2017 Top 10 Edge Defenders

1. Khalil Mack

Stats

Sacks: 11.0, Tackles: 54, FF: 5

It was another elite season for Mack in 2016. He posted double digit sacks for the second straight year and had an impressive 25 hurries. He can play either outside backer or defensive end and do them both at an elite level. Mack is a powerful athlete with a chiseled frame. He explodes out of his stance and is often at an advantage from the jump against opposing lineman. His raw power is unprecedented and is often on display when he is rushing the passer. His best move is the one arm stab which he uses to push around 300 pound offensive lineman once he gets them off balance and then discards them as he pleases clearing the way for sacks or pressures on opposing QBs. He had the highest pass rush grade of any edge defender according to pro football focus. He also lead the league in their advanced pass rush stat total pressures with a whopping 92. However, what makes Mack one of the true elite players in the game is that he is an all-around player. Mack is not only a great pass rusher but he is a dominant run defender as well. He is one of the very best in the game at setting the edge and can shed blocks in a heartbeat to close in and make tackles.

2. Von Miller

Stats

Sacks: 13.5, Tackles: 62, FF: 3

Von Miller seriously might be the fastest edge rusher of all-time. He is simply one of the most explosive athletes in the game today and I do not think any defensive lineman or edge player in the NFL has better acceleration than this guy. Miller has a nice array of rush moves and what not but everything starts with his incredible speed and get off. He can simply run past offensive lineman who are just beginning their kick slide as he flies by. This forces tackles to over compensate and often time open up to wide clearing the way for Miller to counter with an inside move. His best move is his shoulder dip that he utilizes with an outside speed rush where he arcs opposing tackles and then dips his shoulder to get right past them. He also has an excellent spin move to counter back inside. Miller gets all the attention because of his pass rush ability but he is also a demon vs the run as well. He is simply to strong for tight ends to block and too quick for opposing tackles.

3. Michael Bennett

Stats

Sacks: 5.0, Tackles: 24, FF: 0

Technically Bennett did not have a top three caliber season like he did a year ago but that was in large part due to injury so he gets a pass. He missed five games with a knee injury and though he was able to come back and play he just was not the same in terms of his pass rush. Bennett at his best is an elite pass rusher who is the best in the game in terms of power rush. He utilizes a nice array of violent hand swats, bull rushes and inside rips and his most aggressive move the bull and jerk which he uses to just toss opposing offensive lineman at times. Bennett’s knee injury hurt his burst which caused his pass rushing to be hampered but his run defense was unaffected. Bennett had by far the top run defense grade among edge defenders according to pro football focus and the tape backs that up. Unlike most edge defenders Bennett can move inside and play defensive tackle in any situation. Some ends get moved inside for pass rush situations but Bennett can be seen lined up over guards sometimes on first down. And just like he does on the edge he completely  shuts down the run from the interior as well. That is highly impressive versatility.

4. Brandon Graham

Stats

Sacks: 5.5, Tackles: 41, FF: 0

Graham had a breakout season in 2016. The main thing that stood out about him was the energy he played with. Graham was all over the field making plays and pursing the ball both as a run defender and pass rusher. Some might look at the 5.5 sack total and think maybe he was not so dominant. They should take a closer look. He had 40 hurries and was second in pro football focus’s advanced pass rush metric total pressures with 86. To put it simply, he was all over opposing QBs. Graham was most successful utilizing a rip move that he was able to execute both inside and outside. As far as his run defense goes there might not have been a better defensive end in terms of pursuit. He held up just fine at the point of attack but was most special chasing down runs away from him.

5. Cameron Jordan

Stats

Sacks: 7.5, Tackles: 40, FF: 1

Jordan is a rare blend of interior defender size and edge defender athletic ability. He is 6’4 nearly 290 pounds with long arms which he utilizes to get his hands on opposing lineman and keep himself clean. He utilizes the swim move very effectively both as a pass rusher and run stopper thanks to his long arms. He is also good at getting in close and pulling jersey to get through opposing lineman. He would probably get a lot more publicity if he was not the lone great defender on a other wise crappy defense.

