10. Aaron Donald

The previously mentioned Aaron Donald is the prototypical modern defensive tackle. His combination of speed, strength, and technique is unmatched. In his 10 year career, Donald has accumulated numerous accolades, including three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. multiple All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring. Donald recently flirted with retirement but decided to continue his career in 2023.

*Career Stats:

322 solo tackles

105.5 sacks

165 TFL

9. Dan Hampton

Hall of Famer Dan Hampton spent his 12 year career with the Chicago Bears. Hampton was a 6x All Pro and 4x Pro Bowler. Nicknamed the “Danimal” he was a versatile defensive lineman who had multiple seasons with double digit sacks. Hampton was one of the key reasons that the Bears led the NFL in fewest rushing yards and touchdowns during his career there.

Career Stats:

82 sacks

10 fumble recoveries

8. Cortez Kennedy

Cortez Kennedy made a huge impact in the NFL and for the Seattle Seahawks. Despite playing on teams with limited success, Kennedy’s dominance at defensive tackle was second to none. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1992 and earned eight Pro Bowl selections during his Hall of Fame career.

Career Stats:

569 solo tackles

58 sacks

11 forced fumbles

7. Bob Lilly

Bob Lilly, known as “Mr. Cowboy,” was a staple of the Dallas Cowboys defense for 14 seasons. His combination of strength and agility was impressive for his era. Lilly earned 11 Pro Bowl selections and was the first defensive tackle to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He is a Hall of Famer and also a Super Bowl champion.

Career Stats:

95.5 sacks

18 fumble recoveries

6. Reggie White

Reggie White was a transcendent talent who could dominate from multiple positions along the defensive line. While he is often associated with defensive end play, White’s versatility allowed him to excel as a tackle as well. With two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl victory, White’s impact on and off the field is still felt to this day.

Career Stats:

198 sacks

175 solo tackles

5. Merlin Olsen

Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen was known as a gentle giant off the field and a destructive force on it. A stalwart for the Los Angeles Rams Fearsome Foursome, Olsen’s combination of size, strength, and agility made him a dominant force. He earned 14 Pro Bowl selections and 5 All Pro selections.

Career Stats:

91 sacks

9 fumble recoveries

4. John Randle

John Randle‘s journey from undrafted rookie to Hall of Famer is the stuff of legends. His fiery personality and relentless motor made him a disruptive force for the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Randle, an eight-time Pro Bowler, recorded double-digit sacks in six seasons.

Career Stats:

137.5 sacks

277 solo tackles

40 TFLs

3. Alan Page

Alan Page was not only a defensive tackle but also a legal scholar and judge off the field during his Hall of Fame career. On it, his menacing play set him apart at the position. A member of the famed Purple People Eaters, Page combined strength, agility, and a deep understanding of the game to garner nine Pro Bowl selections and an NFL MVP award.

Career Stats:

148.5 sacks

23 fumble recoveries

2. Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp brought a new era of athleticism to the defensive tackle position. His quickness off the line and pass-rushing finesse redefined the role. With seven Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl victory, Sapp remains one of the most dominant defensive tackles of the modern era. Off the field he continues to mentor the next great defensive linemen and is currently the working with Deion Sanders at the University of Colorado.

Career Stats:

96.5 sacks

440 solo tackles

138 TFLs

1. Mean Joe Greene

Joe Greene, famously known as “Mean Joe,” tops our list as the best defensive tackle of all time. His ferocious play for the Pittsburgh Steelers Steel Curtain defense set the gold standard for defensive tackles going forward. Greene’s relentless pursuit of quarterbacks and ability to stuff running backs earned him four Super Bowl rings and two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Career Stats:

77.5 sacks

16 fumble recoveries

*= Active NFL player

The post Top 10 Defensive Tackles of All Time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Few defensive tackles have been as dominant as Aaron Donald over his 9-year career. The 7x All-Pro is a surefire Hall of Famer when he decides to hang it up. In the meantime like McVay, Donald considered walking away but in the end, decided to come back after a disappointing 2022. Although out of his prime Donald is still a force on the defensive line regularly blowing up offensive plays. The Rams will need all they can get from Donald in order for them to have a chance to rebound in 2023.

