The unit is simply too easy to attack when teams have to make a play. The Seahawks inability to generate pressure with their defensive line last season, especially early in the year, became a national storyline. The Packers will need continued improvement from him next season opposite Smith. He recorded a career-high 85.4 PFF grade back in 2019 with Houston before injuries cut his 2020 Cincinnati debut short after just five games. Brown and Gross-Matos still have plenty of room to grow heading into 2021, but Burns already began to show signs of becoming one of the NFLs elite pass rushers last year. Special Teams . Rushing Leader: Jonathan Taylor, 1811 Yds. interior pass-rushing threats beyond the starters, as well. The AFC's No. 32. 16): This ranking is not based on the stunning decision to fire Brian Flores. in his second season after he earned a 58.1 grade on just over 100 snaps as a rookie. But it does now after his 50-pressure, breakout season in 2020. health, which has been the opposite of reliable for much of his NFL career. The back half of the season has not gone well for Carolina, but at least the defense remains a formidable unit. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES No defense in the league allows scoring drives at a lower rate than the Bills (28.7%), and they are doing that without a whole collection of players grading at an elite level. It was a unit that played both the run and pass at an elite level in 2020. Leonard Williams leads the team with 43 pressures and is one of New York's highest-graded players. The Jaguars' defense cant stop the pass well enough, and the problems originate in the secondary. Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle provide the Football Team additionalinterior pass-rushing threats beyond the starters, as well. He recorded a run-defense grade below 40.0 and a pressure rate well below 10% for the season. When discussing those in the new guard at cornerback who've established themselves as part of the "we got next . The team's stable of impressive defensive backs gives it strength in vital areas to defend the pass. Trey Hendrickson will likely be a downgrade from Carl Lawson, considering what he accomplished as a pass rusher last season. But does it matter when they boast the single most disruptive force in the NFL? New York proceeded to add Sheldon Rankins, Vinny Curry and Carl Lawson to the group in free agency, placing an emphasis on improving the unit. Shelby Harris, coming off an 88.3 overall grade in 2020, is one of the more underrated interior defenders in the NFL. Terrell who is playing at an All-Pro level. 17): Tyler Huntley gives . Much of the Ravens pass-rushing success in recent years has been a function of scheme rather than individual talent. AFC . PHILADELPHIA EAGLES . However, their 2021 contributions may be limited due to Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison still being in place as the starters at defensive end. PFF brings you data-driven NFL rankings, stats, and player grades for every team and player in the National Football League. The latest. The team now has a pressure rate of just 20.2%, by far the lowest mark in the NFL. Injuries hindered his impact in stops with Seattle and Tennessee, but he has still been disruptive when healthy. That group will look to match a league-leading 45.1% pressure rate in 2020. Previously: 27th in NFL power rankings. One of the best seasons of Darius Slays career has helped propel Philadelphia up the rankings, among other standouts. He improved his pass-rushing grade from 68.7 in an injury-plagued rookie season to 86.9 in 2020. He earned just a 30.0 run-defense grade in 2020. Brian Burns and Haason Reddick each have over 40 pressures on the edge, and three interior rushers have cleared 20 each.