NFL Defensive Player Rankings

DT/NT: 1. Gerald McCoy: McCoy anchors a hit and miss Buccaneers defense that will most likely stabilize in 2014. McCoy gets the #1 spot because of his production with no help around him. 9.5 sacks is not jaw dropping but with no pressure from either edge rusher that many sacks from the interior is incredibly impressive.

2. Geno Atkins: Atkins would be #1 on the list if he had not missed the majority of the 2013 season with a torn ACL. In 2012, he registered 12.5 sacks, third in the league only behind J.J. Watt and Cameron Wake. He also had 4 forced fumbles and 53 total tackles.

3. Marcell Dareus: Dareus finished fifth in the league among defensive linemen with 71 total tackles. He also had 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble. If Dareus could settle his off the field issues and focus on football he could be the best in the league.

4. Kyle Williams: Amazingly Williams plays right next to Dareus on Buffalo’s defensive line and he recorded 68 tackles and 10.5 sacks. That much production from interior linemen on the same team is incredibly rare. Not to mention that Mario Williams is on either side. With all that talent you would think Buffalo might win sometimes…

5. Jason Hatcher: Hatcher was the only bright spot on Dallas’ defense which will go down as one of the worst of all time. Hatcher racked up 11 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 41 tackles in just 15 games. Now a member of the Washington Redskins, Hatcher now has help from the edge from Brain Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan.

6. Ndamukong Suh 7. Jurrell Casey 8. Michael Brockers 9. Nick Fairley 10. Chris Jones

DE: 1. J.J. Watt: The Defensive Player of the Year just a year ago holds the top spot as the best defensive end in football. While he only had 10.5 sacks this year, (a good number for anyone besides Watt) he also had 4 forced fumbles and was one of the only shining stars on a dismal Texans team. Watt also tops the list because of his 80 combined tackles compared to Quinn’s 57. I can’t wait to see Watt paired with Clowney in 2014.

2. Robert Quinn: Quinn had a monster year finally reaching his full potential in the league. With 19 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and a touchdown, Quinn kept the Rams defense on the map. At 24 years old, the sky is the limit for what Quinn can do moving forward.

3. Greg Hardy: The “Kraken” anchored the Panthers top 10 defense in 2013 with 15 sacks and 59 combined tackles. His ability to blow up plays in the backfield is terrifying. Small running backs be warned the “Kraken” is real.

4. Jared Allen: After a 2013 campaign raking up 11.5 sacks, 52 tackles and 2 forced fumbles it appears that Jared Allen refuses to age. At 32 he was one of this offseason’s most pursued free agents. The Bears lost Julius Peppers and still managed to improve their defensive front singing Allen.

5. Cameron Jordan: Jordan edges out Mario Williams for the #5 spot even though he had less (only slightly) less impressive numbers in 2013. Jordan had 12.5 sacks compared to Williams 13 but Jordan got his without being next to Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams.

6. Mario Williams 7. Muhammad Wilkerson 8. Chandler Jones 9. Justin Tuck 10. Charles Johnson

MLB: 1. NaVorro Bowman: Football fans were crushed to see Bowman tear his ACL at the end of the 2013 season. With 145 tackles, 5, sacks, 10 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 touchdown it goes without saying Bowman had one hell of a year. He is the center of the NFL’s (second) best defense.

2. Luke Kuechly: Kuechly will be the best in the league possibly as soon as this upcoming season. At 23 years old Kuechly has become the leagues most feared talking machine. In just his second year he posted 156 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 4 interceptions. This could be the start of a Hall of Fame career.

3. Bobby Wagner: Wagner is not #3 because of his numbers, he is here because of his team’s defensive success. The Seattle defense served up a Super Bowl win like it was nothing and Wagner was a major part of it. He may not find the camera as easily as Sherman but he is just as important.

4. Patrick Willis: Willis is essentially the last of the “old guard” of elite linebackers. Ray Lewis and Brain Urlacher have packed it in but Willis remains an important part next to Bowman on the 49ers defense. Willis still had over 100 tackles and as long as that number stays so will he.

5. Paul Posluszny: Posluszny is not a household name and he is not even well known among many football fans. That being said he finished second in the league in tackles with 162. He has had over 100 tackles in 6 out of 8 years in the league. He is a victim of playing for very bad small market teams like the Bills and Jaguars but he still deserves a place on this list.

6. DeAndre Levy 7. Lawrence Timmons 8. Sean Lee 9. Kiko Alonso 10. Karlos Dansby

The outside linebackers were a tricky list because these guys are asked to do a million different things in different systems. Its not always just about sacks so I gave it my best shot at being fair to the different guys.

