Matt Judon Is High On My List Of The NFL's Top EDGE Rushers
We're ranking each positional group of the Top 100 NFL Players of 2022 blog. We've already went through:
Here is where the EDGE rushers rank for me:
14) Rashan Gary - Green Bay Packers
Gary was a top recruit out of High School but never really lived up to the hype at Michigan. The Packers took him in the 1st round a couple of years ago and he broke out in 2021 with 9.5 sacks in 16 starts. He's got an array of ways to get to the Quarterback and he's a guy who is on the rise. I'm looking for him to be much higher in next year's rankings.
13) Brian Burns - Carolina Panthers
Burns is a legitimate freak show off the edge. He's so bendy it's wild. But on top of that, he's got MOVES. He had 9.0 sacks last year and could probably be much higher if Carolina actually played more with leads. On a better team he's much higher, but Burns is a guy offense's have to account for every time he's on the field.
12) Von Miller - Buffalo Bills
Miller wasn't ranked on my list last year as he missed the entire 2020 season due to injury and the form he'd return with was a complete unknown. But after a full year off, he got traded mid-season and still racked up 9.0 sacks and added another 4.0 in the playoffs. He got another ring and now he's off to Buffalo who drafted two young rushers last year in Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham. Now Miller will come in to provide a shot in the arm and some veteran leadership. I'm looking for big things from the future Hall of Famer in Western New York.
11) Shaq Barrett - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barrett is still in his prime at age 29 and doesn't have a lot of tread on his tires being a part-time player his first four seasons. He finished with 10.0 sacks last year and 22 QB hits. He gets home regularly and is always looking to swipe the ball out. With JPP no longer with the team, Barrett will be counted on as the guy and I have full faith he'll continue to get it done.
10) Robert Quinn - Chicago Bears
Robert Quinn has had a weird career. He's had five double-digit sack seasons but was coming off of a 2.0 sack season in 2020 in his first season with Chicago. He ratcheted that up to 18.5 in 2021 with a monster year, finishing second in the NFL in sacks. He's an incredible speed rusher and really started the jumping cross chop that Aaron Donald has since perfected. Chicago felt so good about him, they were ok dealing Khalil Mack this offseason. Can he continue to produce with all eyes on him in 2022?
9) Trey Hendrickson - Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson was one of the few guys the continually cap strapped Saints let walk in Free Agency last season after registering 13.5 sacks for New Orleans in 2020. When he signed a 4-year $60M deal with Cincinnati, the expectation around the league was it was an overpay. But Hendrickson proved he's the real deal with a 14.0 sack season for the AFC Champion Bengals. He's a technician off the EDGE and can beat you in a number of way.
8) Khalil Mack - Los Angeles Chargers
Mack dealt with foot injuries in 2021 which was the reason he only played 7 games. But in those 7 games, he had 6.0 sacks. Now he'll get a fresh start with the Chargers and get to play opposite Joey Bosa. All the attention on the other side could lead to a career year and I'm excited to see him bounce back in 2022.
7) Cam Jordan - New Orleans Saints
I had Cam Jordan #97 on my list last year, but at age 32, he had 5.0 sacks more than the season before finishing 2021 with 12.5. He's very stout against the run and his hand usage is top notch. He is somehow getting better with age.
6) Matt Judon - New England Patriots
Before T.J. Watt ended up breaking the single season sack record, I was lobbying for Matt Judon for Defensive Player of the Year for a bit. The guy was incredible in his first year in Foxboro nothing a career high 12.5 sacks. He's got a great get-off and underrated power combined with good technique. He can just straight up splatter guys.
5) Maxx Crosby - Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby is one of my favorite players to watch. He is just so frisky! He finished the year with only 8.0 sacks, but he led the league in QB Knockdowns with 19. The point is, Crosby was always a disruptive force on the D-Line. The guy is fast too…
And when I say fast I mean FAST!
4) Joey Bosa - Los Angeles Chargers
The Big Bear is going to be eating a lot this season, opposite Khalil Mack in a pass rush created in Madden. He is very strong and plays with heavy hands, which is a deadly combination with his technique. He could be even higher next year.
PSA: Do not try and block him with a Fullback.
3) Nick Bosa - San Francisco 49ers
The knock on Nick Bosa has always been durability. After playing just two games in 2020, Bosa played all 17 and put up 15.5 sacks and 21 TFLs. He is a game wrecker off the edge and is a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
2) Myles Garrett - Cleveland Browns
The guy is a monster. He's 6'4" 272 lbs., fast with long arms, just the ideal body for an EDGE rusher. He's a looks like Tarzan, plays like Tarzan type guy. He finished the year 3rd in the league with 16.0 sacks and 2nd in the league with 17 QB Knockdowns.
He does everything well from hand placement, to having the right about of bend. He can convert speed to power and just straight up run through you. Garrett made his 2nd straight Pro Bowl and 2nd straight 1 Team All-Pro. He's everything you hope for when you take an EDGE Rusher 1st overall.
1) T.J. Watt - Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt has increased his sack total in each of his first five seasons. It'll be tough to do next season as Watt just set the single season sack record with 22.5. And I don't want to hear any of this 17 game season stuff, because the guy only played in 15 games!
Watt can play both the run and the pass and his instincts are top notch which leads him to make game changing plays like this:
Here's the full list: