The Top 10 Defensive Players in the NFL

Okay, so I know this has probably been done a hundred times before, but I’m going to give it a whirl anyway: This is a list of the top 10 defensive players in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, in reverse order, with pictures, in slideshow form.

The basic criterion I tried to use is this: The following guys are the best players on defense right now.

If a player was great in the recent past but has been undone by injuries (Bob Sanders, Albert Haynesworth) or just declined because of old age (Jason Taylor, Brian Dawkins), he’s not gonna make the list. I’m looking for guys who are still in their prime.

Think of it this way: If you had to draft players, only defensive players, for a team that has to win this season, who would you pick? You’d pick these guys—if you’re smart, that is.

If you disagree with something, feel free to make your case in the comments. I revised this list about 55 times already, so I’m sure there are some deserving players I may have left off (I talked myself out of Mario Williams and Champ Bailey, to name two).

Anyway, enjoy the list.

10. Julius Peppers

Age: 29

Pro Bowls: 4 (2004-2006, 2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: 71.5 career sacks; 2002 Defensive Rookie of the Year; First team All-Pro twice (2004, 2006)

Peppers is often overlooked because he’s a gambler, and he plays on a defense that is shaky at best.

But he’s a guy that teams have to game plan around; he’s athletic enough to make the big plays that are usually reserved for linebackers or defensive backs (in 2004 he was fifth in the league in interception return yards).

He’s 14th among active sack leaders and should pass nearly everyone if he keeps up his current pace. He’s also one of the few bright spots on an awful 2009 Panthers team.

9. Darrelle Revis

Age: 24

Pro Bowls: 1 (2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: nine career interceptions

Revis Island is the least accomplished player on this list, but he deserves to be on here based in his play over the past two-plus seasons. For my money, he’s the second-best cornerback in the league right now.

As many know by now, he shut down Andre Johnson (four receptions, 35 yards) and Randy Moss (four receptions, 24 yards) in the first two weeks of the ’09 season.

But even before that, Revis was consistently shutting down top receivers and making big plays.

8. Justin Tuck

Age: 26

Pro Bowls: 1 (2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: 24.5 career sacks, First team All-Pro (2008)

A relatively late bloomer—he didn’t start as a rookie, missed most of 2006 with an injury, and didn’t become a regular starter until last season—Tuck has nonetheless blossomed into one of the best defensive ends in football.

He followed up a spectacular performance in Super Bowl XLII (two sacks, one forced fumble) with an excellent season in 2008.

Other players (like Joey Porter or John Abraham) might have higher sack totals, but they can neutralized by the right offense. Tuck must be accounted for every time he's on the field.

7. Nnamdi Asomugha

Age: 28

Pro Bowls: 2 (2006, 2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: First team All-Pro (2008)

I know he’s only been to one Pro Bowl in six seasons, but give the guy a break—he does play for the Raiders, after all. He has improved each season and is now likely the best cover corner in the entire league.

The main reason he doesn’t have many tackles or interceptions is that most offenses don’t throw towards him; instead they exploit the rest of the Raiders defense, which isn’t very strong.

6. Dwight Freeney

Age: 28

Pro Bowls: 4 (2003-2005, 2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: 74.5 career sacks; first team All-Pro twice (2004, 2005)

Freeney is 11th among active sack leaders; only Peppers or possibly Mario Williams will have a chance to catch him, as everyone above him is getting ready to retire. He already has four sacks in 2009.

What makes Freeney so dangerous is that he is much too quick for many tackles to handle, especially the bigger ones.

People get on him about being undersized, but he’s been able to stay relatively healthy throughout his career (although he is currently injured and will miss a couple weeks).

5. James Harrison

Age: 31

Pro Bowls: 2 (2007-2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2008); first team All-Pro (2008)

Another late bloomer—he was on the practice squad for two years and backed up Joey Porter for another two years—Harrison has blossomed into one of the best pass rushers in the game and one of the most dominant defenders in the NFL the past couple of seasons.

His low center of gravity allows him to bull-rush past any offensive lineman. What’s more, there are about five to 10 instances each game where he gets held and it isn’t called. He might be the most “held” player in recent history.

He also had the longest play in Super Bowl history with his momentum-swinging, 100-yard interception return in Super Bowl XLIII.

4. DeMarcus Ware

Age: 27

Pro Bowls: 3 (2006-2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: First team All-Pro twice (2007, 2008)

He’s the best player on the Dallas Cowboys. He led the league with 20 sacks last year and has averaged about 13 sacks per season in his four-year career.

Ware has started every game since his rookie season and has 18 forced fumbles for his career—and he’s only getting better.

3. Ed Reed

Age: 31

Pro Bowls: 5 (2003-2004, 2006-2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2004); first team All-Pro four times (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008)

A playmaker of the finest variety. His 44 career interceptions are good for second among active players, behind only Darren Sharper.

He also has two of the longest returns in NFL history: a 106-yarder in 2004 and a 107-yarder last year. He has 1,161 career interception return yards, which is already seventh all-time.

Reed is one of the few defensive backs to ever win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the only one other than Bob Sanders in the past 15 years.

He’s the back anchor of a defense that has finished in the top 10 overall in all but one of his seasons.

2. Troy Polamalu

Age: 28

Pro Bowls: 5 (2004-2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: First team All-Pro twice (2005, 2008)

Polamalu is like no other player in the league. He can cover like a cornerback, tackle like a linebacker, blitz like a safety, and his closing speed is remarkable. He makes big plays look routine, and he is almost never out of position.

It could also be argued that no single player is as important to his team’s defense—look at what’s happened to the Steelers since he got hurt.

The hair and the munchkin voice are keys to success as well.

1. Ray Lewis

Age: 34

Pro Bowls: 10 (1997-2001, 2003-2004, 2006-2008)

Career Stats/Accolades: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003); First team All-Pro six times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008); Super Bowl XXXV MVP

I guess I’ll start with some stats: 33.5 sacks, 28 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, 15 fumble recoveries, 1,657 tackles (1,272 solo), and one plea bargain.

Looking at the bigger picture, Lewis is one of the best middle linebackers ever. He’s the leader of a defense that is consistently the strength of the team and one of the best in the league.

He was the centerpiece of one of the best defenses of all time (2000). He’s the face of the Ravens’ franchise, their first ever draft pick, their best player ever.

At 34, he shows no signs of slowing down, and the Ravens—as much as it pains me to say this—are probably the best team in football right now.

If you had one defender in the NFL to choose right now, I think you’d have to take Ray Lewis. If you don’t think so, well—I’ll let you tell him.