B/R NFL 1000: Ranking the Top 40 3-4 Defensive Ends from 2015
Now that we've reached the end of the 2015 NFL season, who was the best 3-4 defensive end in the game? We're not talking about who made the Pro Bowl or even who got the All-Pro votes. Who was really, truly, the best? Forget reputation and how much money each player makes. We want the sort of cold, hard analysis that comes from watching the games and grading the players.
That's what the B/R NFL 1000 is for, and it's back for another year.
The B/R 1000 metric is based heavily on scouting each player and grading based on key criteria for each position. The criteria are weighted according to importance for a best possible score of 100.
Potential is not taken into consideration. Neither are career accomplishments.
We judged 3-4 defensive ends on pass rush (40 points), run defense (50) and the overall value of the position relative to the other spots on the field (eight points). The maximum score for this position is 98.
In the case of ties, our team asked, "Which player would I rather have on my team?" and set the rankings accordingly.
Subjective? Yes. But ties are no fun.
Each player was scouted by a team of experienced evaluators (Dan Bazal, Luke Easterling, Cian Fahey, Duke Manyweather, Matt Miller and Marshal Miller) with these key criteria in mind. The following scouting reports and grades are the work of months of film study from our team.
Players' heights, weights and seasons played from NFL.com. All other statistics from Pro Football Focus.
40. Leger Douzable, New York Jets
1 of 40
Pass Rush
A free agent out of Central Florida in 2008, Leger Douzable has carved out a nice career as a versatile 3-4 defensive end. The Jets used him as a fourth lineman in their rotation at end, and he performed well in 2015. Passing downs aren’t his strength, which is why he played 27.7 percent of the team’s snaps, but Douzable added six quarterback hits and seven hurries in limited duty.
Run Defense
As a two-down player, the 6'4" Douzable has value. He’s able to use his length to his advantage, keeping blockers away from his chest, and he does an above-average job of locking down inside rushing lanes by preventing blockers from getting upfield to linebackers.
Position Value
Overall
39. Justin Ellis, Oakland Raiders
2 of 40
Pass Rush
A nine-game starter in his second season out of Louisiana Tech, Justin Ellis (6’2”, 335 lbs) is built like a nose tackle but has the quickness to play over the offensive tackle. The Raiders took advantage of that ability by lining up Ellis over the center and at both left and right defensive end.
When he can beat blockers off the ball, Ellis can quickly get into their frame and take away the length advantage that most blockers have over him. He’s a bit of a bully when he gets to the body, but his lack of length will keep him locked out if he has to stand up and fight for positioning. Ellis needs to be lined up on the inside to generate pressure and create openings instead of being outside, where he’s asked to penetrate the line.
Run Defense
As a pure gap-plugging defensive lineman, Ellis has promise. He uses those 335 pounds to get big in gaps and close down the run. He struggles when he's asked to contain on the edge, as he doesn’t have the length to stack blockers and keep his arms free to pull down ball-carriers.
Position Value
Overall
38. Karl Klug, Tennessee Titans
3 of 40
Pass Rush
A fifth-year player from Iowa, Karl Klug (6’3”, 278 lbs) played in all 16 games for the Tennessee Titans in 2015 but started none. He’s a solid rotational player along the defensive line, given his positional versatility as an end or tackle. Klug plays tough and isn’t afraid to get physical with a blocker, but he lacks the speed-to-power conversion to get into the backfield consistently from the 5-technique alignment. He added four sacks in 2015 thanks to his quickness in shooting gaps on passing downs, and he brings solid value as a third tackle on the defensive line.
Run Defense
Klug is a right end in the Titans’ scheme, which means going toe-to-toe with left tackles. That’s a job assignment he’s not athletic enough to take on in the run game, but he does have the ability to stack and shed linemen with his quick, strong hands and savvy technique when locked up with a blocker.
Position Value
Overall
37. John Hughes, Cleveland Browns
4 of 40
Pass Rush
John Hughes (6’2”, 320 lbs) is a big body best suited to playing on the inside, but he was forced into action at defensive end in the Browns’ 3-4 scheme. While playing 41 percent of the team’s snaps, the fourth-year player added 1.5 sacks, one quarterback hit and 10 hurries. Hughes is a power player who is built to clog rushing lanes, and he struggles to get the separation with length or speed to beat offensive tackles to the quarterback.
Run Defense
Hughes is excellent at playing stout football as a two-gap defender on running downs. He can lock up offensive linemen and anchor with his big bubble and does a good job of winning with leverage off the snap. Hughes doesn’t provide the chase or pursuit speed to run down the ball, but he is a big complementary player at stuffing the line of scrimmage.
Position Value
Overall
36. Denico Autry, Oakland Raiders
5 of 40
Pass Rush
An undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in the 2014 draft, Denico Autry was an incredibly talented JUCO player before landing with the Bulldogs for two seasons. Autry has the length (6’5”, 270 lbs) to lock out defenders but struggles with recovering from power due to his lighter frame for a head-up position on the tackle.
