NFL Power Rankings for all 32 starting EDGE duos in 2021
By Randy Gurzi
Pass-rushing is the key to great defense in the NFL. Here is a look at how all 32 teams stack up with this EDGE rushing power ranking.
It’s true that the quarterback is the most important position on an NFL team, which is why pass-rushing matters so much. That’s not exactly ground-breaking news, because teams know all-too-well, how important it is to have a powerful pass rush.
It’s one of the higher-paid positions and NFL teams that cannot make the opposing quarterback uneasy in the pocket have seen their entire defense suffer.
But which team is the best in this department? That’s exactly what question we try and answer in this pass-rushing 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
32. Atlanta Falcons: Dante Fowler, Jr., Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
This is not a pass-rushing duo that provides much of a spark at all. The Atlanta Falcons appear set to put Dante Fowler, Jr., and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner at their two defensive end spots (according to ESPN.com).
At one point, Fowler appeared to be a special player. He was chosen third overall by Jacksonville in back in 2015 but missed his rookie season due to an injury. He returned in 2016 and had 12 sacks in two years before finding himself being traded during the 2018 campaign. He broke out in 2019 with 11.5 sacks for the Los Angeles Rams but wasn’t a huge factor for Atlanta in his first season with the Dirty Birds. Fowler finished with 23 tackles and three sacks and is still the No. 1 edge rusher.
They have hope for Tuioti-Mariner who had 31 tackles as a reserve in 2020 but has only one career sack. The good news for the Falcons is that they get plenty of pressure from Grady Jarrett who is their star interior defensive lineman but their EDGE players leave a lot to be desired.
31. Indianapolis Colts: Tyquan Lewis, Kwity Paye
Overall, the Indianapolis Colts defense has been pretty good. However, that’s had more to do with them just building a solid group of players rather than having an elite set of defensive ends. Not only that, but looking ahead to 2021, they’re going to be looking for some help in this area since their two best pass-rushing defensive ends left in the offseason.
Justin Houston, who started 16 games and had 8.0 sacks is with the Baltimore Ravens and Denico Autry who recorded 7.5 sacks in 14 games (13 starts) is in Tennessee. They did use a first-round pick on Kwity Paye but there’s no guarantee he will make a huge difference considering how hard it is for players to make the leap from the NCAA to the NFL at defensive end.
Across from him, it appears Tyquan Lewis will be the other starter and while he was a second-round pick back in 2018, he has yet to become a full-time starter. In three seasons, Lewis has 42 tackles, six sacks, and 12 tackles for a loss.
This is another team that is led by their interior pass-rush, with DeForest Buckner registering 58 tackles and 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He should continue to be the top player on this line but this ranking doesn’t include what he offers — because they would clearly be higher if it did.