After working our way through the best quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, it’s time to turn our attention to the defensive ends in an attempt to rank the top-10 players at the position.

Unfortunately, because we are focusing exclusively on defensive ends, that means great edge defenders such as Khalil Mack, T.J. Watt and Za’Darius Smith won’t be on the list despite their dominance as they primarily align as outside linebackers in 3-4 defenses.

One player who does make the list is DeMarcus Lawrence, who — despite what those who merely read and propagate sack totals may tell you — played at a very high level in 2019. Just how high does he rank? Let’s find out:

Note: The following is based on who I believe to be the best defensive ends entering 2020, not the best careers or who had the best season in 2019. Also, all pressure and ‘stop’ data comes courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All stats are regular season only.

1. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

2019 stats (16 games): 53 tackles, 83 total pressures, 15.5 sacks and 31 stops.

When you talk about well-rounded DEs, Cameron Jordan should be the first name out of your mouth. At 6-foot-4 and 287 pounds, Jordan is a dominant player against the run and pass. In 2019, he finished with 53 tackles, 83 total pressures and 15.5 sacks — both of which ranked third among all edge defenders (including OLBs in a 3-4 defense) in 2019. Even though Jordan is a good athlete for his size, his athleticism pales in comparison to some of the other top defensive ends in the NFL. However, Jordan makes up for what he lacks in athleticism with impressive power, outstanding technique and a great aptitude for trench play. Jordan has some of the best hand technique in the NFL, which he combines with deceptive footwork to defeat blocks with consistency. There may not be a pass rusher in the NFL who does a better job of sequencing moves together to get around a blocker when his first move fails.

2. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

2019 stats (10 games): 29 tackles, 49 pressures, 10 sacks and 20 stops.

If you were going to build a defensive end in a lab, he’d probably end up looking just like Myles Garrett. At 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds with 4.6 speed, Garrett has the size, speed and power to physically overwhelm any offensive tackle in the NFL. What makes Garrett truly special is his flexibility, which enables him to reduce his blocking surface and speed skate around offensive tackles to apply pressure. What’s scary is that Garrett continues to improve his hand technique, which is making him an even more efficient pass rusher. Even in a shortened season in 2019 (10 games), Garrett finished with 29 tackles, 49 pressures and 10 sacks. Moreover, Garrett’s pass-rush productivity rating (which measures pressure created on a per snap basis with weighting toward sacks) of 9.7 was the highest of his career and tied for sixth among all edge defenders. At just 24 years old, the sky is truly the limit for Garrett.

3. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 12: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans looks on from the sidelines in the fourth quarter of the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Peter Aiken / Getty Images)

2019 stats (8 games): 24 tackles, 52 pressures, 4 sacks and 14 stops.

When healthy, there may not be a more effective and productive defensive end in the NFL than J.J. Watt. In 2019, he finished three different games with at least 10 pressures. For comparison’s sake, Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith, who led the NFL in total pressures with 93, only had three games with 10-plus pressures, and he played in all 16 regular-season games. There just aren’t many defensive ends who are capable of winning as consistently as a healthy J.J. Watt. The problem is that, at 31 years old, Watt’s body is starting to break down on him. After starting all 16 games in his first five seasons, Watt has missed at least eight games in three out of the last four. If Watt could be trusted to remain healthy, he’d likely rank No. 1 on this list.

4. Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings

2019 stats (16 games): 70 tackles, 88 total pressures, 14.5 sacks and 36 stops.

For some reason, Danielle Hunter isn’t typically viewed as an elite defensive end in the NFL, but that disrespect ends today. Hunter and his teammate Everson Griffen are one of the most effective pass-rush duos in the NFL. However, 2019 is the year Hunter truly set himself apart individually. Coming into 2019, he had already been one of the more consistently productive defensive ends in the NFL, posting three straight seasons with at least 55 total pressures — two of which he also had 10-plus sacks in. In 2019, Hunter took it to another level, finishing with 70 tackles, 88 pressures (first among defensive ends) and 14.5 sacks (second among defensive ends). On top of rushing the passer, Hunter is also a productive run defender, finishing in the top-15 among edge defenders in run stops in each of the past two seasons, per PFF.

5. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers

2019 stats (16 games): 67 tackles, 71 total pressures, 11.5 sacks and 49 stops.

While his brother, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa, received all the acclaim, Joey Bosa was still the most productive and effective Bosa in 2019. However, unlike his brother, the lack of success of Joey’s team caused his stellar season to fly below the radar. He posted one of the best and most well-rounded individual seasons of any edge defender from a production standpoint finishing with 67 tackles, 71 total pressures and 11.5 sacks to go with 49 stops (most among NFL edge defenders, per PFF). Not only did Bosa finish in the top-10 in pressures and sacks but his 34 runs stopped ranked first among all defensive linemen. While it was a popular opinion to say Nick outplayed Joey in 2019, that’s likely due to some letting team success cloud their individual evaluations of players. Not only was Joey doubled teamed at a higher rate, but he also ranked better in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate (which is the rate pass rusher beats blocker in 2.5 seconds) metric. Nick may have had more pressures, but Joey was similarly productive as a pass rusher to go along with being a much more effective run defender, as Joey posted 14 more run stops than Nick in 2019.

6. Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

2019 stats (16 games): 56 tackles, 71 total pressures, 6.5 sacks and 35 stops.

It’s a shame that Calais Campbell is stuck on a dysfunctional Jacksonville Jaguars roster, as his high level of play deserves to be celebrated much more than it is. More so than any other player on this list, Campbell splits his time between defensive end and defensive tackle, though defensive end is his primary position. At 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds, Campbell uses his size, length and strength to batter opposing blockers in the run and pass games. While Campbell is an effective pass-rusher (five straight seasons with at least 50 pressures), he may be the most dominant run defender at the defensive end position, as his length and strength make him near impossible to move at the point-of-attack.

7. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers

2019 stats (16 games): 47 tackles, 80 total pressures, 9 sacks and 32 stops.

Nick Bosa should probably rank higher on this list, but it’s difficult to place him above those who have a longer track record of great-to-elite production in the NFL. Still, what he was able to accomplish in his rookie season was incredibly impressive. Bosa may have only finished with nine sacks in 2019, but he coupled that with an absurd 80 total pressures. Much like his brother Joey, Nick syncs up his hands and feet as well as anyone in the NFL despite being just a rookie. Plus, when the lights shined the brightest, Nick was at his best, as he posted a season- and career-best 12 pressures against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

8. DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) celebrates with Dallas Cowboys defensive back Darian Thompson (23) after gaining possession of the ball off a fumble from Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake (32) during the first half of play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, September 22, 2019. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)

2019 stats (16 games): 45 tackles, 56 total pressures, 5 sacks and 28 stops.

If you evaluate defensive ends purely based off sacks, then you’re probably surprised to see DeMarcus Lawrence, also known as the Cross-Chop King on this list, as he finished with a measly five in 2019. But you played yourself, as judging a defensive end solely on sacks is a foolish endeavor.

The truth is that sacks are merely just a piece of a larger puzzle, and although Lawrence didn’t finish with a ton of them, he did post one of the most well-rounded seasons among edge defenders. Lawrence may not have played at quite as high of a level as he did in the two previous seasons, where he posted 77 pressures in 2017 and 66 in 2018, but don’t let that fool you into thinking Lawrence wasn’t great in 2019.

He was a dominant run defender who finished third among starting edge defenders in run-stop percentage (9.8, behind only Joey Bosa and Trey Flowers) in 2019, per PFF. And despite the lack of sacks, Lawrence did produce as a pass-rusher, posting 56 total pressures while being double-teamed at the fifth-highest rate among edge defenders.

Pressures are more stable year-to-year, making them more predictive than sacks, so take solace in the fact that Lawrence’s pressure numbers indicate that he will return to double-digit sack production soon enough. He also helped create a handful of sacks for his teammates. On top of that, Lawrence finished third among all edge defenders in ESPN’s Pass Rush Win Rate metric, which measures how often a pass rusher can beat his block within 2.5 seconds. So despite the low quantity of sacks, Lawrence was consistently beating blocks in a timely fashion at a higher rate than all but two edge defenders in the league.

Lawrence did all of this despite missing the offseason and training camp while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, which could be a reason for the slight reduction in productivity in 2019 when compared to the previous two seasons. With a full offseason to work at his craft rather than rehabbing an injury, it’s a good bet that Lawrence breaks the 10-sack barrier once again in 2020.

9. Jadeveon Clowney, Seattle Seahawks (FA)

2019 stats (13 games): 31 tackles, 48 total pressures, 3 sacks and 21 stops.

Jadeveon Clowney was slowed by a core injury in 2019, but he was still able to flash his elite-level ability. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Clowney is not the type of defensive end who runs around blocks, as he uses power with well-developed counter moves to beat blocks and make his way into the backfield. Despite being double-teamed at the third-highest rate among edge defenders, Clowney was still able to accumulate 58 total pressures. Much like with Lawrence, the sack numbers weren’t there (just three in 2019), but the volume of pressures should give fans confidence that his sack numbers will improve when healthy.

10. Trey Flowers, Detroit Lions

2019 stats (15 games): 51 tackles, 62 total pressures, 7 sacks and 33 stops.

There’s nothing flashy about Trey Flowers, but he sure is effective. At 6-foot-2 and 265 pounds, he isn’t the best athlete, but his power, length and hand technique are more than enough to compensate. Still, Flowers isn’t a bad athlete, as his quickness helps him produce as a pass-rusher when reduced inside. He is equally effective against the run and pass, posting three straight seasons with at least 60 pressures and 30 stops.

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