Run Defense
An eight-game starter in his second season, Autry is able to win in space with quickness and length. He can counter blockers with his burst off the snap, and he follows up with strong hand technique and a violent use of his arms to rip and knife out of blocks. In pursuit, Autry really shines, relying on his closing speed and nonstop motor.
Position Value
Overall
35. Lawrence Guy, Baltimore Ravens
6 of 40
Pass Rush
A six-game starter for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, the 6’4”, 305-pound Lawrence Guy made his biggest impact in the run game but showed some presence on passing downs. He has the ideal size and length for the position but didn’t show the pop off the ball to get into the backfield and flush the pocket. His value is in stacking up blockers and freeing up his teammates to make plays off the edge. He added 4.5 sacks and four hits in 2015 and accumulated 15 hurries.
Run Defense
Guy's real value in Baltimore was against the run, where his strength and toughness were important aspects in the AFC North. He comes off the ball hard and plays with the leverage needed to hold his ground when head-up on a tackle or even kicking to the inside shoulder. He’s a stout player to move but doesn’t have the pursuit skills to run down the ball-carrier outside the tackle box.
Position Value
Overall
34. Tyson Jackson, Atlanta Falcons
7 of 40
Pass Rush
At 6’4”, 296 pounds, Tyson Jackson has the ideal frame for a 3-4 end. He’s a naturally strong player, with good hand use and a bull rush that will move the line. He lacks in the agility department, though, and too often the first pass-rush move he breaks out is the only one he uses. Jackson is a solid complementary piece on the defensive line but saw his pass-rush contributions decline again in 2015 (no sacks, no hits, seven hurries).
Run Defense
A true power player, Jackson was more at home in the Falcons’ new defensive schemes. He’s able to get instant push off the ball and uses his length to stun blockers with a punch. What he lacks in closing speed and flexibility, Jackson makes up for with hand strength and timing off the ball. He still had a fairly limited impact on the run game, notching just 21 solo tackles while playing in 43.4 percent of the team’s snaps.
Position Value
Overall
33. Jason Hatcher, Washington
8 of 40
Pass Rush
A very good athlete with an impressive first step and jump out of the snap, Jason Hatcher (6’6”, 299 lbs) hasn’t matched his 2013-2014 production, where he accumulated 16.5 sacks, but he can still make an impact against the pass. His body control, length and motor are all top-notch, and Hatcher has a desire to get upfield when the ball is snapped. This can lead to him jumping the snap and flipping his hips too early in the process, but it also leads to impact plays in the backfield.
Run Defense
Hatcher has violent hands—both in delivering a blow and when disengaging from blockers. He’s active with his hands and uses his arm length to create separation. Hatcher can be moved at the point of attack but is good at working off blocks. For a veteran, he too often leaves his chest exposed to blockers, which can lead to pancakes and otherwise unimpressive snaps.
Position Value
Overall
32. Vinny Curry, Philadelphia Eagles
9 of 40
Pass Rush
Playing out of position as a 3-4 defensive end, Vinny Curry (6’3”, 279 lbs) did the dirty work of a gap-assignment player while being 20-30 pounds lighter than many of his peers. Curry, who wins with quickness and smart hand play, will be much better off playing end in the team’s 4-3 scheme, where he can create space with his alignment and not have to go head-up against tackles who outweigh and out-reach him. Thanks to body control and violent hands, Curry was able to win battles as a 5-technique, but this is not his ideal position.
Run Defense
Throughout his career, Curry has been a capable run defender thanks to his nonstop motor and quickness in space. In the Eagles’ defensive scheme, those tools weren’t properly used, and he was often walled down by offensive tackles who were able to use their length to lock him out. Curry isn’t going to stack up a left tackle and knife into the backfield to make a play, but he is a solid pursuit player and can be effective in space.
Position Value
Overall
31. Mike Pennel, Green Bay Packers
10 of 40
Pass Rush
After playing in fewer than 200 snaps in his rookie season for the Green Bay Packers, Mike Pennel was asked to play a bigger role in 2015 and showed the tools to be a potential starter down the road. At 6’4”, 332 pounds, the 24-year-old is primarily a run-stuffer but did bring some presence by using his length and power against the pass. Pennel, who is best used inside as a pass-rusher, can push the center and create some disruption, but overall he plays too high and without enough burst to factor into the game plan much.
Run Defense
Pennel came out swinging in the run game in 2015, showing the power to hold his ground and anchor against power-run teams. His real value comes from his versatility, as he can play either defensive end spot or nose tackle and has the length to lock out blockers when he beats them off the ball. That’s the key for improvement, though, as Pennel can too often fire straight up and allow himself to be blocked, with his long, tall frame acting as a big target.