When healthy, Cooper Kupp is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Kupp had a dominant 2021 season with the Rams where he amassed 1,947 receiving yards. 2022 was a different story as Kupp was only able to play in 9 games due to injury. He is currently still dealing with a hamstring injury that the Rams are calling day-to-day. While this is troubling I don’t expect him to miss much time this season and LA will need him to be in top form.

The Bad

Other than Aaron Donald the Los Angeles Rams defense is lacking star power. This is due to the team moving on from Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner and Jalen Ramsey who was traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Rams will now rely on rookies and several unproven players on a defense that will have a tough time stopping anybody. Teams will be able to double-team Donald regularly and attack the young cornerbacks on the outside. It’s clear the Rams have decided to invest in the offensive side of the ball rather than the defense. If the offense struggles this could be another long year for LA.

The Prediction

It’s looking more like the Rams are in for another tough season. This may be the final year we see Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald in a Rams uniform. There are just too many questions on the defense and not enough weapons on offense for them to be successful.

2023 Record: 5-12 (3rd in the Division)

The post Los Angeles Rams Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams pass rush was unusually lethal in 2021, as they ranked third in sacks (50), which stood behind the T.J. Watt-led Pittsburgh Steelers (55) & the Minnesota Vikings (51). Impressively the Rams and their ultimate QB hunter in Aaron Donald ranked second in sacks (53) in 2020, and fourth in sacks in 2019 (50).

So, how will the most tenacious human beings in LA perform in pursuing opposing signal-callers in 2022? I undoubtedly foresee the Rams being a Top-3 team in QB sacks in 2022. The Rams showcase the mythical AD, the electric Leonard Floyd (9.5 sacks in 2021 and 10.5 sacks in 2020), and A’Shawn Robinson.

Donald ousted 12.5 sacks, 25 QB hits, and absolutely stood out in the Super Bowl with a 90.1 pass rushing grade. The Rams DT has unleashed 11+ sacks in six of his prior seven seasons in the league. He’s also obtained first-team All-Pro honors in each of his past seven seasons. The Rams boldly made Donald the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history this off-season, too.

He will ask Floyd, who was signed as a free agent in the 2020 off-season, to continue wreaking havoc. Floyd registered personal-best stats in the following categories in 2020: sacks (10.5) and QB hits (19). He didn’t slow down chasing QBs in 2021 – where he unveiled 9.5 sacks and 18 QB hits. The 29-year-old will be a free agent in the 2025 off-season.

Justin Hollins, the man called on to replace Von Miller, is a prime breakout candidate for LA. He collected two sacks and 1 QB hit last season. Furthermore, he had a modest 69.8 grade by PFF. Hollins beat out Terrell Lewis for the starting OLB spot, as Lewis has ousted five sacks and 7 QB hits in his two-year career. The Rams cut ties with the D2 legend Chris Garrett. I would be shocked if another team didn’t claim the athletic freak and scrappy edge rusher.

The Rams are known for possessing a very gifted passing offense, but let’s not forget that they display a fire-breathing pass rush, too. It will be vital that the Rams can make life miserable for the mega-arm & bull-dozing QB Josh Allen in Week 1.

Allen may be the most popular MVP candidate heading into the 2022 season, but he wasn’t sinless against opponents with a violent pass rush a season ago. Last season – the Saints picked off Allen twice, the Colts intercepted the Bills QB1 twice, the Bucs snagged a pick against Allen, and Allen only threw 4 touchdowns to 1 int in his two games against the Phins. I foresee the Rams pressuring the Bills polarizing QB (who had 15 ints last season) into committing a couple of turnovers in their first battle of the 2022 season.

The post What to expect from the Los Angeles Rams pass rush in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Defensive Player of The Year winner last season was none other than T.J. Watt. The younger Watt bro clocked 22.5 sacks (which ties with Micahel Strahan for the most sacks in a single season), 21 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and a whopping 39 QB hits. The Steelers edge player is undoubtedly a prime DPOY candidate for his second season in a row. Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett are also heavy favorites to win DPOY.

