They needed a veteran to boost the youth up front ahead of a strong back seven. Is the Jaguars' decision to make a big investment in Christian Kirk paying off so far? 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. Hargrave had his best season in 2021, the first in Jonathan Gannon's defense. He still needs to improve as a pass rusher, but had his best season under defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. We've split the rankings into the top 10 edge defenders and top 10 interior linemen. Simmons is one of the more underrated players in football, as his dominance in the interior isn't as noticed as it should be. Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings. 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. 2021 stats: 6 sacks, 19 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 7 QB hits, 20. Still, any defensive player Jones has improved against the run, solidifying his game as one of the league's best on the interior. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon (Junior) Thibodeaux is that type of uber-athlete who pops from the first play on tape to the last. This is even more impressive when you consider that Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier rarely send any extra bodies -- the Bills have blitzed on just 11 percent of dropbacks this season, the only defense with a blitz rate under 16 percent. Trey Flowers had 47 total snap while this young dog Austin Bryant got 26 snaps and made the best out if it. defensive players in NFL It would be nice if he can get consistent help from Randy Gregory on the other side. The Next Gen Stats analytics team reveals its ranking of the top 10 players at the position entering Week 15. The Jets are back in the basement. Here are the top edge defenders in the 2022 NFL Draft. Who is this year's George Pickens? 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. Now after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, Mack is still deserving of a top five spot on the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-2022 rankings list. The main qualification for these rankings is how good the player was in 2021. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Carl Lawson, who ranks second in the NFL behind Nick Bosa with a 17.3 QB pressure percentage (min. 2021 stats: 122 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, 8 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, 8 passes defended, 3 fumble recoveries, 11. Though some folks certainly enjoyed it more than others Adam Schein spotlights the winners and losers of Saturday and Sunday. 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 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. Yet he continues to be productive at his position, as his 43 hurries are sixth among all defensive tackles. The revamped Chargers pass rush started off this season with a bang, pressuring Derek Carr on over half of his dropbacks in Week 1. 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. 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. It took a while for the Packers to understand where to best deploy Gary in their front seven. section: | slug: ranking-nfls-top-defensive-linemen-of-2022-aaron-donald-t-j-watt-cream-of-the-crop-on-impressive-list | sport: football | route: article_single.us | Though it's still early, Year 2 of the Robert Saleh tenure is off to a better start than the debut season, when the Jets gave up an NFL-worst 29.6 points per game. Unencumbered by fatigue, Buffalo's pass rush has generated the third-highest pressure rate this season (33.1 percent). And corner Carlton Davis, who has more passes defensed than anyone in the NFL in the past three seasons despite missing seven games in 2021, will be back, healthy and newly enriched. Hendrickson and T.J. Watt are the only two players in the league with at least 13 sacks in each of the last two years. Heyward's nine passes defensed led all interior linemen, and were five more than Donald and Derrick Brown (second on the list). Ranking Top 11 Defensive Players in the NFL - betus.com.pa 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. Joey's not the same explosive pass rusher, but he's emerged as a durable player who can be just devastating playing the run. He was the best defensive lineman in the NFL in 2021 and made the game-winning play in the Super Bowl. Which NFL D-LInemen do you love? Franchise cornerstones Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham have proven they can still be productive into their 30s, while new additions like Haason Reddick (who leads the NFL with three turnovers forced by QB pressure) and Jordan Davis have fit seamlessly into the rotation. 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). To find out who they are, read on below. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! He tied T.J. Watt for the NFL lead in tackles for loss last season (21) too. Which matchup NEEDS to kick off the 2023 season? Wilkins finished with 89 tackles, which tiedCameron Heyward for tops among all defensive linemen. Its also a strong class at edge defender, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and tight end. Cam Jordan, who has recorded double-digit sacks in four of the past five seasons, is a stud. 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. Vita Vea matched a career high with 12 QB hits last season and set a personal best in sacks (four) en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. The reputation is still there for Buckner, even if he didn't earn an All-Pro selection for the first time in three years. 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.. Through three seasons, Bosa has lived up to the hype of a No. 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. 2021 stats: 16 sacks, 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 3. 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. The front seven is reliably difficult to run against, helping New Orleans rank fourth or better in run defense in each of the past four seasons. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. At 33, Jordan has developed a sneaky firm case for the Hall of Fame as the leader of New Orleans' front. He averaged 1.5 sacks per game and finished with 12.5 sacks in the second half and overtime -- which also led the league. The stats may not show it, but Vea continues to play at a high level. Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone, and surprises were plentiful. As the NFL transitions to a more of passing game, it's become important for D-linemen to excel in the pash rush. NFL Draft Day 2: Best defensive players available. Defensive Player Stats (IDP) 2022-2023 - Lineups He's right up there with Jackson as the premier ballhawk corner. Adam Schein reveals the biggest winners and losers from the penultimate Sunday of the 2022 NFL regular season. Watt's greatness deserves more than just a few paragraphs. In addition, Flowers has a knack to punch the ball out of both running backs and quarterbacks hands, recording 10 forced fumbles since 2016. He also has the most sacks by any No. NFL 5 NFL Defensive Players Ready to Become Stars in 2022 He reached 50 sacks in 57 career games, trailing only Reggie White and Derrick Thomas for fastest in league history. 