In IDP leagues, no position is more important than linebacker—the reality is that, in most leagues, if you don't have a strong group of linebackers, you're done. Finished. Toast. Linebackers are usually the highest-scoring and most consistent players in fantasy.
The reason for that is tackles. Linebackers who rack up big-time tackle numbers have both a high ceiling and a high floor. And while talent is, of course, a factor in which linebackers pile up the stops, there's another major consideration—opportunity.
And the key to opportunity for most linebackers is simply being on the field. Snaps. It's hard to tackle a guy from the sideline—unless you are Mike Tomlin.
The problem is that in this day of the nickel as the base defense, the age of three off-ball linebackers being on the field a majority of the time is over. As a matter of fact, with many NFL teams playing either more dime or three-safety looks, there are plenty of situations in which just one off-ball linebacker is on the field for a team.
Often, that lone linebacker is wearing a sticker on his helmet—the green dot that signifies that player is wearing the helmet communicator on defense and making the defensive play calls. That green dot LB very rarely leaves the field, and while teams sometimes use a safety in that capacity, the overwhelming majority of NFL teams give that assignment to a linebacker.
With the number of every-down linebackers dwindling by the season, knowing who those green dot lb are is valuable information for IDP managers. To provide those managers with that information, once again in 2024 at Footballguys, we'll be maintaining an updated list of both who the defensive signal-caller is for all 32 NFL teams and who the other three-down linebackers are.
There will also be notes to keep fantasy managers apprised as to why any changes to the list happened--whether due to injury or performance, the dot can (and will) change hands.
Now, this first list is admittedly an exercise in speculation in many cases. Whether it was the draft or free agency, quite a few linebacker groups look much different in 2024. Never mind teams that changed staffs or at least defensive coordinators—changes that can impact schemes, strategy, and who gets green dot LB duties
Still, we have to start somewhere. So, as summer begins at OTAs with it, here's a projected look at the green dot LB and three-down linebackers for all 32 NFL teams.
Note: At Footballguys, we set the benchmark for three-down linebackers at a 75 percent snap share. Linebackers listed with an asterisk (*) may not hit that benchmark on a weekly basis this season.
GREEN DOT LB NOTES
Arizona Cardinals
A healthy Kyzir White should be locked in as Arizona's green dot LB. But second-year pro Owen Pappoe could challenge journeyman Krys Barnes for the second starting spot in training camp. It's a battle that will need to be monitored throughout the summer.
Atlanta Falcons
When Troy Andersen tore his pectoral muscle last year, Nate Landman stepped into the starting lineup and finished second on the team with 122 tackles. At the outset of OTAs, Landman was working alongside Kaden Elliss with the first-team defense, but Andersen has a good chance of overtaking him as we move into training camp in earnest.
Baltimore Ravens
The departure of Patrick Queen in free agency has created an opportunity for second-year pro Trenton Simpson to move into the starting lineup opposite star Roquan Smith, who calls the plays in Charm City. Queen was on the field for 97 percent of Baltimore's snaps last year, so provided Simpson has a solid camp, he could be an every-down linebacker who flies under the radar in some IDP drafts.
Carolina Panthers
There was a major offseason change in the Carolina linebackers room, with veteran Josey Jewell coming over from Denver to replace the departed Frankie Luvu. Luvu was the play-caller in Charlotte at the end of last season, so for now, we'll give Jewell a slight edge over longtime Panther Shaq Thompson to assume those duties this year.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns had a carousel of linebackers last year due to injuries, and the team signed veteran Jordan Hicks in an effort to provide stability at the position. Hicks has quite a bit of experience making defensive play calls and has played in Jim Schwartz's defense before, so he's likely to be the green dot LB for the Browns in 2024.
Dallas Cowboys
In recent seasons, the Cowboys used safety Jayron Kearse as the defensive play-caller, but with Kearse no longer in town, the team needs a new green dot wearer. Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks may be new to the Cowboys, but he isn't new to making the calls defensively. He's the most likely choice for new Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who Kendricks played for in Minnesota.
Denver Broncos
After youngster Drew Sanders suffered a torn Achilles in workouts, it cemented Cody Barton's status as the Broncos' No. 2 linebacker alongside green dot LB Alex Singleton for the upcoming season. However, Denver's second linebacker was only on the field about 73 percent of the time in 2023, so a three-down role for Barton is quite a bit less certain.
