Positional Breakdown: Defensive Lineman

 

Ladies and gentleman, we have finally made it! Well, not quite. But we're almost here! The 2022 NFL season is rapidly approaching and with that, I've decided to spice things up a bit. Instead of making full-on predictions, I will be making my own list of top 10 NFL players at each position for the upcoming season. This will be based on a variety of things, including past performance, age, surrounding cast on their team, etc.

Without further ado, here are my top 10 defensive lineman for the 2022 NFL season:

#10.

Grady Jarrett, DT/DE, Atlanta Falcons

Jarrett only had one sack in 2021. But he was still as disruptive as ever as he finished the 2021 season tied for 4th in pass block win rate for defensive tackles. He deserves a place in the top 10 for his consistent production, despite the fact that he's the only real threat on the Falcons defensive line (93 pressures since 2020, over 50 more than any other player on the Falcons' roster).

Projected stats: 58 tackles, 7 TFL (tackles for loss), 4 sacks

#9.

Arik Armstead, DT/DE, San Francisco 49ers

Nick Bosa and Fred Warner get most of the attention and recognition on the 49ers defence and rightfully so. But don't sleep on Arik Armstead and his impact on one of the best defences in the league. He was one of the best run stopping defensive tackles in 2021 (tied for 3rd in run stop win rate for defensive tackles) and ended the year with 7 sacks (incl. playoffs). To sum up Armstead's dominance from last year, consider this: throughout the first 5 games of the 2021 season when Armstead was lining up at end, he averaged just two tackles per game, recorded just one sack, and the Niners were 2-3. Over the last 12 games of the regular season when Armstead got moved inside, he averaged 4.4 tackles, recorded five sacks, and the Niners went 8-4.

Projected stats: 60 tackles, 6 TFL, 5.5 sacks

#8.

Jonathan Allen, DT, Washington Commanders

Allen, 27, is smack in the prime of his career and one of the best pass rushing linemen in the league (114 QB pressures since 2020: 4th most in the NFL). He recorded a career high 9 sacks in 2021, and and he tied for 8th in pass rush win rate for defensive tackles. He gets overlooked because he plays on a stacked defensive line that also features Montez Sweat and 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young. But Allen is the best out of that group.

Projected stats: 66 tackles, 9 TFL, 7.5 sacks

#7.

Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Vea is probably the best run-stuffing tackle in the game today. He recorded a career high 4 sacks last season, and he's a huge reason why the Buccaneers have been the best run defence in the league over the last three seasons, as they've finished in the top three in fewest rushing yards allowed over the last few seasons (1st in 2019 and 2020, 3rd in 2021).

Projected stats: 38 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks

#6.

Kenny Clark, DT, Green Bay Packers

Clark is one of the most underrated players not only at his position, but in the whole league. He frequently disrupts plays at the line of scrimmage, and he's a very good pass rusher, one of the best at his position (22.5 over the last four seasons, incl. playoffs). Clark has done this despite not having much help along the defensive line. But with the signing of veteran Jarran Reed, the arrival of first round pick Devonte Wyatt, and the edge rushing duo of Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, number 97 finally has help. A scary thought for offences around the NFL.

Projected stats: 51 tackles, 8 TFL, 6 sacks

#5.

Jeffery Simmons, DE, Tennessee Titans

Simmons was solid during his first two seasons in the NFL. But he took a monster leap in Year 3 and emerged as a franchise cornerstone on the Titans defence. Simmons recorded 8 sacks, and totaled 62 quarterback pressures, the fifth most at his position. Simmons has formed a dynamic duo with Titans edge rusher Harold Landry along the defensive front and both are no older than 26 years old. Look for Simmons to have another strong season in 2022.

Projected stats: 52 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks

#4.

Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs

Jones, 28, frequently gets forgotten about because he plays on the same team as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. But without number 95, the Chiefs defence would be in absolute shambles. Jones piled up 9 sacks in 2021, and had the second highest pass rush win rate for defensive tackles (21%). He's not the greatest run defender, but he's definitely the best interior pass rusher in the NFL (outside of Aaron Donald). The Chiefs went out and drafted edge rusher George Karlaftis out of Purdue and signed veteran Carlos Dunlap to give Jones more support on the defensive line, which will not be fun for NFL offences to go up against this season.

Projected stats: 33 tackles, 12 TFL, 10.5 sacks

#3.

Deforest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts gave up a lot when they traded for Buckner during the 2020 offseason. But all Buckner has done since getting traded from the 49ers to the Colts is produce. He was stellar in 2020, finishing with 9.5 sacks, while earning a 89.7 PFF grade, which ranked third among all defensive lineman that season. His play slipped a bit last year, with his sacks going from 9.5 to 7, and his PFF grade went from 89.7 to 71.9 in 2021. However, Buckner is still in his prime at 28 years old, and the Colts added pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue to help out on the edge to further bolster the Colts pass rush.

Projected stats: 61 tackles, 12 TFL, 8.5 sacks

#2.

Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

Heyward is the epitome of consistency when it comes to defensive linemen. He's one of those rare players who's best years have come in his early thirties (89.7 PFF grade in 2020, 91.0 PFF grade in 2021). Heyward turned 33 in May, but it doesn't seem like he's slowing down anytime soon. Along with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, Heyward looks primed to have another great season while anchoring the Steelers defence.

Projected stats: 57 tackles, 14 TFL, 9 sacks

#1.

Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

Who else could it be at number one. Aaron Donald has not only cemented himself as one of (if not the best) player in the NFL, but also, as one of the greatest defensive players to ever step foot on the gridiron. Donald had another amazing season in 2021, finishing with 12.5 sacks (his fifth straight season with double digit sacks), while leading the Rams all the way to a Super Bowl title, where Donald contributed with two sacks and tailed the game-sealing  pressure on Joe Burrow to close out the victory. There was some speculation that Donald would retire after finally getting a Super Bowl ring, but instead the Rams re-negotiated the six-year contract that Donald signed in 2018, and added $40 million over the last three years of that deal. Donald turned 31 in May, but it doesn't appear that he will be slowing down anytime soon. To any team trying to block him, all I can say is: good luck.

Projected stats: 62 tackles, 17 TFL, 11 sacks

Honourable mentions:

DJ Reader, DT, Cincinnati Bengals: Reader had a very nice year for the Bengals, finishing with a 80.8 grade from PFF, while helping their defence to a top five ranking in fewest rushing yards allowed per game.

Javon Hargrave, DT, Philadelphia Eagles: Hargrave was awesome on that stacked Eagles defensive line last season, as he registered a career high 7.5 sacks, while also recording the 3rd highest pass rush win rate for defensive tackles in 2021.

J.J. Watt, DE, Arizona Cardinals: While Watt clearly isn't the same player that he once was back in Houston, he still had a solid season in Arizona. His importance to the squad can be summed up like this:

Record before Watt's (essentially) season ending shoulder injury: 7-0

Record after: 4-7 (incl. playoffs)

Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills: Oliver had a very productive season in 2021, finishing with 4 sacks, while also finishing in the top 10 in both pass rush and run stop win rate for defensive tackles.