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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: NFC South linebacker rankings

By Michael Horan

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 04: Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown during the second half of a game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 4, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 13: Middle linebacker Deion Jones #45 of the Atlanta Falcons and teammates stand as fireworks go off before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 13, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 13: Middle linebacker Deion Jones #45 of the Atlanta Falcons and teammates stand as fireworks go off before taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 13, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have at linebacker what the Saints do not – a budding star.

Deion Jones was drafted out of LSU just two years ago, but has already turned into an exciting play-maker at the middle linebacker position. As a rookie he scored two touchdowns, and last season he broke out as Pro Football Focus’s sixth ranked linebacker.

Related Story: NFC South wide receiver rankings

He’s managed to register over 100 tackles and three interceptions in each of his two professional seasons, and has had an impressive nine and eleven pass breakups as well. Finally, Jones’ 138 tackles were tied for the second-most in the entire NFL last season.

Jones is cut very much from the same mold as Tampa Bay’s Kwon Alexander. Both are as rangy as you could ask from a linebacker and use their rare athleticism to force turnovers. It seems fitting that the LSU teammates ended up playing against each other in the NFC South.

Joining Jones in the Falcons linebacker room is third year pro De’Vondre Campbell, who was drafted back in 2016 out of the University of Minnesota. Campbell was third on the Falcons last season with 92, which were 44 more than his rookie season, and he tacked on two sacks as well. Campbell is slotted in at the strongside linebacker position.

Beyond Jones and Campbell the Falcons are thin at linebacker. Their starting weakside linebacker is 23-year-old Duke Riley, a third-round pick from last year’s draft who registered just 30 tackles as a rookie. The team didn’t draft or add anyone in free agency, so it’s safe to say they feel confident in their duo of Jones and Campbell handling most of the heavy lifting with Riley as an early down option.

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