Johnathan Hankins, Quinton Jefferson and Solomon Thomas as the top three options on the defensive tackle depth chart form one of the weaker interior groups in the league following Maurice Hursts release. The team still has major personnel problems both at pass-rusher without Danielle Hunterand at cornerback, where four out of the top five players have allowed a 100.0-plus passer ratingthis season. The biggest issue for the Raiders, though, is that their pass defense has nose-dived, with the team allowing a 107.1 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. They are going to be without, How good Kansas Citys offense is remains somewhat up in the air, but there's little doubt that their defense is cooking at this stage. With the 2020 regular season officially over, Pro Football Focus has released its final offensive line rankings. But the Raiders are thin on the interior. Nate Hobbs and Casey Hayward are both playing well, but teams have just found other players to target, with the linebackers and Johnathan Abram, in particular,being liabilities in coverage. San Francisco will also need. Detroit's offensive line came in 10th in PFF's ranking of all 32 offensive line groups heading into the season. Despite what his sack totals in recent seasons may suggest, is still the NFL's most dominant edge defender on a snap-for-snap basis. It would be harsh to say the wheels have fallen off this defense, but cracks have started to appear where none were earlier in the season. Clearly, this is not where a team paying two defensive linemen north of $20 million . Chris Jones aligned back inside is a wrecking ball, amassing 58 pressures this season. Joey Bosa is one of the best defensive linemen in the game, but lately, this defense hasnt been giving him enough help. The Texans will need younger players, such as. The Seattle Seahawks fall in the middle of the pack, ranking 14th on the list . Collier, Darrell Taylor and Alton Robinson. The Football Team are extremely vulnerable to the pass in general, but on third downs this season, they are giving up a 129.0 passer rating, by far the worst mark in the NFL. 17 overall in the NFL, according to PFF's Sam Monson . Houstons defensive line ranked dead last in overall PFF grade as a unit (47.0) in 2020. Philadelphias defensive line has consistently been one of the NFL's best at generating pressure without blitzing. At 38.0%, they now have the third-best pressure rate of any team, trailing the Rams and Packers. 2020-21. Indianapolis will be relying on rookie Kwity Paye and several players yet to produce at a high level in starting roles (Al-Quadin Muhammad, Tyquan Lewis, Kemoko Turay, Ben Banogu and Isaac Rochell). Chiefs News: Chiefs in bottom half of PFF's defensive line rankings Arik Armstead, Samson Ebukam and even Arden Key have also been real factors in recent weeks in applying pressure on the quarterback. The Raiders no longer lead the league in pressure rate. Seattle isnt quite catastrophic at anything but is below average at almost everything. The biggest issues have come in coverage, where the Lions have allowed a 17.3% explosive pass rate, 30th in the NFL. have the tools to develop into a dynamic edge-rushing duo, but 2021 may still be a year too early for that to take hold. The addition of Yannick Ngakoue and his 80th-percentile pass-rushing grade since 2017 should help in that department. Cornerback Tavierre Thomas is the only defensive back to see significant playing time this season with even an average grade, and he has been impressive, allowing just a 44.1 passer ratingwhen targeted. 1 seed won't be active again until the Divisional Round, but once the . At 38.0%, they now have the third-best pressure rate of any team, trailing the Rams and Packers. Brown and Gross-Matos still have plenty of room to grow heading into 2021, but Burns already began to show signs of becoming one of the NFLs elite pass rushers last year. He recorded a career-high 85.4 PFF grade back in 2019 with Houston before injuries cut his 2020 Cincinnati debut short after just five games. INT - Interceptions. Gaillard posted a 83.2 pass blocking grade in the remaining 46 snaps . Those two players were the team's best defenders in 2020 but have combined for just 237 snaps this season. Mike Tannenbaum's QB rankings Rankings are updated through the end of the 2021 regular season. He earned a career-high 89.6 overall grade in 2020 and was the sixth-most valuable interior defender in the league . Bosa and Ford's return to play alongside Arik Armstead could give the 49ers one of the best edge rotations in the NFL. He improved his pass-rushing grade from 68.7 in an injury-plagued rookie season to 86.9 in 2020. , but the gap is closing between him and the chasing pack. The Jacksonville Jaguars' defense showed a lot of flashes late in the regular season, holding its final five opponents to 197.8 pass ypg with an 81.2 QB rating and a 6-5 TD-INT line. They rank eighth and seventh, respectively, in PFF WAR at their positions since the start of the 2019 season. Brandon Staleys Rams defense last season led the league in passer rating allowed to opposing quarterbacks, but the Chargers this season rank just 21st, and thats the stronger area of their game. Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrates a sack of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) with teammates Cameron Heyward (97) and Stephon Tuitt (91) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. 5 on the list. San Francisco will also need Javon Kinlaw (54.1 PFF grade as a rookie) to make a second-year jump to get back toward the elite group we saw two years ago. Philadelphias defensive line has consistently been one of the NFLs best at generating pressure without blitzing. The 20-year-old also threw what PFF designates a "perfectly-placed pass" on 26.7 percent of his attempts in 2021 and 2022, the highest of any player in the FBS (minimum 100 pass attempts). . His inability to play up to the level he performed at in Seattle has left Kansas City thin along the defensive line beyond Jones, even after the team signed Jarran Reed this offseason. Donald still managed 13.5 sacks along the line. . Jordan Elliott is a name to watch in his second season out of Missouri. The group ranked 30th in expected points added allowed per run play and had the lowest pressure rate in the league both with and without blitzing. NFL . One would think that Pittsburgh's defensive line is slated to take a step back after replacing Bud Dupree with Alex Highsmith. A.J. Trey Hendrickson will likely be a downgrade from Carl Lawson, considering what he accomplished as a pass rusher last season. Sportsbooks have access to data on everything from defensive line speed to weather conditions and more, and they use these data . But it does now after his 50-pressure, breakout season in 2020. Tampa Bays defense continues to deal with injuries, forcing depth players to assume a greater role to varying degrees of success. (54.1 PFF grade as a rookie) to make a second-year jump to get back toward the elite group we saw two years ago. PFF Ranking: Unranked. Miami did just that, blitzing at a top-five rate of 41.2%. 2023 NFL Draft Round 2 and 3 grades: Rating every pick More league info 18. (30.2), to take big steps forward if their defensive line is to be anything other than the NFL's worst such unit again next season. PFF brings you data-driven NFL rankings, stats, and player grades for every team and player in the National Football League. It should be a much-improved unit heading into next season. But Green Bay's surrounding pieces keep this unit from ranking inside the top 10. Among them, only Lamar Jackson is a formidable name in 2021, and even he has struggled for large portions of the season. But it does now after his 50-pressure, breakout season in 2020. Over the last three drafts, the Raiders have spent four first or second-round picks on the secondary and have nothing to show for it. Andrew Wilbar: Much like center, nose tackles do not go inside the top . has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. Whether the unit misses a beat in 2021 relies on. Despite what his sack totals in recent seasons may suggest, Khalil Mack is still the NFL's most dominant edge defender on a snap-for-snap basis. Jadeveon Clowney has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. Most-improved, least-improved position groups after the 2023 NFL Draft. Youth is the theme across Carolinas defense. While many Giants have put together solid individual performances on defense, the unit is far from a well-oiled machine. , all of whom made PFFs list of the top 32 players at their respective positions entering the 2021 NFL season. At the same time, they are keeping 2021 first-round rookie, Tampa Bays defense continues to deal with injuries, forcing depth players to assume a greater role to varying degrees of success. Last offseason, Trey Hendricksons departure wouldnt have represented a major loss. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports. Houstons defensive line ranked dead last in overall PFF grade as a unit (47.0) in 2020. PFF's NFL Power Rankings for the 2021 NFL season : nfl The Dolphins still. Indianapolis Colts defensive line ranked 19th by PFF The Patriots are coming off consecutive losses in which their opposition put up some points, but even in those games, the defense wasnt overwhelmed as much as it failed to make stops in key situations. While we at PFF have made the argument that coverage is more valuable than pass rush, elite pass rushers are more reliable from year to year than elite coverage defenders. San Francisco has rescued its season and looks headed for the playoffs, even as a late-season injury to quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws some doubt into the equation. His 22.0% pass-rush win rate since entering the league in 2016 is second to only Donald (23.4%). He joins a group that already features. The Browns finished with the highest run blocking grade at 81.2 over the 49ers (81.0) and Colts (78.8). The Jets were not a good football team in 2020. is a name to watch in his second season out of Missouri. In 2019, he earned a sub-90.0 PFF season grade (79.3) for the first time in his career, ending an absurd stretch of dominance. It should be a much-improved unit heading into next season. The next highest were the Green Bay Packers (79.9) and the Washington Football Team (76.6). Leonard has forced six fumbles and tallied three interceptions alone, but eight other Colts defenders have also registered forced fumbles this season. Ranking every NFL defensive line from 1 to 32: Where do Jets fall? This game put the Cowboys over 30% on the year, but it did not put them over the top. Mike Moraitis. "DeForest Buckner was everything Indianapolis hoped he would be last season. He improved his pass-rushing grade from 68.7 in an injury-plagued rookie season to 86.9 in 2020. The Raiders no longer lead the league in pressure rate. The less said about the fourth team the better, as the New York Jets prop up the rankings in 32nd place. The team's stable of impressive defensive backs gives it strength in vital areas to defend the pass. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Outside of Quinn, the next highest pressure total on the team is just 24, and the team ranks 27th in pressure rate overall. All three have recorded at least 250 pressures since 2015 despite significant stretches of missed time due to injuries. That being said, Miamis blitz-heavy nature is suffocating to those quarterbacks. Our O-Line expert Brad Wire is here to give you the latest updates on injuries for guys in the trenches for you to consider when setting your fantasy football lineups.. Arizona Cardinals. Davenport has impressed when at full strength over the past two seasons, though. Kenny Clark and ZaDarius Smith are tremendous individual talents. He recorded a run-defense grade below 40.0 and a pressure rate well below 10% for the season. Dupree will be asked to pick up a lot of that slack, but his pass-rushing stats didnt always accurately reflect his level of play in Pittsburgh. The concerns begin to arise on the edge. Allen and Sweat, in particular, took clear steps forward last season. Detroits defensive line unit finished the 2020 season ranked 30th in PFF grade, ahead of only the Vikings and Texans. The offensive line is expected to be one of the Detroit Lions' strengths in 2021, and Pro Football Focus sees it that way too. All three have recorded at least 250 pressures since 2015 despite significant stretches of missed time due to injuries. O-Line Rankings and Matchups to Exploit: Week 5 | 4for4 Denver ranks third in the league in touchdown drive rate and seventh in successful play rate as a defense. To have our 32nd . PHILADELPHIA EAGLES The group was led by Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and . And those grades for the Detroit Lions in 2021 are not very high, unfortunately. Clowneys presence should keep teams from focusing all of their attention on Myles Garrett, creating more one-on-one opportunities for both players. Here is how the production of each player on a team's defensive line was valued. Robert Quinn was the best player on the Bears last season and one of the best defensive players in the league. No defense has forced more turnovers than Dallas. 1, followed by Indianapolis, New England, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Dallas, Kansas . Terrell who is playing at an All-Pro level. Sometimes they look excellent and cause real problems for opposing offenses, and on other occasions they little more than a speed-bump for the opposition. The unit made life very tough for Miami on Monday Night Football, only to still lose by 17 because rookie Ian Book was forced to start at quarterback. Chaisson came on stronger down the stretch last season but recorded just a 9.2% pressure rate overall. . Only the Saints have allowed a touchdown drive at a lower rate than the Patriots this season (17.1%). 