Position Value
Overall
30. Corey Liuget, San Diego Chargers
11 of 40
Pass Rush
An injury-shortened 2015 season saw Corey Liuget (6’2”, 300 lbs) play in just 11 games. His impact in those contests fell off from what we saw in 2014 and from what the former first-rounder is capable of. Liuget, who is a shorter player for a 3-4 end, naturally plays with ideal leverage but loses impact when length is needed. He’s quick off the ball for his size and doesn’t let himself get blocked or surrender his frame to blockers. With only three sacks and 10 hurries, though, Liuget’s injury trouble and lack of production move him down the list.
Run Defense
Take away the Week 13 Denver game when Liuget was hurt, and his performance against the run in 2015 was solid. He added 20 solo tackles in his first 10 games and shut down athletic blockers at both tackle and guard. With his quickness out of his stance and burst up the field, Liuget can be a nightmare for stretch-zone teams.
Position Value
Overall
29. Chris Canty, Baltimore Ravens
12 of 40
Pass Rush
An 11-year veteran from the University of Virginia, Chris Canty continues to be a force at defensive end in 3-4 schemes. At 6’7”, 320 pounds, he has a rare combination of power and length that allows him to work a mix of pass-rushing moves from his spot on top of the tackle. Canty can struggle with pad height and short-area quickness but uses a bull rush and strong hands to push back the tackle. And once he’s in the tackle’s space, he can put them on skates. His lack of bend and quickness limits his effectiveness outside the shoulder of the tackle, but Canty is still an impact performer.
Run Defense
In his nine starts for the Ravens, Canty showed he still has the power to sit down and contain the edge. He has the ideal body type to be a strong-side defensive end and works well in concert with defensive tackles to crash the line and keep blockers from getting to the second level of the defense. Canty notched only 13 tackles on his own, but the Ravens felt his impact in opening tackling lanes.
Position Value
Overall
28. Cedric Thornton, Philadelphia Eagles
13 of 40
Pass Rush
The starting left defensive end in the Eagles’ 3-4 defense, Cedric Thornton has come a long way since being an undrafted free agent in 2011. Against the pass, Thornton lacks the quickness to do damage in space but shows off his skills as an assignment-based player who can keep tackles from jumping out to get to edge-rushers. While not a fluid, explosive athlete in pursuing the quarterback, Thornton is strong enough to push the line of scrimmage.
Run Defense
Thornton is a power player and flashes the ability to rip and shed blockers to attack the ball. He locates and reads well on the fly and doesn’t let himself get taken out of a play with false steps. Thornton excels at playing with a low pad level and keeping himself from being walled down by the offensive line on stretch plays. He’s a true anchor when lining up on the tackle. What he lacks in the pass-rush department, he makes up for against the run.
Position Value
Overall
27. Datone Jones, Green Bay Packers
14 of 40
Pass Rush
In his third season out of UCLA, Datone Jones made his biggest contribution as a Green Bay Packer and started to live up to his first-round draft status. Jones, who was a reserve at defensive end and even outside linebacker, added three sacks, nine quarterback hits and 23 hurries while showing the athleticism and strength that made him the No. 26 overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Run Defense
Jones is strong with agility and closing speed, which allows him to make plays against the run when he’s crashing a rushing lane but can limit his effectiveness when he's playing head-up on a tackle. Jones only added 15 solo tackles on the season coming off the bench, and he is still too much of a tweener at 6’4”, 285 pounds to stack up the run at defensive end in a 3-4 scheme.
Position Value
Overall
26. Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets
15 of 40
Pass Rush
A four-game suspension to start the 2015 season threw off Sheldon Richardson’s campaign. When he reported for duty in Week 6 after his team's bye, he appeared to have less pop and less violence off the snap than he showed prior to last season. While still a very good player, Richardson contributed five sacks, nine quarterback hits and 39 hurries in just 11 games. The numbers were on par with his career averages, but consistency was an issue. He was an excellent trooper, though, playing all over the line and even outside linebacker in Week 17.
Run Defense
The biggest area of drop-off for Richardson came in the run game. He struggled to get the upfield push we’d seen in his first two seasons with the Jets. That impacted how well he could get off blocks to make tackles and how much attention linemen gave him—which in turn allowed for more one-on-one blocks and more guards getting to the second level to attack the Jets’ linebackers.
Position Value
Overall
25. Randy Starks, Cleveland Browns
16 of 40
Pass Rush
An elder statesman in Cleveland for his 12th NFL season, Randy Starks started 15 games and made a significant impact on a bad defense. As a pass-rusher, he’s not putting up J.J. Watt or Muhammad Wilkerson numbers, but Starks did get push and penetration while playing both left and right end. He added just one sack but had 14 quarterback hurries in a role designed largely to stack up blockers at the line.
Run Defense
Starks is at his best when he's making life difficult for offensive linemen and running backs in the run game. He’s a tough player to move off his spot at the edge of the line and will hold his ground to anchor against tackles who are trying to get into space. Most importantly, Starks is smart. He doesn’t get sucked in against play action or misdirection plays. He’s seen it all in his career, and the result is a solid, smart assignment football player.
