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And don't forget about linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, one of three rookies last season (with the Cowboys' Micah Parsons and the Raiders' Nate Hobbs) to notch 70-plus tackles and four-plus QB hits. This is a ranking of the best edge defenders and interior linemen right now, not entirely based on past or future success. 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. In addition, Hendrickson posted three forced fumbles and 34 total tackles while also showing his play making abilities during the postseason. But does it still hold true in this era of high-flying offense? Micah Parsons, LB, Cowboys (6-3, 245 pounds). That's right; these aren't your older brother's Green Bay Packers, asking a top-10 offense to carry a bottom-ranked defense. 2021 stats (with Patriots): 8 interceptions, 58 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 23 passes defended, forced fumble, 10. With Chandler Jones lined up opposite of Crosby, the stage is set for him to have an even bigger year in 2022. 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. The long time New Orleans Saints star, Cameron Jordan continues to be a menace to opposing quarterbacks something he has been since his second season in the NFL. HONORABLE MENTION: Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns. ), The Bengals run defense has struggled without D.J. 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. (And watch out for Javon Kinlaw, whom head coach Kyle Shanahan says "seems more like himself" after having ACL surgery last fall.) 60 pass rushes). Like Miller, there's some of that DPOY pop left in him for a contender. Last season, Crosby was all over the field recording 56 total tackles, eight sacks, seven passes defended and 13.5 stuffs. Crosby lived up to his first name and had maximum effect on a defense that is well short on reliable pieces. NFL defensive player rankings 2022. The Commanders have spent four of their last seven first-round picks on defensive linemen, and the investment has paid off handsomely. Getting pressure with four pass rushers has long been the Eagles' defensive identity, and the start of the 2022 season has been no exception. Who is this year's George Pickens? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. But Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry have picked up the slack, generating 13 pressures apiece so far this season. He's already a game-changing pass rusher in the league. 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. 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). Clark's 41 quarterback hits are second among all nose tackles since 2017 and his 32 defensive tackles in that span lead his position (sixth in NFL). The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. The Best Quarterbacks In The NFL Right Now. His tackling needs some work, but Simmons is on his way to becoming one of the top interior linemen in the league. 2021 stats: 16 sacks, 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 3. Donald is making his case as the GOAT of interior defensive linemen. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (6-6, 310 pounds). View Profile. 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. 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. -- Keegan Abdoo, Mike Band and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. EDGE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints. In 35 career games, he's compiled 24.5 sacks, including 15.5 in 2021, good for fourth in the NFL. Adam Schein weighs in on major developments across the league, including Tom Brady's retirement, Denver's hiring of Sean Payton and much more. Taylor is considered the greatest defensive player ever, and he's arguably the greatest outside linebacker in NFL history. Where does Andy Reid stand in the all-time NFL coaching hierarchy? 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. His 385 tackles and 239 solo tackles are the most at his position since 2016 (Buckner's rookie year), while his 45 sacks are tied for third in that span. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He's earned his own tier above at this point. NFL Clark, who finished last season appearing in 14 games, posted 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. defensive players in NFL Truthfully, though, it's the run defense that has the Jaguars ranked sixth on this list. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NFL Draft Day 2: Best defensive players available. Who SHOULD go No. Nick Bosa, EDGE, 49ers (6-4, 266 pounds). Clowney, who was a standout defensive freak at the University of South Carolina, continues to put together a solid NFL career year in and year out. He was the best defensive lineman in the NFL in 2021 and made the game-winning play in the Super Bowl. Jones is a figurehead on the Kansas City defense. Joey Bosa, EDGE, Chargers (6-5, 280 pounds). Defensive Line Rankings 2022 NFL Draft Unfortunately, horrible injury luck struck the organization once again when Joey Bosa hurt his groin in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve. Buckner had a down year in 2021, yet is still one of the best interior linemen in the game. 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. 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. Do the Cowboys have a quarterback problem in Dak Prescott? Whatever it is, you know indispensable when you see it, from drawing double-teams to making impact plays. After Tennessee lost star edge defender Harold Landry to a season-ending injury prior to Week 1, expectations were certainly tempered for the Titans' defensive front. He remains the unquestioned leader and heart of a talented Indianapolis defense. 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. 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 The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. A.J. Jones. 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. Also where Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack, and more rank, By Fan Rankings | June 01, 2022 - 01:35 PM. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. DeMeco Ryans picked up the defensive coordinator torch last season when Robert Saleh left to coach the Jets, and the brilliant Ryans didn't miss a beat, pushing the defense to its third consecutive top-five finish in yards allowed. The Next Gen Stats analytics team's top-10 ranking spotlights familiar names, breakout studs and instant-impact rookies. 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. 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. Top 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. Its also a strong class at edge defender, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and tight end. He finished with 33 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, four sacks, thee passes defensed, and 40 pressures. Should Dan dial it back on snaps on some of the vets for guys like Bryant to play more? Kevin Byard, S, Titans (5-11, 212 pounds). 2021 stats: 137 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, half-sack, 4 passes defended, forced fumble, 21. 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. Only one player put up 80+ QB pressures last season - Maxx Crosby. Buffalo's depth along the defensive front is a testament to the organization's roster construction and player development. 