Power Ranking NFL Defensive Line Depth Charts
Nothing is more important to playing winning football on defense than controlling the line of scrimmage, a job delegated to the gladiators positioned along the defensive line.
This reality makes it easy to see why the best defenses in the NFL also possess dominant fronts.
A strong defensive line can alter the entire game, from stopping the run and setting up difficult down-and-distance situations to harassing the quarterback and causing turnovers and big plays. The front line can make life easier for both linebackers and the secondary, simply by tying up blockers or pressuring signal-callers into quick decisions.
In the following slides, we will power rank the top 10 defensive lines in the NFL entering the 2015 season. These fronts will possess the most talent and depth in consistently stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback.
Honorable Mention
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Arizona Cardinals: Calais Campbell is a one-man wrecking crew, but his help has slowly vacated Arizona in recent offseasons. A mix of veterans (Frostee Rucker, Cory Redding, Corey Peters) and youngsters (Alameda Ta'amu, Kareem Martin) will need to step up.
Cincinnati Bengals: If All-Pro Geno Atkins is back to 100 percent and Michael Johnson returns as a run-defending terror on the edge, the Bengals will dominant up front once again.
Cleveland Browns: There's a lot of weight along the front three in Cleveland. First-rounder Danny Shelton and veteran Randy Starks should help make this a tough unit to move.
Dallas Cowboys: A weakness a year ago could become a major strength, but only if Demarcus Lawrence takes a big step, Randy Gregory proves the doubters wrong and Greg Hardy stays out of trouble. That's a lot of ifs.
Detroit Lions: Arguably the best defensive line of 2014 will have to settle for honorable mention status entering 2015. The losses of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will sting, even after bringing in Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Jared Odrick joins a defensive line which helped power the Jaguars to No. 6 overall in sack percentage a year ago. Gus Bradley will have his front four attacking the quarterback again in 2015.
New England Patriots: This could be one of the league's best lines if everything goes to plan. Chandler Jones is a plus talent, Jabaal Sheard was a sneaky good free-agent signee and Dominique Easley and Malcom Brown could both be young interior disruptors.
New York Giants: Jason Pierre-Paul and Jonathan Hankins highlight a talented group. New York is especially deep at end, where Pierre-Paul, Robert Ayers, George Selvie, Damontre Moore and Owamagbe Odighizuwa should make life difficult for offensive tackles.
Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox remains one of the game's more underrated 3-4 defensive linemen. The rest of the group also lacks star power, but there's talent and depth.
10. Baltimore Ravens
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Gone is Haloti Ngata, who went to five Pro Bowls and made five All-Pro teams in Baltimore before being traded to Detroit this offseason. Still, the Ravens wouldn't have made the move without faith in his replacements—namely Timmy Jernigan and Brandon Williams. Baltimore also signed veteran Chris Canty and drafted Iowa's Carl Davis. This front will miss Ngata, but the remaining talent is ready to step up.
9. Houston Texans
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Any defensive front featuring J.J. Watt needs to be in the top 10. Watt is a once-in-a-generation talent and the best non-quarterback in the game. He'll be joined next season by veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who knows Romeo Crennel's system and brings a Super Bowl pedigree. The rest of the crew—such as Jared Crick and Louis Nix—need to take a leap forward for Houston to have a truly elite defensive front.
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8. Minnesota Vikings
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Mike Zimmer's front four is a complete one. He has active, pass-disrupting ends in Brian Robison and Everson Griffen, a run-stuffing nose tackle in Linval Joseph and a relentless inside force in Sharrif Floyd, an emerging star. The depth in Minnesota includes Tom Johnson, Shamar Stephen and third-round pick Danielle Hunter, and linebacker Anthony Barr provides versatility when dropping down and rushing the passer from defensive end.
If the Vikings can stop the run better in 2015 (a demand more than an expectation from a Zimmer defense), more will think of Minnesota's front as one of the NFL's best.
7. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos' hybrid front provides a little bit of everything. Both DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller rotate down to rush the quarterback from defensive end, Malik Jackson emerged as a valuable all-around player in 2015 and Derek Wolfe remains a strong run-stopper.
The big question mark is in the middle, where Sylvester Williams and Marvin Austin will be taking over Terrance Knighton's snaps at nose tackle. If the two interior options produce, Denver will be stout again up front.
6. Carolina Panthers
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No Greg Hardy, no problem.
The Panthers missed their top sack artist in 2014 but remained one of the NFL's best defensive fronts. Charles Johnson posted 8.5 sacks, while Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei emerged as a top interior combination. The young trio will continue to frustrate offensive lines in 2015.
The Panthers now need to replace Hardy, an admittedly tall task for the likes of Kony Ealy, Wes Horton and Mario Addison.
5. Seattle Seahawks
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The Legion of Boom receives all the headlines, but the Seahawks make their money on defense up front. Defensive end Michael Bennett is an elite package of pass-rushing talent and run-stopping chops, while Cliff Avril has the rare ability to provide pressure in every contest he plays. Brandon Mebane, Tony McDaniel and Jordan Hill give Seattle a strong trio in the middle.
The turning point for this group could be the development of Cassius Marsh and controversial draft pick Frank Clark, two young and athletic edge-rushers.
4. New York Jets
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What a headache the Jets will be in the trenches next season.
Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson were more than a handful in 2014, when New York allowed the sixth-fewest total yards. The group has since added first-round pick Leonard Williams, who many believed was the best defensive player in the 2015 draft. There is also strong mix of veteran and rookie depth behind the stars. Throw in an aggressive coach like Todd Bowles, and no one will want to face the Jets front next season.
3. Miami Dolphins
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Make no mistake about it: The Dolphins were already a tough group to handle up front in 2014. Now, the 2015 version of Miami's defensive line will feature Ndamukong Suh, arguably the most disruptive 4-3 defensive tackle in football. Suh, Cam Wake and Olivier Vernon will create a terrifying trio of studs for opposing offenses to deal with week in and week out.
The Dolphins still need Earl Mitchell, C.J. Mosley and Jordan Phillips to play well in place of Jared Odrick and Randy Starks, but having Suh around will make everyone's lives easier. Facing this front won't be fun.
2. Buffalo Bills
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No defense can match Buffalo's starting four up front. The quartet of starters—Mario Williams (All-Pro in 2014), Jerry Hughes, Marcell Dareus (All-Pro) and Kyle Williams (Pro Bowl)—combined for 40 of the defense's NFL-high 54 sacks last season. All four can stop the run, too. The depth in Buffalo isn't great, but it doesn't need to be when the starters are this good. Rex Ryan will have some fun with these four.
1. St. Louis Rams
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The Rams' destructive force of a defensive line is the final result of a commitment to building up front. St. Louis spent first-round picks on Chris Long, Michael Brockers, Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald, all now entrenched starters along the defensive line. Quinn and Donald are transcendent players at their respective positions, while Brockers and Long are strong complementary pieces. The Rams also signed former first-round pick Nick Fairley, a disruptive player when healthy. Defensive end William Hayes could start for several teams.
There will be some sore quarterbacks after facing the Rams defensive line, the NFL's best entering 2015.
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