I’ve been studying NFL football and specifically line play for the last six years. And there hasn’t been a more talent-rich, deeper position group than the defensive line. The biggest, fastest athletes on the field naturally gravitate towards the defensive side of the ball early in their lives and it bleeds into the college and pro levels. Combined with as nuanced and refined of an approach as ever before relative to the technical development of the position, specifically pass-rush tactics, has resulted in pass-protection being the most difficult (and arguably valuable) job in the NFL outside of playing quarterback.
These rankings will be useful in many ways. The most important component of picking a fantasy D/ST is their ability to put pressure on the quarterback. Start/sit decisions at quarterback and DFS projections should always include the opposing pass rush. In betting markets, line play has far more meaningful than the public believes.
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My criteria for ordering all 32 pass-rushing DLs is predominantly based around film study, which included watching every game of the 2019 season at least once, focused strictly on the trenches. My process for evaluation is rooted in trait-based evaluations that assess skill-sets, physical tools/traits, level of competition, production, and coaching. Combined with a preexisting knowledge of the majority of pass-rushers from previous seasons of film study, personal insights from many of the players themselves, and dissecting some advanced metrics, this list was born and will be updated each week during the regular season.
With that said, here are my rankings of the NFL’s best pass-rushing units for 2020:
TIER 1: ELITE PASS-RUSHING DEFENSIVE LINES
- 49ers
Nick Bosa set the NFL on fire as a rookie and instantly catapulted himself into elite terrority with a devastating and seldomly seen blend of strength, power, and technical proficiency. Bosa’s presence along with DL coach Kris Kocurek’s philosophy of unleashing the pass-rush in creative ways had a cascading effect across the DL, resulting in a career year for Arik Armstead while as a unit ranking 1st in QB hurry percentage, 2nd in pressure percentage, and 2nd in adjusted sack rate. With Dee Ford as the ace in the hole on passing downs and first-round pick Javon Kinlaw in the fold to replace the departed DeForest Buckner, there are an array of pass-rushing weapons in the mix to ensure continued dominance in 2020.
- Packers
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s impact was fully felt in 2019 after the team’s off-season splurge bolstered the pass-rush and allowed his innovative blitz concepts and pass-rush packages to bring about career years for Kenny Clark, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith. With another year in the system and last year’s first-round pick and athletic freak Rashan Gary slated to take on a bigger role after playing just 23% of snaps as a rookie, one of the NFL’s top rush units in 2019 should become even more dangerous in Pettine’s scheme in 2020.
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