Giants Now: CBS Sports ranks Bobby Okereke in top 10

CBS Sports ranks Bobby Okereke in top 10 of 2024 LB rankings

Following a strong 2023 campaign with the Giants, linebacker Bobby Okereke has garnered plenty of praise over the last few months, which continued recently.

CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani ranked the top 20 linebackers in the NFL heading into the 2024 season. The anchor of the Giants defense landed at No. 10.

“Okereke played 100% of defensive snaps in his first season with the Giants, and had a career year with 149 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 10 passes defensed, 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions,” wrote Dajani. “His performance in the Week 6 loss to Buffalo was epic, as he recorded 11 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. He also tipped up an interception for teammate Micah McFadden. Giants fans are rightfully very excited for Okereke’s future.”

Okereke’s 149 total tackles last year ranked ninth in the league and the third-most in Giants history. Additionally, his sacks, forced fumbles, tackles for loss, quarterback hits and passes defensed were all new career-highs.

The middle linebacker, along with former Giants safety Xavier McKinney, were the only two defensive players in the league to to be on the field for every defensive snap last season.

As if all of his on-field production wasn’t enough, Okereke was also voted a team captain prior to the start of his first season with the Giants, indicative of his leadership within the locker room.

“You go through and you’re always evaluating yourself and so I think our free agent process was good,” general manager Joe Schoen said following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. “We brought in guys that fit our culture, they were good guys, they helped elevate their rooms and Bobby O’s one of those guys.”

Okereke combined with Micah McFadden to create a formidable linebacker duo last season, as the latter set numerous career-highs himself in 2023. McFadden recorded 101 total tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four fumble recoveries, five passes defensed and an interception, all of which topped his rookie season marks.

“I think we can be as good as we want to be,” Okereke said last month about the defense’s potential. “We have very talented pieces and we’re just working every day to get better.”

Here are the top 10 linebackers in CBS Sports’ rankings:

1. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
2. Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
3. Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
4. Quincy Williams, New York Jets
5. Matt Milano, Buffalo Bills
6. C.J. Mosley, New York Jets
7. Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs
8. Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers
9. Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders
10. Bobby Okereke, New York Giants