6. Olivier Vernon

Stats

Sacks: 8.5, Tackles: 46, FF: 1

Vernon signed the biggest contract by a defensive end at the time last offseason to come to the Giants and did not disappoint in his first year. He was a big reason why the Giants went from being a joke on defense the year before to one of the best defensive units in the league in 2016. Vernon was a very productive pass rusher racking up almost nine sacks and 37 hurries which was second best in the league. Vernon is excellent with his hands both rushing the passer and shedding blocks vs the run. As a pass rusher one of his best moves is a combo move where he utilizes a hard inside rush fake followed by hand swats and then quickly dips back outside and gets around his man.

7. Joey Bosa

Stats

Sacks: 10.5, Tackles: 29, FF:

Dak and Zeke got the majority of the headlines from the 2016 rookie class but a case can be made that Joey Bosa was the best rookie in the NFL period in 2016 and had he not missed the first four games of the year I think he would have gotten even more recognition than he did. He had 10.5 sacks in just 12 games as a rookie and every bit lived up to being the number three overall pick and first defensive player taken in his draft class. He was terrific both as a pass rusher and run stopper which is rare for a rookie. Coming out of college Bosa was highly skilled in terms of his hands play and his excellent hand usage was on display early and often in his NFL rookie season. Bosa has a lot of moves in his tool bag but his best ones are his two handed slap away and two handed stab. What makes Bosa special already is his versatility. He lined up just about everywhere for the Chargers last season playing some defensive end, outside linebacker and even defensive tackle when needed and he did it on both the right and left sides.

8. Jadeveon Clowney

Stats

Sacks: 6.0, Tackles: 40, FF: 1

Clowney finally had the season we all expected from him being the first overall pick. He made his first pro bowl and if he can just string along more seasons where he stays healthy their will be plenty of great seasons ahead. At nearly 6’6, 260 with elite physical traits Clowney is almost impossible to deal with one on one. At this point in his career he is a run stopper first. He had the third highest run defense grade from pro football focus among edge defenders. He does a great job of stacking and using those long arms to get in opposing limeman’s pads early and keep them off him making it easier for him to set the edge or shed. Clowney made strides as a pass rusher but you can tell from watching him he still has some development to do in terms of his pass rush moves as he at times relies to much on his athleticism. He still lacks that go to move that some of the other really good players on this list posses which is the only thing really keeping him from being on the same level as guys like Mack and Miller.

9. Vic Beasley Jr.

Stats

Sacks: 15.5, Tackles: 32, FF: 6

Beasley’s development as a pass rusher in his second season was quite impressive. He racked up over 15 sacks which led the entire NFL and was a speed demon flying off the edge. The Falcons did an excellent job of utilizing Beasley blazing speed and quickness in various stunts where he was able to loop behind a defensive tackle and just blow by the guard or center on the way to the QB. One on one he flashed some good moves as well. Beasley’s go to move appears to be a hesitation fake followed by a speed dip and rip to the outside which he was successful at many times, especially against the Broncos in which he accumulating 3.5 sacks in that one game alone. Unfortunately at only 240 pounds Beasley is a bit on the thin side for guy playing on the line of scrimmage and it showed when defending the run. Beasley was one of the worst edge defenders against the run in the league according to pro football focus. When he was unblocked or rarely when he shed himself free he was able to make some plays utilizing his athletic ability but his lack of strength, size and technique as a run defender are the reason why despite leading the league in sacks he finds himself near the bottom of the top 10.

10. Cameron Wake

Stats

Sacks: 11.5, Tackles: 22, FF: 0

Wake’s season was cut short in 2015 as he was lost for the season after only seven games. He bounced back nicely in 2016 with the fourth double digit sack season of his career. His play played a huge role in the Dolphins surprising everyone and actually making the playoffs. Wake is not the biggest, strongest or fastest guy but he is one of the hardest working which is how he went from playing in the CFL to accumulating over 80 sacks in eight seasons. His go to move as a pass rusher is the arm bar. He gets out of his stance quickly and gets in close on opposing tackles and uses his inside arm as a weapon and shield to both beat blocks and keep himself clean. And old savvy move from an old savvy veteran. Wake has never been great vs the run. However his run defense was noticeably worse than in years past. Maybe it was a product of recovering from an Achilles injury or maybe age is catching up to him in that aspect of his game. Regardless, at his age as he gets slower and starts to decline he will need to be better vs the run to better balance out his game as his pass rush prowess will only go down from here as he will be 35 next season.