Detroit Lions
IDP managers would no doubt like to see second-year pro Jack Campbell take a step forward in 2024 and supplant Alex “Makes the Tackle Eventually” Anzalone as the green dot LB and No. 1 option for the Lions at the position. But those same IDP managers have been hoping that for some time now—file it under “believe it when you see it.”
Green Bay Packers
When healthy last season, De'Vondre Campbell was the defensive play-caller for the Packers in 2023. But Campbell is in San Francisco, so it appears that duty will now fall to third-year pro Quay Walker. Provided he doesn't struggle to acclimate to the NFL, look for rookie second-rounder Edgerrin Cooper to join Walker as the team's No. 2 off-ball linebacker.
Houston Texans
Given that he has more experience in DeMeco Ryans' defense than any other linebacker in Houston, free-agent addition Azeez Al-Shaair appears the most likely green dot LB for the Texans. The question is whether it will be Christian Harris or Henry To'oTo'o who ranks second among the Texans linebackers in snaps—and whether either will be on the field close to full-time.
Kansas City Chiefs
With Willie Gay now in New Orleans, Drue Tranquill will spend his second season with the Chiefs as a starter opposite star linebacker Nick Bolton. But Gay was never on the field for even 70 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps in a season, so Tranquill is by no means a lock to see a three-down workload this season.
Los Angeles Chargers
After three years away, veteran Denzel Perryman is back in La-La Land, and the 31-year-old has experience as a green dot LB. But Perryman is also a liability in coverage at this point in his career, and rookie Junior Colson knows Jesse Minter's defense inside and out from their time together at Michigan. Colson may well have been drafted specifically to be Jim Harbaugh's defensive quarterback in 2024.
Miami Dolphins
Whether newcomer Jordyn Brooks is Miami's green dot LB or safety Jevon Holland (who has worn the helmet communicator in Miami before) assumes those duties is a question we may not know the answer to until well into the summer. The same can be said for the second linebacker spot, where incumbent David Long Jr. will try to hold off veteran free-agent addition Anthony Walker Jr.
Minnesota Vikings
With veteran Jordan Hicks now in Cleveland, it's a toss-up who will be the green dot LB this season in the Twin Cities between newcomer Blake Cashman and second-year man Ivan Pace Jr. Right now, we'll give the slightest of edges to Pace due to familiarity with Brian Flores' defense, but this is a competition that is only just getting started.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles brought in free agent Devin White to add some punch to a linebacker group that was hit hard by injuries a season ago. But White doesn't have much experience making play calls—he was more a roaming havoc-wreaker in Tampa Bay. Look for those duties to be handed to third-year pro Nakobe Dean, who was being groomed for the role in 2023 before getting hurt himself.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Given the size of the contract he signed and the other players on the roster, it's not a big surprise that Patrick Queen was the green dot LB for the Steelers at the beginning of OTAs. The question in the Steel City is whether it will be veteran Cole Holcomb or rookie Payton Turner who lines up next to Queen in the nickel. Holcomb has the edge in NFL experience, but Turner has the talent to supplant Holcomb by the time Week 1 rolls around.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks underwent a complete overhaul at linebacker this offseason, with two new starters in the Emerald City in Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. Baker has some experience as a green dot LB from his time with the Miami Dolphins, but there's a chance the Seahawks could hand the duties to one of the team's safeties—Julian Love and Rayshawn Jenkins have both worn the dot in the past also.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans brought veteran Kenneth Murray Jr. in via free agency to replace the departed Azeez Al-Shaair (Tennessee's play-caller in 2023) and drafted Cedric Gray on Day 3 back in April. However, general manager Ron Carthon told reporters the team wants Murray to “play free” in his first season in Nashville, so early indications appear to be that either Gray (if he wins a starting job) or veteran safety Amani Hooker could be in line to wear the helmet communicator this year.
Washington Commanders
There's little question who will call the defensive plays in the nation's capital—veteran Bobby Wagner has been playing as a green dot LB at an elite level for over a decade. The question in Washington is snaps and role for fellow newcomer Frankie Luvu—the Commanders also have Jamin Davis on the roster and Washington remains soft on the edge despite the signing of Dorance Armstrong. If Luvu gets used more as an edge rusher, it won't do his IDP value any favors.
Gary Davenport (“The Godfather of IDP”) is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.
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