This defense needs Chandler Jones, in particular,to be playing at his best, and his most recent elite PFF game grade came in Week 11. One of the best seasons of Darius Slays career has helped propel Philadelphia up the rankings, among other standouts. Some success stories have arisen such as, but they have been few and far between. Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle provide the Football Team additionalinterior pass-rushing threats beyond the starters, as well. Allens 2020 campaign was somewhat overshadowed by Washington's starting edge tandem, but he was excellent when rushing the passer. However, his pressure numbers are skewed toward sacks, where he has one of the best rates relative to pass-rushing snaps in the game. Losing Chase Young to injury, among others, certainly doesn't help, but this defense simply hasnt been able to stop the leaks that have been apparent all year. They did not make any upgrades across the defensive line. Things arent getting any better with Watt no longer in town. They include starting quarterbacks and backups who filled in for QBs dealing with injuries at the end . Part of that revival in fortune has been down to the defense, which has massively picked up its game over the season. Bosa and Ford's return to play alongside, could give the 49ers one of the best edge rotations in the NFL. pff.com. 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). Davenport has impressed when at full strength over the past two seasons, though. A lot of weight will fall on the shoulders of second-round pick Azeez Ojulari as he looks tocontribute early in his NFL career. 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. Those three all finished among the top 35 interior defenders in the NFL in overall grade last season. The only interior defensive linemen worth more wins above replacement than Jones last season were Aaron Donald and Cam Heyward. The Raiders have struggled to generate any kind of pass rush for years now. A platoon of underrated defensive linemen seven of whom have at least 20 pressures this season help make the entire structure work. . hasn't produced to the level the Bills expected when they selected him in the top 10 of the 2019 NFL Draft. It'll be a different story in Tennessee, putting more pressure on Dupree to elevate his play. The Seahawks inability to generate pressure with their defensive line last season, especially early in the year, became a national storyline. That group will look to match a league-leading 45.1% pressure rate in 2020. The Lions certainly play hard for head coach Dan Campbell, but they dont necessarily play well, especially on defense. Thanks to that dominant performance in the trenches, the Steelers offensive line climbed one spot in the Week 16 rankings, moving up to No. next season. 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. The Buccaneers ranked fifth in the NFL in team pressure rate (37.1%) and first in rushing yards allowed before contact per attempt (1.0). on the season, and even the better performers and those who have played the most snaps are giving up a. . Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 defensive lines heading into the 2021 NFL season and Philadelphia dropped three spots from last summer, coming in at No. Bosa and Ford's return to play alongside Arik Armstead could give the 49ers one of the best edge rotations in the NFL. A lot of weight will fall on the shoulders of second-round pick, was everything Indianapolis hoped he would be last season. It should be a much-improved unit heading into next season. The Buffalo Bills remain on top, but their division rival New England Patriots are right behind them, with the Miami Dolphins ' improvement . 6. Readers return should give Cincinnati a major boost on the interior, though. No edge defender graded higher as a pass rusher on true pass-rushing snaps than him in 2020. Only the Saints have allowed a touchdown drive at a lower rate than the Patriots this season (17.1%). One would think that Pittsburgh's defensive line is slated to take a step back after replacing Bud Dupree with Alex Highsmith. Hughes might be one of the more underrated edge rushers in the league based on sack totals. Allen and Sweat, in particular, took clear steps forward last season. Only the Atlanta Falcons are generating pressure at a lower rate than Detroit, which has applied heat on the quarterback just 24.3% of the time. EDGE 2: 14.5%. Rushing Leader: Jonathan Taylor, 1811 Yds. The concerns begin to arise on the edge. 18. Clearly, this is not where a team paying two defensive linemen north of $20 million . Bosas rate was even higher last season (23.5%) than his career average. But they did have several promising seasons from young defensive linemen, namely. There just isnt much around him on Atlanta's defensive line. Lawson should provide much-needed pass-rushing ability off the edge. Safety, led the team in total pressures (25) through the first 13 weeks of the 2020 campaign. But that step might not be as large as many expect. Maxx Crosby still leads the league in total pressures (87), but the gap is closing between him and