5. D.J. This groups success next season will largely depend on the impact of younger players such as. New England invested heavily in improving that group this offseason, adding Matthew Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Davon Godchaux, Henry Anderson, Montravius Adams, Christian Barmore and Ronnie Perkins across free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. Training Camp Tour: Rams' top-tier defensive line continues to impress. The next step will be adding more of a power element to complement his high-end burst and bend. all look to be impact starters through the early stages of their NFL careers. NFL quarterback rankings 2021 - How all 32 teams' QBs stack up and big Los Angeles will have to replace Michael Brockers, whose 5,658 regular-season snaps since joining the Rams in 2012 rank ninth among all players at the position. He hasnt recorded double-digit sacks in a season since 2014, but he ranks in the 81st percentile of all players at the position in pass-rush win rate over the six years since. Dante Fowler Jr.s first year with the team was nowhere near what the Falcons were expecting when they signed him to a multi-year deal last offseason. It would be harsh to say the wheels have fallen off this defense, but cracks have started to appear where none were earlier in the season. The Jaguars' defense cant stop the pass well enough, and the problems originate in the secondary. The quarterbacks during the Dolphins 7 game win streak???? Davenport has impressed when at full strength over the past two seasons, though. All three ranked in the 83rd percentile or better at the position in run-defense grade last season. But they did have several promising seasons from young defensive linemen, namely Quinnen Williams, Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers. 31. Jonah Williams has been impressive at left tackle, earning a 77.9 PFF grade, even if he has a tendency to lose badly when he does lose (he has allowed eight sacks). First-round rookie Jaelan Phillips could begin to change that next season, coming off an 86.6 PFF grade last season at the University of Miami. next season. Over the past month, the entire Atlanta defense has two fewer pressures than Aaron Donald has by himself. NFC . did not make the kind of impact the Cardinals hoped for in 2020, earning a 54.4 overall grade before a hamstring injury cut his season short. He ranks in the 82nd percentile of players at the position in pass-rush grade and in the 88th percentile of edge defenders in run-defense grade since 2019. Over the past month, the entire Atlanta defense has two fewer pressures than, Washingtons defense isnt just bad; its worst play comes during the most high-leverage situations. AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons. Follow all of your favorite Pennsylvania teams at Eagles Wire, Sixers Wire, Nittany Lions Wireand Steelers Wire! Receiving Leader: Cooper Kupp, 1947 Yds. . Much of the Ravens pass-rushing success in recent years has been a function of scheme rather than individual talent. highest PFF pass-rushing grade (69.9) since 2018, 111.8 passer rating (Shaquill Griffin) and a 90.3 passer rating (Tyson Campbell), notching 45 pressures and an 80.8 overall PFF grade. for the season. In a year that makes no sense, few things will rival the madness of the Chicago Bears, while missing their entire starting secondary, holding Kirk Cousins to a career-low 87 passing yards in Week 15. 2022 Basic Defensive Line Stats. Best Offensive Lines in the NFL 2023: Eagles, Chiefs, and Browns Battle FF - Forced Fumbles. Thirty-four of Donald's pressures are from the past four games, too. 2018-19. Minnesota ranks 18th in successful play allowed rate overall but fourth on third down. considering what he accomplished as a pass rusher last season. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NFL player performance data. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. It was a unit that played both the run and pass at an elite level in 2020. Pittsburgh Steelers. How good Kansas Citys offense is remains somewhat up in the air, but there's little doubt that their defense is cooking at this stage. Emmanuel Ogbah was their most productive pass rusher in 2020, but even he finished the year with only a 64.5 pass-rushing grade. 5. 6. We saw it this offseason in Cincinnati. The Falcons are allowing a 107.1 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks despite having a cornerback in A.J. Rookie. Rookie Micah Parsons is one of the best defenders in the game already, and at multiple positions. DeForest Buckner was everything Indianapolis hoped he would be last season. , and neither carries an overall PFF grade higher than 85.0. 