Big corner with the chops to excel in press coverage or zone. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He had only 48 pressures, yet ranked in 14th in quarterback hits (22) and third among all defensive linemen in passes defensed (six). 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. 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. The likely first-ballot Hall of Famer will be hungry to win another title -- and show Seattle what it will be missing. Aaron Donald leads all defensive players with a salary of $31.7 million for the 2022 NFL season. 2021 stats: 118 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 22. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! WebFind NFL Defensive Player stats for weekly and season totals including, tackles, sacks, INTs, forced fumbles, TDs, and more, on LINEUPS. 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 Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia. NFL Draft Day 2: Best defensive players available. 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. Fred Warner, LB, 49ers (6-3, 230 pounds). The breakout quarterbacks are among the Next Gen Stats analytics team's 10 players most likely to earn all-star accolades for the first time this season. All Rights Reserved. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! Bosa came back strong from his major knee injury (torn ACL) to get into the DPOY conversation in Year 3. His tackling needs some work, but Simmons is on his way to becoming one of the top interior linemen in the league. 2021 stats: 14 sacks, 34 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 27 QB hits, 3 forced fumbles, 16. 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. Even with the talented crop, multiple fronts and changing of formations makes it harder to evaluate the best in the league. A.J. Ultimately, the 2022 season will really determine whether Bates drops off the NFL top 100 players list or moves up. In three seasons, Crosby has recorded 25 total sacks including a career high 10 as a rookie in 2019. His fingerprints will no doubt remain visible on this defense. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Garrett, who lands at number one on the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-22 rankings list, also leads all edge players in the NFL according to PFF based on his 2021 NFL performance. Scooping up linebacker Bobby Wagner after his release by the Seahawks was a stupendous move. College Junior Oregon. WebThe NFL defensive player rankings 2021 below include 30 players whose play style and impact on any NFL game is powerful. He's earned his own tier above at this point. Only thing slowing down Trey Flowers is his injuries after appearing in just 14 total games over the past two seasons. He changed his NFL name from Darius, but that changes nothing about his terrific all-around game. Cameron Jordan, EDGE, Saints (6-4, 287 pounds). Only one player put up 80+ QB pressures last season - Maxx Crosby. He finished with 22.5 sacks in 14 games last season -- tying Michael Strahan for the single-season sack record -- so let's start there. Eight years, 76.5 total sacks later, Khalil Mack continues to dominate on the defensive side of the football. Adam Schein reveals the biggest winners and losers from the penultimate Sunday of the 2022 NFL regular season. So Who's going to win Super Bowl LVII? He also has the most sacks by any No. Clark deserves more recognition for the position he plays, as it's difficult for a nose tackle to put up stats. Bradley Chubb, EDGE, Broncos (6-4, 275 pounds. 1 on this list heading into 2022. Heyward's nine passes defensed led all interior linemen, and were five more than Donald and Derrick Brown (second on the list). 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. Last season, Crosby was all over the field recording 56 total tackles, eight sacks, seven passes defended and 13.5 stuffs. Some might call it a defensive rating. 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. 2021 stats (with Patriots): 8 interceptions, 58 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 23 passes defended, forced fumble, 10. 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). Which matchup NEEDS to kick off the 2023 season? Nick Bosa is as good as advertised and one of the best defensive ends in all of football. Fred Warner is a special player, earning the fourth-best defensive grade from Pro Football Focus among linebackers last season. Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns (6-4, 272 pounds) There's a massive He uses all of his size, quickness and length to thwart the passing game in multiple capacities. When you combine the talent on the field with Ryans' smarts, you have a potent combo worthy of the No. There's a reason the Bills splurged on a 33-year-old Miller coming off a healthy second half run with the Rams that powered that team to a Super Bowl playing off Donald and Ramsey. Shaq Barrett has been one of the league's more effective pass rushers, ranking fourth in sacks (37.5) over the past three seasons. In the thick of roster-rebuilding season with the 2023 NFL Draft nearly upon us, Adam Schein examines nine burning questions across the league. Using a combination of power, strength, and brute force, NFL defensive linemen punish elite offenses so the NFL's best defenses can get turnovers and claim glory. A top-five finisher in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting seven consecutive seasons, Donald also already has a Super Bowl championship -- along with 6.5 sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 10 postseason games. He feels just as comfortable thumping against the run as he does using his nose for the ball in coverage. For an optimal experience please rotate your device to portrait mode, Top 10 Outside Linebackers in NFL 2022 Rankings, Top 10 Defensive Tackles in NFL 2022 Rankings, Top 10 Free Safeties in NFL 2022 Rankings. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. (And watch out for Javon Kinlaw, whom head coach Kyle Shanahan says "seems more like himself" after having ACL surgery last fall.) 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 | He's right there with his older brother Joey given his disruptive skills. 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. 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. Both groups do move outside and inside at times, but we're going where the majority of their snaps are played in 2021. The reputation is still there for Buckner, even if he didn't earn an All-Pro selection for the first time in three years. Rattling off a career-high 16 sacks and 51 combined tackles in 2021, Garrett is proving himself to be a force on the defensive end. 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. He also had 58 pressures and five passes defensed in 14 games. Barrett is still one of the best pass rushers in the game, showcasing then his 2019 season (when he recorded a league-leading 19.5 sacks) wasn't a fluke. Crosby lived up to his first name and had maximum effect on a defense that is well short on reliable pieces. The Best Quarterbacks In The NFL Right Now. But when it comes to the pass rush, the tip of the spear remains the same. But Year 3 the light went on, and now he's the lead pass rusher with support from Preston Smith opposite him minus Za'Darius Smith. Height Feet 6-4. The group of stars headlining the list of the Top 10 NFL Defensive Ends 2021-2022 rankings list, meet that requirement while also ranking as some of the most impactful players on the NFL football field. 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. 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. The weekend portion of NFL Super Wild Card Weekend was exactly that: SUPER. Sam Hubbard has pressured opposing quarterbacks on 17 dropbacks this season, trailing only Nick Bosa (22), Von Miller (18) and Josh Allen (18). 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. With Chandler Jones lined up opposite of Crosby, the stage is set for him to have an even bigger year in 2022. 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. 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). If the sack totals improve, he will find his way toward the elite in the league. 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. 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 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. Parsons' rangy playmaking delivered more than expected as he was deployed well from multiple attack positions. Only White has more sacks (87) over his first 77 games in league history. 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. 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. I love Surtain's upside and talent. In 176 NFL games, Jordan has recorded 107 career sacks to go along with 13 forced fumble and 10 fumble recoveries. 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. His 58 sacks since 2016 (his rookie season) are sixth in the NFL and his 129 quarterback hits are fifth in the league. The only other interior defensive lineman with a pass-rush win rate over 16% in that six-year stretch is Donald (23.3%). 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. First-round pick Kaiir Elam was a great addition to a secondary that also features veteran stalwarts Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde at safety. 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. However, with the loss of D.J. Cam Jordan, who has recorded double-digit sacks in four of the past five seasons, is a stud. There have only been three games where a defense did not blitz in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016), and all three have been the Bills under Sean McDermott: Week 6, 2020 vs KC Week 5, 2021 vs KC Week 1, 2022 vs LAR#BillsMafia. The Steeler edge rusher finished the year with 22.5 sacks, tying the NFL record and earning DPOY honors for his efforts. At 33, Jordan has developed a sneaky firm case for the Hall of Fame as the leader of New Orleans' front. Yes, please. The Giants are back in the playoffs! Some of whom are even among the best NFL players of 2022. 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. 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. Von Miller (Bills) Von Miller. Trey Hendrickson has generated the second-most pressures in the NFL (92) since joining the Bengals in 2021, but it's his counterpart on the left side of the line who has dominated this season. Vea is joined on the Bucs' mammoth line by veteran Akiem Hicks, whose signing in free agency was a top-notch move. What many don't look at, is the film. Another All-Pro season appears to be in store. Jason Pierre-Paul is gone, but 2021 first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka can pick up the pass-rushing slack. Though some folks certainly enjoyed it more than others Adam Schein spotlights the winners and losers of Saturday and Sunday. And it's not just because they have a legendary quarterback in Aaron Rodgers -- it's also because they have a lockdown defense. 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). Is Bijan Robinson worth a top-10 pick? 