NFL 2023: Ranking 5 best pass rush duos in the league

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 18: Cameron Heyward #97 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with T.J. Watt #90 after a sack against Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of the game at Bank of America Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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Dec 11, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates his sack during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

NFL pass-rush duo no. 1: Cleveland Browns — Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith

Only one pass rush duo currently in the NFL had two players in the top 10 last year in total QB pressures: The Cleveland Browns. The Browns boast arguably the NFL’s top individual pass rusher in Myles Garrett, the former no. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. They’ve now paired him with Za’Darius Smith, who comes to the Browns via trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

Garrett (8th) and Smith (9th) each ranked in the top 10 of the NFL last year with 38 and 37 pressures respectively. Garrett finished last season with 16.0 sacks and Smith finished with 10.0, each ranking in the top 20 of the entire league. In addition to pressures and sacks, Garrett and Smith each ranked in the top 14 last year in terms of total QB hits.

Garrett ranked 10th with 26 QB hits, and Smith wasn’t far behind at 14th with 24 QB hits.

This pass rush duo had a combined:

26.0 sacks
50 QB hits
75 QB pressures

just last season alone.

Now, they will join forces in Cleveland to terrorize opponents. This is a division that Za’Darius Smith is extremely familiar with, having started his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens. Expectations will be understandably high for these two to really take the next step in terms of overall dominance now that they get the chance to come together and feed off of each other while getting after the QB.

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