Jadeveon Clowney, who put up one of the better seasons of his career last year playing alongside Myles Garrett, was smart to come back for more in 2022. Who should win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022? Heyward pretty much did everything for the Steelers, finishing with 89 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10 sacks and nine passes defensed. He joined Watt in being active with his hands vs. the pass, too. 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. 2021 stats: 5 interceptions, sack, 50 total tackles, 16 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 24. He also excels at tackling and making big plays on the ball when teams decide to test him too much. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! He's right there with his older brother Joey given his disruptive skills. 2021 stats: 5 sacks, 31 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 QB hits, pass defensed, forced fumble, 15. Bosa has been one of the most dominant edge rushers in recent seasons, posting three consecutive 90.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grades. 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. 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. 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. The Best Quarterbacks In The NFL Right Now. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/draft2023/insider/story/_/id/36296827 Nick Bosa is as good as advertised and one of the best defensive ends in all of football. Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia. The Cleveland Browns stud ranked first among defensive ends in total defensive metrics, as well as first in pass rush while posting an overall score of 92.0 Garrett finished last season ranked 3rd in the NFL with 16 sacks to go along with three passes defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. For new posts and be up to date to win $50 to Fanatics or Amazon. Getting pressure with four pass rushers has long been the Eagles' defensive identity, and the start of the 2022 season has been no exception. 1. He remains the unquestioned leader and heart of a talented Indianapolis defense. Here are the top edge defenders in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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). 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. 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. The free agency frenzy is largely in the rearview, but we're hurtling toward the next major event in roster reconstruction. Who are the best defensive linemen of 2022? 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. Tampa Bay has allowed the fewest rushing yards (82.5 per game), fewest yards per carry average (3.72), and fewest rushing touchdowns (32) over the last three years -- a stretch when Vea played 37 games (all starts). He had only 48 pressures, yet ranked in 14th in quarterback hits (22) and third among all defensive linemen in passes defensed (six). Adding J.C. Jackson to a secondary that also features newly extended safety Derwin James and promising youngster Asante Samuel Jr.? 2. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs (6-6, 310 pounds). The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. He'll raise his game with Mack playing off him now. One of our representatives will be in touch shortly. 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). The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. 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. 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). When you combine the talent on the field with Ryans' smarts, you have a potent combo worthy of the No. 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. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams (6-1, 208 pounds). 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. 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. 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. 2021 stats: 22.5 sacks, 64 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 39 QB hits, 5 forced fumbles, 7 passes defended, 4. 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. Philadelphia ranks seventh in the NFL with 20.2 points allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball. 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. 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. Wilkins finished with 89 tackles, which tiedCameron Heyward for tops among all defensive linemen. Buffalo's depth along the defensive front is a testament to the organization's roster construction and player development. 2021 stats: 9.5 sacks, 47 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 28 QB hits, 2 forced fumbles, fumble recovery, 25. Weight Lbs 254lbs. Hendrickson has paid off big-time after cashing on his breakout season with the Saints. New off-ball LB additions Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd have complemented the Jags' defensive line to form a formidable front seven. Bosa finished fourth in the league in sacks and third in quarterback hits, while his four forced fumbles were tied for seventh. 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. Its also a strong class at edge defender, running back, defensive tackle, cornerback and tight end. He also has the most sacks by any No. 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. The likely first-ballot Hall of Famer will be hungry to win another title -- and show Seattle what it will be missing. No IDL has heated up opposing quarterbacks more often than Daron Payne this season (14 pressures), and Jonathan Allen also ranks within the top 10 at his position (11 pressures, tied for ninth). Hargrave had his best season in 2021, the first in Jonathan Gannon's defense. These big-bodied stars clog up the middle in the run game, too: Allen leads his position in run stuffs (9) and is tied with New Orleans' Shy Tuttle for the most defensive stops (17), while Payne is right behind with 14 defensive stops of his own. In 2021, he Where does he land in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 off-ball linebackers right now? Here's a look at some of the best And it's not just because they have a legendary quarterback in Aaron Rodgers -- it's also because they have a lockdown defense. Adam Schein ranks the 'WOW' moments from a wild Week 15. Nick Bosa. The Packers are back in the mix! Where there's a Nick, there has to be a Joey not far behind. First-round pick Kaiir Elam was a great addition to a secondary that also features veteran stalwarts Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde at safety. 