The Next Gen Stats analytics team provides a ranking of the top 10 shutdown cornerbacks right now. I love coordinator Leslie Frazier's ability to coach up this unit. Now Hunter will be joined by pass rushing specialist ZaDarius Smith making it nearly impossible for other teams to double team both stars. He's already a game-changing pass rusher in the league. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. To find out who they are, read on below. He averaged 1.5 sacks per game and finished with 12.5 sacks in the second half and overtime -- which also led the league. Morgan Fox and Khalil Mack have generated 13 pressures each this season, with the former leading all interior defensive linemen with a 15.1 percent pressure rate (min. 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. Reader on the field over the last two seasons, allowing 0.6 more yards before contact per carry.Reader has generated 10 defensive stops this season, tied for the 2nd-most among IDL.#RuleTheJungle https://t.co/KAh89pVvJl pic.twitter.com/gSfIgxKgoh. He led the NFL with 92 pressures in 2021, 15 more than Aaron Donald (who finished with 77). Now, let's get to 2021 -- another dominant year for Donald. Nic's value was seen in just how much the 49ers struggled without him and thrived with him. All Rights Reserved. 2021 stats: 4 sacks, 33 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 23. Clark deserves more recognition for the position he plays, as it's difficult for a nose tackle to put up stats. First-round pick Patrick Surtain II, meanwhile, had more interceptions (four) than any Broncos rookie since Steve Foley also recorded four in 1976. 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. The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. Just missed cut: Leonard Williams (Giants), Ed Oliver (Bills), Fletcher Cox (Eagles), Grady Jarrett (Falcons), Dalvin Tomlinson (Vikings), David Onyemata (Saints), Michael Brockers (Lions), Dexter Lawrence (Giants), Poona Ford (Seahawks), Grover Stewart (Colts). Shaquille Leonard, LB, Colts (6-2, 230 pounds). Jordan continues to be one of the most consistent pass rushers in the league, playing at a high level into his 30s. The PFF draft board was due for a refresh at the midway point of the 2022 college football season. With that in mind, Adam Schein spotlights nine star players who need help from the 2023 NFL Draft. I remain enamored with the talent up front; former first-rounder Gregory Rousseau is coming of a four-sack debut season, while Ed Oliver put up a career-best 10 tackles for loss and 14 QB hits in '21. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Arizona Cardinals' defensive end J.J. Watt are the only two active players to win NFL DPOY multiple times, with a 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. Aaron Donald, DT, Rams (6-1, 280) Donald is 31 and has hinted at retiring soon and almost did so while on top of the world with his first Super 2. Bosa finished fourth in the league in sacks and third in quarterback hits, while his four forced fumbles were tied for seventh. OK, so the 1985 Chicago Bears are not walking through that door. Taylor is considered the greatest defensive player ever, and he's arguably the greatest outside linebacker in NFL history. Making his money in the postseason, Miller finished with 14 tackles, four sacks, six quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. 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. The evolution of the NFL offense continues to change year in and year out making it nearly impossible for defensive coordinators to be prepared each week. While Cincinnati currently ranks fourth in the NFL by allowing -46 rushing yards over expected this season, Reader leads the team with a 6.8 percent run stuff rate (min. Adam Schein provides his nine favorite landing spots for the Pro Bowl cornerback. He finished tied for second in the league among defensive tackles in pressures, tied for third in tackles for loss, and tied for sixth in tackles. NFL defensive player rankings 2022. Donald is making his case as the GOAT of interior defensive linemen. Aidan New off-ball LB additions Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd have complemented the Jags' defensive line to form a formidable front seven. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-2022 rankings: Coming in just outside of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings list is the Cleveland Browns star Jadeveon Clowney. 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. The strength of this unit comes from the inside, as the Commanders are the only team to have two interior defensive linemen with double-digit pressures this 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. Clark, who finished last season appearing in 14 games, posted 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Jones is a figurehead on the Kansas City defense. DeMeco Ryans' defense has been an overwhelming force through the first four weeks of the 2022 season, limiting opposing offenses to a paltry 11.5 points per game. Buckner finished with seven sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 41 pressures last season. In three seasons, Crosby has recorded 25 total sacks including a career high 10 as a rookie in 2019. 