The Best Defensive Player in Each NFL Division

The title says it all. There are eight divisions in the NFL, and this article includes each group’s best defensive standout. It’s a star-studded list that includes some of the top players in the league regardless of position.

The selections are based partly on the individual's showing in 2015, but career performance is also a major factor.

There are more than a fair share of honorable mentions, which include at least one performer from nearly every team in the league.

Some of those names include a player who will break out in 2016, be it in familiar surroundings or with a new team.

AFC East: DT Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

While the Miami Dolphins come off another subpar season, don’t fault defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

While the perception is that the four-time Pro Bowler comes off a disappointing year, the former Detroit Lions standout was one of the best players at his position in 2015. Pro Football Focus gave him a plus-50.9 grade for his performance this past season, behind only the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald (plus-99.2) and Cincinnati Bengals’ Geno Atkins (plus-58.2).

This fall, he’s reunited with Earl Mitchell inside, as well as defensive end Cameron Wake—the latter looking to bounce back from an Achilles injury. The additions of free agents such as defensive ends Mario Williams, Andre Branch and Jason Jones make this a much more fearsome front.

“The D-line, the group that we got this year, should be unstoppable,” said linebacker Koa Misi to James Walker of ESPN during the team’s recent minicamp. “We got a great group of coaches behind them, and behind our whole defense. If everybody works well together, we will be a tough team to beat.”

Suh remains a capable catalyst. Miami’s poor showing in 2015 hid the fact that the 29-year-old defender remains at the top of his game.

Honorable Mentions

DE Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets

OLB Jamie Collins, New England Patriots

ILB David Harris, New York Jets

DE Rob Ninkovich, New England Patriots

DE Cameron Wake, Miami Dolphins

AFC North: DT Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The worth of Geno Atkins may be best illustrated by how effective the entire Cincinnati Bengals defense was when the 28-year-old defensive tackle was healthy.

In 2013, the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro saw his season end after nine games. A year later, he had yet to regain his star form. As a result, the Bengals fell from fifth in the league in rushing defense to 20th in the same category. The team also finished with a league-low 20 sacks, less than half as many as the previous season (43).

This past season, only six teams in the NFL were more effective in stopping the run. Cincinnati rebounded with 42 sacks, with 11 of those by Atkins. He’s totaled 43 sacks in six seasons, and he’s missed only seven games in his career—all in 2013.

The Bengals are a talented team, and the defensive front includes ends Carlos Dunlap (team-high 12.5 sacks in 2015) and Michael Johnson. Atkins' play is the key. Only Aaron Donald graded out higher at defensive tackle than the six-year pro this past season.

Honorable Mentions

DE Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati Bengals

ILB C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens

DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

SS George Iloka, Cincinnati Bengals

DE Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South: DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

What can be said that hasn’t already been stated? Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt remains a relentless force and has put up eye-popping numbers in just five seasons. The 27-year-old performer led the league with 17.5 sacks in 2015 and was the headline act on a defense that gave up the third-fewest yards in the NFL.

The former University of Wisconsin product has yet to miss a game in five years. He’s totaled an astounding 74.5 sacks in 80 contests, twice amassing 20.5 sacks in one season. Watt has already received the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors three times, an amazing accomplishment in such a brief time.

After a respectable rookie year in 2011, he’s been Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked 3-4 defensive end four straight years and counting. Watt is a hard act to follow and even more difficult to keep out of an opposing backfield. He already has the look of a player on course for a Hall of Fame career.

Honorable Mentions

SS Mike Adams, Indianapolis Colts

DT Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans

OLB Whitney Mercilus, Houston Texans

ILB Wesley Woodyard, Tennessee Titans

OLB Telvin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars

AFC West: OLB Von Miller, Denver Broncos

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Keep this number in mind when you consider how the Denver Broncos rode the league’s top-ranked defense this past season to a Super Bowl title.

In three postseason games, the team’s offense scored four touchdowns. In those contests, outside linebacker Von Miller totaled five sacks. Add in 13 tackles, one interception, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles, and the four-time Pro Bowler may have been the league MVP of the entire playoffs.

But the 27-year-old defender remains unsigned after the Broncos gave the potential free agent the exclusive franchise tag this offseason. Miller and the team have yet to agree on a long-term deal, and he’s already balked at a proposed six-year, $114.5 million contract, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, in its current form.

On his Instagram account, the talented performer stated there was “no chance” he would play for the $14.04 million franchise tag.