With that said, I’m going to untwine many darkhorse DPOY candidates in the 2022 season. So, who could be the biggest overachiever on defense?

Darius Leonard

Darius Leonard is an unusually talented football player, but he competes from the good-ole OLB position (which is looked down on). Leonard unleashed an absolutely astonishing 8 forced fumbles, 8 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, and 4 tackles for loss a season ago. Leonard was first-team All-Pro in 2021 and first-team All-Pro in 2020. I expect Leonard to not register more unearthly numbers, but he should be on a team that has much more success than a season ago.

Nick Bosa

The San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa won DROY, sadly missed his entire sophomore season, and then registered a whopping 15.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 32 QB hits, and four forced fumbles last season. Bosa earned a very potent 88.3 grade from PFF last season, too. I love Bosa’s growth over his career and there isn’t any reason he doesn’t aspire to be the next pass rusher not named AD to win DPOY.

Marcus Davenport

If Marcus Davenport stayed healthy, he may be the best player in football. All jokes aside, Davenport has the freak ability: 88.8 grade by PFF in 2021. Yes, you read that correctly. Unfortunately, Davenport has missed 12 contests in the past two seasons combined.

I foresee the Saints passing offense taking a monster step forward from last season and forcing opposing signal-callers to desperately keep pace. Hence, I expect Davenport and Cameron Jordan to have plenty of opportunities to tee off on opposing signal-callers in cruel situations.

Aidan Hutchinson

Aidan Hutchinson may be a rookie, but he is still an excellent football player. Hutch has been unstoppable this summer & quickly flashed his ability in the pre-season by having a tackle for loss. If he can squash Aaron Rodgers on numerous occasions, while having other unusual production, it would be hard to not hand him a plethora of respect. The mythical Lawrence Taylor won DROY and DPOY.

Chris Jones

The Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle, Chris Jones, won’t let his position (DT) limit his abilities. He’s made the Pro Bowl & garnered second-team All-Pro in two of his past three seasons. Jones had a monster 2021 campaign – despite missing three games. If Jones can stay healthy, show out in pivotal contests, and watch Aaron Donald take a step back, he could honestly win DPOY.

The post 5 darkhorse DPOY candidates right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

Unearthly quarterbacks highlight the NFL, but let’s not forget about the presence of the pass rushers that prey on sacking opposing quarterbacks. There have undoubtedly been illustrious QB hunters in the history of the NFL. The top pass rusher of all time is unequivocally Lawrence Taylor. LT showed an impressive amount of controlled rage in his rookie season – as he won Defensive Rookie of The Year & Defensive Player of The Year. Taylor would then win DPOY in his sophomore season and even proceed to win NFL MVP in 1986. In fact, Taylor is the last defender to win MVP.

With that enunciated, I’m going to untwine the next best nine-pass rushers of all time.

2. Reggie White

Reggie White, also known as J.J. Watt before J.J. Watt, was a freak of nature for the Philadelphia Eagles. White registered three 18+ sack seasons in his first four years as a pro. Yes, you read that correctly. Furthermore, he garnered 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987 – which is obviously the most sacks ever by a defender in a 12-game span. He garnered eight first-team All-Pro nods in his career. He also won DPOY twice in his NFL journey.

3. Deacon Jones

The greek god-like defender, Deacon Jones, started his journey all the way back in the 60s. Nonetheless, he still mopped the floor against opposing QBs. He unveiled four seasons of 19+ sacks in his Rams tenure. He obtained 173.5 sacks in his career, as well. Strangely, he never won DPOY in his HOF career.

4. Bruce Smith

The man with 200 sacks (the record for the most career sacks), Bruce Smith, was a gift to the Buffalo Bills from the football gods. He has the same tally of first-team All-Pro nods as White. He won DPOY in 1990 & 1996. Smith has ousted an undeniably insane 13 seasons of 10+ sacks in his career – which is also an NFL record! Smith was blatantly dominant, an athletic freak, and a beacon of consistency.