OLB: 1. Aldon Smith: Smith only started 8 games in 2013 and still had 8.5 sacks. When healthy and not in rehab he is the best pass rusher in football. The 24 year old is an athletic freak that has even faster hands then legs. He has 42 sacks in just three years in the NFL.

2. Clay Matthews: Clay Matthews is a close second best to Smith. Injuries have slowed him down a little but throughout his career missing 5 games in 2013 and 4 in 2012. When healthy it’s a toss up between Smith, Matthews, and Miller.

T-2. Von Miller: Miller gets the tie for #2 because like Matthews when healthy he is unstoppable. After 3 years in the league, he has 35 sacks even after missing the majority of the 2013 season. Next year when paired with Demarcus Ware his numbers should be off the charts.

3. Vontaze Burfict: After going undrafted in 2012, Burfict ended up starting 14 games for the Bengals. In 2013 Burfict was a candidate for defensive player of the year posting a league leading and eye popping 171 tackles. What makes this number even more impressive is that Burfict is an outside linebacker, meaning the play does not come his way about half the time. He is only 23 year old and his potential is limitless.

T-3. Robert Mathis: A few years back Mathis saw his entire team fall apart as classic Colt players like Manning, Clark, Saturday, and Freeney all departed. Some wondered if Mathis would retire or ask to be traded but he stayed in Indy through the rebuilding. His dedication paid off in 2013 when he led the league is sacks with 19.5. At the age of 33 he remains one of the games most dangerous.

4. Tamba Hali: Hali is a part of the best pass-rushing tandem in the league. Paired with my #6 OLB Justin Houston the two helped lead the Chiefs from worst in the league to the post season.

5. Brian Orakpo: Orakpo is a victim of playing for a bad team and even worse defense. When healthy Orakpo plays at all pro level. He had 10 sacks on a terrible defense with little help besides my #9 OLB Ryan Kerrigan.

6. Justin Houston 7. Terrell Suggs 8. John Abraham 9. Ryan Kerrigan 10. John Abraham

CB: 1. Richard Sherman: “I’m the best corner in the game”-Richard Sherman. Yes he is. The former fifth round pick has proved that 32 teams made a huge mistake 4 times passing over him. The Seahawks may have thought Sherman was a good player but they could have never expected him to become what he is today. He has more interceptions than any other player over the last three years.

2. Patrick Peterson: “I’m the best corner in the game”-Patrick Peterson. It’s a very close argument between Peterson and Sherman with several factors. Peterson is asked to do a lot more in Arizona’s defense and also does not have the same talent around him. He is also the Cardinals return specialist. He is probably the best all around athlete in the NFL but does not have the team success to back it up.

3. Joe Haden: “I’m the best corner in the game”-Joe Haden. Notice a trend about corners here…At least with these three, a solid argument can be made for any of them being the top corner. Haden has been the only thing Browns fans could brag about since he first stepped on the field in 2010.

4. Darrelle Revis: “I’m the best corner in the game”- Darelle Revis. The trend continues and so do the valid arguments. Revis was known as the game’s best corner for years until he tore his ACL three years back. After his all expenses paid rehab/one year stint in Tampa, he now looks to help the Patriots return to glory.

5. Aqib Talib: I’m not sure if he has ever claimed to be the best so I won’t quote him but he probably thinks it. Talib is not the best in the game and seems to only play his best when its time to get paid. But when he is at his best he is a powerful covering machine that can shut down big receivers and elite TE’s like Jimmy Graham.

6. Tim Jennings 7. Alterraun Verner 8.Brent Grimes 9. Sam Shields 10. DeAngelo Hall

S: 1. Earl Thomas: Earl Thomas is the best and was paid like the best this offseason locking up a five year, $44.725 million dollar extension. He recorded over 100 tackles as a free safety, which helped coin the name of the Legion of Boom (Seattle’s Secondary). He is the Boom in the LOB.

2. Eric Berry: When healthy there isn’t a more complete safety than Berry. His coverage skills paired with his elite ball skills make him the most dangerous ball hawk in the game.

3. Jairus Byrd: The prized acquisition of the Saints this offseason is being paired with Kenny Vaccaro in the Super Dome. The two together will be the league’s best safety tandem. 22 interceptions in 5 seasons speaks for itself. He is also the most athletically gifted safety on this list.

4. T.J. Ward: Ward is a major piece of Denver’s rebuilt defense. He will provide a punishing force in the secondary that will be in the back of the head of every receiver going over the middle.

5. Eric Weddle: Weddle racked up 115 tackles in 2013 and is a major reason that the Chargers were back in postseason. At only 5-foot-11 and 200 lbs, Weddle may be small but he plays like someone twice his size.

6. Devin McCourty 7. Eric Reid 8.Troy Polamalu 9. Kam Chancellor 10. Donte Whitner