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. Where there's a Nick, there has to be a Joey not far behind. Nick Bosa is as good as advertised and one of the best defensive ends in all of football. Make that three Chargers on the list and a second worthy safety. Free-agent tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day earned the best defensive grade from PFF of his career in 2020, when Staley was his coordinator with the Rams. Player Summary Flowers posted at least 6.5 sacks in each of his first full seasons while appearing in at least 14 games. Still one of the best edge defenders in the game, Miller can still get to the quarterback in his 30s. He's right there with his older brother Joey given his disruptive skills. 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. There are a lot of great NFL defensive linemen right now, such as Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones. Is Bijan Robinson worth a top-10 pick? Aaron Donald is the best defensive player who has ever walked the face of the Earth. All Rights Reserved. Vea provides speed, strength, and elite athleticism at the nose tackle position and his elite production on the interior defense is a primary reason the Bucs stay one of the best D-lines in the NFL. 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. Eight years, 76.5 total sacks later, Khalil Mack continues to dominate on the defensive side of the football. Miller might be 33, but he still has a ton of gas left in the tank as a pass rusher, judging by his otherworldly playoff performance with the Rams last season (four sacks in four games). NOTE: Defensive line percentiles are based on components measuring each team's pass rush AND run defense. 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. Defensive end for the San Weight Lbs 254lbs. Heyward pretty much did everything for the Steelers, finishing with 89 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10 sacks and nine passes defensed. Rankings, picks, and predictions for how the season will play out. His 58 sacks since 2016 (his rookie season) are sixth in the NFL and his 129 quarterback hits are fifth in the league. I can't wait to see what Raheem Morris, who is a great defensive coordinator, does in Year 2 with the team. ), The Bengals run defense has struggled without D.J. 2021 stats: 22.5 sacks, 64 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 39 QB hits, 5 forced fumbles, 7 passes defended, 4. 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. Best players 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). While Bosa takes care of blowing up game plans on the edge, Warner has got the middle covered well against pass and run. Teaming up four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Joey Bosa with three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Khalil Mack? It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Bottom line: Watt is simply dominant. But the athleticism ( 9.60 RAS) and production (7.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL in 2022) are impossible to ignore, and hes one of the most fun tape watches in the class. He is a complete corner who can do everything needed well in their scheme. What's the definition of a "indispensable defensive player" in the NFL? Vita Vea, DT, Buccaneers (6-4, 347 pounds). If the sack and pressure numbers go up, Wilkens will be in the conversation among the league's best. 1 here. pic.twitter.com/5CHFDQZa7J. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? Who SHOULD go No. Alexander will be returning alongside 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes, who tied for most passes defensed (14) by a rookie last season. This week, we've assembled a list of the top 10 defensive lines heading into Week 5. He's earned his own tier above at this point. Edge defenders include defensive ends and pass-rushing linebackers, while interior linemen primary play the interior of the defensive line. Even without former No. Let's take a look 1. First-Team Defense. Safeties play a critical role in today's NFL. Earning his second Pro Bowl trip in three years, Clark's 22.5 sacks since the start of the 2022 season are the most in the league among nose tackles. At 33, Heyward looks revitalized coming off his second career double-digit sack season. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. 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. For some, the 6-2, 207-pound cornerback with 4.36-second speed in the 40-yard dash and a proven track record against the premier wide receivers 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. In the thick of roster-rebuilding season with the 2023 NFL Draft nearly upon us, Adam Schein examines nine burning questions across the league. It's tough to ignore how good Quinn was in 2021, a bounce-back season for one of the underrated pass rushers of the last decade. 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. Ranking the NFL's top 10 defensive tackles for 2022 - ESPN 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. How would you rank these Defensive Ends going into the 2022-2023 NFL season? 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. 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. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand and more! The 2017 No. Only one player put up 80+ QB pressures last season - Maxx Crosby. The biggest comeback in NFL history. Where does he land in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 off-ball linebackers right now? Hendrickson is already one of the best pass rushers in the league, thriving in Lou Anarumo's scheme with the speciality of going after the quarterback. Bosa has been a force ever since he entered the NFL in 2016, and his 2021 season maintained that status. He anchors a superb front seven, which welcomes Arik Armstead back into the fold after he missed time with a knee injury in camp. He's is one of just five players with multiple seasons of 18-plus sacks (the NFL started recording sacks as an official stat in 1982). These was only one player in the NFL with more than 80 pressures last season -- and that honor belonged to Crosby. His tackling needs some work, but Simmons is on his way to becoming one of the top interior linemen in the league. 2 overall pick Chase Young, who's still working back from last season's torn ACL, this defensive front has generated the second-highest pressure rate with a four-man rush in 2022 (34.5 percent). Heyward's 43 sacks over the past five years trail only Donald. But Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry have picked up the slack, generating 13 pressures apiece so far this season. 