Position Value
Overall
24. Timmy Jernigan, Baltimore Ravens
17 of 40
Pass Rush
In his second season out of Florida State, former second-rounder Timmy Jernigan matched his statistical output from his first campaign (four sacks, eight quarterback hits) but saw his overall impact dip on tape. When lining up as a pass-rusher, Jernigan saw a ton of action (more than 64 percent of the team’s snaps on passing downs) but failed to generate the same pop off the ball. His 6’2”, 302-pound frame is made to split gaps, but Jernigan struggled to win the first-step battle with interior linemen. He has the tools to get better, and improved conditioning could solve his dip in production.
Run Defense
The Ravens love to line up Jernigan over the tackle, and he uses his natural strength to wrap up ball-carriers or lock out blockers. For a short-armed player, he plays the edge well and understands how to win with leverage and balance. He doesn’t take himself outside of the play and will drive back offensive linemen with his lower-body strength and upper-body violence.
Position Value
Overall
23. Desmond Bryant, Cleveland Browns
18 of 40
Pass Rush
A 14-game starter for the Cleveland Browns at defensive end, Desmond Bryant (6’6”, 310 lbs) had a career-high six sacks in his seventh NFL season. He has excellent quickness for his size but too often fails to follow up his first step with any power or hand use. If he wins off the snap, he’ll get into the backfield, but he can struggle with redirecting or following up his first move.
Run Defense
The quickness that wins for Bryant in the passing game helps him crash the backfield as a run defender but can also take him out of plays if he gets too far upfield immediately. This is where length comes into play, as Bryant can absolutely lock out blockers, but he has to better shed those blocks to make a play on the ball.
Position Value
Overall
22. Mario Edwards Jr., Oakland Raiders
19 of 40
Pass Rush
The rookie Mario Edwards Jr. hit the ground running, making an immediate impact on the Oakland Raiders as a pass-rusher. At both defensive end and defensive tackle, Edwards’ positional versatility was perfect for his natural strength and explosiveness. On the season, he added two sacks and two quarterback hits; he turned the corner as the campaign wore on and posted 25 quarterback hurries as he opened doors for Khalil Mack and others to get to the quarterback.
Run Defense
Given his big frame (6’3”, 280 lbs), Edwards is a load to move off the line of scrimmage. He excelled at stacking up blockers and shutting down the edge with true containment and penetration. Even pulling guards have trouble moving Edwards off his spot, and since he can jump inside and line up all over the defensive line, he’s a player who the team can scheme around to get the best matchups for Mack.
Position Value
Overall
21. Kendall Langford, Indianapolis Colts
20 of 40
Pass Rush
A 16-game starter in 2015, Kendall Langford was one of the better free-agent signings that general manager Ryan Grigson has made. Playing both left and right end, Langford used his leverage, quickness and veteran craftiness as a pass-rusher to notch a career-high seven sacks, 11 quarterback hits and 25 hurries. Those are solid numbers for any defensive lineman, but they're even more impressive in the Colts’ 3-4 scheme.
Run Defense
A big, long (6’6”, 305 lbs) 5-technique, Langford has bounced around in his eight-year career but had an impact season for the Colts on both rushing and passing downs. Against the run, he is an anchor on the edge of the line, using his length and strong base to play either a one- or two-gap assignment. He’ll also use his wingspan to bring down ball-carriers and close rushing lanes.
Position Value
Overall
20. Ricky Jean Francois, Washington
21 of 40
Pass Rush
Ricky Jean Francois has never been a productive pass-rusher in terms of constant disruption, but throughout his career, he's shown enough explosion in his first step and enough power in his hands to consistently put strain on blockers while pushing and collapsing the pocket. 2015 was no exception.
Jean Francois does a nice job of maintaining half-man leverage, rushing through the outside shoulder of blockers. He has the hand quickness and tight countermoves to clear the hands of offensive linemen as he works upfield. Plus, he excels at running line games as both the hard-penetrating slant man and as the looper because of his strength, short-area quickness and overall athletic ability.
Run Defense
Jean Francois plays with good pad level and explosiveness at the point of attack. His hand placement and overall hand usage are above-average, and he uses them with a lot of violence. He also possesses the upper-body explosiveness to deliver a violent blow, jolting back offensive linemen when he stacks blocks.
Jean Francois is stout at the point of attack but does not always look to penetrate upfield. He often wants to create separation, locate the ball-carrier and give himself the space to work through or behind blocks. He has the short-area quickness and agility to close in on ball-carriers in intermediate spaces.
Position Value
Overall
19. Vance Walker, Denver Broncos
22 of 40
Pass Rush
Vance Walker plays with good balance and natural bend and flexibility when rushing the passer. He can consistently push the pocket with strength, forcing the quarterback to step up or off his spot, which leads to his teammates making plays. He has some wiggle and suddenness to him and has proved to be a slippery pass-rusher who can hit home when he gets a good jump versus a quick-setting offensive lineman.
Walker doesn't display a huge pass-rushing skill set and won't fill up the stat sheet (two sacks in 2015), but he is an adequate pass-rusher who can play over the tackle in a 4- or 5-technique role or kick down into the interior and rush as a 3-technique.
