5 best defensive rookies in NFL History
When we see the best collegiate athletes join the NFL following the draft, we often look for players who play glamorous positions, such as quarterback or wide receiver, as they're the ones who we will see most often in game highlights or with Scott Hanson on NFL Redzone!
However, many of the league's best teams are built on great defense and defensive players, some of whom light up the league as soon as they reach the pros. Here are five of the best defensive rookies of all time.
Five best NFL defensive rookies of all-time
#5 - Darius Leonard
Eyebrows were raised by fans across the league when the Indianapolis Colts decided to use their second-round pick in 2018 on linebacker Darius Leonard out of South Carolina, an FCS school. A publication even claimed it was one of the worst picks in that year's draft, but they couldn't have been more wrong.
Leonard led the league in tackles with 163 and added seven sacks, despite missing a game. He was voted first-team All-Pro in 2018 and took home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
As a rookie, Darius Leonard's season was spectacular https://t.co/k89jtpX0qa
#4 - Micah Parsons
After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2021 draft, Micah Parsons took the league by storm. The linebacker became an immediate lynchpin of the Cowboys defense, putting up ridiculous stats for a rookie.
Parsons had 13 sacks, 84 tackles, 20 TFLs, and 30 quarterback hits as the Penn State alumnus was voted first-team All-Pro and won the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.