The NFL's Top Defensive Players of the 2015 Season so Far

Well, that was fast.

All 32 NFL teams have played at least eight games this season, so over the course of the next few days we’ll be taking a look at who we feel have been the best defensive players in the league in 2015.

How did we narrow our choices to these players? We used a combination of production as well as recognizing the impact they have made on their teams. We also enlisted the services of the staff of Pro Football Focus to emphasize some of our points as well.

While we rank our best defenders from No. 10 to No. 1, we also took some time to point out some other outstanding performances on this side of the football as well.

Honorable Mentions

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Here are 10 defensive players who didn’t crack our list this time around but certainly could by season’s end. They are listed in team alphabetical team order.

OLB Pernell McPhee, Chicago Bears: In his first season with the Bears, the former Baltimore Ravens performer ranks second on the team with 35 tackles and first on the club with five sacks. Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Chicago ranks ninth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game, and McPhee has has been an ideal addition.

OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos: Although it has been had at times, the Broncos defense has been magnificent this season, leading the NFL in fewest total yards allowed as well as in sacks (30). Miller has four of those quarterback traps, to go along with 15 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Pro Football Focus ranks him fourth among 3-4 linebackers this season.

SS Mike Adams, Indianapolis Colts: The veteran defender was named to his first Pro Bowl last season and may be in the midst of an even better year in 2015. Adams is tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions, to go along with 40 tackles and six passes defensed. He has once again been a bright spot on a disappointing Colts defense. 

OLB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs: The league leader with 22.5 sacks one season ago has earned high grades this season despite Kansas City’s mediocre record and shortcomings on pass defense. Houston has totaled 26 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defensed, one interception and a fumble recovery. Not surprisingly, the Chiefs defender is one of the best players at his position at Pro Football Focus.

OLB Jamie Collins, New England Patriots: The third-year pro totaled at least five tackles in each of his first six games this season, including 10-plus stops in three of those contest. Collins leads the team with 51 stops, has 4.5 sacks and has forced three fumbles despite missing last Sunday’s game versus the Washington Redskins.

DE Chandler Jones, New England Patriots: The Patriots’ revamped defense hasn’t really gotten its due this season, but that may be getting ready to change considering they rank in the NFL’s top 10 in terms of fewest total yards and fewest rushing yards allowed per game. The pass rush has also produced 27 sacks, and Jones leads the league with 9.5. 

DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints: He has totaled 22 tackles, six sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries while knocking down four passes this season. Given the fact that the Saints defense has allowed the second-most total yards per game in the NFL in 2015, some may be surprised to see Jordan listed here. But there’s no mistaking his play this year.

FS Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders: Talk about ageless? Woodson may be a member of a team that ranks dead-last in the NFL in passing yards per game allowed, but he’s also had the gift of grab in 2015. The 18-year pro now has 65 career interceptions, including a league-high-tying five thefts this year.

ILB Jordan Hicks, Philadelphia Eagles: Zach Berman of Philly.com tells us that the standout rookie will miss the rest of his debut season with a torn pectoral muscle. But you can’t ignore the fact that Hicks ranks second on the Eagles with 50 tackles. He also has one sack, three passes defensed and five of the team’s 20 takeaways in 2015.

DE Michael Bennett, Seattle Seahawks: The determined veteran has totaled 31 tackles and leads the Seahawks with 6.5 sacks. Bennett has been arguably the best defensive player for the Seahawks, who have allowed the second-fewest total yards per game in the league this season. According to Pro Football Focus, only three 4-3 defensive ends are playing better than him these days.

10. DT Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers

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Just as is the case with their offense, the Carolina Panthers defense won’t blow you away with awe-inspiring numbers. Ron Rivera’s team ranks 13th in the NFL in total yards per game allowed and is near the middle of the pack against both the run and the pass.

But there is no mistaking what defensive tackle Kawann Short has meant to this unit. He’s enjoying a breakout year with 32 tackles and a team-high six sacks. The 2013 second-round pick from Purdue University has also knocked down four passes and forced one fumble. His performance this season sees him ranked as the league’s third-best defensive tackle to date, per Pro Football Focus.

Combine Short’s ability to provide pressure up the middle with a group of talented playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s little wonder the Panthers have been so successful this season.

9. CB Aqib Talib, Denver Broncos

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If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, try again. Last Sunday, he opted to take aim at Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen courtesy of a foolish poke in the eye. According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Talib has been suspended for this week’s tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs.

We won’t make light of the defender’s inexplicable actions, but we also don’t want to overlook the impact he’s made with the league’s top-ranked defense to date in 2015.

This season, Talib has totaled 20 tackles and leads the Broncos with three interceptions and eight passes defensed. He’s returned two of those errant throws for touchdowns—key plays in Denver’s wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

The Broncos come off their first loss of 2015, and the defense didn’t not play well at Indianapolis. Gary Kubiak’s club looks to make amends this Sunday against the Chiefs. Unfortunately for the Broncos, Talib won’t be around to help their cause.

8. S Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles

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It is safe to say that during the first two seasons of the Chip Kelly Era in Philadelphia, defense was actually a four-letter word, especially when it came to stopping teams through the air.

These days, thanks to a few personnel changes and the solid play of safety Malcolm Jenkins, these Birds appear to be flying in the right direction.

