Matt Milano praised, Terrel Bernard snubbed in NFL linebacker rankings

So close and yet so far.

It’s a cliché that dates back centuries, and we can (probably) all think of examples in our own lives that give tangible representation to this phrase. If you can’t, look no further than the latest NFL linebacker rankings from Pro Football Focus, which rightfully ranks one Buffalo Bills defender among the best in the league while snubbing another.

Matt Milano is ranked as the fourth-best linebacker in football on writer Gordon McGuinness’ list, falling just behind elite defenders like Fred Warner, Roquan Smith and DeMario Davis. Missing from the roster is Terrel Bernard, who dynamically occupies the middle of Buffalo’s defense against Milan (and has largely done so without him throughout the 2023 season); PFF does not consider him among the top 32 linebackers in the league.

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McGuinness had this to say about Milan:

“After getting off to another strong start before suffering a season-ending injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 last year, Milano was in attendance at OTAs this week – a good sign for his return to the ground,” he wrote. “His PFF coverage grade of 83.2 was the fourth-best grade at the position in 2022.”

Milan’s ranking is spot on, as few defenders have as big or consistent an impact on the game as the 29-year-old when healthy. He’s a lanky linebacker with a nose for the football and a penchant for making spectacular plays at opportune moments; he has collected 39 pass deflections, 10 interceptions and 10.5 sacks throughout his professional career, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2022. The defender has struggled to stay on the field, however, as he missed at least one game due to injury. in six of his seven professional seasons; he missed the vast majority of the 2023 campaign due to a fractured tibia.

Bernard’s complete omission from the list is nothing short of egregious, but not surprising considering he earned a 64.0 overall grade from PFF last season. Those who have watched Bills football in 2023 know how much of an impact Bernard has had on Buffalo’s defense; he had almost as much impact as a blue-chip Milan, his presence felt in all areas of the field and manifesting itself in the form of 6.5 sacks, five pass deflections and three interceptions.

The linebacker’s stellar season has gone largely unnoticed by national pundits, so his snub isn’t unexpected, but that doesn’t make it any less egregious. What makes things a little more comical is the fact that Tyrel Dodson, who started 10 games alongside Bernard in Buffalo’s defense last year, comes in at No. 22 on PFF’s list. The team allowed Dodson to leave in free agency; he signed a one-year contract worth $4.26 million with the Seattle Seahawks.

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Dodson is a playable linebacker who undoubtedly had a solid 2023 season with the Bills.

Ask any Buffalo fan who had the best season and who is the best player…between him and Bernard, and you will probably receive a unanimous answer.

Unjustifiable omission aside, it’s nice to see Milano receive his flowers despite his recent injury problems. Bernard will try to gain a place in the next editions of the ranking with another strong performance during the 2024 season.