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. To find out who they are, read on below. 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. WebThe Eagles' defense has been paving the way for the team, as they rank second-best in the NFL with 301.4 total yards ceded per game. Myles Garrett is the best Defensive End in the NFL right now going into the 2022-2023 NFL season. He's still performing at an All-Pro level into his 30s. Donald has 98 sacks in his career, the most for a defensive tackle after his first eight seasons in NFL history (and fourth-most by any player). Mack, who appeared in just seven games last season, recorded six sacks. With that in mind, Adam Schein spotlights nine star players who need help from the 2023 NFL Draft. I can't wait to see what Raheem Morris, who is a great defensive coordinator, does in Year 2 with the team. 1 overall pick has emerged as an all-around pass-rushing and run-stopping force. Their 2022 season will be their time to shine Quinn is one of eight active players with 100 career sacks (101), reaching double-digit sack totals five times. Quarterback-needy teams, youre in luck: This is one heck of a quarterback class, with five signal-callers making the top 50. Hargrave had his best season in 2021, the first in Jonathan Gannon's defense. The next step for Quinn? Byard is the best safety in the NFL and deserves much more attention for that status. 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) Where the things you see in every game are so absurd that you have to laugh about how opposing offenses game plan for him. 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). 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. Entering his sixth season in the NFL, defensive end Myles Garrett has drastically improved every single season in the league. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/draft2023/insider/story/_/id/36296827 NOTE: Defensive line percentiles are based on components measuring each team's pass rush AND run defense. 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. These was only one player in the NFL with more than 80 pressures last season -- and that honor belonged to Crosby. Unencumbered by fatigue, Buffalo's pass rush has generated the third-highest pressure rate this season (33.1 percent). Garrett is one of only four players to have at least 58 sacks and 11 forced fumbles since 2017 (Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, and Chandler Jones are the others). Top 10 Defensive Ends in NFL 2022 Rankings Vea is joined on the Bucs' mammoth line by veteran Akiem Hicks, whose signing in free agency was a top-notch move. Crosby didn't have the sack totals (eight) to back up his pressure rate, but he did finish fourth in quarterback hits (30) and was third among edge defenders in run stops (41). 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. There are a lot of great NFL defensive linemen right now, such as Aaron Donald, J.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones. 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. NFL Which game is featured at the top of NGS's unlikeliest victory rankings? Still one of the best edge defenders in the game, Miller can still get to the quarterback in his 30s. Clark deserves more recognition for the position he plays, as it's difficult for a nose tackle to put up stats. The other highest-regarded remaining players include Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Alabama defensive back Brian Finishing his 2021 season with 12.5 sacks (tied for seventh in NFL), Jordan earned his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and his fourth double-digit sack campaign in the last five years. Whenever two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Tre'Davious White, who went down with a torn ACL in November, makes his way back onto the field, it will be, well, everything for this defense. With the 2023 NFL Draft nearly upon us, Adam Schein provides his nine strongest takes. 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. He finished third in sacks and pressures, while ranking second in quarterback hits -- showcasing his dominance on the edge. His 150 tackles for loss and 226 quarterback hits in his first eight seasons are second-most by a player in NFL history (and most for a defensive tackle). We've split the rankings into the top 10 edge defenders and top 10 interior linemen. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals (6-4, 270 pounds). That would be Quinn, whose 18.5 sacks set a franchise record for sacks in a season. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Myles Garrett is the best Defensive End in the NFL right now going into the 2022-2023 NFL season. Still, any defensive player 2021 stats: 9 sacks, 27 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, 5 passes defended, forced fumble, 12. Round 2 NFL mock draft 2023: Best available prospects, predictions NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 1. As the NFL transitions to a more of passing game, it's become important for D-linemen to excel in the pash rush. His 22 pressures trailed onlyAaron Donald(23) and his 16 hurries led all NFL defenders, a critical part in the Rams winning a championship. If you are looking for a player around the NFL with a high motor and instinct to make a player, look no farther as Maxx Crosby is your man. This week, we've assembled a list of the top 10 defensive lines heading into Week 5. His fingerprints will no doubt remain visible on this defense. This ranking may be low for Barrett, who finished with 65 pressures (seventh in NFL), 10 sacks (tied for 15th), three forced fumbles, and 22 quarterback hits last year. The Giants are back in the playoffs! James has had some trouble staying healthy in his career, but he turned the corner there last season to get back into his dominant rookie form, covering like a corner and flying upfield like a linebacker. 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. He had only 48 pressures, yet ranked in 14th in quarterback hits (22) and third among all defensive linemen in passes defensed (six). Now Hunter will be joined by pass rushing specialist ZaDarius Smith making it nearly impossible for other teams to double team both stars. Aidan Who's the more explosive ball-carrier, Justin Fields or Lamar Jackson? 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. Keeping up that same level of production in 2022. Since Vea was drafted in 2018, only the New Orleans Saints have had a more efficient run defense by expected points added per play than the Buccaneers. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. The Detroit Lions entered the 2023 NFL Draft on April 27 with nine picks over the three-day draft, but that changed after multiple trades on Thursday and Friday nights. 2021 stats: 14 sacks, 34 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 27 QB hits, 3 forced fumbles, 16. The Chiefs have extended him at times to the edge, but he's best anchoring the inside next to Frank Clark. 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). Rashan Gary, EDGE, Packers (6-5, 277 pounds). 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. Hendrickson recorded 3.5 sacks in four games including sacks against Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Derek Carr. This led to another First Team All-Pro selection. 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).