All-NFC South Team of the 2010s: All-time greats compete at linebacker

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All-NFC South Team of the 2010s: All-time greats compete at linebacker

John Sigler, Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 ·

4 min read

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Some of the best players in the NFC South patrolled the field at linebacker in the 2010s. And we aren't just talking about Luke Kuechly -- the Carolina Panthers standout is joined on our All-Decade Team by his New Orleans Saints rival Demario Davis . But as effective as Davis was, he arrived late in the 2010s, and guys like Kuechly's teammate Thomas Davis and Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Lavonte David have something to say about where he should rank in this exercise. Don't overlook the Atlanta Falcons just yet, either. Let's get to it.

Methodology

One key stat we're relying on is Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference , which PFR defines as "an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year." In practice, that means giving higher numbers to player who start more games, play more snaps, and do more to help their team win by racking up yards, scoring touchdowns, creating turnovers and sacking quarterbacks, and so on. We're also assigning point values to being named a first-team All-Pro (ten points), second-team All-Pro (five points), and Pro Bowler (three points). And then we're adding those numbers together. Remember, these are all-decade teams for the NFC South, which didn't exist until 2002, and only contributions on the four teams in the division factor into our formula. So Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 doesn't help him, for example.

First team: Luke Kuechly

Jan 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) is introduced before a NFC Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Carolina Panthers (2012 to 2019)
AV:107
Awards:All-Pro first team (5), All-Pro second team (2), Pro Bowler (7)
Score:188

Kuechly is up there with Drew Brees (193) and Julio Jones (169) as one of the NFC South's highest-scoring players this decade, and it's fitting that he'll go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside Brees later this summer. If not for a truly unfortunate series of concussions bringing his career to an early end, we'd be talking about him as the greatest linebacker of all time. Instead, Kuechly chose to walk away with his health after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and making both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams every year that followed.

First team: Lavonte David

Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012 to 2019)
AV:75
Awards:All-Pro first team (1), All-Pro second team (1), Pro Bowler (1)
Score:93

The Panthers lost one all-time great linebacker when Derrick Brooks retired, but they gained a quality replacement when they drafted David. David should have received many more Pro Bowls and All-Pro honors than he did for giving Tampa Bay so many years as a dependable starter in the middle of their defense. He only had one season with less than 100 tackles (2016) but still chipped in 5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 4 passes defensed and an interception -- plus a couple of fumble recoveries, flipping the field with 53 yards on the returns.

Second team: Thomas Davis

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) lines up during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Team:Carolina Panthers (2010 to 2018)
AV:75
Awards:All-Pro first team (1), Pro Bowler (3)
Score:84

Davis had some good years with the Panthers earlier in his career, but he leveled up his game after returning from a series of major knee injuries. He had five consecutive seasons with 100-plus tackles from 2012 to 2016 and formed the NFL's most intimidating linebacker tandem with Luke Kuechly. Davis ultimately spent 13 years with the Panthers, starting 158 of 176 regular season games and 8 of 11 playoff games. His remarkable recovery from injuries that ended other careers deserves a lot of praise.

Second team: Deion Jones

Jan 2, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Deion Jones (45) prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Team:Atlanta Falcons (2016 to 2019)
AV:29
Awards:Pro Bowler (1)
Score:32

Jones burst on the scene in 2016 and led the NFL with 165 interception return yards, but he rounded out his game the following season and finished with 138 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three interceptions, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. He missed a big chunk of the 2018 campaign but returned to form the following season with 110 tackles. The 222-pound linebacker may have looked more like a safety out there, butt he played well enough for the Falcons to earn a spot on our all-decade team.

Honorable mention: Demario Davis

Oct 20, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Demario Davis (56) greets fans after the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Team: New Orleans Saints (2018 and 2019)
AV:21
Awards:All-Pro first team (1)
Score:31

Davis only spent the last two years of this decade in New Orleans , which hurt him in the standings, but he sure made them count. The veteran linebacker had 110 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 4 passes defensed with a couple of forced fumbles in 2018. The next season he leveled up with a dozen passes defensed and an interception to go with 111 tackles, 11 more tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. He maintained that high level of play deep into the 2020s, so look for him to return when he move onto the next all-decade team.