The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Photo: All Pro Reels / flickr / CC-BY-SA 2.0. 2021 stats: 6 sacks, 19 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 7 QB hits, 20. He tied Jeffery Simmons for the second-most pressures among defensive tackles and was third in quarterback hits at his position (only Jonathan Allen and Aaron Donald had more). It's simple: That player is a dominant force whose high level of play sets the tone for an entire defense, to the point that defense would struggle in several ways without him. View Profile. Consistency is the name of the game for the Jets up front, as they've proven equally effective against both the pass and rush. Clowney finished the 2021 NFL schedule ranked 20th in the NFL with nine sacks to go along with two forced fumbles and 8.5 stuffs behind the line of scrimmage. Jones remains one of the elite pass rushers at his position, dominating the interior of the line once the Chiefs moved him back inside in the second half of 2021. A group that is led by Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills and Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers. All Scouts Average Overall Rank 4.1. The six-year NFL veteran and Minnesota Vikings stud defensive end, Danielle Hunter is well deserving of a spot as one of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings. Finishing with his fourth Pro Bowl appearance in five years (third consecutive), Bosa finished with 10.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 61 pressures and seven forced fumbles -- more than he had in his first five seasons in the league. In three seasons, Crosby has recorded 25 total sacks including a career high 10 as a rookie in 2019. Shaquille Leonard, LB, Colts (6-2, 230 pounds). Myles Garrett is the best Defensive End in the NFL right now going into the 2022-2023 NFL season. Their 2022 season will be their time to shine We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A number of potentially transformative quarterbacks are available via free agency, draft or trade. Signing veteran safety Tyrann Matthieu was the icing on the cake. Shaq Barrett has been one of the league's more effective pass rushers, ranking fourth in sacks (37.5) over the past three seasons. Where does Jets rookie Sauce Gardner land? He's right there with his older brother Joey given his disruptive skills. Sam Hubbard has pressured opposing quarterbacks on 17 dropbacks this season, trailing only Nick Bosa (22), Von Miller (18) and Josh Allen (18). Aaron Donald leads all defensive players with a salary of $31.7 million for the 2022 NFL season. Bosa more than lived up to the hype he had coming out of college, and entering his 4th season fully healthy, fans should expect another massive jump in production. Starting with the anchor of the reigning Super Bowl champions, here is Sporting News' latest ranking of NFL defenders who stand out a little from the rest: MORE NFL RANKINGS: QBs | RBs | WRs | Coaches. OK, now that we have that basic fact of life out of the way, we can delve into the rest of this starry unit. The consistency in the pass rush and the excellence against the run is why Jordan is considered among the best edge defenders in the game. The Titans defensive tackle was one of the best in the league last year, as Simmons finished with 58 pressures and 8.5 sacks with 16 quarterback hits. 2021 stats: 88 tackles, 4 QB hits, 5 interceptions, 13 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 14. The Cowboys are one of two teams (along with the Eagles) with at least five players owning eight-plus QB pressures (Parsons, Dorance Armstrong, Demarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler Jr. and Osa Odighizuwa). Only White has more sacks (87) over his first 77 games in league history. 1. I agree to receive the "With The First Pick Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. To find out who they are, read on below. 2022 marked the start of a new era for the Jaguars in a lot of ways: new head coach, new No. The numbers may not be there for Wilkins -- who was one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs from last season -- yet he's one of the game's top young tackles. Should Dan dial it back on snaps on some of the vets for guys like Bryant to play more? Even without former No. He joined Watt in being active with his hands vs. the pass, too. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Raiders (6-5, 255 pounds). In 2021, he While Micah Parsons is the unquestioned face of this Cowboys defense, he's simply one out of many Dallas pass rushers enjoying success early this season. Only one player put up 80+ QB pressures last season - Maxx Crosby. Carl Lawson, who ranks second in the NFL behind Nick Bosa with a 17.3 QB pressure percentage (min. Even with the talented crop, multiple fronts and changing of formations makes it harder to evaluate the best in the league. There have only been three games where a defense did not blitz in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016), and all three have been the Bills under Sean McDermott: Week 6, 2020 vs KC Week 5, 2021 vs KC Week 1, 2022 vs LAR#BillsMafia. The Packers are back in the mix! Where the things you see in every game are so absurd that you have to laugh about how opposing offenses game plan for him. BUF OLB #40. For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. Byard is the best safety in the NFL and