Run Defense
Walker is stout and steady as a run defender. He plays hard and stays active as he's constantly fighting to get off blocks. He is strong but doesn't jolt blockers back at the point of attack; instead he latches on and reacts.
Walker shows good short-area quickness and lateral agility to slip blocks to stuff plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He's also able to work down the line of scrimmage with good awareness, working through trash or playing cutback. When Walker gets run to his edge, he does a great job of playing with his outside arm free to string plays out or turn them back inside. Double-teams seem to consistently overwhelm him, and on film, it almost seems as if he doesn't recognize a double-team until the second blocker pressures him.
Position Value
Overall
18. DaQuan Jones, Tennessee Titans
23 of 40
Pass Rush
A second-year player from Penn State, DaQuan Jones was at home playing left defensive end in the Titans’ 3-4 scheme. As a pass-rusher, Jones’ second season was his best from an impact perspective, even if he didn’t register a sack after notching one in his rookie season. Jones is able to lock out the tackle and open up outside rushing lanes for the team’s edge-rushers, and he will get penetration to reset the offensive line. But as a classic 5-technique end, he’s not accumulating many numbers with his pass rush.
Run Defense
At 6’4”, 322 pounds, Jones is able to control the line of scrimmage. He makes the biggest impact in the run game, thanks to his skill at stacking up blockers and finding the ball. With 35 combined tackles on the year, it might not sound like Jones did much against the run, but he showed the skills to control two-gaps as a defensive end while also being athletic enough to chase down the ball-carrier.
Position Value
Overall
17. Mike DeVito, Kansas City Chiefs
24 of 40
Pass Rush
Mike DeVito doesn't bring an explosive pass rush, but that's OK because that's not his role in the Chiefs defense. His job is to get steady push and free up isolation matchups and two-way-goes for the Kansas City edge-rushers.
DeVito is strictly a power bull-rusher who will work half-man leverage through blockers, and when he feels overcommitment to the anchor, he is able to power inside to open up offensive linemen so he can penetrate by prying open the point. When asked to move gaps and run line games, DeVito uses his power to excel as the hard-penetrating slant man.
He finished the 2015 season with only three sacks but played just 323 total snaps.
Run Defense
Again, DeVito’s role as a run defender is pretty specific. He's stout at the point of attack and is able to stack blockers back, creating separation.
DeVito maintains gap integrity and shows he can disengage and slip off once a ball-carrier gets into his range. He plays hard all the time and can hold up and split double-teams, keeping his linebackers clean to trigger and make plays. He is not a guy who is going to play behind blocks or wiggle gaps to tally production, but he does all the necessary dirty work that allows the Chiefs' playmakers to do just that.
Position Value
Overall
16. Henry Anderson, Indianapolis Colts
25 of 40
Pass Rush
Henry Anderson is an effort player, but he doesn't show the elite first step to consistently put a strain on blockers in pass-rushing situations. He does a nice job of getting his hands up into throwing lanes to affect the trajectory of the quarterback's release, though, and is very good with his slide recognition.
Anderson's eyes get stuck in the backfield at times, and he doesn't have enough vision or feel for when a blocker is going to cut him. There isn't a lot of flash or depth to his pass rush, but he plays with a good motor. When running line games, he shows the ability to wrap and get to the upfield shoulder of the offensive tackle to contain and collapse the pocket, but if he is shoved while wrapping, it knocks him off course and widens his rush.
Hustle doesn't always equal production for some players, and Anderson's tool box just isn't loaded enough for him to be a threat as a pass-rusher. He recorded one sack and 18 hurries in 2015.
Run Defense
Anderson has explosive upper-body strength to stack blocks back, lock out and disengage to make plays on ball-carriers who run his way. He shows the ability to set the edge and keep his upfield shoulder free, turning plays back inside. He also does a nice job of holding up and neutralizing double-teams, though he isn't always able to split them. Still, he can create a pile in the hole if he feels like he is giving up leverage.
When runs go away from Anderson, he shows enough get-off to explode through the gap so he isn't overtaken. There are times when he gets caught up when working down the line of scrimmage, though, and he's not always able to keep his balance to stay on his feet.
Position Value
Overall
15. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers
26 of 40
Pass Rush
A rising star at 3-4 defensive end, Stephon Tuitt ended his second season on a high note after struggling throughout the middle of the year. Tuitt (6’6”, 303 lbs) added 6.5 sacks, six hits and an impressive 38 hurries from his left end position. With excellent length and underrated quickness, he is a solid combination pass-rusher who can win with quickness or power. As his consistency improves, Tuitt will learn to use his length to create space, which he can counter with speed.
Run Defense
Tuitt has the raw tools to become a force against the run, but he has to find a happy medium between playing with leverage and playing with length. Improved hand use will push him over the top in the future, as his 2015 tape showed too many athletic tackles shutting him down with good footwork. Tuitt, though, made a big improvement in the run game, adding 33 solo tackles on the year while making a name for himself as a strong-side run-stuffer.
