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Ranking the top 5 NFL rookie pass rushers in league history

By Ronnie Eastham

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 16: Defensive lineman Reggie White #92 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on from the sideline during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 16, 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Eagles 19-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 16: Defensive lineman Reggie White #92 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on from the sideline during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on October 16, 1988 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Eagles 19-3. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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Pass Rusher
Sep 26, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Best NFL rookie pass rush season no. 5: Von Miller, Denver Broncos

5. player. 45. . . . Von Miller

Von Miller was drafted in 2011 by the Denver Broncos and was the number two overall selection.  He would be a menace his rookie year and showed exactly why he was drafted as high as he was.

Miller produced the fewest sacks among this list of rookie pass rushers, with 11.5 sacks in 15 games.

Miller was a terror to quarterbacks, as well as ball carriers in general.  He produced 64 total tackles on the year, which included an incredible 19 tackles for loss (TFL), and harassed quarterbacks with 29 hits on the opposing team’s signal-caller.

Miller was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, and was named to the AP second-team All-Pro roster.

During Miller’s rookie season, the Denver Broncos finished the year with an 8-8 record; however, the team was on the rise and Miller would help elevate the Broncos’ defense to one of the best in the league.

Miller would go on to play in two Super Bowls, one with the Denver Broncos, where he was named the game’s MVP, and another just last season with the LA Rams, producing two sacks and arguably could have won a second Super Bowl MVP.

Miller has produced eight Pro Bowl seasons in his illustrious career, with a career sack total of 115.5, placing him 22nd on the all-time sack leaders and the leading active sack artist, so barring injury, Miller will likely find himself in the top 20 very soon.

Von Miller will be taking his pass-rushing talents in 2022 to his third team, signing a free agent deal to lead the Buffalo Bills defense, where he hopes to lead a third team to the Super Bowl, which would make him only the second player in the league history to accomplish that feat.

Currently, the only player to pull this off was Matt Millen, with the Raiders, San Francisco, and lastly with Washington.

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