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). In addition, Clowney ranked among the top defensive edge players ranked by PFF. 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. The NFL's best at every position Jeremy Fowler asked more than 50 NFL execs, coaches, scouts and players to rank every position's top 10 for 2022: Defense: DE/OLB | DT | LB | CB | S He's great at what he does. The veteran David and rising youngster Devin White (fourth in tackles over the past two seasons) form a dynamic linebacking duo. 1. Like Miller, there's some of that DPOY pop left in him for a contender. 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 Who was second in the NFL to T.J. Watt in sacks? Jones has improved against the run, solidifying his game as one of the league's best on the interior. Mack, who appeared in just seven games last season, recorded six sacks. Adam Schein provides his nine favorite landing spots for the Pro Bowl cornerback. 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. A First Team All-Pro for the second consecutive season, Garrett has four consecutive double-digit sack seasons on his resume -- the second-longest streak in the NFL. 1. Two of RotoBaller's lead fantasy football analysts - Pierre Camus and Chris Gregory - have put together their individual 2022 IDP rankings, which we have Adam Schein ranks the 'WOW' moments from a wild Week 15. His 49.5 sacks since 2016 trail only Donald amongst defensive tackles. Aaron Donald leads all defensive players with a salary of $31.7 million for the 2022 NFL season. J.C. Jackson, CB, Chargers (6-1, 198 pounds). Hendrickson has paid off big-time after cashing on his breakout season with the Saints. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Raiders (6-5, 255 pounds). 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 49 votes. T.J. Watt, EDGE, Steelers (6-4, 252 pounds). 46. Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers (6-3, 267 pounds). 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. His 16.6% pressure rate was also the highest among defensive linemen in the league. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Byard is the best safety in the NFL and deserves much more attention for that status. 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). Bosa has been one of the most dominant edge rushers in recent seasons, posting three consecutive 90.0-plus PFF pass-rushing grades. Despite the injury, little concern is present for the Vikings entering the 2022 NFL schedule. The San Francisco 49ers star is coming off a 52 tackle season to go along with 15.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and eight plays stuffed behind the line of scrimmage. He led the NFL with 92 in 2021, which was 15 more than Aaron Donald. The Packers traded away Davante Adams, one of the best receivers in the game today, this offseason. Kancey is a polarizing prospect due to his size: at just 61, 281, Kancey is well below typical size thresholds for the NFL. Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals (6-4, 270 pounds). Jordan continues to truck on and has recorded at least 50 pressures in every season since 2015. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Rams (6-1, 208 pounds). 17. Signing veteran safety Tyrann Matthieu was the icing on the cake. What's next for Lamar Jackson? Jaire Alexander, CB, Packers (5-10, 196 pounds). Kevin Byard, S, Titans (5-11, 212 pounds). 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). 2021 stats: 3 passes defended, interception, 13 total tackles, 19. To find out who they are, read on below. Aidan Earning Second Team All-Pro honors for the third time in four years, Jones had nine sacks and 17 quarterback hits despite having only 27 tackles last year. Truthfully, though, it's the run defense that has the Jaguars ranked sixth on this list. But Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry have picked up the slack, generating 13 pressures apiece so far this season. At 33, Heyward looks revitalized coming off his second career double-digit sack season. It would be nice if the Falcons gave him more playmaking help in Dean Pees' system. Also where Nick Bosa, Khalil Mack, and more rank, By Fan Rankings | June 01, 2022 - 01:35 PM. Now Hunter will be joined by pass rushing specialist ZaDarius Smith making it nearly impossible for other teams to double team both stars. 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. The addition of Von Miller to the No. He still needs to improve as a pass rusher, but had his best season under defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year deserves to be No. There's no way to sugarcoat it. So, who are the top dogs at the position in the early goings of the 2022 season? EDGE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints. And the tough D-line was boosted by the addition of D.J. 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. 60 pass rushes). BUF OLB #40. 9:51 am ET. 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 Next Gen Stats analytics team reveals its ranking of the 10 best edge rushers entering Week 14 of the 2022 NFL season, with the Browns' Myles Garrett leading a list of star defenders. 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). 2021 stats: 16 sacks, 51 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits, 3 passes defended, forced fumble, 3. Watt finished his 2021 season leading the league in sacks, quarterback hits (39) and fumble recoveries (three). Unfortunately, horrible injury luck struck the organization once again when Joey Bosa hurt his groin in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve. His peers are the all time greats, like Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor. 