NFL Draft

Drafting a LB in the 1st Round Isn't Working Out Long-Term

NFL teams that spend first-round picks on off-ball linebackers rarely re-sign them.

Luke Easterling

Drafting a LB in the 1st Round Isn't Working Out Long-Term
Drafting a LB in the 1st Round Isn't Working Out Long-Term /

Every year, new debates rage on about "positional value" when it comes to where to invest first-round picks in the NFL draft, and off-ball linebackers are often mentioned among the spots where such an investment is unnecessary.

It's not that there haven't been talented and productive linebackers to come out of the first round, but recent history shows the those same teams aren't willing to invest in those same players with second contracts.

Here's a look at the most recent linebackers to be drafted in the first round, and how many of them were re-signed by the teams that picked them at the end of their rookie contracts:

That's four linebackers drafted in the first round over the last 10 yeas who actually re-signed with the same team instead of continuing their careers elsewhere.

Any team that invests a first-round pick in a player they're unlikely to re-sign to a long-term contract 4-5 years down the road might want to re-evaluate that initial investment.

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Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com

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