2022 Basic Defensive Line Stats | Football Outsiders Allens 2020 campaign was somewhat overshadowed by Washington's starting edge tandem, but he was excellent when rushing the passer. The defensive line is no exception, with the Panthers expected to start. NFL Defensive Line Rankings 2022 But does it matter when they boast the single most disruptive force in the NFL? on the season, and even the better performers and those who have played the most snaps are giving up a. . Thanks to that dominant performance in the trenches, the Steelers offensive line climbed one spot in the Week 16 rankings, moving up to No. The Titans paid Bud Dupree and Denico Autry a combined $23.7 million per year to improve this unit heading into the 2021 season. And any resemblance this unit bears to the famed Legion of Boom is purely aesthetic. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES . 2017-18. The Broncos have been forced deep into contingency plans at linebacker, with both starters lost for the season to injury, but players like Jonas Griffith are still performing well in relief. 2023 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating all 32 teams after the NFL Draft The Buffalo Bills remain on top, but their division rival New England Patriots are right behind them, with the Miami Dolphins ' improvement . Houston Texans. The team now has a pressure rate of just 20.2%, by far the lowest mark in the NFL. Frank Clark, on the other hand, has not, earning PFF grades of 63.3 and 54.3 in his two seasons with the team. This time last year, they were leading the league in pressure rate and threatening all-time marks for how often they were putting opposing quarterbacks under duress. Outside of Quinn, the next highest pressure total on the team is just 24, and the team ranks 27th in pressure rate overall. The Chiefs allowed over 17 points just once in their past eight games, and that came against Justin Herbert and the Chargers. 2023 NFL draft cheat sheet: Prospect picks, rankings, stats Although the Eagles could lose right guard Isaac Seumalo to free agency, their front five should keep rolling thanks to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Why the Julio Jones trade benefits the Eagles, Where the Eagles land in a ranking of NFL's worst to first candidates in 2021, Eagles won't face Julio Jones in season opener after Falcons agree to trade star WR to the Titans, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The only interior defensive linemen worth more wins above replacement than Jones last season were, , on the other hand, has not, earning PFF grades of 63.3 and 54.3 in his two seasons with the team. Some success stories have arisen such as, but they have been few and far between. Shelby Harris, coming off an 88.3 overall grade in 2020, is one of the more underrated interior defenders in the NFL. Parsons has 60 total pressures despite playing as an off-the-ball linebacker most of the time. Mike Zimmer is still capable of dialing up plays to get his defense off the field, he just cant hide the problems on all of the other downs. Only the, At some point, its time to accept that the Dallas defense isnt just vastly improved from a year ago, but its actually one of the best in the NFL, driven by elite performances from several key players. With work still left to do for those two and little to get excited about on the interior, this should be one of the lower-graded units in the league again next season. Passing Leader: Tom Brady, 5316 Yds. The Titans as a whole have been significantly better against the pass, ranking 11th in EPA per play allowed on passing plays, thanks largely to the play of those safeties. Seth Galina (@pff_seth) December 28, 2021. Their best defensive lineman . Even, San Francisco has rescued its season and looks headed for the playoffs, even as a late-season injury to quarterback. But they did have several promising seasons from young defensive linemen, namely. There isnt a member of the unit with an overall PFF grade this season over 77.0, and just one full-time starter is even above 70.0. They have, this season, with the majority of them earning poor PFF grades. However, his pressure numbers are skewed toward sacks, where he has one of the best rates relative to pass-rushing snaps in the game. The Kansas City Chiefs are back among the very best teams in the NFL following an ugly start to the year, and their defense is driving that resurgence after ranking as low as 30th in Week 8. No edge defender graded higher as a pass rusher on true pass-rushing snaps than him in 2020. departure wouldnt have represented a major loss. NFL Offensive Player Rankings after the 2022 regular season; three And due to the