The All-NFC North Preseason Team: Ivan Pace Jr. among the best linebackers

We've unveiled results for QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL and now the off-the-ball linebackers.

Quay Walker, Blake Cashman, T.J. Edwards and Ivan Pace Jr. / Images courtesy of USA Today Sports and the Minnesota Vikings

Who are the best off-the-ball linebackers (meaning they don't typically rush the quarterback) in the NFC North? We asked our NFC North On SI writers to vote the results revealed big-time respect for Minnesota Vikings second-year inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who is joined on the First Team with Chicago's T.J. Edwards and Green Bay's Quay Walker.

Before we get to the write-ups from our divisional colleagues on the First Team selections, we'll point out that Blake Cashman, who was one of the highest-graded linebackers in the league by PFF last season with the Houston Texans, did not make the cut.

Voting was all over the map. I had Cashman as the best off-the-ball linebacker the division and one other writer had him No. 2. But he didn't show up on the other two ballots and therefore was snubbed in the latest reveal of the 2024 All-NFC North Preseason Team.

T.J. Edwards, Chicago Bears – by Gene Chamberlain, Bears On SI

When the Bears signed Edwards, there was great discourse about which of the two key linebacker positions he’d play in a Tampa-2 style 4-3 scheme. Coach Matt Eberflus decided it was the weakside and it quickly became apparent the fit was right.

Edwards came within eight tackles of Roquan Smith’s single-season team record and his three interceptions were one more than he made in his four years with the Eagles combined. With eight tackles for loss, Edwards showed he is the attacking linebacker the weakside position must be in this one-gap approach at the line of scrimmage. He even made career highs of 2 ½ sacks and eight quarterback hits as he returned successfully to his hometown.

Edwards is definitely not a linebacker blessed with tremendous speed but at 6-foot-1, 242 pounds he can be a load to handle when charging downhill through a gap and is capable of more than the two forced fumbles and one recovery he had last season. Shaq Leonard had eight forced fumbles, four interceptions and three recovered fumbles in his last year as Eberflus’ weakside in Indianapolis. Anything for Edwards even approaching those numbers would be a tremendous success.

Ivan Pace Jr., Minnesota Vikings – by Joe Nelson, Vikings On SI

Pace has a long way to go before he enters the same realm as Vikings greats who went undrafted, a la John Randle and Adam Thielen, but if his rookie season was any indication of things to come, the middle of Minnesota's defense is in good hands.

Pace, who is expected to wear the green dot and command the defense as a second-year linebacker in 2024, burst onto the scene in 2023 and finished as Pro Football Focus' 17th-ranked qualified linebacker. He was especially good as a pass rusher, ranking 12th among all linebackers in PFF's pass rush grades. 

No rookie linebacker had more pressures (15), sacks (3) and quarterback hurries (6). The only rookie linebacker with more QB hits than Pace (6) was Detroit's Jack Campbell (7). Ironically, Campbell, at Iowa, was the No. 2 PFF linebacker in the nation behind Pace in 2022. 

Pace should be even better in his second season in defensive coordinator Brian Flores' scheme. And after starting only 11 of 17 games as a rookie, Pace will be an unquestioned starter every week, which should yield bigger numbers and more praise from his peers. 

Quay Walker, Green Bay Packers – by Bill Huber, Packers On SI

The top two linebackers in the 2022 NFL Draft class were Walker (No. 22 pick) and the Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd (No. 27 pick). Lloyd is first in the draft class with 242 tackles and Walker is second with 239. However, Walker has Lloyd beat in sacks (4-0) and tackles for losses (12-2).

Walker, however, always leaves you wanting just a little more. He went from seven passes defensed and three forced fumbles as a rookie to three passes defensed and zero forced fumbles last year and gave up far too many completions. He had one interception and dropped a couple others. Since so much analysis is stats-driven, the narrative might be different had he made those plays.

This will be a huge season for Walker. From a team perspective, the schematic change has Walker moving to middle linebacker, where he’ll be expected to lead the defense by word and deed. From a personal perspective, the team will have to decide on the fifth-year option at the end of the season.

Still, Walker is 24 and has two years of seasoning. Combined with a still-elite combination of size and athleticism, the arrow is pointing up. If he has a big-time season, the defense will put the team in the Super Bowl hunt.

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