49 votes. With the Cleveland Brown's new emphasis on the defensive side of the ball and Garrett taking on his role of leadership, many expect to see a career season from Garrett. At only 25, Warner has proved to be an absolute steal as a third-round pick from BYU. 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. There's no denying Heyward is one of the elite interior linemen in the game. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. A catalyst toward the Bengals' defensive line finishing with 42 sacks, Hendrickson was fourth in the NFL in pressures and eighth in quarterback hits. In fact, the Eagles are the NFL's only team boasting six players with at least eight QB pressures this season (Reddick, Cox, Graham, Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat and T.J. Edwards). The likely first-ballot Hall of Famer will be hungry to win another title -- and show Seattle what it will be missing. His blend of explosiveness, bend and length at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds is tailor-made to win off the edge in the NFL. There were other Bucs who could have made this list, including Devin White and Antoine Winfield Jr., but the beefy Vea gets the nod as the devastating table-setter for Todd Bowles' front. 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. 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). Like Allen in New Orleans, Todd Bowles was elevated to head coach this offseason after a strong run as the team's defensive coordinator (three straight top-15 finishes). April 28, 2023 7:01 am ET. A second-team All-Pro selection in 2021, Quinn had 49 tackles, 22 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, 47 pressures, and 35 run stops. As the NFL transitions to a more of passing game, it's become important for D-linemen to excel in the pash rush. There are a lot of great NFL defensive linemen right now, such as Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones. WebFind NFL Defensive Player stats for weekly and season totals including, tackles, sacks, INTs, forced fumbles, TDs, and more, on LINEUPS. Some might call it a football version of WAR. In a league featuring so much pass-catching talent, what's the pecking order at wide receiver right now? His 49.5 sacks since 2016 trail only Donald amongst defensive tackles. Two of RotoBaller's lead fantasy football analysts - Pierre Camus and Chris Gregory - have put together their individual 2022 IDP rankings, which we have An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. He'll continue to be a problem for opponents. Howard is the last defensive back to make the cut because of stability over others' more flash-or-flameout play (see the Cowboys' Trevon Diggs) in coverage. best players 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. Which defensive linemen are considered edge rushers and which are interior linemen? College Football's Best Players Not Taken in the 2023 NFL Draft 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. Hendrickson has paid off big-time after cashing on his breakout season with the Saints. best defensive The Browns are going to need their defense to take over and win games during Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension, and this unit is capable of doing exactly that. For an interior lineman, Heyward's tackling prowess is as impressive as occupying blockers. He brings it hard as a tackler all the time with a great nose for the ball. 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. It is hard to look past Myles Garrett as the best defensive end in all of the NFL. Arguably the best nose tackle in the league, Clark deserves every cent what the Packers are paying him. 2021 stats: 3 passes defended, interception, 13 total tackles, 19. 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. Dennis Allen was promoted to replace Sean Payton as head coach after coaxing the defense to four consecutive top-15 finishes as coordinator, including two straight in the top seven. 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. 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). How good has Garrett been since he entered the league? View Profile. Reggie White, Michael Strahan,DeMarcus Ware, andJ.J. Wattare the others. Mack has been one of the best defensive players in the In short, the core is legit. 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. And it's not just because they have a legendary quarterback in Aaron Rodgers -- it's also because they have a lockdown defense. Bosa finished fourth in the league in sacks and third in quarterback hits, while his four forced fumbles were tied for seventh. Corner Jaire Alexander, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, is a rock star -- and he's paid like it. Adam Schein ranks the nine most likely teams to lift the Lombardi Trophy, with neither the Eagles nor the Chiefs cracking the top three! Their 2022 season will be their time to shine Also where Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack, and more rank By Fan Buckner's 40 solo tackles were also tied for first in the league. The 1-2 pass defense punch of him and Alexander might be the ticket for a Packers Super Bowl. 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. Consistency is the name of the game for the Jets up front, as they've proven equally effective against both the pass and rush. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He has made the Pro Bowl in all of his eight seasons, trailing only Taylor and Derrick Thomas for the most consecutive Pro Bowls to start a career. OK, now that we have that basic fact of life out of the way, we can delve into the rest of this starry unit. Shaquille Leonard, LB, Colts (6-2, 230 pounds). best defensive 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. Forget being ranked No. 2022 marked the start of a new era for the Jaguars in a lot of ways: new head coach, new No. New off-ball LB additions Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd have complemented the Jags' defensive line to form a formidable front seven. NFL Top 100 Players What's next for Lamar Jackson? 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. To preview the 2022 NFL season, we surveyed more than 50 league executives, coaches, scouts and players to help us stack the top 10 players at 11 Terrell, CB, Falcons (6-1, 195 pounds). Parsons' rangy playmaking delivered more than expected as he was deployed well from multiple attack positions. What's scary is Watt can still take another step forward as a run defender. See where he lands in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 slot receivers right now. at Lukas Van Ness, Iowa. 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. Simmons' ability to play inside and outside played a role in helping him earn All-Pro honors for the first time.