Position rankings continue with Edge Defender. This should be fun.
1 Khalil Mack (Bears): has been elite for a long long time. There is no doubt he is number one no matter how big a homer you are. Only 8.5 sacks last year but double digit sacks the last 4 seasons prior. He is good against the run and is a game changer.
2a Danielle Hunter (Vikings): Hunter is a pressure and sack beast. 14.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Good run defender as well.
2b Cameron Jordan (Saints): is a a very good pass rusher and run defender. 13, 12 and 15.5 sacks in 2017-2019 with great run defense. Not quite the Mack game changer but Jordan is playing at a very high level.
3a Z’Darius Smith (Packers): Smith had an elite year as the 3rd best edge defender in the league in 2019 with 12.5 sacks. He is an absolute beast and was good in 2018 as well with the Ravens. However, prior to that he has been average to below average in grades 2015-2017. Smith fits the Packers well and progressed nicely but he is not on Mack or Hunters level quite yet.
3b Trey Flowers (Lions): Flowers was Mr. Consistent for the Patriots and was very good in 2019 for the Lions. He isn’t a sack king but he gets consistent pressure and is great in run defense. Flowers 18th ranked in 2019, 6th in 2018, 22nd in 2017/2016. Flowers only struggled his rookie year. He is earning that big contract he got from Detroit beating double teams for pressure.
4a Marcus Davenport (Saints): Remember this guy from the fleecing. He had a nice 2019 17th ranked after an above average rookie year with some injuries. The small school first round pick creates two nice rushers for the Saints.
4b Shaq Barrett (Tampa Bay): had a monster year flirting with the sack record (19.5 sacks). It was his first big year but he he was just solid to average with Denver prior as a backup really.
4c Dante Folwer (Falcons): 34th ranked for the Rams after stalling in Jacksonville. Fowler joins the Falcons to replace Vic Beasley(Titans) who disappointed other than his rookie year. Fowler good consistent pass rush and might/may give Falcons some pressure.
5a Robert Quinn (Bears): Quinn had a bounce back season with the Cowboys and got a big contract with the Bears. He is above average in pass rush and run defense. 46th ranked in 2019 with good sack numbers. Slight upgrade over Leonard Floyd (Rams)
5b Preston Smith (Packers): Another above average pass rusher who is a little underrated around the league. Solid in run defense but ranked 56th in 2019 despite very good sack numbers.
6 Brian Burns (Panthers): Solid rookie season for the first round pick with a solid grade. 7.5 sacks in his rookie year but needs more run defense.
7a Trey Hendrickson (Saints): Unknown Saints DE that was above average in 500 snaps in 2019. Only average the previous two years though.
7b Tak McKinley (Atlanta): Never really became the pass rusher the Falcons wanted from a 1st rounder. 52nd ranked in 2019 was slightly above average and only 3.5 sacks in 2019 after 7 in 2018. Run defense is average at best.
7c Jason Pierre Paul (Tampa Bay): Bucs OLB/DE that plays the run well. Expect more from pass rush but the guy is missing fingers. He is still a solid player.
7d Yetur Gross Matos (Panthers). Carolina added big-time talent from Penn State in Round 2 of this draft. Matos is a consistent pass rusher, long and tall. Good in run defense as well. Panthers hope he boosts their pass rush.
8a Julian Okwara (Lions): Nice addition in Round 3 for Detroit that had first round talent. They hope he can he improve the pass rush from the JACK LB spot. Jamie Collins is also a pass rush addition but he is used in more of a full LB role and will be graded as such. Collins had 7 sacks in 2019 as well. Devon Kennard was solid with 7 sacks but not consistent pass rush with good run defense.. Kennard was cut and signed with Arizona and decent shoes to fill by Okwara.
8b Rashan Gary (Packers): Average rookie year 1st round pick but has potential
9 Ifeadi Odenigbo (Vikings): Had 7 sacks for the Vikings but will take over Everson Griffen’s starting spot.
10a Romeo Okwara (Lions): Solid in run defense but average pass rush. Was better in 2018 but the consistent rush is lacking. His brother is also on the Lions and has a little more talent. 76th ranked in 2019.
10b DJ Wonnum (Viking): 4th round pick rookie from South Carolina the Vikings are hoping they can strike mid-round gold again with Everson Griffen a free agent.
11 Stephen Weatherly (Panthers): Terrible for the Vikings in 2019 but will play alot for the Panthers. Had as solid 2018 though.
Other Backups
Austin Bryant has some potential for the Lions. The 4th round pick from 2019 was injured most of his rookie year though. Barkevious Mingo and James Vaughters are the Bears backups. Mingo is a failed 1st round pick who bounced around the league. Kamal Martin is the Packers 5th round pick who should be their 4th OLB. Anthony Chickillo is a solid vet on the Saints now but is more a LB. John Cominsky was 4th round pick for the Falcons in 2019. Anthony Nelson was a 2019 4th round picks for the Bucs. Anthony Zettel has made a career as a backup from the Lions to the Vikings now.