The one-time first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints has really settled in during his second season in the City of Brotherly Love. Jenkins leads the team with 52 tackles. He has also totaled two takeaways, knocked down four passes and forced three fumbles.

This year, there’s a different defensive tone when it comes to the Eagles, whose 20 takeaways (in eight games) rank second in the NFL behind only the New York Giants (21). And that may be the difference this season when it comes to winning the NFC East.

7. OLB Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers

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They don’t always look pretty, and sometimes you think things may get away from them. But the Carolina Panthers are playing the kind of football that is conducive to winning a championship.

One of their standouts this season this season has been veteran linebacker Thomas Davis, the team leader with 65 total stops. Add in three sacks, three interceptions, four passes defensed and a forced fumble, and you can see why he’s garnering some additional attention this season.

"I ain’t going to lie, I’m excited about it," Davis told Max Henson of Panthers.com when he was reminded that as of Wednesday, he was the leading vote-getter at his position for this year’s Pro Bowl.

Last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, Davis picked off quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the red zone to preserve his team’s 37-29 win. It’s these kinds of plays that have been the signature of Carolina’s 8-0 start this season.

6. DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals

Last season, the Cincinnati Bengals defense eventually proved to be a liability for a team that was already hurting on offense.

This season, coordinator Paul Guenther’s unit has proved to be a nice complement for Andy Dalton and Co. One year after finishing 22nd in the league in yards per game allowed, Cincinnati ranks 12th in the NFL in total defense and seems to be getting better weekly on this side of the football.

A healthy Geno Atkins in the lineup helps. He had missed the second half of 2013 with a knee injury. While he returned last season to start all 16 games, he really wasn’t quite his dominating self.

This season, Atkins has already recorded 24 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble. He’s a major reason why the club has already totaled 23 sacks in eight games, three more than all of last season when they finished last in the league in this category.

In 2014, only three defensive tackles have earned better PFF grades than the former Pro Bowler, who has been a huge factor in the team’s 8-0 start.

5. FS Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

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In one of the bigger surprises this season, the Minnesota Vikings are tied for first place with the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North at the midway point of 2015.

Former first-round pick Harrison Smith has been one reason the team ranks seventh in the NFL in total defense and has also helped Mike Zimmer’s club improve when it comes to stifling teams on the ground. Via Pro Football Focus, Smith is not only the top-rated safety in the league but is tied with Baltimore’s Will Hill when it comes to playing the run from the position.

Speaking of the top, Smith leads the Vikings with 44 tackles, to go along with one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery while totaling a pair of passes defensed.

4. DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

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Guess who is at the top of the rankings for the league’s best defensive end in the 3-4 scheme?

You get three guesses, and the first two don’t count.

While J.J. Watt may not be making the big overall splash this season as he did throughout 2014 (in part due to the lack of offensive touchdown receptions), he has still been a bright spot for the disappointing 3-5 Houston Texans.

That being said, Watt’s numbers are far from shabby. He ranks second on the team with 40 tackles and is tied for second in the NFL with 8.5 sacks. He’s knocked down five passes and has forced a fumble in eight games this season. Of course, watching the Texans get blown out on several occasions in 2015 hasn’t helped perception. But rest assured, Watt remains a defensive force.

3. CB Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

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It wasn’t a fun night for the New York Jets. For the third time in four games, Todd Bowles’ club came up short on the scoreboard; on Thursday, the Jets lost 22-17 to former head coach Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills.

For veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis, it was pretty much business as usual. He totaled three tackles and knocked down one pass. He also clamped down on Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins, limiting him to three catches for 14 yards despite being targeted seven times by Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

This season, the nine-year performer has totaled 27 tackles, to go along with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Jets have totaled 19 takeaways in nine games (six more than all of last season), and Revis has six of those thefts.

Bowles’ team may be reeling a bit these days, but the play of the veteran cornerback has been a big positive.

2. DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

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At the halfway point of their season, the 4-4 St. Louis Rams have split eight games and are certainly in the mix when it comes to not only the playoffs but also the NFC West title chase. Let's not forget that Jeff Fisher’s squad beat the Cardinals 24-22.

Of course, this team has been propelled by a defensive unit that has allowed the fifth-most total yards in the league while surrendering a mere 10 offensive touchdowns in eight games. One of the leaders on this unit is 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald, the NFL’s top-ranked player at his position, per Pro Football Focus, who is now vying for league Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

The 2014 first-round pick has totaled 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. The Rams have amassed 27 sacks in eight contests, and the pass rush has picked up where it left off last season when it totaled 34 sacks in St. Louis’ final nine games.

So far in 2015, Donald has trumped all defensive tackles in the league.

1. CB Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers

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Seemingly once in every game this season, Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman has made a key play. Whether it’s a pick-six (he has two this season), an interception in the end zone or knocking down key pass by the opposing quarterback, he’s been around the football all season. We can't overlook his impact.

Norman has totaled four interceptions this season and has amassed a team-high 13 passes defensed. Add 31 tackles along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and the four-year pro is very much in the mix for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.

As you can see from the list, Norman is facing plenty of competition from his own teammates when it comes to earning this important postseason honor.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth-chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.