the chasing pack. Trey Hendrickson has proved to be an excellent free-agent acquisition, building on the career year that got him paid in the first place. The recent addition of Sheldon Richardson also gives them a more viable pass-rushing threat on the interior than either Pierce or Tomlinson. He earned just a 30.0 run-defense grade in 2020. wont be easily replaced in the middle of New Yorks defensive line. Joey Bosa is one of the best defensive linemen in the game, but lately, this defense hasnt been giving him enough help. Detroits defensive line unit finished the 2020 season ranked 30th in PFF grade, ahead of only the Vikings and Texans. The Saints season has gone off the rails since losing, Any defense with Vic Fangio involved as a coach is going to be good, and the Denver unit has had some elite performances this season despite lacking quality personnel in some areas. While many Giants have put together solid individual performances on defense, the unit is far from a well-oiled machine. 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. Rookie Micah Parsons is one of the best defenders in the game already, and at multiple positions. They rank just eighth in blitz rate (28.5%) and 18th in pressure rate as a unit. Quinton Spain has played some of his best football, and there were other positive contributors, but not one member of the line played all 17 games, and the play of the backups has . He has above-average PFF grades across the board and a 75.2 overall mark, and his stat line in coverage includes an interception and four pass breakups. 5. Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, and Hassan Ridgeway all return, all with the addition of free agent Ryan Kerrigan, along with draft picks, Milton Williams and Tarron Jackson. 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. Dolphins (9-8, No. for the season. Seth Galina (@pff_seth) December 28, 2021. , all of whom made PFFs list of the top 32 players at their respective positions entering the 2021 NFL season. Miami did just that, blitzing at a top-five rate of 41.2%. across free agency and the 2021 NFL Draft. Aside from that one-man wrecking crew, this defensive line has clear concerns heading into 2021. has been the least valuable defensive lineman in the NFL over the past two seasons, worth -0.22 wins above a replacement-level player over that span. He finished with 11 career interceptions and three pick-sixes. New Yorks top four pressure producers in 2020 were all interior defenders. The Broncos could very well have the best edge duo in the NFL with. 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. 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. and Miller if Miller does return to 100%. Chaisson came on stronger down the stretch last season but recorded just a 9.2% pressure rate overall. has matched his contract with elite production. 2021 NFL Defensive Secondary Rankings, by Unit 32. 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. When a team invests four consecutive first-round picks into one unit, this is the result theyre hoping for. Even, San Francisco has rescued its season and looks headed for the playoffs, even as a late-season injury to quarterback. No defense in the league allows scoring drives at a lower rate than the Bills (28.7%), and they are doing that without a whole collection of players grading at an elite level. Rookie Christian Barmore has already racked up 42 total pressures, the third-most among first-year players. The concerns begin to arise on the edge. San Francisco will also need. 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. When discussing those in the new guard at cornerback who've established themselves as part of the "we got next . But that's a big ask, as he's 32 years old. The 2021 version should look significantly different Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce are expected to return from injury and an opt-out, respectively. 5 on the list. NFL Week 18 - The Dallas Cowboys finish the 2021 season on top of the Football Outsiders DVOA ratings, with a bit of an extra boost from a bunch of Philadelphia backups.The Cowboys had their best single game of the year on Sunday, putting up 96.0% DVOA with a 51-26 win over the Eagles. 17. Here are PFF's top defensive lines heading into the 2021 NFL season, with 3-4 outside linebackers included since they fall under the edge defender label. Hes been the sixth-most valuable interior defensive lineman in the NFL over the past four years, per PFF WAR. 2021 NFL Defensive Front Seven Rankings, by Unit. (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. Chris Jones aligned back inside is a wrecking ball, amassing 58 pressures this season. New York proceeded to add Sheldon Rankins, Vinny Curry and Carl Lawson to the group in free agency, placing an emphasis on improving the unit. When a team invests four consecutive first-round picks into one unit, this is the result theyre hoping for. 