deserves much more attention for that status. Learn more about NFL+. This iteration of San Francisco's defense has playmakers at every level of the field, but the foundation is built in the trenches. Hendrickson has paid off big-time after cashing on his breakout season with the Saints. Quarterback-needy teams, youre in luck: This is one heck of a quarterback class, with five signal-callers making the top 50. Also where Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack, and more rank By Fan 1. In addition, Flowers has a knack to punch the ball out of both running backs and quarterbacks hands, recording 10 forced fumbles since 2016. In 35 career games, he's compiled 24.5 sacks, including 15.5 in 2021, good for fourth in the NFL. What many don't look at, is the film. See where they land in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 most explosive rushers right now. The Next Gen Stats analytics team uses its newly launched Expected Return Yards model to identify the top 10 returners of the 2022 regular season. Miller has at least one more big season left in him with good potential for double-digit sacks for the first time since 2018. The other highest-regarded remaining players include Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Alabama defensive back Brian If the sack totals improve, he will find his way toward the elite in the league. Reggie White, Michael Strahan,DeMarcus Ware, andJ.J. Wattare the others. Make that three Chargers on the list and a second worthy safety. In 11 games last season, Dupree who was in his first season with the Titans posted three sacks and one forced fumble while showing solid speed en route to the quarterback. In the ground game, the Jets have stopped rushers for no gain or a loss on 24.8 percent of runs this season, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. 49 votes. Rankings, picks, and predictions for how the season will play out. Rashan Gary, EDGE, Packers (6-5, 277 pounds). Bosa and Mack, who have both averaged over nine sacks per season in their NFL careers, are one of the most formidable pass-rushing tandems in the league, while Jackson (22 picks over the past three seasons) is the play-making corner this team has craved. Terrell is another unheralded secondary stud as he's put it all together quickly with his size, speed and Clemson coverage pedigree. The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. Adam Schein ranks the nine most likely teams to lift the Lombardi Trophy, with neither the Eagles nor the Chiefs cracking the top three! 2021 stats: 4 sacks, 33 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 23. Garrett has established himself as an elite pass rusher, as evidenced by the 16 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, and 75 pressures he put up last season. His 49.5 sacks since 2016 trail only Donald amongst defensive tackles. Adam Schein ranks the top nine QBs worth pursuing this offseason. Dupree who has recorded as many as 11.5 sacks when healthy, is a menace on the outside and a player opposing teams must account for on every snap. Yes, please -- and thank you! He's been a top defensive tackle for several years as he heads into his prime. Let's rank the top 10 edge defenders and interior linemen in the NFL right now, starting with the edge defenders: Barrett certainly has a reputation as one of the best rushers in the NFL, becoming one of the best since he signed with the Buccaneers in 2019. The Jets are back in the basement. Only Bobby Wagner has more tackles than Lavonte David (1,220) since David entered the league in 2012. April 28, 2023 7:01 am ET. Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? Donald is 31 and has hinted at retiring soon and almost did so while on top of the world with his first Super Bowl ring. Last season, Crosby was all over the field recording 56 total tackles, eight sacks, seven passes defended and 13.5 stuffs. Hendrickson was one of the best free agent signings in 2021, backing up a strong 2020 season in New Orleans with an even-better first year in Cincinnati. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. Is Bijan Robinson worth a top-10 pick? Forget being ranked No. Nick Bosa, EDGE, 49ers (6-4, 266 pounds). Best remaining NFL free agents at each position, Latest NFL OROY, DROY odds: Bijan Robinson favored, Eagles draft recap: What they definitely got right, NFL schedule release target date, plus 5 things we know, Ex-NFL GM's best picks, hidden gems in 2023 NFL Draft, Ranking NFL's top defensive linemen of 2022, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Winners, losers from the draft: Crafty Colts, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings, 10 veteran moves that should happen post-2023 draft, Report: Bucs star Barrett's daughter, 2, drowns in pool, Steelers' draft haul one the team hadn't seen in 38 years. His 58.5 career sacks were the second most (J.J. Watt, 61) by an active player in his first 68 career games and the fourth most in NFL history, trailing only Thomas (60), Watt (61) and White (77). Barrett is still one of the best pass rushers in the game, showcasing then his 2019 season (when he recorded a league-leading 19.5 sacks) wasn't a fluke. Player Summary Alexander fought through an injury-riddled 2021 season and the Packers will see a big difference with his shutdown coverage skills back for a full season. Copyright 2023 FanRankings. There's more athletic defensive linemen - ends and edge rushers- these days than ever such as Nick Bosa, Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Robert Quinn. Not only was Simmons excellent at getting to the quarterback, but his 40 run stops were fifth in the league. Nick Bosa is on a whole other level. Before we dive in, though, a note on our methodology in this series: To help create quantifiable rankings, we have devised a formula that yields a Next Gen Stats percentile score, which measures how players are performing relative to their peers. 