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). The other Josh Allen is having perhaps his best season yet, currently tied for second in the NFL with 18 QB pressures, behind only Nick Bosa (22). April 28, 2023 7:01 am ET. With New Year's fast approaching, the NFL playoffs are just around the corner. The likely first-ballot Hall of Famer will be hungry to win another title -- and show Seattle what it will be missing. Fred Warner is a special player, earning the fourth-best defensive grade from Pro Football Focus among linebackers last season. The other highest-regarded remaining players include Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Alabama defensive back Brian He also had 58 pressures and five passes defensed in 14 games. The most unthinkable walk-off win in recent memory. 2021 stats: 16 sacks, 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 3. Heres a look at the best players, weighing talent, career and 2022 achievement totals. Adam Schein weighs in on major developments across the league, including Tom Brady's retirement, Denver's hiring of Sean Payton and much more. The Vikings pulled off the biggest comeback in NFL history last week, but the Next Gen Stats analytics team says it wasn't the most improbable comeback of the season. 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. 1 defense (in terms of yards allowed) in 2021 was perfect. 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). So Who's going to win Super Bowl LVII? His 22 pressures trailed onlyAaron Donald(23) and his 16 hurries led all NFL defenders, a critical part in the Rams winning a championship. Jackson is a natural ballhawk and might be the addition needed to allow the other Los Angeles team to make a Super Bowl run. Unfortunately, horrible injury luck struck the organization once again when Joey Bosa hurt his groin in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He changed his NFL name from Darius, but that changes nothing about his terrific all-around game. He had only 48 pressures, yet ranked in 14th in quarterback hits (22) and third among all defensive linemen in passes defensed (six). Here's a projection for Chubb to have a healthy rebound season to pick up where he left off two seasons ago leading Denver's pass rush in the transition from Miller. As Von Miller gets set to move on with a fresh start for the Buffalo Bills, it is hard to look past how good the Texas A&M alum is on the field. Emerging as one of the best pass-rushing tackles in the league, Hargrave notched career-highs in pressures (58), quarterback hits (18), tackles for loss (nine), and sacks (7.5) in earning his first Pro Bowl selection. What many people look at is sack numbers, because they're awesome, and he's top 5. Player Summary 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. WebDE. -- Keegan Abdoo, Mike Band and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. He's right there with his older brother Joey given his disruptive skills. 2021 stats: 12.5 sacks, 84 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 25 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles, 2. In addition, his play making abilities were on full display during the NFL playoffs where he recorded 4.5 sacks while leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship game. Who was second in the NFL to T.J. Watt in sacks? It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Safety Justin Simmons has been a prolifically productive defensive back, piling up 331 tackles over the past four seasons, behind only Cincinnati's Jessie Bates in that span. He reached 50 sacks in 57 career games, trailing only Reggie White and Derrick Thomas for fastest in league history. Von Miller, EDGE, Bills (6-3, 250 pounds). NOTE: Defensive line percentiles are based on components measuring each team's pass rush AND run defense. PFT's NFL 2022 defensive player of the year: Nick Bosa - ProFootballTalk Defensive end Nick Bosa finished the season with the most sacks in the NFL, and the Often the players closest to the ball are the ones that stand out the most, as players on the defensive line tend to have the most value. His 49.5 sacks since 2016 trail only Donald amongst defensive tackles. He finished third in sacks and pressures, while ranking second in quarterback hits -- showcasing his dominance on the edge. Still, any defensive player The free agency frenzy is largely in the rearview, but we're hurtling toward the next major event in roster reconstruction. With the Los Angeles Rams retooling the roster after suffering a brutal Super Bowl hangover last season, Jalen Ramsey is available for trade. He's really the 2B on this list with Garrett while having a little more help in the Steelers' front seven pass defense. The 49ers pressured Matthew Stafford on 23 dropbacks in their Week 4 win, the 2nd-most pressures allowed by the Rams in a game under Sean McVay.Nick Bosa generated a career-high 12 QB pressures and now leads the NFL with 22 QBP this season.#LARvsSF | #FTTB pic.twitter.com/NGafrcMGkh. Where does Jets rookie Sauce Gardner land? Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers (6-3, 267 pounds). Aaron Donald is the best defensive player who has ever walked the face of the Earth. Mack has been one of the best defensive players in the Corner Jaire Alexander, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, is a rock star -- and he's paid like it. Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns (6-4, 272 pounds). Khalil Mack continues to be among the leagues best edge defenders and has the highest PFF run-defense grade of any edge rusher over the past two seasons (90.6). I love Surtain's upside and talent. 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. He tied T.J. Watt for the NFL lead in tackles for loss last season (21) with 15.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits. His fingerprints will no doubt remain visible on this defense. He also has seven First-Team All-Pro selections in eight seasons and is the only player in the NFL with 400 pressures over the last five years. He's led the team in tackles in each of his four pro seasons thus far, surpassed in that category by only three players (Bobby Wagner, Shaquille Leonard and Roquan Smith) since he joined the NFL in 2018. The Packers are back in the mix! What many don't look at, is the film. Despite the changes, one of the most impactful positions on the defensive side of the ball is the defensive end position. Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns (6-4, 272 pounds) There's a massive He also is better against the run, as his 29 run stops are ranked in the top 25 in the league. He leads all interior linemen in tackles for loss (59) and is third in quarterback hits (99). If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Carl Lawson, who ranks second in the NFL behind Nick Bosa with a 17.3 QB pressure percentage (min. Crosby, who joined the Oakland Raiders as a rookie in 2019, was a dominant force for the Las Vegas Raiders last season en route to a playoff appearance. Leading the NFL with 18 tackles for loss since playing his first game with the Rams in Week 10, Miller also racked up 52 pressures (third in NFL) and nine sacks (tied for sixth) with Los Angeles, including the postseason. Here's a look at some of the best 1 overall to the Panthers? Edge defenders include defensive ends and pass-rushing linebackers, while interior linemen primary play the interior of the defensive line. 49 votes. One of the better run-stopping defensive tackles in the game, Wilkins' 43 run stops were tied for third in the NFL among interior linemen. Garrett is a star, one of just three players (along with Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt) to post double-digit sacks in each of the past four seasons. Jones. Let's take a look 1. at This iteration of San Francisco's defense has playmakers at every level of the field, but the foundation is built in the trenches. Heyward pretty much did everything for the Steelers, finishing with 89 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10 sacks and nine passes defensed. The next step for Quinn? Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (6-6, 310 pounds). Miller, who was a key member of the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl run, finished last season with 9.5 sacks while also adding four sacks within the playoffs (2 in Super Bowl LVI). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Which matchup NEEDS to kick off the 2023 season? He's running it back to wreak havoc on the entire league again after a fifth consecutive double-digit sack season inside. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers (6-3, 230 pounds). Only White (nine), Bruce Smith (seven) and Kevin Greene (six) have more 13-plus sack seasons than Watt -- whose four 13-plus sacks in his first five seasons are tied with White for the most in NFL history. Entering his sixth season in the NFL, defensive end Myles Garrett has drastically improved every single season in the league. 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). When you think of a defensive end, you think of a dynamic freak athlete with excellent size, speed and strength forcing havoc on opposing backfields. Here are the top edge defenders in the 2022 NFL Draft. Is the Jaguars' decision to make a big investment in Christian Kirk paying off so far? 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). Only thing slowing down Trey Flowers is his injuries after appearing in just 14 total games over the past two seasons. Which game is featured at the top of NGS's unlikeliest victory rankings? He still was tied for fourth in the league at his position in sacks, third in tackles (68), tied for third in tackles for loss (10) and quarterback hits. He was the only defensive tackle with double-digit sacks in 2021, while also ranking first amongst interior linemen in tackles, tackles for loss, and second in quarterback hits. 1. 2021 stats: 118 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 22. For an interior lineman, Heyward's tackling prowess is as impressive as occupying blockers. 2021 stats: 13 sacks, 84 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 30 QB hits, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 6. Joey Bosa, EDGE, Chargers (6-5, 280 pounds). 