1. at He's building a Hall of Fame resume as one of best edge defenders of his era. 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. 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. Vote up the best NFL defensive linemen in 2022, and help decide who are the best rushers and run-stuffers in the NFL right now! What's next for Lamar Jackson? Dealt from Chicago to Baltimore, Roquan Smith was one of the biggest names to change teams before the NFL trade deadline. What's the definition of a "indispensable defensive player" in the NFL? Clark deserves more recognition for the position he plays, as it's difficult for a nose tackle to put up stats. Where does Andy Reid stand in the all-time NFL coaching hierarchy? Mack, who appeared in just seven games last season, recorded six sacks. 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! Joey's not the same explosive pass rusher, but he's emerged as a durable player who can be just devastating playing the run. 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. 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. Miller brings it all together -- the two-time Super Bowl champ will show the Bills the way. As the NFL transitions to a more of passing game, it's become important for D-linemen to excel in the pash rush. 2021 stats: 15.5 sacks, 52 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, 4 forced fumbles, pass defensed, 7. 1 CB Joey Porter Jr. USA Today Sports School: Penn State Who is he? 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. Making his money in the postseason, Miller finished with 14 tackles, four sacks, six quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. Rank 7 A number of potentially transformative quarterbacks are available via free agency, draft or trade. It is hard to look past Myles Garrett as the best defensive end in all of the NFL. Byard is the best safety in the NFL and deserves much more attention for that status. Thibodeaux was graded a touch lower than Hutchinson in my scouting gradebook, but it 2. Heres a look at the best players, weighing talent, career and 2022 achievement totals. Look for Clowney to continue to form a dynamic duo with fellow top defensive end Myles Garrett in 2022 after resigning with the Browns. While there is still plenty of football left to be played, this would be the second-lowest ppg average in a season since the illegal contact rule was introduced in 1978, trailing only the vaunted 2000 Ravens defense (10.3). 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. 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 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. 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's right up there with Jackson as the premier ballhawk corner. 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. Heyward is the other excellent defensive lineman on the Steelers roster (yes there are two of them), turning another dominant season into his third First Team All-Pro selection in five years. Let's take a look 1. 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. In 176 NFL games, Jordan has recorded 107 career sacks to go along with 13 forced fumble and 10 fumble recoveries. His 49.5 sacks since 2016 trail only Donald amongst defensive tackles. 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. He seems to be everywhere against run and pass as the ultimate rangy modern linebacker. -- Keegan Abdoo, Mike Band and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. 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. Big corner with the chops to excel in press coverage or zone. The ex-Cowboy should help provide room for Bradley Chubb, who was held to zero sacks and limited to seven games last season, to reestablish himself as a top-end pass-rushing threat. He led the NFL with 92 pressures in 2021, 15 more than Aaron Donald (who finished with 77). It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. The 2017 No. Aaron 2021 stats: 14 sacks, 34 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 27 QB hits, 3 forced fumbles, 16. 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. Fan Rankings is a registered trademark of Fan Rankings LLC. With more help arriving in the form of Khalil Mack not to mention Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson inside we might see a career year from Bosa in 2022. There's no question who's No. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Who SHOULD go No. 2021 stats: 9 sacks, 27 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, 5 passes defended, forced fumble, 12. As the NFL transitions to a more of passing game, it's become important for D-linemen to excel in the pash rush. 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). 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. Brandon Staley needed his version of Ramsey the playmaker for his Chargers' defense to support the pass rush, now with Joey Bosa being boosted by another marquee offseason acquisition, Khalil Mack. At 26 years old, Garrett is still squarely in his prime. Here are the best 10 Bears defensive players and what their PFF grades were following the 2022 season. College Junior Oregon. 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). He tied T.J. Watt for the NFL lead in tackles for loss last season (21) too. These bubbas in the trenches are able to deliver the hardest, snot-rocking hits that close up running lanes and brutalize their quarterbacks. But Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry have picked up the slack, generating 13 pressures apiece so far this season. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He's still performing at an All-Pro level into his 30s. The 49ers' defensive line is a brick wall against the run, allowing just 0.3 yards before contact on average (second-lowest in the NFL, trailing only Indianapolis). The weekend portion of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend was exactly that: SUPER. 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: He changed his NFL name from Darius, but that changes nothing about his terrific all-around game. How many quarterbacks will be selected in Round 1? He anchors a superb front seven, which welcomes Arik Armstead back into the fold after he missed time with a knee injury in camp. In addition, Hendrickson posted three forced fumbles and 34 total tackles while also showing his play making abilities during the postseason. 