Position Value
Overall
14. Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers
27 of 40
Pass Rush
The rookie Arik Armstead found a good fit in the San Francisco 49ers defense. He loves to use a speed-to-power long-arm technique, which contributed to accumulating 30 quarterback hurries last season.
Armstead already has a good feel for attacking offensive line missteps, taking advantage of poor weight distribution from opposing blockers. He also does a nice job of settling and stopping his rush when he knows he can't get up the field to pressure the quarterback, instead focusing on getting his hands in passing lanes. And while he wasn't credited with knocking down any passes in 2015, there were many instances in which he was simply inches away.
Run Defense
Armstead held his own as a run defender as a rookie. He played with enough strength and explosion (paired with length and athletic ability) to have a big impact in the limited snaps he received.
He does an excellent job of using his arm length to press blockers into the line, reducing the nearest inside gap while maintaining outside-gap integrity. He's also fairly adept at identifying and splitting double-teams to get upfield and onto a ball-carrier.
Still, Armstead can play far too high at times and allows offensive linemen to have success getting under and leveraging him at the point of attack.
Position Value
Overall
13. Jaye Howard, Kansas City Chiefs
28 of 40
Pass Rush
An athletic, talented defensive lineman coming out of Florida in the 2012 NFL draft, Jaye Howard had his coming-out party in 2015. Playing all over the Chiefs defensive line, he dominated down the stretch at right and left end. With his first-step quickness and ability to bend and get by tackles, Howard is able to win one-on-one situations on the edge. He follows that up with the closing speed to chase down the ball in the backfield. Even when asked to play a role that freed up outside rushers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali, Howard added 5.5 sacks and 31 hurries in his best NFL season to date.
Run Defense
It’s rare to find a defensive lineman who can start at nose tackle and defensive end in the same season—and do both well. Howard did that, though, showing off his natural strength and toughness on the line. Powerful, athletic tackles (like Cordy Glenn) can give Howard fits if they get under his pads, but throughout the 2015 season he consistently closed down rushing lanes and also pursued the ball to the tune of 42 solo tackles.
Position Value
Overall
12. Allen Bailey, Kansas City Chiefs
29 of 40
Pass Rush
Allen Bailey is a key piece of the Kansas City pass rush, but his role isn’t that of a disrupter. He's more of an occupier who can consistently push the pocket back.
What Bailey provides by pushing the pocket is the ability to get blockers on different levels, freeing up isolation matchups and two-way-goes for the Chiefs edge-rushers. When Bailey wins, it's because he gets a great jump on the snap or tirelessly works to win his one-on-one matchup. He shows relentless effort to stick with every play.
Even as a "role-playing" pass-rusher, Bailey managed to record 4.5 sacks and 20 total quarterback hurries in 2015.
Run Defense
Bailey is far more productive and stout at the point of attack as a run defender. He shows explosive upper-body power and good recognition to stack blocks.
Bailey’s hand usage makes him a force against the downhill run. His arm length, agility and ability to create separation and violently disengage allow him to defend well against zone blocking. Bailey's strength and athletic ability allow him to set a hard edge when needed, and he shows the range and hustle to make plays out on the perimeter.
Position Value
Overall
11. Derek Wolfe, Denver Broncos
30 of 40
Pass Rush
Derek Wolfe isn’t flashy with his pass-rushing skill set, yet he plays hard and is consistent in what he does, which makes him a steady pass-rusher. He totaled a career-high eight sacks in 2015 (playoffs included), which was more sacks than he accumulated the previous two seasons combined.
Wolfe has a vast arsenal of pass-rushing moves and limited only by his size (6'5" 285 lbs). As a bull-rusher, he uses that size to his advantage, which resulted in many of his 40 quarterback hurries and 10 quarterback hits in 2015.
Run Defense
Wolfe is consistent enough to do the small things as a pass-rusher, but his bread and butter is his ability to disrupt the run game, which is a big reason why the Broncos gave him a contract extension. He plays with tremendous power and stoutness at the point of attack and possesses a high motor. He's simply relentless in stopping the run, which serves him well, given the Broncos have some excellent pass-rushers at the linebacker position.
Position Value
Overall
10. Chris Baker, Washington
31 of 40
Pass Rush
Chris Baker rushes the passer with an outstanding motor. He doesn't have a large skill set or many crafty moves. His success comes from pure physicality and effort.
Baker broke out in 2015, recording a career-high six sacks. In his previous five seasons, he recorded just two total sacks. His emergence and development in 2015 should leave Washington excited for the future.
Run Defense
Baker is stout against the run and excels at jumping the snap and creating a new line of scrimmage by violently stacking blocks back and holding the point of attack until he locates the ball. His hand usage is violent, both in delivering a blow and disengaging from blocks.
Baker shows the short-area quickness to close on the ball once he disengages and is a sure tackler, missing only four tackles all season. Though he accumulated 25 total run stops in 2015, Baker does not possess the ideal length and range to effectively set the edge and sometimes struggles against double-teams. Still, what he does well far outweighs the small gaps in this area of his game.
