Bobby Okereke lands in top 10 of PFF's top linebacker rankings
Bobby Okereke had a big impact on the Giants defense in his first season with the team last year.
Now the veteran linebacker is being praised for his 2023 performance.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top 32 linebackers in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, which saw Okereke land at No. 10.
"A career-high 78.9 PFF grade highlighted the best season of Okereke's career, his first with the Giants," wrote PFF's Gordon McGuinness. "The 2019 third-round draft pick ranked ninth at the position with an 82.5 PFF coverage grade, and he was one of the surest tacklers in the league, missing just 7.7% of his attempts."
The 27-year-old registered a team-high 149 total tackles, the third-most in Giants history and the ninth-most in the league last season, while setting new career-highs with four forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits and 10 passes defensed.
Perhaps more impressive than the stats in his breakout season was his ability to stay on the field. Okereke displayed tremendous durability by playing every single one of the team's defensive snaps, making him and former Giants safety Xavier McKinney the only two defensive players in the league to to be on the field for every defensive snap last season.
As if all of his on-field production wasn't enough, Okereke was also voted a team captain prior to the start of his first season with the Giants, indicative of his leadership within the locker room.
"You go through and you're always evaluating yourself and so I think our free agent process was good," general manager Joe Schoen said following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. "We brought in guys that fit our culture, they were good guys, they helped elevate their rooms and Bobby O's one of those guys."
Okereke combined with Micah McFadden to create a formidable linebacker duo last season, as the latter set numerous career-highs himself in 2023. McFadden recorded 101 total tackles (63 solo), 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four fumble recoveries, five passes defensed and an interception, all of which topped his rookie season marks.
View the top photos of inside linebacker Bobby Okereke's first season with the New York Giants.
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Deonte Banks (25), S Xavier McKinney (29)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Xavier McKinney (29), S Jason Pinnock (27), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Xavier McKinney (29), S Jason Pinnock (27), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58),
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S Jason Pinnock (27)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), S Jason Pinnock (27)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) high fives fans following training camp practice on August 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during training camp practice on August 16,2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) high fives fans following training camp practice on August 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 14 NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Monday, December 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 16 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and Dexter Lawrence (97) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 16 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Monday, December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 2 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) celebrates a sack during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) and defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) sack Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) before a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) cause a fumble during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 2 NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, September 17, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 5 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) fllexes with New York Giants cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (28) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 12 NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, November 28, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 5 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Miami, Florida (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 11 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, November 19, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
LB Bobby Okereke (58) during mini camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on June 13, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) thanks the fans after training camp practice on August 5, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus/New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) before a week 8 NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, October 29, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 7 NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 10 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during an week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 10 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 17 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 18 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, January 7, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during a week 3 NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, September 21, 2023 in Santa Clara, California (Evan Pinkus / New York Giants)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
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