Factoid

May 12, 2019

Rookie tacklers

Leonard, Vander Esch led impressive class

Last year was a great year for rookie defensive players. Maybe it was an unusually talented class, or maybe it speaks to teams' willingness to put those players in the starting lineup quickly. Whatever the case, it was the most productive group of defenders we've seen in a long time.

Darius Leonard was the standout, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and leading the NFL in tackles. Had he not missed a game, maybe he'd have surpassed Patrick Willis' total of 174 back in 2007, most of any rookie this century. As it was, he had the 3rd-best total since 2000, just one behind Luke Kuechly for 2nd.

Leonard was one of the seven rookies to go over 100 total tackles this year. That's tops for any rookie class over the last 20 years. There haven't been more than five 100-tackle rookies in any other season.

100-TACKLE ROOKIES, 2000-PRESENT
Year	Player	Pos	Solo	Ast	Tot
2007	Patrick Willis, S.F.	ILB	135	39	174
2012	Luke Kuechly, Car.	MLB	103	61	164
2018	Darius Leonard, Ind.	OLB	111	52	163
2013	Kiko Alonso, Buff.	MLB	87	72	159
2006	DeMeco Ryans, Hou.	MLB	125	30	155
2018	Leighton Vander Esch, Dall	OLB	102	38	140
2012	Bobby Wagner, Sea.	MLB	87	53	140
2007	Jon Beason, Car.	MLB	106	34	140
2012	Lavonte David, T.B.	OLB	112	27	139
2014	C.J. Mosley, Balt.	ILB	89	44	133
2009	Brian Cushing, Hou.	OLB	86	47	133
2008	Jerod Mayo, N.E.	ILB	100	28	128
2013	Paul Worrilow, Atl.	OLB	79	48	127
2012	Vontaze Burfict, Cin.	OLB	73	54	127
2007	David Harris, NYJ	ILB	90	37	127
2018	Fred Warner, S.F.	MLB	85	39	124
2006	Ernie Sims, Det.	OLB	81	43	124
2010	T.J. Ward, Clev.	SS	95	28	123
2018	Roquan Smith, Chi.	ILB	89	32	121
2018	Tremaine Edmunds, Buff.	MLB	80	41	121
2009	James Laurinaitis, St.L.	MLB	107	13	120
2006	A.J. Hawk, G.B.	OLB	82	37	119
2013	Alec Ogletree, St.L.	OLB	94	23	117
2005	Kirk Morrison, Oak.	LB	91	25	116
2004	D.J. Williams, Den.	OLB	81	33	114
2015	Stephone Anthony, N.O.	MLB	70	42	112
2015	Landon Collins, NYG	FS	84	28	112
2003	Nick Barnett, G.B.	MLB	86	26	112
2018	Jessie Bates, Cin.	FS	73	38	111
2006	Thomas Howard, Oak.	OLB	88	22	110
2014	Preston Brown, Buff.	OLB	66	43	109
2016	Deion Jones, Atl.	MLB	75	33	108
2014	Chris Borland, S.F.	ILB	84	24	108
2004	Jonathan Vilma, NYJ	MLB	77	30	107
2016	Keanu Neal, Atl.	SS	72	34	106
2018	Derwin James, LAC	FS	75	30	105
2005	Kerry Rhodes, NYJ	SS	85	20	105
2014	Telvin Smith, Jac.	ILB	72	32	104
2013	Johnathan Cyprien, Jac.	SS	87	17	104
2012	Harrison Smith, Minn.	FS	74	30	104
2006	Donte Whitner, Buff.	SS	67	37	104
2005	Lofa Tatupu, Sea.	MLB	85	19	104
2004	Madieu Williams, Cin.	FS	86	17	103
2004	Teddy Lehman, Det.	OLB	75	27	102
2003	Mike Doss, Ind.	SS	73	29	102
2010	Alterraun Verner, Tenn.	CB	85	16	101
2004	Erik Coleman, NYJ	FS	73	27	100
2002	Chris Cash, Det.	CB	87	13	100

Position scarcity and different scoring systems become factors when drafting individual defensive players. In some leagues you might be better off selecting a lineman like Aaron Donald than a linebacker like Leonard or Vander Esch. But when tackles are key, hard to consider anyone ahead of Leonard.

As for 2019, two rookies stand out as likely tackle producers. Tampa Bay’s Devin White and Pittsburgh’s Devin Bush should both start at inside linebacker right away. It was a good draft for pass rushers too; should be plenty of rookies in the rankings.

--Andy Richardson

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