NFL Position Rankings: Defensive Linemen
12. Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys
After struggling to stay consistent, Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence has emerged as one of the best defensive ends in the NFC. While Lawrence had an underwhelming 2019, the talent is there, and he has shown his ability to get to the quarterback in the past. The 2x Pro Bowler’s best season was 2017, where he had 14.5 sacks and 58 tackles. He only had 5 sacks in 2019, but the stats do not show his importance to the Cowboys line. Expect better numbers in 2020 from Lawrence as the Dallas defense looks to rebound after a tough 2019 campaign.
11. Frank Clark, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
If you want a consistent defensive end, Frank Clark is the guy. In five seasons, Clark has had 8 or more sacks four times. After four seasons with the Seahawks, Clark took his talents to Kansas City, where he was able to help the Chiefs win the Super Bowl. Clark is now entering the prime of his career, and is getting better day by day. The Chiefs are trying to get a deal done with Clark to keep him around, but the negotiations have stalled so far. Keeping him would be a big win for the Chiefs and their defensive line, and he will be one of the top pass rushers wherever he ends up.
10. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
For eight seasons, Fletcher Cox has been one of the most dominant defensive tackles in the NFL. While his sack numbers are not top-tier, his presence in the run game is extremely important to the Eagles’ success. With that being said, he still has 48 sacks for a career, which is very solid. He also has 5 straight Pro Bowl appearances, and earned first-team all-pro in 2018 after being an important piece in the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl run. While there are questions in the secondary, the Eagles defensive line will stay consistent because of the play of Fletcher Cox.
9. Calais Campbell, DE, Baltimore Ravens
Calais Campbell has been in the NFL for 12 seasons, and you could argue that he is still playing at the top of his game. Since his arrival in Jacksonville, Campbell has made three Pro Bowls, earned first-team all-pro once, and has a total of 31.5 sacks in three seasons. In 2020, Campbell will join the Baltimore Ravens, one of the best defenses in the league. This move is a steal for Baltimore, and putting a top talent on an already-top defense is going to make the Ravens very scary. Campbell is going to be 34 this season, but has shown no signs of slowing down yet. If Campbell stays on top of his game, the Ravens won the offseason with that trade.
8. DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts
Since his arrival in the league in 2016, Deforest Buckner has been a force in the middle of the line. In four seasons, Buckner has 28.5 sacks and 263 tackles, which are good numbers for an interior lineman. Like Campbell, Buckner will be changing his uniform in 2020, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts defense is good, but Buckner can put them over the top if he keeps progressing at the rate he has so far.
7. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
While injuries have plagued the last few seasons, J.J. Watt’s success on the football field will likely get him in the hall of fame. Watt has 96 career sacks in 112 games, has made 5 Pro Bowls, and has been named an all-pro five times. When he is healthy, he has never had less than 10 sacks in a season, but the problem is staying on the field. Watt can still be extremely effective in this league, but he must show that he can stay on the field for a whole season or his talent will mean nothing in 2020.
6. Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers
The last guy outside of the top five on this list is Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa. At only 24 years old, Bosa is a special player and is sometimes overlooked. Like J.J. Watt, Bosa has had some issues staying on the field in his career, but has shown he has the talent to be great when he is healthy. In four seasons, the Ohio State product has 40 sacks. He has played in all sixteen games twice, making the Pro Bowl in each of these seasons. 2020 is a contract year for Bosa, so a big year can lead to him cashing in a big payout if he stays healthy.
5. Danielle Hunter, DE, Minnesota Vikings
Entering our top five, we start off with Danielle Hunter, a defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. Hunter is arguably the most underrated defensive linemen in all of football. But his numbers have been dominating, especially in the last two seasons: he has 54.5 sacks for a career, 29 of those coming in the last two seasons. Hunter deserves more credit, and putting up these types of numbers should start to lead to more recognition.
4. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints
Coming in at number four is New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan. Jordan has been a consistent player for the Saints. In 10 seasons, Jordan has 87 career sacks and has been an iron man for New Orleans, never missing a game in 10 years. He has made five pro bowls and even earned first-team all-pro honors in 2017. Jordan’s play does not wow you, but he constantly is making an impact on the defense. The Saints are ready to win now, and Jordan’s presence will be a big part of their success.
3. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
If you look past the incident with Mason Rudolph, Myles Garrett has become the most dominant edge rusher in the AFC. In three seasons, Garrett has 30.5 sacks in 37 games. Going into his fourth season, the Pro Bowl linemen has a lot to prove, especially after the suspension which ended his 2019 season early. He already had 10 sacks, and was well on his way to a 16-17 sack season if it was not for the fight. With Garrett back for a full season, he may have a chance to move up this list with a big year.
2. Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
To be this high on the list after one season is special, which is a good way to describe Nick Bosa. Even though his 9 sacks will not make you jump out of your seat, his presence is definitely felt. Two games that pop out are the Monday night game against the Browns and the Super Bowl against the Chiefs. It felt like Bosa was lining up in the backfield in these games. The 22-year old earned defensive rookie of the year honors by a landslide, and he went to his first (and almost definitely not last) Pro Bowl. If Bosa keeps this up, he is going to dominate offensive linemen for many years to come.
1. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
Coming in at number one is a player not only number one on this list, but arguably number one in all of football, Aaron Donald. Donald has been in the league for only six seasons and has already done enough to be considered a Hall of Famer. He has earned first-team all-pro in five of the six seasons he has played, and has earned pro bowl honors in all of them. He has 72 career sacks (20.5 in 2018), is a two-time defensive player of the year, and was the 2014 defensive rookie of the year. As good as guys like Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett are, they are still not in the same class as Donald, at least not yet. Donald is only 29 years old, and has a real shot to put up even better numbers in the future. If he was eligible for the hall of fame right now, I would say that Donald is a lock.
Stats from profootballreference.com
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