1. Watt is your Sporting News reigning Defensive Player of the Year after tying Michael Strahan's single-season sack record. Trey Hendrickson has generated the second-most pressures in the NFL (92) since joining the Bengals in 2021, but it's his counterpart on the left side of the line who has dominated this season. Also excellent against the run, Heyward finished second among interior linemen with 46 run stops and finished with an incredible 3.7% missed tackle rate (which is excellent for any lineman). Look for Clowney to continue to form a dynamic duo with fellow top defensive end Myles Garrett in 2022 after resigning with the Browns. 1 overall draft pick and a bevy of new veterans via free agency. Height Feet 6-4. In Dennis Allen's defensive scheme, Jordan has thrived. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Cam Jordan, who has recorded double-digit sacks in four of the past five seasons, is a stud. He completed 60.9% of his passes which has drawn criticism from NFL Draft pundits. Jalen Ramsey -- who, along with Donald, made the list of players I think should be in the "Madden 99 Club" -- is the best corner in the game. It is hard to look past Myles Garrett as the best defensive end in all of the NFL. Joey Bosa, EDGE, Chargers (6-5, 280 pounds). Traditional fantasy football owners will often scoff at those who play in individual defensive player (IDP) leagues, but rest assured, IDP leagues are still going strong. The word elite doesn't do Aaron Donald justice at this point. Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | After digging through the 2021 season, we've found five young defensive players who are on the verge of stardom. How many quarterbacks will be selected in Round 1? Adam Schein provides his nine favorite landing spots for the Pro Bowl cornerback. Simmons' ability to play inside and outside played a role in helping him earn All-Pro honors for the first time. Micah Parsons was a real Defensive Player of the Year candidate last season as a rookie thanks in large part to his pass-rushing prowess. Eight years, 76.5 total sacks later, Khalil Mack continues to dominate on the defensive side of the football. Jackson is a natural ballhawk and might be the addition needed to allow the other Los Angeles team to make a Super Bowl run. Let's make this as simple as possible. Parsons took the league by storm as a special hybrid linebacker, lining up everywhere to stuff the stat sheet as the new heart and soul of Dallas' defense under Dan Quinn. 1 overall to the Panthers? Making his money in the postseason, Miller finished with 14 tackles, four sacks, six quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. But when it comes to the pass rush, the tip of the spear remains the same. Truthfully, though, it's the run defense that has the Jaguars ranked sixth on this list. 2. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'fanrankings_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fanrankings_com-medrectangle-3-0');As NFL OTAs continue on and training camp is just around the corner, an opportunity to take a look at the top NFL defensive ends in 2022, as well as take a look back at the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings. Mack, who appeared in just seven games last season, recorded six sacks. His fingerprints will no doubt remain visible on this defense. I love coordinator Leslie Frazier's ability to coach up this unit. He's the ultimate cleanup for Tennessee's defense. At 26 years old, Garrett is still squarely in his prime. The most unthinkable walk-off win in recent memory. He still needs to improve as a pass rusher, but had his best season under defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. The future Hall of Famer has generated 18 pressures this season (tied for second-most in the NFL), despite having just 78 pass rushes (tied for 94th). Every snap, these mighty run stuffers must stymie the most athletic skill players, while demolishing any offensive linemen who stand in their way, which sounds easier than it is. Here are the latest betting odds for the defensive NFL Rookie of the Year award, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook: Will Anderson, Jr. (+340) Jalen Carter (+600) Safeties play a critical role in today's NFL. He remains the unquestioned leader and heart of a talented Indianapolis defense. Some might call it a defensive rating. The San Francisco 49ers star is coming off a 52 tackle season to go along with 15.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight plays stuffed behind the line of scrimmage. He's building a Hall of Fame resume as one of best edge defenders of his era. (And watch out for Javon Kinlaw, whom head coach Kyle Shanahan says "seems more like himself" after having ACL surgery last fall.) He's already a game-changing pass rusher in the league. Poised for an even bigger season in 2022, Hargrave is evolving into one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the league. Jordan, who the Saints drafted out of California during the 2011 NFL Draft, posted his sixth NFL season with at least double-digit sacks after finishing the 2021 NFL schedule with 12.5 total sacks. Thibodeaux was graded a touch lower than Hutchinson in my scouting gradebook, but it 2. 