5. Aaron Donald

It’s hard to deny the consistent damage that Aaron Donald unleashes on opposing offensive lines. AD has been first-team All-Pro seven times in his eight-year career! Furthermore, he’s won DPOY three times! In 2018, Donald somehow unveiled 18.5 sacks and 41 QB hits, from the DT spot. He really shined in Super Bowl LVI – where he ousted two sacks (which included a sack on the Rams last play on defense). The scary part is that Donald is still seeking more vengeance in the league.

6. Michael Strahan

The legendary New York Giants edge rusher Michael Strahan holds the record for the most sacks in a 16-game season (with 22.5 sacks) and he won DPOY in the same season. Strahan also had a potent sack season in 2018 – where he obtained 18.5 sacks. It’s also extremely important to note that the four-time All-Pro is a Super Bowl champion. Of course, Strahan also co-hosts “Good Morning America”.

7. J.J. Watt

J.J. Watt is unequivocally one of the best walk-on stories in college football. Watt proved to be a workhorse and gifted pass rusher at the professional level. He played with his hair on fire in 2012 – as he picked up 20.5 sacks and won DPOY. He decided to win DPOY in 2014 and in 2015, too. Watt has been named first-team All-Pro five times in his NFL career. He’s also shown off his ability to catch touchdowns in the past.

8. Kevin Greene

The former Rams pass rusher Kevin Greene was an absolute maniac on the football field. After having a mere zero sacks in his first season, Greene opted to transform into a mythical pass rusher. Greene registered a 16.5 sack campaign in 1988 and another 16.5 sack season in 1989. Impressively, he boasted 10 seasons of 10+ sacks. He displayed six seasons of 13+ sacks. Greene has unveiled 160 career sacks – which is quite a feat.

9. Derrick Thomas

Derrick Thomas sadly didn’t play for a long period of time – due to his early passing in 2000. Although, Thomas was still a nightmare pass-rusher in his lifetime, to say the least. The former Kansas City Chief knocked out a 20-sack season in 15 games as a sophomore. Thomas unleashed seven 10+ sack seasons in his 11-year career. He was quite proficient at forcing fumbles (with six FFs in 1990 and 8 FFs in 1992). In addition, he made nine straight Pro Bowls in the NFL.

10. Julius Peppers

Julius Peppers played for an eternity and he wreaked havoc in each phase of his career. He kicked off his career by winning DROY while playing 12 games! Peppers managed to unveil 10 seasons of 10+ sacks. He had 159.5 sacks as a whole. He has made an absolutely impressive nine Pro Bowls in his football life. Peppers truly resembles the Alien – except he might be more explosive than the extraterrestrial character.

The post 10 best pass rushers of all time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The NFC West showcases numerous future Hall of Fame pass rushers — such as the newly well-compensated Aaron Donald and the versatile, maniac J.J. Watt. With that said, I’m going to simply highlight the unearthly defensive DL in the NFC West and rank the top pass rushers in the wild NFC West.

Aaron Donald

There isn’t any debate that AD is the top pass rusher in his division. The Rams DT has been named first-team All-Pro in each of the past seven seasons. He has also only missed two games in the past six seasons. He led his team in sacks (12.5) and QB hits (25) in 2021. He has been the highest-graded defender by PFF for six straight seasons — as PFF gave him a 93.6 grade in 2021. The highest-paid non-QB in NFL history flexed his ability in Super Bowl LVI with two sacks and a pivotal pressure against Joe Burrow on the Bengals last offensive play.

Markus Golden

Markus Golden has been quite productive for the Cardinals and he also has been able to stay healthy (contrary to Watt) — as he’s missed one game in the past three seasons. Golden ousted 11 sacks (.5 sack more than Chandler Jones), 19 QB hits, 10 TFLs, and four forced fumbles last season. The former Cardinal has been a Pro Bowl snub and he expressed that he should continue to excel in the Cards pass-rushing unit without Jones. Per NFL.com, Golden stated, “I respect him and learned a lot from Chandler. I can seriously he helped me become the player I am today. But whether I am playing with Chandler or anybody else, I feel like I’m a No. 1 pass rusher. You’ve got to have that mindset”.

