It's a big year for brand names among the free-agent ILB crop. NaVorro Bowman, Derrick Johnson, Karlos Dansby, Brian Cushing and Paul Posluszny have all been among the best at their craft for sustained periods in the NFL, yet each of them has clear limitations as they enter the final stage of their careers.
It's also a rough time for aging inside 'backers to hit the market. In addition to playing at a time when clubs covet three-down players as adept covering a ton of ground laterally as coming downhill, it's a strong draft class in which teams can replenish their second-level speed and athleticism.