2021 stats: 5 sacks, 31 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 QB hits, pass defensed, forced fumble, 15. Let's take a look 1. Jordan was one of the best run stoppers in the NFL, finishing tied for first in run stops with 43 and recording a 5.9% missed tackle rate. Not only did he finish fifth in the NFL in sacks with 14, but he also tallied 70 pressures with 27 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles while earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. Aidan He's great at what he does. Who was second in the NFL to T.J. Watt in sacks? Who's the more explosive ball-carrier, Justin Fields or Lamar Jackson? The Cowboys also have a league-high 17 QB pressures coming within three seconds of the snap when using four or fewer pass rushers. Now Hunter will be joined by pass rushing specialist ZaDarius Smith making it nearly impossible for other teams to double team both stars. This led to another First Team All-Pro selection. Tennessee's front has been especially successful in getting after quarterbacks before they are able to go through their progressions, with 15 pressures within three seconds of the snap on non-blitzes this season (tied for second-most in NFL). Just missed cut: Haason Reddick (Eagles), Harold Landry III (Titans), Chandler Jones (Raiders), Matthew Judon (Patriots), Rashan Gary (Packers), Emmanuel Ogbah (Dolphins), J.J. Watt (Cardinals), Brian Burns (Panthers), Frank Clark (Chiefs), Khalil Mack (Chargers). Not a bad weekend of football, eh? Only thing slowing down Trey Flowers is his injuries after appearing in just 14 total games over the past two seasons. 2021 stats: 118 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 22. Rank 7 The 49ers have ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game in each of the last three consecutive seasons. We've split the rankings into the top 10 edge defenders and top 10 interior linemen. Parsons' rangy playmaking delivered more than expected as he was deployed well from multiple attack positions. The free agency frenzy is largely in the rearview, but we're hurtling toward the next major event in roster reconstruction. Miller finished with 50 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble in the regular season -- along with 55 pressures and 47 hurries (seventh in NFL). The breakout quarterbacks are among the Next Gen Stats analytics team's 10 players most likely to earn all-star accolades for the first time this season. Hunter, who has posted at least 12.5 sacks in three of his first six seasons appeared in just seven contests last season after tearing his pectoral muscle. The revamped Chargers pass rush started off this season with a bang, pressuring Derek Carr on over half of his dropbacks in Week 1. Like many teams on this list, the Titans have been able to create havoc while relying on a four-man rush, which they use on 73 percent of dropbacks (third-highest rate in the NFL). They needed a veteran to boost the youth up front ahead of a strong back seven. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. He finished with 22.5 sacks in 14 games last season -- tying Michael Strahan for the single-season sack record -- so let's start there. Watt's greatness deserves more than just a few paragraphs. Buckner had a down year in 2021, yet is still one of the best interior linemen in the game. #1. And Charvarius Ward joins a defensive backfield that helped San Francisco rank sixth in passing yards allowed last season. In short, the core is legit. While Dallas' run defense has not performed up to the same level, the Cowboys' deep and dangerous pass rush has kept the team afloat with franchise QB Dak Prescott on the shelf. He brings it hard as a tackler all the time with a great nose for the ball. A massive force on the interior, Vea played a huge role in the Buccaneers finishing with the third-ranked run defense and allowing the fifth-fewest rushing touchdowns in 2021. Using a combination of power, strength, and brute force, NFL defensive linemen punish elite offenses so the NFL's best defenses can get turnovers and claim glory. The weekend portion of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend was exactly that: SUPER. While the Jets have been a blitz-averse team (sending extra pass rushers on just 18.1 percent of dropbacks, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL), they rank sixth in the NFL by sacking opposing quarterbacks on 7.7 percent of dropbacks when not blitzing. Big corner with the chops to excel in press coverage or zone. These was only one player in the NFL with more than 80 pressures last season -- and that honor belonged to Crosby. The front seven is strong, with first-round pick Quay Walker joining tackling machine De'Vondre Campbell and veteran pass rushers Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! There's a massive burden on the two-time first-team All-Pro to fire up all levels of Cleveland's defense with the big offensive questions looming, none bigger than Deshaun Watson's availability. When you combine the talent on the field