J.J. Watt

The two-time DPOY winner J.J. Watt may not crack 10+ sacks in 2022, but he can still be a top-tier pass-rushing menace. Watt only played in seven games last season, but he still earned an impressive 79 grade by PFF. Arizona Sports 98.7 outlined how Watt led all pass rushers in QB hits and placed second in pressures after five games last season. Watt will definitely to have more sacks on his belt next season — as he chases his first Super Bowl ring with AZ and likely Kyler Murray.

Leonard Floyd

Leonard Floyd is the second edge rusher on this list that will look to amp up his sack total after losing an edge-rushing mate (as Von Miller went to Buffalo). Floyd had 9.5 sacks last season (after a 10.5 sack season in 2020). He also had 18 QB hits, 70 combined tackles, and 7 TFLs in 2021. He had a 70.4 grade by PFF. He might not be the sexiest run stopper, but he can certainly excel in pass-rushing situations. The former Bears first-round that signed a four-year contract worth $64 million dollars in the 2021 off-season will look to reach his first Pro Bowl in 2022.

Darrell Taylor

The Seahawks defensive end Darrell Taylor quietly had a stellar sophomore season — as he unleashed 6.5 sacks and 13 QB hits. Corbin K. Smith from All Seahawks outlined how he could be a double-digit sack player if he improves his ability to wrap up opposing quarterbacks. It’s safe to say that Taylor was raw in 2021 with his size and pass-rushing moves, so it should be said that the sky is the limit for Taylor. PFF ranked the Seahawks DL as the worst DL unit in the NFL, so it’s clear that Taylor will need to be the bright spot on the Hawks DL.

Shelby Harris

The Hawks may not have an elite edge rusher, but they have a strong balance between DE and DT pass-rushing prowess. The new Seahawk Shelby Harris is an athletic DT that can excel as a pass rusher and he showed that in 2021: 6 sacks and 11 QB hits. Harris is flat out one of the most underrated DTs in the NFL.

Greg Gaines

The Rams NT Greg Gaines had 4.5 sacks and 13 QB hits a season ago — after having 1.5 sacks and 3 QB hits in 2020. PFF awarded Gaines a modest 67.9 grade. AD expressed deep gratitude for Gaines, to say the least. Per PFF Bet, AD stated, “I don’t think there’s no nose tackle in the NFL that’s playing how he’s playing right now.” He Gaines will look to be a hulk-like figure against the run and pass in 2022 — as he strides for a hefty contract extension.

Uchenna Nwosu

The new Seahawks pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu could be the best-kept secret on the Hawks. After 4.5 sacks and 11 QB hits in 2020, Nwosu had 17 QB hits, 8 TFLs, and 5 sacks last season. Most importantly, he learned to utilize his impressive power as the 2021 season evolved (3 sacks in his past six games). He also made unique plays — as shown below.

The Seahawks chose not to bring back Carlos Dunlap (at least not yet), so it will be imperative that Nwosu has a career season across from Taylor in 2022.

Zach Allen

The Cardinals DL Zach Allen, also known as the son of Jared Allen, put together his best season in 2021 (4 sacks, 14 QB hits, and 1 interception) — after having two sacks and six QB hits in 2020. He also flashed his athleticism as he returned a fumble for a touchdown. He notably had two sacks against Trey Lance in last October’s match-up. Allen will really strive to shine in his contract season on the Jones-less defense.

A’Shawn Robinson

The former Lions DT A’Shawn Robinson is recognized as a mean run-stopper, but he is capable of hurting opposing QBs in the passing game. Besides Robinson recording 67 combined tackles and 2 FF in 2021, Robinson had a few sacks. PFF granted him a 72.5 grade in 2021. He is perhaps the Rams FA in 2023, so it’s clear that McVay will need to prioritize a new contract for the Rams DT.

The post Ranking the NFC West pass rushers right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The San Francisco 49ers relentless pass rusher Nick Bosa is one of two elite NFL profiles that has an older brother at the same position (of course, T.J. Watt is the other player). Most importantly, Bosa and Watt are both aspiring to be more successful than their older bros. After the Steelers pass rusher won DPOY last season, I believe Bosa is ready to prove that he can be the best defensive player in his family.

*Between Nick and T.J., I do believe that Nick has an easier chance to be better than his brother.

Bosa had a fine rookie season, as he won Defensive Rookie of The Year and cracked a Pro Bowl spot. Unfortunately, Bosa only played in a mere two games in his sophomore season, as the entire 2020 49ers squad could resemble the Walking Dead. The motivated and healthy Bosa came back with swagger and more power as he unveiled a whopping 15.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 32 QB hits last season.

Bosa was fourth in the NFL and second in the NFC in sacks in 2021. After Watt snatched the DPOY award from Aaron Donald last season, I believe the fourth-year pass rusher in SF not named Aaron Donald could be the next behemoth pass rusher to win DPOY. In fact, Adam Schein from NFL.com believes that Bosa will win DPOY next season. He notes that Donald may retire, Bosa has shown out in pivotal playoff moments, and that 49ers defender is simply an excellent all-around player on a loaded team.

Hopefully, Bosa can really wreak havoc against the Rams OL that will miss former Pro Bowl LT Andrew Whitworth. Nick only ousted 1.5 sacks in two combined games against LA last season. It would be an understatement to say that Donald racked up his stats against pedestrian NFC West offensive lines in his DPOY campaigns. If Bosa can unleash more action than a Michael Bay movie against fellow divisional pass protections and strive to be the best player on the field in prime-time match-ups — he should have an All-Pro season and robust DPOY case next season.

The post Why Nick Bosa is really underrated appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Los Angeles Rams have officially signed linebacker Bobby Wagner to a five-year, $50 million dollar contract. Sean McVay made it loud and clear that the Rams were strongly interested in inking Wagner after he left Seattle. McVay’s wish of landing Wagner came to fruition on Thursday.

The Rams dream team consists of Wagner, Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey, Matthew Stafford, and Allen Robinson. I fully expect the Rams to elevate their overall performance with Wagner on their squad. With that said, the question is: what exactly should we expect from the Rams defense with Wagner leading them out into battle?

The Rams gave up the second-fewest passing touchdowns last season and they managed to give up the sixth-fewest rushing yards in 2021. Furthermore, the Rams also ranked ninth in PPG allowed last season. Demario Davis is a big reason why the Saints gave up the fourth-fewest rushing yards a season ago and he was the leader behind the Saints defensive unit that allowed the fewest rushing yards per play (3.7) in 2021 (while the Rams impressively allowed 4 rushing yards per carry). Wagner should provide significant improvements for the Rams defense in a similar way that Davis fuels the Saints defense.

The Rams may have featured Donald, Ramsey, and Von Miller last season, but they didn’t have a quality ILB. Troy Reeder led the Rams in tackles last season (91) and the Rams clearly wanted to upgrade at the pivotal MLB spot this offseason. The Rams didn’t re-sign Reeder this offseason, as they aimed to mightily improve their key MLB spot. It’s safe to say that Les Snead’s patience with Wagner has paid off, as he inked the future Hall of Fame LB.

I expect the Rams to unleash the best-run defense in the NFL next season and they should unveil a Top 5 defense in PPG allowed. It will be difficult for the Rams defense to be sexy in the PPG allowed category, as opposing teams will engage in shootouts with the Rams offense. Nonetheless, Wagner will really improve a quality defense and he will make his biggest mark in key games next season.