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 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. Mack is 31 and coming off a final injury-marred season in Chicago. What Watt has been able to accomplish in his first five seasons has been historic, as his 150 quarterback hits over his first 77 games trail only his brother J.J. Watt for the most in league history. 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 second-year Tennessee Titan and long time Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end continues to play at a high level despite missing six games last season. Is the Jaguars' decision to make a big investment in Christian Kirk paying off so far? -- Keegan Abdoo, Mike Band and Cole Jacobson contributed to this piece. 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. 2021 stats: 10.5 sacks, 51 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, 7 forced fumbles, 13. 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. 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). 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. He leads all interior linemen in tackles for loss (59) and is third in quarterback hits (99). 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. A better run stopper than what he showed in 2021, Buckner is still among the best interior linemen in the game. 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. He's right up there with Jackson as the premier ballhawk corner. 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). Finishing with his fourth Pro Bowl appearance in five years (third consecutive), Bosa finished with 10.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, 61 pressures and seven forced fumbles -- more than he had in his first five seasons in the league. 1. The Kentucky gunslinger threw for 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2022. How would you rank these Defensive Ends going into the 2022-2023 NFL season? the illegal contact rule was introduced in 1978. Pass Rush of the Day: Speed Club Rip transition Chop Counter Spin by Frank Clark #DLIsBringingTheEnergy pic.twitter.com/UU0n5JYCOA. Who are the most impactful tight ends in the NFL right now? Denver is on this list even after saying goodbye to Von Miller via midseason trade last year, and that's in large part because of the clutch addition of pass-rushing ace Randy Gregory as a free agent this offseason. 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. Web50. 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. Rashan Gary, EDGE, Packers (6-5, 277 pounds). Who is this year's George Pickens? Look what he does to Riley Reiff #OnePride pic.twitter.com/j1qgFO9HH2. 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. He's still performing at an All-Pro level into his 30s. L.A.'s regular-season defensive rankings -- 17th in yards allowed and 15th in scoring -- might not be much to look at, but Morris and Co. really turned it on during the championship run: The Rams ranked second among playoff teams in yards allowed per game (282.3) and third in points allowed per game (18.8). 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. 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. These was only one player in the NFL with more than 80 pressures last season -- and that honor belonged to Crosby. Players can see the top 10 defensive linemen in Madden 23 below and the rest of the ratings on EA's website. 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. 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. Vea is emerging into one of the top interior linemen in the league, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance as a result of his production. 2 draft pick. 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. Flowers, who was drafted by the New England Patriots during the 2015 NFL draft, joined the Lions after the 2018 NFL season. Rank 7 2021 stats: 12.5 sacks, 59 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, 6 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles. 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. He's running it back to wreak havoc on the entire league again after a fifth consecutive double-digit sack season inside. The defensive backfield is special. He'll raise his game with Mack playing off him now. 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. Weight Lbs 254lbs. The Eagles piled up a staggering seven such sacks when facing former Philly QB Carson Wentz in Week 3. He finished with 33 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, four sacks, thee passes defensed, and 40 pressures. Alexander fought through an injury-riddled 2021 season and the Packers will see a big difference with his shutdown coverage skills back for a full season. Who is the best defensive lineman in the NFL in 2022? 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! The stats may not show it, but Vea continues to play at a high level. Forget being ranked No. 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. He's kept that up minus Hendrickson with help form Marcus Davenport. Still, any defensive player 2021 stats: 4 interceptions, 77 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, QB hit, 16 passes defended, forced fumble, 5. 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. They needed a veteran to boost the youth up front ahead of a strong back seven. 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.