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. But the Raiders are thin on the interior. He joins a group that already features. And that was despite J.J. Watt earning an 85.4 overall grade on over 1,000 defensive snaps. If Fletcher Cox can return to dominance and Kerrigan can bring that same production, Philadelphia could move up the list. The first six years of his NFL career have featured up-and-down play and extended suspensions, but he was playing the best football of his career down the stretch of 2020, earning an 80.5 overall grade on his 270 defensive snaps. He earned a career-high 89.6 overall grade in 2020 and was the sixth-most valuable interior defender in the league, according to PFF WAR. 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. considering what he accomplished as a pass rusher last season. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the PFF scores for the Lions overall performances in categories like receiving, run defense and . Pierce and Tomlinson both rank in at least the 83rd percentile of interior defenders in run-defense grade over the past four seasons. , a significant jump on his previous career high. The Texans' entire approach to this season appears to have been scattershot and absent of a coherent strategy. The Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham pairing has been at the core of the unit for nearly a decade, but Javon Hargraves addition in free agency last offseason gives Philadelphia another player on the interior who offenses must contend with on passing downs. 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. Outside of Quinn, the next highest pressure total on the team is just 24, and the team ranks 27th in pressure rate overall. 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. 1) Nick Chubb / Cleveland Browns PFF O-line Ranking: No. These percentages were calculated using the league average distribution of snaps in 2020, and were adjusted so that the EDGE and IDL position groups each account for exactly 50% of a team's overall score. The defensive line is no exception, with the Panthers expected to start. Bell averaged 2.57 yards per route run in his final season in college. Nick Bosa now has 70 pressures on the year and a 90.1 PFF pass-rushing grade. (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. Pittsburgh Steelers. But it does now after his 50-pressure, breakout season in 2020. Whether the unit misses a beat in 2021 relies on Marcus Davenports health, which has been the opposite of reliable for much of his NFL career. health, which has been the opposite of reliable for much of his NFL career. Seattle isnt quite catastrophic at anything but is below average at almost everything. Washingtons defense isnt just bad; its worst play comes during the most high-leverage situations. The latest. Rookie. . If our evaluation of their front seven proves too harsh, it will likely be due to offseason addition Shaq Lawson, who generated a pressure rate of 17.0% in Miami last season. 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. The Rams will have the worst defense in 2023 . The back half of the season has not gone well for Carolina, but at least the defense remains a formidable unit. Clearly, this is not where a team paying two defensive linemen north of $20 million would like to be ranked. Both Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb are top-15 options in our half-PPR rankings while Dalton Schultz is beginning to truly run away as Dak Prescott's number one tight end option. The attention he commands frees up other players to enjoy career years, as Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Floyd can attest. The Raiders no longer lead the league in pressure rate. Those numbers could even improve with a healthy season from. . A game against, The Rams boast the second-best pressure rate of any defense in the league, built largely on the back of, lead all interior players, and he is only six short of catching, is his best since he went to the AFC Championship game with. The recent addition of, The Patriots' defensive line and linebackers were problem areas last season. PDEF - Passes Defended . 17): Tyler Huntley gives . , and the team ranks just 28th in pressure rate, in part because its just too easy to pass the ball against that injury-riddled secondary. The Raiders have struggled to generate any kind of pass rush for years now. Their best defensive lineman . We saw it this offseason in Cincinnati. In a year that makes no sense, few things will rival the madness of the Chicago Bears, while missing their entire starting secondary, holding. Aaron Donalds 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. Offensive Line rankings by PFF; 2021 Yahoo Running Back Rankings. 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. They needed more of a pass-rushing presence after ranking 29th in the NFL in team pressure rate a season ago. With the 2020 regular season officially over, Pro Football Focus has released its final offensive line rankings. . Offensive Line Rankings 2-11 Seattles defense has certainly been better than it was early in the year, but its still a far cry from being good. Myles Garrett has 71 pressures and a 92.7 PFF pass-rushing grade. As a result, its difficult to field a great defense with a below-average defensive line. But that step might not be as large as many expect. He's playing at a Defensive Player of the Year level, thanks to his 92.8 overall grade from PFF on the season, including a 93.6 overall pass rush grade from the analytics company. 