The post What is the ceiling of the Rams defense with Bobby Wagner? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

I envision the presence of the golden, Italian legend Frank Sinatra and the polarizing goon Tony Accardo, also known as “Joey Batters” when I witness Nick Bosa frequently take down opposing quarterbacks. The Bosa from the Bay Area and his brother from the City of Angels (Joey Bosa) have been all-star pass rushers in the league in the past few seasons. The Bosa bros clearly have the intimidating presence that the siblings from the film “Lawless” yield.

The younger Bosa in a San Francisco 49ers uniform has more potential than his older brother in my opinion. Nick (24 years old) is a couple of years younger than Joey (26 years old) and he’s had more success on a per-game basis in his career thus far. The SF pass-rusher made the Pro Bowl in his rookie year, as he notched 9 sacks. Nick Bosa would of course reel in a career-high 15.5 sacks in 2021, which was fourth in the NFL and second in the NFC. Bosa didn’t win DPOY last season, but I believe the motivating defensive end can soon strike gold and win the DPOY trophy that’s often claimed by pass rushers.

• Pedestrian NFC West competition

Bosa was clearly from another planet against his competition last season. Although, he didn’t mop the floor against his divisional rivals. He garnered 4.5 sacks in six games against his division foes. He didn’t turn up his success against his despised opponents in the wild NFC West. Bosa could benefit from watching the Saints Pro Bowl DE Cameron Jordan pin his ears back and beat down on the NFC South QBs Matt Ryan and Tom Brady in each matchup.

With this enunciated, I believe the blood-thirsty Bosa is primed to terrorize his NFC West opponents in 2022. The Los Angeles Rams LT Andrew Whitworth is 40 years old and coming off a Super Bowl victory. Whitworth could retire this offseason and many fans expect him to hang up his cleats soon. Bosa had a mere .5 sack in two regular-season matchups combined against the LA Rams last season, so he will be happy for Whitworth’s legacy and potential exit from the league in 2022. In Seattle, LT Duane Brown is a soon-to-be free agent, and he could not return next season. It seems realistic that Bosa will be licking his chops against weaker divisional competition next season.

• Age of Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald

The Chicago Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn turned back the clock and unleashed 18.5 sacks last season (second-most in career). I don’t foresee the 31-year-old edge rusher, who has two 10+ sack seasons since 2014, knocking out 14+ sacks in 2022.

I expect Quinn to get the treatment that Nick Bosa received in 2021. It was noted that the 49ers Pro Bowl DE was doubled-teamed more than any other pass rusher throughout most of the season. The world knows that Nick Bosa can dominate while being double-teamed, but I expect teams to be much more prepared to defend Quinn next season and Quinn will surely face a lot more challenges.

Aaron Donald has been a wrecking ball and Super Bowl champion in recent memory, but I believe his DPOY potential and annual DPOY prize are in his rearview mirror. Donald is 31 in May and he already faces a wall of pass protection in each pivotal matchup. I believe he can be an All-Pro player for the eighth season in a row, but I believe the young, sack machine in Kyle Shanahan’s squad has a higher ceiling than the Rams future Hall of Fame DT.

The post 3 reasons why Nick Bosa can win DPOY in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Atlanta Falcons released Dante Fowler Jr. and it’s clear that Fowler Jr. has had a disappointing career after being selected third overall in the 2015 NFL draft. The former Top 3 draft pick had a career season in 2019 as a Los Angeles Ram, as he recorded 11.5 sacks. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to reclaim stardom in 2020 (3 sacks) or 2021 (4.5 sacks).

Fowler Jr. didn’t live up to his three year, $45 million dollar contract, but the Falcons are also striving to open up lots of cap space. They hold a talented quarterback in Matt Ryan who will be the NFL’s highest paid player this offseason. The Falcons could decide to free up cap space, restructure Ryan’s deal, and be contempt with keeping him.

The next chapter of Fowler’s journey won’t be on the Falcons, nonetheless. The 27 year old will be on the search for a new home. Fowler Jr. may be we wise to chase a prove it deal with a talented team. With that said, what are the top landing spots for Fowler Jr.? Well, here are a few teams that would make a ton of sense to ink the former Falcon.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs and AFC West champions need more juice from their pass rush. Melvin Ingram (1 sack in 2021) is not the partner in crime Chris Jones deserves. The soon to be 33-year-old edge rusher is also facing free agency in 2022. The Chiefs will likely not have the money to strike big on Von Miller or Chandler Jones (20th in cap space), but they could have a great value player in the former Top 3 draft pick.