with Ryans' smarts, you have a potent combo worthy of the No. Which defensive linemen are considered edge rushers and which are interior linemen? Crosby lived up to his first name and had maximum effect on a defense that is well short on reliable pieces. He finished third in sacks and pressures, while ranking second in quarterback hits -- showcasing his dominance on the edge. Bosa and Watt were the only two players in the NFL to finish in the top four in sacks, quarterback hits, and tackles for loss on the year. Jones has improved against the run, solidifying his game as one of the league's best on the interior. And the tough D-line was boosted by the addition of D.J. In addition, Clowney ranked among the top defensive edge players ranked by PFF. 2021 stats: 13 sacks, 84 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 30 QB hits, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 6. Web50. What's scary is Watt can still take another step forward as a run defender. His nine sacks trailed only Aaron Donald for the most in the league, as Allen was one of the most productive interior pass rushers last year. A catalyst toward the Bengals' defensive line finishing with 42 sacks, Hendrickson was fourth in the NFL in pressures and eighth in quarterback hits. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Adam Schein reveals the biggest winners and losers from the penultimate Sunday of the 2022 NFL regular season. He also is better against the run, as his 29 run stops are ranked in the top 25 in the league. 2021 stats: 12.5 sacks, 84 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles, 2. T.J. Watt, EDGE, Steelers (6-4, 252 pounds). It took a while for the Packers to understand where to best deploy Gary in their front seven. Donald already has three Defensive Player of the Year awards, tying him withJ.J. Wattand Lawrence Taylor for the most in NFL history. He's running it back to wreak havoc on the entire league again after a fifth consecutive double-digit sack season inside. Miller showcased he still can be a dominant edge rusher in the postseason, as he played an integral role in getting the Rams to a Super Bowl title. All Rights Reserved. The Chiefs star forces double teams from the start of the game to the end allowing other members of the defense to get free shots at the quarterback. He averaged 1.5 sacks per game and finished with 12.5 sacks in the second half and overtime -- which also led the league. Do the Cowboys have a quarterback problem in Dak Prescott? 1 overall pick in his first five years in the league. Bosa came back strong from his major knee injury (torn ACL) to get into the DPOY conversation in Year 3. Both groups do move outside and inside at times, but we're going where the majority of their snaps are played in 2021. But there are early signs he's healthy and rejuvenated playing again on a top defensive scheme with Bosa under Brandon Staley. The second-year Tennessee Titan and long time Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end continues to play at a high level despite missing six games last season. The next step for Quinn? His 67 pressures were sixth in the NFL and his 39 run stops were tied for fifth. Trey Flowers had 47 total snap while this young dog Austin Bryant got 26 snaps and made the best out if it. The Super Bowl LVII matchup is set, but Chiefs-Eagles isn't the only pressing NFL matter. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The PFF draft board was due for a refresh at the midway point of the 2022 college football season. Crosby lacked the sack totals, but the Raiders are hoping the offseason addition of Chandler Jones to bookend their D-line should fix that problem. Bottom line: Watt is simply dominant. 2 draft pick. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals (6-4, 270 pounds). The Next Gen Stats analytics team reveals its ranking of the 10 best edge rushers entering Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season, with the Browns' Myles Garrett leading a list of star defenders. The Bills are getting an excellent edge defender in Miller, a player who can carry a pass rush to the Super Bowl -- as he proved with Donald last year. Thanks to hybrid defensive fronts and many players possessing the ability to move from the edge to the interior, the league has its most versatile group of defensive linemen in some time. He also had 58 pressures and five passes defensed in 14 games. IDP: Top 50 DLs, LBs and DBs: Mike Clay: Dynasty & Rookie rankings: Tristan H. Cockcroft: PPR Top 200: Eric Karabell: Superflex Top 200: Cheat Sheets: His 217 pressures trail only Aaron Donald for the most in the NFL while his 37.5 sacks in that span are fourth in the league. In the wake of Kansas City's thrilling triumph over Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII, Adam Schein is overflowing with takes. There's no way to sugarcoat it. 2021 stats: 10.5 sacks, 51 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, 7 forced fumbles, 13. In addition, Hendrickson posted three forced fumbles and 34 total tackles while also showing his play making abilities during the postseason. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Who is this year's George Pickens? Here are my top defenses heading into the 2022 NFL season, Schein Nine-style: Nick Bosa, who received my vote for first-team All-Pro last season, is a beast.
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