Position Value
Overall
9. Malik Jackson, Denver Broncos
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Pass Rush
Malik Jackson was one of the hottest names on the free-agent market this year—and for good reason. He's as well-rounded a pass-rusher as you'll find in a 3-4 defensive end, as evidenced by his five sacks and 45 hurries in 2015.
Jackson is a tremendous athlete with a dynamic first step. He uses a combination of speed and power to get after passers in a number of ways, and when he's not hitting home, he's aware enough to get his hands in passing lanes. Jackson batted seven passes at the line of scrimmage last season.
Run Defense
Jackson is stout against the run and never tries to do too much. He's good at recognizing blocks immediately and does a fine job of stacking blocks and leveraging them at the point of attack. Jackson is also adept at scraping down the line and wading through trash, though he does come up short at times in wrapping up. He missed several tackles at or beyond the line of scrimmage in 2015.
Position Value
Overall
8. Leonard Williams, New York Jets
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Pass Rush
Leonard Williams had some ups and downs as a rookie, but as his ranking indicates, it was mostly a great season. He found out the things that worked for him at USC didn't always work for him against NFL players, but he did show some development in nearly every area.
Despite his size (6'5", 302 lbs), Williams plays with a rare combination of athleticism and power. The USC product is clearly at his best as a bull-rusher, though, and finished his rookie season with three sacks, 19 hits and 30 hurries on the season.
Run Defense
Despite boasting good pass-rushing metrics, Williams truly excelled in 2015 as a run-stuffer. He has no issues holding up at the point of attack with his dynamic get-off and tremendous upper-body explosion, which allows him to deliver jolting blows to blockers.
What was concerning about Williams' 2015 season was his motor. As a pass-rusher, it was always running high, while he didn't put forth the same effort to relentless pursuit as a run defender. Still, Williams' physical attributes made him an effective run-stuffer at the line of scrimmage as a rookie.
Position Value
Overall
7. Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals
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Pass Rush
Calais Campbell possesses rare body control and balance for a player with his exceptional length. Despite his 6’8" frame, he plays with good leverage and takes advantage of that and the space his hands and arm length create when rushing the passer.
Campbell’s get-off is explosive. In fact, he often aligns close to three yards off the line to avoid getting too far up the field and past the quarterback. It seems that no matter where he ends up in the backfield, he is always just an arm’s length away from the quarterback because of his length.
Campbell’s sack total was down in 2015 (five), but he made an impact as a pass-rusher all season long, recording 13 hits on the quarterback and 27 total hurries.
Run Defense
Part of being a pro is figuring out what you are good at and developing tools for the craft. As mentioned above, Campbell often has to align further off the ball so he won't overrun plays, which also helps him defend the run.
Campbell’s length and explosiveness allow him to hold the point of attack without linemen gaining ground and moving him off the line of scrimmage. And, as an added bonus, he's often able to bring down opposing ball-carriers from four or five yards away by using his length and quickness to close the gap, even in space.
Position Value
Overall
6. Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets
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Pass Rush
Stat production doesn’t always tell the entire story of a defensive lineman’s impact on the game, but when you take a look at what Muhammad Wilkerson did in his 15 starts of 2015, you can't help but be impressed with his numbers.
Wilkerson aligned in many different techniques in 2015, yet the outcome remained the same in almost every on. He simply got after the quarterback, tallying 12 sacks, 23 quarterback hits and 45 total hurries. His pass-rushing skill set isn’t flashy, though, and he's usually at his best when he can win with power and an explosive get-off.
Run Defense
Just as he relies on his well-timed get-off and power to set up his pass rush, Wilkerson takes the same approach when defending against the run. Still, he doesn't always display the elite first step needed to overwhelm at the point of attack when playing the run.
Wilkerson shows violence when disengaging from blocks and the awareness and block recognition to plant, redirect and pursue the ball. When zone-combo blocks come his way, he is able to get skinny through the gap to impact the running back.
With the agility and footwork of a much smaller man, Wilkerson is usually able to work through the trash and get flat down the line of scrimmage to make stuffs for no gain or negative yardage.
Position Value
Overall
5. Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pass Rush
In 2015, Cameron Heyward played with the steady consistency the Steelers have come to expect from the Ohio State product. For the second straight season, he accumulated at least seven sacks. He topped his 2014 hurries total with 44.
Heyward gets a good jump on the snap and is able to violently set his hands to close the space between him and offensive linemen. He's a terrific athlete who displays superb body control and balance when he is rushing the passer and seems to mix his outstanding physicality with a cerebral approach to the game. As a technician, he rarely makes mistakes and plays with a terrific motor.
Run Defense
The Steelers expect their defensive linemen to defend the run, and Heyward is no slouch. While he flashes more as a pass-rusher, the veteran end is disruptive against the run and plays with explosion and power in nearly all facets.