2022 NFL season: Eleven one-year contracts that will pay off, Chargers safety Derwin James signs four-year, $76.5 million extension, Three keys to Eagles meeting lofty expectations; why Ravens' historic preseason win streak matters. The Cowboys also have a league-high 17 QB pressures coming within three seconds of the snap when using four or fewer pass rushers. Hargrave had his best season in 2021, the first in Jonathan Gannon's defense. Garrett is a top-two edge defender in the league and could remain among the league's best for the next several years. How many quarterbacks will be selected in Round 1? Jason Pierre-Paul is gone, but 2021 first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can pick up the pass-rushing slack. He was just one of four defensive tackles to finish with 50 tackles, eight sacks, and 15 quarterback hits last season -- joining Donald, Allen, and Hargrave. Miller showcased 2. See where they land in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 most explosive rushers right now. Derwin James, S, Chargers (6-2, 215 pounds). The reputation is still there for Buckner, even if he didn't earn an All-Pro selection for the first time in three years. It would be nice if the Falcons gave him more playmaking help in Dean Pees' system. Learn more about NFL+. Neither are the Purple People Eaters, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens or the Legion of Boom. There are a lot of great NFL defensive linemen right now, such as Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones. Buffalo's depth along the defensive front is a testament to the organization's roster construction and player development. Weight Lbs 254lbs. And the tough D-line was boosted by the addition of D.J. Vote up the best defensive linemen in the NFL in 2022, People Who Should Be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, The Greatest Defensive Tackles of All Time, The Longest Player Suspensions In NFL History. Also where Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack, and more rank By Fan 2021 stats: 10.5 sacks, 51 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, 7 forced fumbles, 13. Whenever Kansas City has a healthy doing disruptive damage in the middle of its front, it becomes a more active playmaking team behind him, too. Should Dan dial it back on snaps on some of the vets for guys like Bryant to play more? Fortunately for the Chargers, a pair of offseason additions have helped the defense stay resilient in the face of roster attrition. 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. Fresh off the NFL's Divisional Round, Adam Schein separates fact from fiction. In short, the core is legit. (Larry Ogunjobi signed with the Steelers in June. At 33, Jordan has developed a sneaky firm case for the Hall of Fame as the leader of New Orleans' front. There are a lot of great NFL defensive linemen right now, such as Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Myles Garrett is the best Defensive End in the NFL right now going into the 2022-2023 NFL season. Reader (placed on IR after Week 3 with a knee injury), this team could soon be on the outside of this list looking in, given his immense impact on the run game. The veteran David and rising youngster Devin White (fourth in tackles over the past two seasons) form a dynamic linebacking duo. 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. In addition, Flowers has a knack to punch the ball out of both running backs and quarterbacks hands, recording 10 forced fumbles since 2016. Flowers posted at least 6.5 sacks in each of his first full seasons while appearing in at least 14 games. Nick Bosa is on a whole other level. Who is this year's George Pickens? Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? First-round pick Kaiir Elam was a great addition to a secondary that also features veteran stalwarts Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde at safety. He anchors a superb front seven, which welcomes Arik Armstead back into the fold after he missed time with a knee injury in camp. 2021 stats: 4 interceptions, 77 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, QB hit, 16 passes defended, forced fumble, 5. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings. The reinforcements have also made a big impact against the run -- the Chargers rank seventh in defensive success rate on run plays this season (64.2 percent) after ranking 31st last season (52.7 percent). This rotation helps keep their pass rushers' legs fresh, an approach which has unleashed veteran offseason addition Von Miller. Marshon Lattimore is a play-making corner -- he leads the NFL in passes defensed (74) since the Saints made him a first-round pick in 2017. Mack, who spent his first four seasons with the Oakland Raiders before joining the Chicago Bears, has been ranked as one of the highest edge players year in and year out by PFF. He finished with 77 pressures, 12.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, and a career-high 84 tackles. Trey Flowers had 47 total snap while this young dog Austin Bryant got 26 snaps and made the best out if it. Yes, please. What's scary is Watt can still take another step forward as a run defender. Bosa has been a force ever since he entered the NFL in 2016, and his 2021 season maintained that status. 1 here. Heyward's 43 sacks over the past five years trail only Donald. Von Miller (Bills) Von Miller. Which NFL D-LInemen do you love? Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? Crosby earned Second Team All-Pro honors as a result of his breakout season, emerging as one of the top edge rushers in the game. Despite the numbers not showing up like we are used to from the Kansas City Chiefs defensive end, Frank Clark continues to be one of the best defensive players at his position year in and year out.
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