The Year of the Rookie Linebackers

Many experts called last year’s NFL Draft the year of the running backs. Chris Johnson, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Ray Rice, Matt Forte, Jamaal Charles, Kevin Smith, Jonathan Stewart, Darren McFadden, Steve Slaton, Tim Hightower and Justin Forsett were all part of that draft class. This year’s rookie class is also loaded with talent, but not at the running back position. This has been one of the best group of rookie linebackers in NFL history. Here are the notable names that are having strong seasons and two linebackers with great potential:

• Brian Cushing (Hou) – 112 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, two and a half sacks
• Brian Orakpo (Was) – 11 sacks, one forced fumble, four sacks last week against Oakland
• Clay Matthews (GB) – 40 tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble
• James Lauinaitis (Stl) – 104 tackles, two interceptions, one sack,  one forced fumble
• Aaron Curry (Sea) – 60 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles
• Ray Maualuga (Cin) – 55 tackles, four forced fumbles, one sack
• Robert Ayers  - (Den) – 16 tackles, one fumble recovery for a touchdown
• Jasper Brinkley (Min) – 13 tackles, was huge in helping the Vikings shutdown Cedrick Benson on Sunday
• Clint Sintim (NYG) – 12 tackles, one sack

As you can see, this class is loaded with talented linebackers. I put Brinkley and Sintim on this list, because both were very good college players that will have very bright futures once they receive more playing time. With Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson out the rest of the year with a gruesome leg injury, Brinkley will be huge for the Vikings in the playoffs.