Still, there are times when Heyward gets moved off the point of attack in one-on-one situations and often leaves himself too susceptible to cut blocks. If he can shore up those areas of his game, he should remain a top-five 3-4 defensive end for years to come.
Position Value
Overall
4. Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans
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Pass Rush
Jurrell Casey is a relentless pass-rusher who can rush from any alignment along the defensive line. He's also a terrific technician who understands how to implement many moves to get to opposing quarterbacks.
Casey displays good explosion and uses his hands well to clear the hands of offensive linemen. His favorite setup and escape (which caused offensive linemen fits in 2015) is a quick bull rush, followed by disengaging from the blocker, a quick head fake, then a club and rip up the field. This sequence accounted for many of Casey’s seven sacks in 2015.
When all else fails, he has the size and power to simply stick with the bull rush to walk offensive linemen back and make his way into the backfield.
Run Defense
Casey’s motor and relentlessness don't diminish when defending the run. He has great block recognition and overall "feel" versus the run, which allows him to have enough vision and locate the ball-carrier. And when runs go away from him, he does a great job of blowing through gaps and pursuing with the flow.
There are times when Casey drops his head and gets too far upfield, taking himself out of the play when facing zone blocking. But even when initially out of the play, he shows hustle and effort to locate the ball and pursue down the field or sideline to sideline.
Position Value
Overall
3. Mike Daniels, Green Bay Packers
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Pass Rush
Mike Daniels is easily one of the most underrated 3-4 defensive linemen in the NFL. He may not fill up the stat sheet with ridiculous numbers, but his constant efforts and impact on offenses are undeniable when watching film of the Packers defense.
Daniels tallied four sacks—a number that seems small compared to his 42 total quarterback hurries. He doesn’t possess the elite length (6'0") that other 3-4 defensive ends have, but he plays with dynamic explosion, good leverage and active hands, making him difficult to anchor against.
Run Defense
There is no better way to be disruptive in the run game than to not stay blocked, and that is exactly what Mike Daniels excels at. He shows quick mental processing and block recognition to stack blocks back, locate the ball and close in with his outstanding short-area quickness.
In 2015, there were many times Daniels would stun offensive linemen with power on several plays in a row and then show his suddenness and crafty hand usage to avoid contact at the point of attack. Despite lacking the length and range needed to be a "true" edge player, when Daniels needs to set the edge, he does so stoutly.
He doesn't get the recognition of many defensive ends, mostly because his numbers don't match his true production in the Packers' 3-4 scheme. He's a disruptive force who has earned every bit of his top-three ranking.
Position Value
Overall
2. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
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Pass Rush
Fletcher Cox has thrived in the Eagles' exotic attacking defense. In his fourth season, he totaled 9.5 sacks—the most of his career and more than the previous two seasons combined.
With an elite mix of size, power, quickness and technique, there's really not much Cox can't do as a pass-rusher. Even in a 3-4 scheme, he simply finds ways to get after opposing quarterbacks, even against double-teams.
Where Cox gets in trouble (and the only area that contributes to a below-perfect score) is when he tries to stay at the line of scrimmage and throw stationary moves without gaining ground upfield. This allows offensive linemen to stonewall him at the line of scrimmage and limit his disruptiveness.
Run Defense
Cox wins with leverage, explosive power and violent hands at the point of attack in the run game. He's often able to stack and lock out blocks and displays superb block recognition to identify and flow to the ball.
Cox's block recognition allows him to quickly slip around blocks untouched, which resulted in six stuffed run attempts for zero or negative yardage in 2015. He's also terrific against double-teams, usually managing to find a way to split opposing blockers and at least cause some disruption in the backfield.
A special player who is equally effective against both the run and the pass, Cox has earned his money in Philadelphia and was easily the second-best 3-4 defensive end in the game in 2015.
Position Value
Overall
1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
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Pass Rush
It's no surprise the reigning Defensive Player of the Year stands out as the No. 1 3-4 defensive end in football. He's virtually unstoppable in one-on-one pass-rushing situations, and for the fifth straight season, he recorded double-digit sacks (17.5) in 2015. He also tallied 34 quarterback hits and 37 total hurries.
He does it with speed. He does it with power. He often does it with a combination of the two. And when Watt isn't hitting quarterbacks, he's often getting his hands in passing lanes and knocking down passes (eight passes defended in 2015).
With a motor that never stops and the physical skills and technique to match, there simply wasn't a better pass-rushing 3-4 end in football last year—or possibly at any position.
Run Defense
As good as Watt is in pass-rushing situations, he's equally skilled at stopping the run. He was credited with 15 run stuffs in 2015, often a result of a tremendously quick get-off that neutralizes many double-teams.
Watt's true value as a run-stopper, though, comes in the fact that opposing offenses pay him so much attention, often leading to one-on-one blocks for his teammates. Simply put, there isn't a way to stop both Watt and the rest of Houston's front seven at the same time.
He gets a lot of attention for his ability to get after quarterbacks, but Watt is just as exceptional as a run-stuffer and commands a perfect score in both categories.
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