Given the numerous changes this offseason, the Broncos hardly resemble the same team that beat the Carolina Panthers in Santa Clara, California, in early February. Most of the changes have come on offense. But if this team has any intentions of getting back to defend its title, it must have one of the league’s most disruptive defensive entities.

Honorable Mentions

DE/OLB Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

FS Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs

OLB DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos

CB Jason Verrett, San Diego Chargers

OLB Justin Houston, Kansas City Chiefs

NFC East: SS Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

A steady but unspectacular performer in his days with the New Orleans Saints, safety Malcolm Jenkins has blossomed into a star with the Philadelphia Eagles. One of his newest teammates, safety Rodney McLeod, has been impressed since he joined the club via free agency earlier this year.

Speaking to Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com back in late May, McLeod said:

"

Big competitor, man. Just from Day 1, offseason drills and things like that when we compete, even in the weight room you can just see how he gets after it. It carries over into the field, big trash talker. He carries a swagger about him. Very smart and instinctive player.

Me and Malcolm, I think we’re gonna build something great here and you can see glimpses of it in practice now.

"

The Eagles are hoping that Jenkins is the cornerstone of a big-time turnaround on this side of the ball. Despite his best efforts, the defense has been for the birds.

In his two seasons with the franchise, Philadelphia has ranked 28th and 30th, respectively, in yards allowed per game. Over that span, the 28-year-old defender has totaled 189 tackles, five interceptions and an equal number of forced fumbles, 25 passes defensed and a pair of fumble recoveries.

In a division in which defense was virtually nonexistent this past season, Jenkins has raised his level of play since coming to the City of Brotherly Love.

Honorable Mentions

DT Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles

CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, New York Giants

OLB Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins

OLB Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys

CB Josh Norman, Washington Redskins

NFC North: FS Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about a forecast. Earlier this year, Nareg Bostanian of Pro Football Focus wrote about the merits of Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith and how his play to date warranted a big payday sooner than later. He spoke of the possibilities should the four-year pro hit the free-agent market in 2017:

"

The Vikings should, however, reward Smith with a contract extension that would make him one of the highest-paid, if not the highest, safety in the league prior to him becoming a free agent. Taking comparable deals into consideration, as well as the market trend for defensive backs, his contract should be somewhere north of $9 million annually.

"

Not bad. The new contract Smith signed earlier this month was worth $51.25 million over five years, courtesy of Spotrac. It was a solid move on the part of Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, who made the former Notre Dame product a first-round pick in 2012.

In four seasons, he’s rewarded the Purple Gang by averaging just over 80 tackles per year. The 27-year-old playmaker has already amassed 14 takeaways (including 12 interceptions), 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 26 passes defensed in 53 contests. With defensive mind Mike Zimmer as his head coach, Harrison’s best football may still be on the horizon.

Honorable Mentions

DE Mike Daniels, Green Bay Packers

DT Linval Joseph, Minnesota Vikings

OLB Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

ILB Jerrell Freeman, Chicago Bears

NFC South: MLB Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly has led his team in tackles each of his four seasons in the league. That’s pretty impressive when you consider that the 25-year-old pro missed three games in 2015 and plays alongside fellow Pro Bowler Thomas Davis. He finished with 118 stops in 13 contests, this after three straight years of 150-plus tackles.

Via David Newton of ESPN.com, Kuechly will be ready to go when training camp opens in late July. The three-time Pro Bowler had offseason shoulder surgery in February. Since his arrival in 2012, the Panthers have been a top-10 defense in the league each year.

Pro Football Focus has ranked him the NFL’s best inside linebacker each of the past two seasons. Kuechly is quite the choice on a talented defense that includes not only Davis but fellow Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short.

Honorable Mentions

OLB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DT Kawann Short, Carolina Panthers

OLB Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers

DT Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

NFC West: DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

From being named the 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year to earning first-team All-Pro honors and earning the top grade at his position this past season by Pro Football Focus, it’s been an impressive start for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

On a front four stacked with fellow first-round picks, the former University of Pittsburgh standout has made quite the impression in a short time. He comes off a season in which he led the club with 11 sacks, tied with Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins for the most in the league by an interior lineman. He’s already amassed 20 sacks in two seasons and has been equally adept against the run.

In an NFC West loaded with premier defensive talent, it may be a little bold to rank the 25-year-old pro over the likes of Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor of the Seattle Seahawks or even teammate Robert Quinn. But Donald has made an enormous impression in a brief time and will only get better with more experience.

Honorable Mentions

SS Kam Chancellor, Seattle Seahawks

FS Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals

ILB NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers

DE Robert Quinn, Los Angeles Rams

CB Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 free-agent and salary-cap information, contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth charts via Ourlads.