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. He earned just a 30.0 run-defense grade in 2020. It was a stark contrast for a team that entered the 2020 season with a revamped offensive line that landed a top-10 ranking. That includes key players along the defensive front in, . Philadelphias defensive line has consistently been one of the NFL's best at generating pressure without blitzing. Robert Quinn is vying for the league lead in sacks but has just 42 pressures overall, giving him one of the most lopsided pressure-to-sack rates of any player in the league. That group will look to match a league-leading 45.1% pressure rate in 2020. Allens 2020 campaign was somewhat overshadowed by Washington's starting edge tandem, but he was excellent when rushing the passer. His 22.0% pass-rush win rate since entering the league in 2016 is second to only Donald (23.4%). He still needs to show he can play up to that level as a starter over the course of an entire season. 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, a combined $23.7 million per year to improve this unit heading into the 2021 season. will have an opportunity to finally put it all together as the starting left edge defender in Dan Quinns new defense in Dallas. 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. Joey Bosa may be the best non-Aaron Donald pass rusher in the NFL. And any resemblance this unit bears to the famed Legion of Boom is purely aesthetic. Tue, 23 Aug 16 10:49:05 . Several offseason additions on the interior such as Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill along with the return of a healthy Trey Flowers should improve matters in 2021, but the Lions still have a ways to go to get back to average. Baltimore enjoyed incredible depth in the secondary heading into the year and yet is still down to players who are being called up to the active roster during the same week to cover top NFL receivers. 1 seed won't be active again until the Divisional Round, but once the . at least give Las Vegas an intriguing mix of young edge rushers. 31. 16): This ranking is not based on the stunning decision to fire Brian Flores. And any resemblance this unit bears to the famed Legion of Boom is purely aesthetic. interior pass-rushing threats beyond the starters, as well. at the 3-technique position, but they're without any candidates they should feel comfortable with as things stand. 32. While many Giants have put together solid individual performances on defense, the unit is far from a well-oiled machine. Over the past month, the entire Atlanta defense has two fewer pressures than Aaron Donald has by himself. The good news for them, as they look to secure the No. The Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham pairing has been at the core of the unit for nearly a decade, but Javon Hargraves addition in free agency last offseason gives Philadelphia another player on the interior who offenses must contend with on passing downs. Leonard Williams (79.8 PFF grade in 2020) and Dexter Lawrence (79.7) remain one of the best inside duos in the NFL. Please check your email for a confirmation. Rankings&Projections |WR/CB Matchup Chart |NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props Tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings Minnesota ranks 18th in successful play allowed rate overall but fourth on third down. The Dolphins have trust in their coverage players on the backend to hold up if the pressure doesnt get home and the ball comes out. The team's stable of impressive defensive backs gives it strength in vital areas to defend the pass. They needed more of a pass-rushing presence after ranking 29th in the NFL in team pressure rate a season ago. Minnesota also brought in Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Seattle isnt quite catastrophic at anything but is below average at almost everything. With MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes under center in K.C., I have zero concerns about the Chiefs' offense. Seattle has made several additions to help alleviate those issues, starting with trading for, this offseason. NFL . Houston Texans. , creating more one-on-one opportunities for both players. Other big moves include the Baltimore Ravens defense tumbling as injuries just continue to decimate the group, and the San Francisco 49ers are back on the rise thanks to some impressive displays from their defensive front in recent weeks. 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. Denzel Ward, Browns. The team plays some variant of Cover 1 or Cover 3 on 59% of its snaps, and opponents are too easily attacking that. The Cincinnati Bengals got better on the back end, whereas the San Francisco 49ers faltered by drafting a kicker over a cornerback in the third round. has seemingly gone from being overrated to underrated in the span of a few seasons. They rank eighth and seventh, respectively, in PFF WAR at their positions since the start of the 2019 season. Poona Ford could receive more time there in 2021. 