Giants' Bobby Okereke disrespected by coaches and execs in new ESPN LB rankings
Heading into the 2024 season, the New York Giants should have a very elite defense and potentially a top-five one as well. Pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is looking to build off his 11.5 sack season in 2023 and nose tackle Dexter Lawrence is also looking for another strong year for the Giants as well. Big Blue will also feature newly-acquired pass-rusher Brian Burns, who they got from the Carolina Panthers. Burns has put up 46 career sacks in five years in the NFL thus far.
While the Giants have those scary weapons on defense, NY is also looking for much bigger things out of linebacker Bobby Okereke, who's entering his second season making plays for Brian Daboll. Despite posting 149 total tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2023, the latest ESPN linebacker rankings made up by coaches and executives across the NFL are still very disrespectful towards Okereke.
ESPN talked with execs, scouts and coaches to rank their top 10 at every position.
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) July 16, 2024
Off-Ball LB is up next:
1. Fred Warner
2. Roquan Smith
3. Matt Milano
4. Patrick Queen
5. Nick Bolton
6. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
7. Tremaine Edmunds
8. Demario Davis
9. Dre Greenlaw
10. Foyesade… https://t.co/aDfutjOmQd
Why Bobby Okereke got disrespected in latest ESPN LB rankings
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently spoke with executives, coaches and scouts and asked them to rank their Top 10 players at each position. When it came to ranking linebackers, most of the players on that list made sense. However, the list still came out with some controversial decisions, including leaving out Okereke. Was he snubbed? Definitely, as he wasn't an honorable mention and didn't receive any votes.
While some of the LBs in the Top 10 had monster campaigns, Okereke is still a playmaker who should not be slept on. Okereke has played in every game of the regular season in the last three years with the Indianapolis Colts and Giants, and despite that low sack total he had in 2023, his presence was still felt on the field. He was known for being a sure-tackler for Daboll and Wink Martindale.
To go with his 149 total tackles, 11 of those stops went for a loss. The Giants LB also had four forced fumbles and two interceptions. Say what you want about how Okereke doesn't quite stand out from the other prominent linebackers on the list, but it certainly feels like he was disrespected from this ranking. He'll look to prove his doubters wrong in 2024.
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