Matt Citak
PFF ranks Bobby Okereke among league's top linebackers
The Giants have added a lot of new pieces to their defense over the past two offseasons.
The defensive line and secondary have both gone through major transformations with new starters brought into the fold since the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. However, the team's linebackers, at least at the starting level, have remained the same. This is due in part to the performance of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.
Pro Football Focus' Mason Cameronrecently ranked the NFL's top 32 linebackers going into the 2025 season, in which Okereke came in at No. 6.
"Despite some perception that Okereke had an off year in Shane Bowen's system this past season, his metrics tell a much different story," Cameron wrote. "Even though he dealt with a herniated disc that ended his season early, Okereke finished with the 12th-highest PFF overall grade (74.9) among qualifying linebackers.
"Having posted three straight seasons eclipsing a 73.0 PFF overall grade, Okereke is a model of consistency at one of the most volatile positions in the game, and will be again should his recovery go well."
Okereke started 12 games for the Giants last season before his campaign was cut short due to a back injury. The veteran linebacker totaled 93 tackles (47 solo), two sacks, six tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits to go with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three passes defensed.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a career-year with the Giants in his first season with the team back in 2023. That year, he registered career-highs in sacks (2.5), forced fumbles (four), passes defensed (10), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (six) while finishing just two tackles shy of his previous high of 151.
Over the last two seasons, Okereke and Micah McFadden have combined to form a strong linebacker duo in the middle of the Giants' defense. The latter reached some new high marks of his own this past season, including tackles (107) and sacks (three), while starting all 14 games he played in.
Here are PFF's top 10 linebackers heading into the 2025 season:
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