Fowler Jr. would have plenty of opportunities to chase QBs that are forced to match points with Patrick Mahomes. He would also have a lot of opportunities playing next to Chris Jones and it’s safe to say that Fowler played at his best next to the elite Aaron Donald in LA.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was Dante Fowler Jr.’s coach in Jacksonville, so he has strong familiarity and interest in the FA edge rusher. Bradley could really use pass rush help on his team that ranked 26th in sacks last season and 17th in passing YPG allowed. DeForest Buckner (7 sacks in 2021) needs more explosion next to him.

The Colts could look at pass rush help next to Kwity Paye (four sacks in 2021) and Al-Quadin Muhammed (six sacks in 2021) this offseason. The Colts are also seventh in cap space, so they could really afford to take a sharp look at Fowler Jr. and other free agents of interest.

Los Angeles Rams

The LA Rams could call their ex-pass rusher and see if he wants to return to Sean McVay’s lab and chase another Super Bowl trophy. Fowler Jr. could return to the dreamy city and really aim to build off an impressive Rams tenure. The Rams could lose free agent Von Miller (two sacks in Super Bowl LVI/115.5 career sacks) this offseason. It would seem like a smart fit for Fowler Jr. to fill in the shoes of Miller and return to wrecking havoc next to Aaron Donald.

The Rams present a strong destination to Fowler due to the familiarity aspect, fit, and winning attitude that attracts any professional football player.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are honestly in cap hell, but I love the idea of Fowler Jr. playing in New Orleans. They have Tonah Kpassagnon behind Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport, but I believe the ceiling of Fowler Jr. is too tempting for Mickey Loomis to overlook.

The insanely talented and injury prone Davenport will be a pricey free agent in 2023 and the regular Pro Bowl Jordan will be 33 years old this offseason. They lost Trey Hendrickson to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021, so the three headed monster broke up. Fowler Jr. wouldn’t only help the Saints create a lethal pass rushing combination, but he could very likely be a long term starter in New Orleans. If Fowler Jr. has a modest season, they could elect to not bring back Davenport in 2023, or cut ties with Jordan in 2023. In reality, the cap-strapped Saints will have to get creative with free agent targets this offseason. Fowler Jr. could be a fantastic addition, as they look to win a Super Bowl with their many stars in their prime together.

Honorable mentions:

Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders were sixth in passing YPG in 2021, but 21st in sacks last season. They need more help with from Mad Max (Maxx Crosby) and Yannick Ngakoue. Crosby and Ngakoue are also free agents in 2023. It would seem unlikely that they can afford both pass rushers will should likely demand monster deals. They could be excited about the possibility of adding a talented and highly motivated Fowler Jr. on a short term deal. It would be a lower risk and cheaper acquisition from Josh McDaniel’s view.

The Raiders play Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert four in four matchups a season for a long time. They could have Fowler Jr. helping their pass rush get more takedowns on the young quarterbacks if he turns around his performance in 2022.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2021 Defensive Player of The Year T.J. Watt showed that even he needs more help to slow down Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. The Steelers got poured on by Mahomes in both matchups this past season. The KC Chiefs beat the Steelers 36-10 in their first regular season matchup and then continued their dominance in the second battle royal, as they won 42-21 in the wildcard weekend.

The Steelers are ranked 10th in cap space (roughly $31 million), so they can get creative with targeting a much needed QB and pass rush help opposite Watt. If they don’t bring back JuJu Smith Schuster, they could especially target a defender in the front seven. Fowler Jr. would have to be mouth watering at the idea of playing across from Watt and Cameron Heyward on the inside. The Steelers won’t be an ideal landing spot for some of top free agents at pass rusher or any position, but they could benefit from talent profiles on prove it deals.

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