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. , and neither carries an overall PFF grade higher than 85.0. The Vikings' defensive line ended up as one of the NFL's worst in 2020. Things arent getting any better with Watt no longer in town. Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat and Chase Young all look to be impact starters through the early stages of their NFL careers. Los Angeles will hope new head coach Brandon Staley can get the most out of the former first-round pick. The Raiders no longer lead the league in pressure rate. The team plays some variant of Cover 1 or Cover 3 on 59% of its snaps, and opponents are too easily attacking that. Gaillard posted a 83.2 pass blocking grade in the remaining 46 snaps . Outside of Quinn, the next highest pressure total on the team is just 24, and the team ranks 27th in pressure rate overall. 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. 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. T.J. Edwards has begun to emerge as a quality linebacker to fill a desperate need for the team. Davenport has impressed when at full strength over the past two seasons, though. No defense has forced more turnovers than Dallas. NFL . At 38.0%, they now have the third-best pressure rate of any team, trailing the Rams and Packers. DeForest Buckner was everything Indianapolis hoped he would be last season. PFF also released its NFL offensive line rankings, and once again, San Francisco comes in at ninth. His 22.0% pass-rush win rate since entering the league in 2016 is second to only Donald (23.4%). should improve matters in 2021, but the Lions still have a ways to go to get back to average. To have our 32nd . , but the gap is closing between him and the chasing pack. Baltimore enjoyed incredible depth in the secondary heading into the year and yet is still down to players who are being called up to the active roster during the same week to cover top NFL receivers. . A team can lean more on the blitz when its starting cornerbacks are, . He jumps off the snap like a dog that . The Packers' defense has struggled in recent weeks against some impressive offenses and some not-so-impressive offenses. Injuries hindered his impact in stops with Seattle and Tennessee, but he has still been disruptive when healthy. Special Teams . The Packers will need continued improvement from him next season opposite Smith. The biggest issues have come in coverage, where the Lions have allowed a 17.3% explosive pass rate, 30th in the NFL. 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. No team blitzes more than Miami (43.1%), and the same is true for the team's defensive backs (26.4%). 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. The good news for them, as they look to secure the No. Even with Miller at a level or two below his peak, Denver has a lot of talent up front. despite playing as an off-the-ball linebacker most of the time. The Browns finished with the highest run blocking grade at 81.2 over the 49ers (81.0) and Colts (78.8). The strength of the Titans' defense is at the safety position, with both Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker arguably playing at an All-Pro level. The 2023 draft is full of talent at quarterback, tight end and offensive tackle. The Packers' defense has struggled in recent weeks against some impressive offenses and some not-so-impressive offenses. 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. Rookie. AP Offensive Player of the Year: Cooper Kupp. Rookie Odafe Oweh leads the team in pressures (49), and the team ranks just 28th in pressure rate, in part because its just too easy to pass the ball against that injury-riddled secondary. YDS - Sack Yards. HUR - Hurries. 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. New England invested heavily in improving that group this offseason, adding. A game against Cincinnatis high-flying offense this week may propel them even further up the rankings. , coming off an 88.3 overall grade in 2020, is one of the more underrated interior defenders in the NFL. 22. 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. The Rams dont have the same quality of depth as the other top-five defensive lines in these rankings. 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. All three ranked in the 83rd percentile or better at the position in run-defense grade last season. Bosa is responsible for 62 pressures, yet he and Derwin James are the only Chargers defenders with 70.0-plus overall PFF grades for the season. Donald still managed 13.5 sacks along the line. The Steelers defense is no longer Blitzburgh, nor is it the best in the league at generating pressure. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 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. And Baltimore lost two of its best individual pass rushers . 5. Xavier Mckinney is showing the talent that made him a second-round pick in 2020, intercepting five passes and grading well across the board.
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