9:51 am ET. The 49ers have ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards allowed per game in each of the last three consecutive seasons. The only question remaining is when Donald will remove himself from the king's throne. Yes, please. Adam Schein ranks the nine most likely teams to lift the Lombardi Trophy, with neither the Eagles nor the Chiefs cracking the top three! See where he lands in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 slot receivers right now. Where the things you see in every game are so absurd that you have to laugh about how opposing offenses game plan for him. All Rights Reserved. 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. Do the Cowboys have a quarterback problem in Dak Prescott? He is a complete corner who can do everything needed well in their scheme. How would you rank these Defensive Ends going into the 2022-2023 NFL season? Defensive end for the San Corner Jaire Alexander, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, is a rock star -- and he's paid like it. Sam Hubbard has pressured opposing quarterbacks on 17 dropbacks this season, trailing only Nick Bosa (22), Von Miller (18) and Josh Allen (18). He reached 50 sacks in 57 career games, trailing only Reggie White and Derrick Thomas for fastest in league history. It certainly helps having the NFL pressure (22) and sack (6) leader in Nick Bosa too. First-round pick Patrick Surtain II, meanwhile, had more interceptions (four) than any Broncos rookie since Steve Foley also recorded four in 1976. Nic's value was seen in just how much the 49ers struggled without him and thrived with him. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. In today's exercise, the formula uses each defensive line's percentile score across a series of key metrics to create one composite score, indicating which units have performed best. 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. Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings list is the Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. The PFF draft board was due for a refresh at the midway point of the 2022 college football season. See where they land in the Next Gen Stats analytics team's ranking of the top 10 most explosive rushers right now. Adam Schein weighs in on major developments across the league, including Tom Brady's retirement, Denver's hiring of Sean Payton and much more. Jackson is a natural ballhawk and might be the addition needed to allow the other Los Angeles team to make a Super Bowl run. Should Dan dial it back on snaps on some of the vets for guys like Bryant to play more? Locking up James, who will hope to build on his 2021 season after missing all of 2020 and much of 2019 with injury, was monumentally important for head coach Brandon Staley's Super Bowl-caliber roster. Not a bad weekend of football, eh? 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. Heyward leads the NFL in tackles among all defensive linemen with 322. However, with the loss of D.J. Donald already has three Defensive Player of the Year awards, tying him withJ.J. Wattand Lawrence Taylor for the most in NFL history. I love coordinator Leslie Frazier's ability to coach up this unit. Cameron Jordan, EDGE, Saints (6-4, 287 pounds). The main qualification for these rankings is how good the player was in 2021. Some might call it a football version of WAR. 1 overall pick in his first five years in the league. This week, we've assembled a list of the top 10 defensive lines heading into Week 5. The biggest comeback in NFL history. Who's the more explosive ball-carrier, Justin Fields or Lamar Jackson? 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. Terrell is another unheralded secondary stud as he's put it all together quickly with his size, speed and Clemson coverage pedigree. 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. He finished with 77 pressures, 12.5 sacks, 25 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss, and a career-high 84 tackles. Bottom line: Watt is simply dominant. Reggie White, Michael Strahan,DeMarcus Ware, andJ.J. Wattare the others. To find out who they are, read on below. 1 overall to the Panthers? 2021 stats: 137 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, half-sack, 4 passes defended, forced fumble, 21. Their 2022 season will be their time to shine 1 defense (in terms of yards allowed) in 2021 was perfect. 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 | This iteration of San Francisco's defense has playmakers at every level of the field, but the foundation is built in the trenches. 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). Each week of the 2022 NFL season, the Next Gen Stats analytics team will present a different Position Power Ranking, meant to spotlight the top performances among a specific group of players. Two of RotoBaller's lead fantasy football analysts - Pierre Camus and Chris Gregory - have put together their individual 2022 IDP rankings, which we have He's really the 2B on this list with Garrett while having a little more help in the Steelers' front seven pass defense. If Miller is healthy, he's a force to be reckoned with every week. 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. 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. Who Is The Best Wide Receiver In The NFL Right Now? 2021 stats: 10 sacks, 89 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, 9 passes defended, forced fumble, 9. Kancey is a polarizing prospect due to his size: at just 61, 281, Kancey is well below typical size thresholds for the NFL. 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 | These was only one player in the NFL with more than 80 pressures last season -- and that honor belonged to Crosby. Last season, Crosby was all over the field recording 56 total tackles, eight sacks, seven passes defended and 13.5 stuffs. 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). 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. 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. The Next Gen Stats analytics team provides a ranking of the top 10 shutdown cornerbacks right now. Another All-Pro season appears to be in store. A second-team All-Pro selection in 2021, Quinn had 49 tackles, 22 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, 47 pressures, and 35 run stops. He has a sharp mind and a loaded team at his disposal. In 35 career games, he's compiled 24.5 sacks, including 15.5 in 2021, good for fourth in the NFL.

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