

Word also is Carolina is interested in drafting another LB, especially if one were to slip to pick 39. Jack Campbell might not be there but could definitely see Carolina taking him if he slipped. If we don’t go LB at 39 I would bet one being drafted in the middle rounds just like Smith was too.

Agreed on Smith’s tape though, he’s exciting. Luvu breaking out may have just halted the Brandon Smith breakout. Might need to wait until after his rookie contract for that if Shaq/Luvu continue to play well.

[IR1]

Any player updates now that we've had training camp and a preseason game? Anybody standing out?

[Buster05]

Ive got one, which Jaguars 2nd year LB will be the guy next to Oloukon? Lloyd or Muma? Anyone has insight on this?

[Sinatra's Liver]

And, which LB do we believe in more - Christian Harris or Brian Asamoah? I'm going to have to cut one and Taxi the other. I'm just trying to figure out which one gets the axe.

[lukkynumber13]

And, which LB do we believe in more - Christian Harris or Brian Asamoah? I'm going to have to cut one and Taxi the other. I'm just trying to figure out which one gets the axe.

If it’s a shallow enough league that this is a decision, I taxi BA & cut Harris. Houston has 5 different ILBs that could get starting time and it wouldn’t surprise me. Minny has only Hicks & Asamoah.

That being said, if the league is this shallow it doesn’t really matter. Cut whoever you want and the stakes remain low

[stick3925]

And, which LB do we believe in more - Christian Harris or Brian Asamoah? I'm going to have to cut one and Taxi the other. I'm just trying to figure out which one gets the axe.

If it’s a shallow enough league that this is a decision, I taxi BA & cut Harris. Houston has 5 different ILBs that could get starting time and it wouldn’t surprise me. Minny has only Hicks & Asamoah.

That being said, if the league is this shallow it doesn’t really matter. Cut whoever you want and the stakes remain low

I agree with Lukky on keeping BA over Harris but I think its very close and needs to be mentioned that Vikings undrafted rookie Ivan Pace sounds like he is actually going to be challenging for playing time out of the gate so it's not "only Hicks & Asamoah" in Minny.

[Menace2010]

Lloyd going to bounce back based on everything I've read. He's had a good off season. Think Harris has one spot locked down, all the other LBs are competing for the other spot, if he's wearing the green dot, I'd prefer him to BA personally.

[Space Cowboy]

Bernard is still a good mention. It’s him vs Dodson from what I’ve read with the Tulane rookie in the distance.

Clark is a good mention. Maybe Neal drops down to LB? Overshown has looked good and then there’s Cox still lingering.

As for Loyd I can’t imagine Moma is overtaking without him falling flat on his face.

[Sinatra's Liver]

I traded Asamoah and Devin Lloyd for Nakobe Dean and Ernest Jones. I'll taxi Harris and hope that Ryans turns him into a good/great MLB.