Colts' inexperience on the edge, he may need to carry the unit next season. . Even with Miller at a level or two below his peak, Denver has a lot of talent up front. However, the Rams still have to replace all three of their next best line pass rushers opposite of Donald from 2020: Brockers (Lions), Morgan Fox . Favorable Defensive Matchups Ravens vs . The Rams will have the worst defense in 2023 . Luckily for the Giants, the interior defensive line was their deepest position group last year. Part of the reason Buffalo ranks merely in the middle of the pack here is that. 2023 NFL defense rankings: Evaluating all 32 NFL teams before NFL Draft Terrell has allowed just 42.9% of passes thrown his way to be caught this season, the best mark in the league. The Saints season has gone off the rails since losing Jameis Winston to a season-ending injury, but their defense is as good as ever. One of the best seasons of Darius Slays career has helped propel Philadelphia up the rankings, among other standouts. As a result, its difficult to field a great defense with a below-average defensive line. The Dolphins still ranked only 14th in team pressure rate, in part because there arent many above-average pass rushers on their roster. Losing. General manager Jason Licht managed to bring back every starter from last years championship team this offseason. He recorded a run-defense grade below 40.0 and a pressure rate well below 10% for the season. The Saints need that performance over the course of a full season opposite the always-reliable, San Franciscos defensive line went from borderline unblockable in 2019 to underwhelming in 2020. He was the most valuable edge defender in the league last season by PFF's Wins Above Replacement metric, and he holds the same title across his three seasons with the Bears. ranked only 14th in team pressure rate, in part because there arent many above-average pass rushers on their roster. All of a sudden, the Cardinals are struggling to stop the run, allowing 4.5 yards per carry on average and the worst yards, contact per carry figure in the NFL. In a year that makes no sense, few things will rival the madness of the Chicago Bears, while missing their entire starting secondary, holding. 8. Things arent getting any better with Watt no longer in town. Trent Williams showed no rust after missing 2019 and finished with the highest grade among . . Donalds 81 pressures lead all interior players, and he is only six short of catching Maxx Crosby for the league lead at any position. The Raiders have struggled to generate any kind of pass rush for years now. and is one of New York's highest-graded players. Continue this thread. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports. He earned just a 30.0 run-defense grade in 2020. wont be easily replaced in the middle of New Yorks defensive line. That was the case again last season, as the Eagles were one of just two teams with a pressure rate above 40% without the aid of the blitz. He is arguably the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year, and he is now more of a one-man band compared to earlier in the year. 456 pressures over the past five seasons are 86 more than any other defender despite the fact that he saw a consistent barrage of double and triple teams. 11 or better. Offense . The Vikings' defensive line ended up as one of the NFL's worst in 2020. The Broncos could very well have the best edge duo in the NFL with. NFL Week 17 Defense Rankings | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF Clearly, this is not where a team paying two defensive linemen north of $20 million would like to be ranked. Only the Cowboys are forcing turnovers at a greater rate than the Colts this season, and that has been able to make up for some weaknesses in personnel on defense. The Seahawks inability to generate pressure with their defensive line last season, especially early in the year, became a national storyline. The Panthers rank sixth in the league in yards per pass allowed (6.7), and Stephon Gilmores play since he made it back onto the field suggests there are still plenty of high-quality performances left in the tank going forward. The Rams boast the second-best pressure rate of any defense in the league, built largely on the back of Aaron Donald, who has been playing at his very best in recent weeks. But that's a big ask, as he's 32 years old. Josh Allen and KLavon Chaisson have the tools to develop into a dynamic edge-rushing duo, but 2021 may still be a year too early for that to take hold. Rushing Leader: Jonathan Taylor, 1811 Yds. Hes been the sixth-most valuable interior defensive lineman in the NFL over the past four years, per PFF WAR.